How a love of storytelling, and frustration with unreliable systems, led to the creation of Authorial.
When the idea for my book first came to me, it started with the ending. From there, it’s been all about problem-solving. If I want my characters to end up where they do at the end, where do they need to start? What needs to happen in the middle?
Then I started speaking with authors I had connected with online about their process. What do they use to write? How do they find the best people to work with?
Over time, I discovered that many authors had go-to professionals - editors, artists, narrators, agents, PAs and more - that they had found over time, through word of mouth. Sadly, many of them had stories of working with people who weren’t reliable, didn’t deliver, or used generative AI without disclosing it.
Of course, no idea is truly original anymore, but I only discovered other marketplaces when I began researching. And while they may get the job done, I was left wishing for a platform that felt calm and intuitive. A platform where I could just write, and didn’t have to jump through hoops or tutorials to be able to use it. I wanted that word-of-mouth feeling when it came to finding professionals to work with. To be able to trust that they are who they say they are, they’re going to do the job they say they’ll do, and that they come recommended.
So, the idea for Authorial was born. I set out to create a marketplace where professionals were vetted, and to combine this with a writing platform that was clean and straight to the point.
To the authors;
I hope this platform gives you comfort. Somewhere to be able to easily slip back into the routine of writing after you’ve been away.
I hope it gives you freedom. To be able to view the information you need quickly and easily, so you’re not left rifling through pages of notes about that one side character’s hair colour, or who your main character’s second aunt is.
And I hope it gives you confidence. The peace of mind that comes with being able to rely on others, to not worry about what needs to get done, and to focus on what’s most important - writing your story.
To the professionals;
I hope this platform gives you a megaphone. A place to be able to shout about the work you do, to display it to the world with pride.
And I hope it gives you connection. A community that values the hours of studying, practice, and dedication you put into your craft.
This is just the beginning. There is so much we want to do, so many tools we want to build to help authors, professionals, and readers. So thank you for being here at the very start.
I can’t wait to see how far we can go.
Annie