Authonomy

Anyone else heard about Authonomy?

It's basically a social network site for amateur writers, owned by HarperCollins, where authors-to-be upload their finished manuscripts. Readers rate and judge the different manuscripts, and then the editing staff at HarperCollins look at the best recommended and decide whether they're publishable.

Apparently it's the new way of getting through the piles of unsolicited material publishing companies get sent.

Don't believe it? Three authonomy authors have had their manuscripts snapped up by HarperCollins simply through this website.

From the site itself:

authonomyTM is a brand new community site for writers, readers and publishers, conceived and developed by book editors at HarperCollins. We want to flush out the brightest, freshest new literature around - we’re glad you stopped by.

If you’re a writer, authonomy is the place to show your face – and show off your work on the web. Whether you’re unpublished, self-published or just getting started, all you need is a few chapters to start building your profile online, and start connecting with the authonomy community.

And if you’re a reader, blogger publisher or agent, authonomy is for you too. The book world is kept alive by those who search out, digest and spread the word about the best new books – authonomy invites you to join our community, champion the best new writing and build a personal profile that really reflects your tastes, opinions and talent-spotting skills.

The publishing world is changing. One thing’s for sure: whether you’re a reader, writer, agent or publisher, this is an exciting time for books. In our corner of HarperCollins we’ve been given a chance to do something a little different.

We’d really love your help.

NOTE: I should point out this is only for writers over 18.

It doesn't cost anything.

It's not some sort of scam. This is real publishing. A new type of publishing. You don't have to be from the UK, you just have to write in English.

There's an FAQ on the site if you need more info/have more questions.


I just thought it was pretty cool. Will we seek FREAK on there soon?

On the one hand that sounds amazing, but on the other it sounds frightening.

I've always been terrified of communities like that. YWS is one thing, but something owned by a huge, huge, huge company is bound to be flooded with people. Even if it isn't a social event, that many people just make me feel weird.

I'll have to look around though and see what I think before I make up my mind. Thanks for sharing, Jack!

Eep! Maybe?

That might be cool. I suppose I'll have to get a novel ready to go by the time I'm 18.

Too easy to set up little circles and it doesn't seem to work as intended. Browsed around some and have gotten a general air that it would be nice for those who are accomplished and lazy with looking for publishers or those who write for fun, not profit.

Definitely seems more mature and professional, but I'm guessing a lot of these people already use PODs.

Writers don't write for profit. They write to avoid debt.

Avoid debt? I always figured writers wrote because they were knee-deep in debt and writing stories was the only way they could convince their creditors not to sell off their fingers one by one.

(Cool link, by the way.)

I skimmed through a few of the top pieces, and I honestly didn't find them to be that amazing. Granted, the summaries of a few sounded amazing, but the writing its self was nothing to admire. Perhaps they're still in need of editing, though? And then there is the fact that I'm picky. I won't just read anything, the writing has to actually be good. I think if some of those authors posted here, they wouldn't come out alive.

Yeah, YWS is good as a crucible for crap. I've felt the burn often enough :p

Sounds awesome, Jack, cheers for the link. Haven't checked it yet but definitely will. Short stories allowed?

So, clearly i'm not 18, but I'm totally writing this down. Someday I hope to publish, and anything that will get me closer to that dream (even if I have to wait a few years) I will keep it in mind.

I'm planning to do Nanowrimo when I get older. But thanks for writing this down! This goes in my notebook. (XD)

LaReina!

Ha. They wouldn't kill me if I lied about my age, right?

-Kylan

This looks great, but it's very opinion-based and a bit of a popularity contest. But! I shall have a look some more.