Why Writers Should Get Digital

Writer Abroad loves printed books so she just didn't know if she could bring herself to do the unthinkable: Read an e-book.

Nevertheless, Writer Abroad got a Kindle in December. But like any good traditional book lover, she procrastinated. She didn’t read her first e-book until May.

Call it desperation because she was not only traveling, but also sleeping in the same room as Baby M. And a book she could read in the dark? Perfect.

The day she was leaving for her trip, a friend recommended Let’s Get Digital by David Gaughran: How to Self-Publish and Why You Should.

It was a self-published e-book and it cost less than $4. Writer Abroad didn’t even read the blurb. She bought it and read it in two days. It was wonderful. It was wonderful to read on the Kindle as she could hold the Kindle with one hand and Baby M with the other. It was wonderful because this book wasn’t even available as a print book so she couldn’t have read it any other way. And it was wonderful because the book itself was inspiring.

Let’s Get Digital was well written, informative, and made Writer Abroad believe self-publishing and e-books just might be the best things to ever happen to writers. The book gave an overview of the troubled traditional publishing industry and how the internet has revolutionized publishing to make it easier than ever for writers to find audiences and make money from writing. It also discussed how to self-publish: how to find editors, create book covers, format, and more. Finally, 33 bestselling self-publishers shared their inspiring stories. They made Writer Abroad wonder, what the heck is she waiting for?

As a reader, writer, and international traveler, Writer Abroad has decided an e-reader may just be of the best inventions this century.

What do you think about e-books as a writer and/or reader?

Will your bookstore become a museum?

Something strange happened to Writer Abroad this Christmas. She went to the United States and she didn't buy any books.

She visited several bookstores. She celebrated all the English on every shelf. She found a few books she'd like to read. But she didn't buy any of them.

Why?

Writer Abroad got a Kindle for Christmas.

She never thought this day would come, but in an attempt to keep up with the times, not to mention make her suitcase a little lighter this year, Writer Abroad converted to digital reading.

This brings up a lot of questions.
 
How will this digital stuff change her reading habits?  Are devices like the Kindle great for us Writers Abroad, who will now have English books available no matter what country we live in? Or will digital readers have unfortunate effects like making our beloved bookstores obselete? 

Writer Abroad couldn't help feeling bad for the bookstores she visited. Many are now selling toys as well as books. And can you blame them? If Writer Abroad, a reader and writer who is 200% more thirsty for English-language books than the average American, isn't buying any books at American  bookstores, who is?

Are you still buying books at bookstores? Or have you converted to digital too?