Hunter Cook: Technology, Entrepreneurship, and the Written Word
By: Sunnie Dawn Baker
Hunter Cook started writing when he was seven years old. At first, he wanted to write comic books, but then he realized he couldn’t draw. He started writing his first novel at 14, but scrapped it after a year because, as Cook says, “It was bad.” He realized he had three weak points: pacing, action, and character development. So, for his next novel, he made sure to focus on those elements and, at age 18, he created something that he was proud of, Shadow of a Hero, a 300-page novel about a kid with cancer who decides to be a superhero for the nine months left in his life. But after writing the novel, Cook faced a difficult journey in finding a readership. It was at this moment that Cook realized how difficult it is for new authors to navigate the publishing business. Cook spent three years developing a solution to his problem, but, because of a class in entrepreneurship at ECU, Cook devised a solution that would help him, other writers, and readers.
Most publishing companies won’t even consider manuscripts from unknown authors. The best way to get your work in front of a publishing company is to get a literary agent, but, according to Cook, only .0017% of all new authors are able to get a literary agent. The other option is to go with self-publishing, but Cook had seen case after case where people couldn’t get an audience. Without a publishing company to market new authors, readers would overlook their work in a sea of self-published titles. Determined to find a better way, Cook launched his business—Forwritten—this past Fall semester.
Cook, a Business major with a concentration in Management, had enrolled in Dr. Stacey Bolin’s Entrepreneurship class and had to come up with a business to pitch at the i2e Entrepreneur’s Cup, sponsored by Love’s. This was his chance to make his idea a reality. He developed his plans for Forwritten, an online platform where authors can publish their work for free and have a built-in readership, with the eventual goal of monetization through a flat fee for a subscription. Cook says, “I came up with this idea because I wanted other authors to be able to have the opportunity to get their work out there and be read without all of the hurdles.” After winning First Place in the Small Business Division at the Entrepreneur’s Cup, Cook took his next step and got his LLC. What started as an honor’s project has now become an official business. After winning the Entrepreneur’s Cup, Cook also came to Ada Jobs Foundation for entrepreneurship consulting and then, in the Fall of 2024, won first place in the Idea Stage category of Ada Jobs Foundation’s Conduit Startup Showcase.
At the moment, there are 40 unique pieces of literature on Forwritten, representing 13 different authors. You can find poetry, short stories, novellas, and novels. Cook sorts the novels by genre, including action, fantasy, and science fiction, and he lists all the authors in alphabetical order to make it easy for readers.. He also features individual writers each month on the home page, listing their picture, bio, and works on the main page. Cook has also recently started recording podcasts with the authors so, if a reader wants to know more about an author’s work or process, they can click the link to hear an interview.
While Forwritten helps authors by giving them a platform to present their work, while retaining all intellectual rights, it also helps readers. As Cook says, “Traditional publishing companies stick with what they know works, so it can be derivative. But on Forwritten, you are able to read work that you can’t find anywhere else—work that is unique.” In addition to this, readers can comment on the individual works, interacting with the authors to let them know what works well, or what they might want to see improved. This platform allows writers to engage in dialogue with their audience, helping them improve their craft over time. And, of course, Cook closely monitors the comments section to make sure that any criticism is constructive.
At the moment, all content on Forwritten is free to read. However, in the future Cook is planning on charging a flat fee to subscribe to the content. Of the money that Cook brings in, he plans on dividing 50% of the revenue between the writers on the platform, distributing it according to how many visitors each page receives. This allows readers to access unlimited content while also providing authors with a stipend for their work.
Hunter Cook transformed his frustration with the publishing world into a business that helps other writers find an audience while introducing readers to fresh and unique literature. If you are interested in submitting content, or wanting to read new works, visit forwritten.com for submission guidelines and the newest literature around.