The Future of Publishing

Recently, we had a wonderful editor from one of the big seven come to our RWA meeting to talk about editing and the publishing industry as a whole. Simply put, the talk was enlightening as I don't believe many expected such frankness from the editor, but a lot of what this editor said pretty much echoed what I had heard last year at Nationals and since then.

These days, more books are being published than ever. Digital publishing has made its presence known and with the Borders situation, the traditional publishing method is sailing on stormy seas. Still, there are ways to get your book out there (e-publishing, self-publishing, print publishing, etc.). The questions we need to ask ourselves in this changing industry is when and if our books should get out there.

With the evolving industry (and the thought that publishing was never a huge money-making business to begin with—at least in respect to your average writer), writers are doing more and more of the work. Decently edited manuscripts and self-promotion are now must-haves not nice-to-haves.  And thanks to technology like BookScan, your "numbers" these days count more than ever. Just a few more reasons to make sure your books are the best they can be before they enter the publishing arena.

So what does all this mean? Well some of it is unknown, even by those who have been in the industry for decades. Really, everything (including this article) is a mixture of hypotheses. But overall, my guess from what I've heard over the past few months is that the next few years will be full of change for all aspects of the industry. I also believe that more and more work will be required from writers if we are to keep the quality of writing up to a high standard—especially as more writers forgo agents (and other such gatekeepers) in preference of more money or a quicker route to being published. Agents aren't always needed but they certainly bring a lot to the table, so if you do forgo one, make sure you're considering the "why" of your decision. Rejection is an essential part of this industry and as cliché as it sounds, feedback is a gift to make us better.

Lastly, remember to write what is in you to write. This industry is ever-changing and kind of like the stock market (I work in finance, remember). By the time you catch onto the trend, many times it is too late. If you write a good book, it will find a home. You just need a bit of patience, luck and determination.

Filed under: Toni Kelly, Writing Topics