Publishing processes for a digital age: Crowdsourcing and patronage in online self-publishing

Self-publishing and digital platforms occupy a contentious space alongside the contemporary trade publishing industry. While some authors and scholars approach digital self-publishing with trepidation, certain amateur writers have used online platforms to create an alternative publishing route that suits them at the beginning of their writing careers. They write in niche genres such as fantasy, Western, romance, fanfiction, and poetry. By including their readers in the writing and editing process, the writers are more likely to teach them the value of creative practice. This inclusivity might then convince readers to buy the writers’ books or pay a subscription to them via sites like Patreon. In this chapter, I examine how digital self-publishers establish direct connections with their readers to crowdsource editing, crowdfund or advertise their writing, and foster their creativity. I examine three platforms of digital self-publishing: web-serials, Wattpad, and Instapoetry. I avoid discussion of ebook self-publishing, as it replicates traditional print publishing processes. Instead, I have chosen examples that create distinctly new routes to publishing. In some cases, these new routes allow the writers to cross into trade publishing, while other authors use them as learning experiences.