Self-publishing goes digital

While the self-publishing business may not always garner the most respect, a new company's savvy business approach may benefit the entire industry.

FastPencil, a new publishing Web site, allows burgeoning authors to complete and publish their works online. The site’s publishing tool allows writers to collaborate, write and design their book’s layout online, free with registration.

The site also fosters an online writers’ community, where writers can collaborate and get peer support. If a site member opts to purchase one of FastPencil’s writer’s packages ($399/title for the silver package, $999/title for the gold package), he or she also receives personal consultation and professional feedback.

When it’s time for a writer to publish, FastPencil facilitates distribution through their site or retailers like BarnesandNoble.com. They’ve also recently opened a division in e-book format, which would allow readers to download the books via digital reader or iPhone application.

The new site upgrades also incorporate social networking, such as Facebook and Twitter, into the writers’ marketing tools. The networking allows authors to build a support system, which, unless the writer pays for an author’s package, is the only feedback given through the site.

The downside to FastPencil, as with any self-publisher, is that the books are generally only available on a per-order basis, unless a writer purchases a set to distribute independently. However, FastPencil’s new format opens a new frontier for online writing communities, which could be vastly beneficial to beginning authors.