‘Most writers, who are beginners if they are honest with themselves, will admit that they are praying for a readership as they begin to write. But it should be the quality of the craft not the audience that should be the greatest motivating factor’ – late Chinua Achebe
A colleague and friend once said to me ‘writing is a noble but stupid profession’. A statement I did not take serious until lately. While I leave you to unravel the puzzle in the statement as my colleague and friend did to me when he altered the statement, I must state at this juncture that consciously or unconsciously, my business interest areas (AudioVisual Productions & Book Publishing) is becoming top on my priority list. Just as ‘dog is man’s best friend’ so are books to me. Like I have said and will continue to say, my day will remain incomplete without me reading at least a chapter from a book.
Books come in various genres. From academics to professional, sci-fiction to thrillers, religion to health, success to ‘how to’, romance to ‘few books’ as my business partner would always say to me. Summarising in a sentence – I love books.
My addiction for books caught my interest in some old publications in the Nigeria national dailies – The Guardian & ThisDay newspapers. One of such publications is ‘In memory of Chinua Achebe’ & ‘Five key things you don’t know about publishing’ respectively.
In the memory of Chinua Achebe publication, the writer Anthony Akinola was very direct. He neither missed nor mixed words. An outstanding quality I admired in Anthony’s write-up. No doubt, Achebe did not only bring pride, respect and honour to Nigeria, Achebe is Africa’s pride. He did stamp sealed his name in the memoir of Literature globally. He classic work – ‘things fall apart’ is yet to have any rival as his last work – ‘there was a country’ will continue to raise controversies to today’s generations and generation yet-to-born.
Anthony did write generally about literature, the Nigeria societal view towards writers and comparing it with writers from the other side of the continent. Quoting Anthony ‘they celebrate books and they make authors feel proud of their works by asking for autographs’ where as in Nigeria, books and authorship celebration is usually faulted. Before proceeding, I give kudos to etisalat communications for recognizing the role and importance writers play in Nigeria. Also many thanks for etisalat’s support to literature in Nigeria and Africa. I hope it’s a continuous project. The project is free from the business as usual norm that all award-giving bodies are guilty as charged. A project that promotes transparency just as quality in service delivery on etisalat network is not compromise. But is just amazing that as of the time I am writing this article, there has been recent fluctuation in service delivery, data charges and call charges.
How do any individual judge the success of any book? Is it by it readership, eminent personalities present at the book launch or the amount of cash raised during its launch? The success of any book is judge by its impact the book have on it readers.
The other publication – ‘Five key things you don’t know about publishing’ is more important. Mr. Bisi Daniel, the columnist of Writers’ World in ThisDay newspaper, I salute your tenacity and pride in promoting literature in the very best you can. However, I faulted the write-up. May be the literary agent (Elizabeth Evans) need to upgrade her knowledge in today’s trend as regard the modus operandi on the internet as literary agent(s) are rarely needed in the book publishing process and marketing. Please don’t be offended because it is not in my culture to get anyone offended except ‘if’ the need arises.
It is no longer news that the information super highway has revolutionized businesses today and for tomorrow. The businesses that have been revolutionized, PUBLISHING is among them. Paper works is gradually been eliminated in this part of the world as compared to the international communities.
From my wealth of knowledge and experience, I have come to the conclusion that there is absolutely nothing to be worried about on your publishing journey. From proofreading to copy-editing, copyrighting to ISBN, cover design to interior design / page planning and inventory to storage. The internet has taken full responsibility of these processes.
Before today, publishing use to be very frustrating but with the touch of a button or click from the comfort of my living room, my work is published. Mr. Bisi, it will be interesting to have the title of your write-up re-titled as the ONE thing any writer should be worried about is ROYALTY and not publishing. Talking about royalty, it comes from sales and sales come from realistic and attainable marketing plan. Achieving this realistic and attainable marketing plan, it comes from an intense brainstorming session. The intense brainstorming session comes from passionate, articulated and motivated personnel.
I am leaving you with these words of mine ‘writing is a profession that command respect’
Thank you.