Kuala lumpur: The growing popularity of e-books and self-publishing is opening new avenues for aspiring Malaysian writers by lowering traditional publishing barriers, particularly printing costs, while giving authors greater control over their work, says Intellectual Authors Club (IAC) president S. Nahanthiran.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, digital publishing offers authors the potential to reach wider audiences and earn better returns, while making reading materials more accessible, particularly to students. Nahanthiran emphasized that e-book publishing is increasingly relevant for new writers because it eliminates traditional industry barriers, allowing authors to avoid printing costs and enjoy a higher profit margin.
Nahanthiran, who has authored over 18 e-books across various genres, noted that the growing interest in self-publishing is also driven by writers seeking greater control over their content, presentation, and ownership rights. He explained that publishing has become competitive and expensive, with authors receiving only a small fraction as commission when working with publishing houses. Self-publishing, on the other hand, allows authors to decide on the content, style, and look of their books, offering a higher profit margin. However, aspiring independent authors still face challenges, including identifying suitable publishing platforms and ensuring their works reach a wider audience.
Nahanthiran highlighted the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in assisting writers to overcome writer's block, develop chapter outlines, and explore different narrative directions quickly. However, he cautioned against relying on AI for actual storytelling and writing, as this could undermine an author's credibility and raise ethical questions over authorship.
He advised writers to use AI for checking the articulation of words and proper sentence structure, emphasizing that writing an e-book requires a different approach from writing a physical book, particularly in terms of structure, pacing, and language suited to digital readers. Understanding these differences is crucial for new writers before embarking on their writing journey.
To help aspiring writers overcome these challenges, IAC has adopted a structured training and mentorship approach to guide participants in completing their first e-book draft within 24 hours, followed by assistance in refining, formatting, and navigating the publishing process. The club's recent e-book launch at the University of Wollongong Malaysia in Shah Alam on August 15 featured works by five members and underscored the growing interest in digital publishing among Malaysians.
The event, officiated by HELP University Senior Director of Student Life and Wellness Dhanesh Balakrishnan, highlighted digital publishing as a platform for Malaysians to share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. IAC also conducts writing workshops, retreats, talks, networking activities, and community service programs related to writing and publishing.