CompletelyNovel
Encyclopedia
CompletelyNovel is a website
which allows authors to self-publish their work into a reading and writing online community. Based in the United Kingdom
, the company was founded in 2008 by Oliver Brooks and Anna Lewis, the site encourages writers to make their work available for people to read in order that they can gain feedback and promote their work. CompletelyNovel has been compared to other writer websites such as Authonomy
which offers writers the chance to get their book published by major publishers by getting good reviews from other users; Lulu.com, which offers similar self-publishing services; and Shelfari
, which has a book-based online community.
CompletelyNovel's co-founder Oliver Brooks reached the London final of The Pitch, a competition to find the UK's best small businesses and co-founder Anna Lewis was shortlisted for the UK Young Publishing Entrepreneur Award
2010, run by the British Council
.
to enable readers to buy paperback copies of the books from the CompletelyNovel website. Readers can read the uploaded books online using CompletelyNovel's BookStreamer – an embeddable online reader. CompletelyNovel offers publishing packages for authors who would like to make their books available to buy through book retailers such as Amazon.com
.
Readers on CompletelyNovel can create an online library of both traditionally published books and the self-published books on the website, adding reviews, ratings and tags to these books.
, Emily Benet (a debut author published by Salt Publishing
) and Sam Starbuck, a self-published writer.
The 24hr Book Project was also created and managed by CompletelyNovel along with book industry 'think and do tank' if:book, the Society of Young Publishers
and Spread The Word, a London-based writer development agency. A team of writers, directed by novelist Kate Pullinger
, editors and artists collaborated using Google Docs, Twitter
, a ning
platform and Skype
to produce a book in 24 hours. Members of the public were invited to join in via Twitter and a public Google Doc. The final book was titled 'A Vauxhall Chorus' and was launched at a members' club in Soho.
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
which allows authors to self-publish their work into a reading and writing online community. Based in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the company was founded in 2008 by Oliver Brooks and Anna Lewis, the site encourages writers to make their work available for people to read in order that they can gain feedback and promote their work. CompletelyNovel has been compared to other writer websites such as Authonomy
Authonomy
authonomy is a website owned and operated by HarperCollins, designed with a commercial aim in mind: to unearth new talent. HarperCollins places the name in italics and spells it with an initial lower-case letter. authonomy solicits submissions from unpublished and self published authors to, in...
which offers writers the chance to get their book published by major publishers by getting good reviews from other users; Lulu.com, which offers similar self-publishing services; and Shelfari
Shelfari
Shelfari is a social cataloging website for books. Shelfari users build virtual bookshelves of the titles they own or have read, and can rate, review, tag, and discuss their books. Users can also create groups that other members may join, create discussions, and talk about books, or other topics...
, which has a book-based online community.
CompletelyNovel's co-founder Oliver Brooks reached the London final of The Pitch, a competition to find the UK's best small businesses and co-founder Anna Lewis was shortlisted for the UK Young Publishing Entrepreneur Award
UK Young Publishing Entrepreneur Awards
The UK Young Publishing Entrepreneur Award celebrates entrepreneurial ability within publishing, and strengthens creative leadership, networking, and capacity building in the UK publishing industry...
2010, run by the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
.
Overview
CompletelyNovel links the books uploaded by writers to print-on-demand printers Antony Rowe and Lightning SourceLightning Source
Lightning Source is a subsidiary of leading U.S. publishing services company Saab Content Group. The company is the leading printer and distributor of print-on-demand books. Originally incorporated in 1997 as Lightning Print Inc., the company is headquartered in La Vergne, Tennessee. Its UK...
to enable readers to buy paperback copies of the books from the CompletelyNovel website. Readers can read the uploaded books online using CompletelyNovel's BookStreamer – an embeddable online reader. CompletelyNovel offers publishing packages for authors who would like to make their books available to buy through book retailers such as Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
.
Readers on CompletelyNovel can create an online library of both traditionally published books and the self-published books on the website, adding reviews, ratings and tags to these books.
Projects
CompletelyNovel is also involved in a number of cross industry projects to promote digital innovation in publishing. The company partnered with a number of mainstream publishers and hosted the book publishing industry's first Author Blog Awards. There were over 500 author blogs nominated. The winners of the Author Blog Awards 2010 as voted for by the public included author Neil GaimanNeil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
, Emily Benet (a debut author published by Salt Publishing
Salt Publishing
Salt Publishing is an independent publisher whose origins date back to 1990 when poet John Kinsella launched Salt Magazine in Western Australia. The journal rapidly developed an international reputation as a leading publisher of new poetry and poetics...
) and Sam Starbuck, a self-published writer.
The 24hr Book Project was also created and managed by CompletelyNovel along with book industry 'think and do tank' if:book, the Society of Young Publishers
Society of young publishers
The Society of Young Publishers was founded in 1949. Its main aim is to allow young publishers to network, exchange ideas, and learn more about the industry. Previously restricted to people under 36, the constitution was amended in 2007 to also allow people ‘young to publishing’ to join. The SYP...
and Spread The Word, a London-based writer development agency. A team of writers, directed by novelist Kate Pullinger
Kate Pullinger
Kate Pullinger is a Canadian novelist and author of digital fiction currently lecturing at De Montfort University, England. She was born in Cranbrook, British Columbia, and went to high school on Vancouver Island. She dropped out of McGill University, Montreal after a year and a half and...
, editors and artists collaborated using Google Docs, Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
, a ning
Ning
Ning is an online platform for people and organizations to create custom social networks, launched in October 2005. Ning offers customers the ability to create a community website with a customized appearance and feel, feature sets such as photos, videos, forums and blogs, and the service layers in...
platform and Skype
Skype
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
to produce a book in 24 hours. Members of the public were invited to join in via Twitter and a public Google Doc. The final book was titled 'A Vauxhall Chorus' and was launched at a members' club in Soho.