Subhechcha Ganguly 
Writers have a hunger to get readers to read their work and earn the fame that they deserve. However, it is becoming a business in India, especially after the pandemic. It is easy to be a self-published author nowadays. Though, other challenges are emerging every day for aspiring writers and budding authors. Today, Nilakshi Garg, the author of Mirage and Twenty Eight Plus One, is telling how these challenges are emerging in India and what might be the possible solutions at the same time.
Top 6 Challenges Indian Authors Might Face Today To Earn Their Fame At The Right Cost:
Finding the right trope to write on
New-age writers, especially in India, feel that there is already a lot of competition. They do not know if they should write on a certain topic. At least, that’s what I faced in my initial days. To overcome this obstacle, writers must pick a different trope daily and write some sort of content on it. New and budding writers will only excel when they practice daily. There is literally no other way to know what trope you’re good at like no one else.
Finding the right community of readers
Indian authors, especially those who mastered their craft and language, find difficulty in reaching out to their target readers. It is possible because a new writer has no idea about where to find these readers and if at all they will read the author’s work. There is a lot of anxiety around that topic. So, it’s best to make anonymous accounts, collect the email IDs of your readers, and provide them with an Advanced Reader Copy (ARCs) to review. Build a loyal fan base through email marketing to solve this issue in India.
Keeping your readers engaged
New writers who want to be authors hesitate to find readers and engage with them for a long time. First, they need to find forums, communities, and groups where they can give free copies to their readers. Then, they can ask for an honest review. However, most authors need to be aware of the paid reviewers out there. Those are not genuine readers if they are asking for money for a review. Plus, engaging with readers has to be a routine for authors. They must not disappear from their readers until it’s intentional to create hype about the next project. It is the basic rule of marketing, though. So, if you’re not seen or heard anywhere around the reader’s communities, you will be forgotten pretty soon. Plus, readers have a very short span of attention these days because of social media. Thus, at times, it becomes difficult for Indian authors to stand out and engage with their readers regularly.
Finding the best publisher at your price
The self-publisher’s market is really terrible in India as of now. It is more of a business, and the entrepreneurs earn a lot from those writers who have no sources to crosscheck the market price and the viability of the offers the publisher promises. With time and research, authors can easily publish their books on Amazon itself. Now, they do not need to depend heavily on the self-publishers. Rather, they can invest their funds in promotion and marketing campaigns. At least, that will get them exposure and reach within the budget. So, new authors can hire editors, proofreaders, typesetters, and graphic designers from freelancing websites at a cheaper cost. Then they spend the remaining amount on the paid campaigns and posts to make those viral.
Having no idea about the distribution channel
This is still a sore subject for me as an author. I have already published two books and been a part of 10+ anthologies. I am currently working on two more books. However, I am unable to find a good distribution channel for my books even today. Most of the distribution channels in Delhi, where I reside, have a tie-up with traditional or self-publishing houses. But I am trying to build a personal brand. Soon, I will be able to crack it and talk about it more. However, authors like me can connect with their local vendors, cafes, schools, offices, or institutions. They can casually go to some chic café and drop their books on the bookshelf without anyone actually noticing. Otherwise, they take permission from the café manager and post some pictures for social media to promote themselves. The next distribution channel can be to get your books listed on the book festivals. Lately, I received pretty good engagement on my social media networks when I posted about my books getting launched at various exhibitions and festivals. So, this is a solution I am offering with totally personal experience.
Feeling scared to collaborate if you’re an introverted author
Collaborating and connecting with others is a task for introverted authors like me in India or elsewhere. It’s seriously not easy. You need to be serious about building your tribe or letting people reach out to you. You have to build your personal brand seriously and dedicatedly as an author, even if you’re an introverted person. This is the lesson I’ve learned lately. For that, it’s best to drop someone a text or an email to connect and collaborate. It’s best to drop them an email because then it sounds more official and viable.
Conclusion:
Indian authors, especially in the romance category, are continuously in the limelight. There is a lot of competition nowadays. But we have to make the cut as individual and indie authors. So, save the budget for paid marketing when you publish your books online. That’s how you overcome most of the challenges Indian authors face, like Nilakshi Garg.
