Is Publishing Dead?
No. It's sure changing, though. Two years ago, self-publishing was for non-fiction niche writers or desperate fiction writers who only cared about getting their in print and nothing else.
The times, they change.
I'm in a rather unique position, as I'm doing both with no plans to change my current method right now. It's working for me. I'm selling to e-publishers (publishers who focus on ebooks over print), small press (focus equally on both formats), and self-publishing (doing it myself).
I've been following and watching, and making note of my own experiences. This is what I've been seeing:
Self-publishing
The rush to the bottom. A couple of self-published authors sold a lot of books by pricing their books at 99 cents. Now, if you hang out in the self-publishing forums online, all people talk about is how 99 cents is the new novel price.
Hyper-focus on Amazon. The book world is a lot bigger than Amazon. Some folks seem obsessed with their Amazon sales rankings, Amazon customer reviews, etc.
Unique books are finding a market. This is especially true for some crossover books that blend genres (i.e. mystery and SF). Some of these books would have been difficult to sell in the mass numbers big publishers are used to, but are selling steady as independent titles.
Small Press
They exist and are offering some awesome books. I don't think this has ever not been true, but many have begun embracing ebooks along with print, and I'm finding so many new books to read.
There are so many new imprints coming out that it's really difficult to know what kind of work they are putting out. The established ones seem to have a firm identity.
Large, Giant, and NY Publishers
They are playing around with ebooks, though not all are offering decent royalties to their authors (sorry, 3% is not decent. Neither is 25%).
Prices are all over the place. I've seen ebooks as high as $22 Canadian!
My favourite authors are being dropped mid-series. This is pissing me off to no end. This is right up there with cancelling a series on a cliffhanger.
My largest hesitation remains with unpublished writers putting their work up on Amazon and thinking they'll sell millions and get a book deal. Sure, it's happened to a few people. But, mostly, what's up there is crap. Oh, I know, everyone is going to say that what's coming out of NY publishers is crap, too. However, that stuff is readable in the English language. People just don't like the content. There's a big difference.
I'm also concerned that writers won't continue to grow. They've made a couple hundred dollars selling their novel at 99 cents and think they don't need to learn more. They hire editors that have no real experience or, worse, who confuse being rejected by several publishing houses as experience. They think editing means line editing and checking for typos and missing words. They don't understand how to maintain conflict, develop characterization through dialogue, and maintain a gripping story. Some learn. A lot don't.
At the same time, I hate to see good books turned down because an agent hasn't had her morning latte yet or is too busy tweeting to actually read what's on her desk. I hate to see good book linger with publishers as they hem and haw over the marketability of a title. I hate how solid books are being dropped simply because they are "only" solid sellers, making 5-10K sales per book.
I hate to see small presses being squeezed because Amazon expects outrageous cuts.I hate that these small publishers have to keep up with the offset printer format, even though they'd sell more doing Print-On-Demand (but, of course, bookstores won't stock their books then). I hate how authors think it's agent and NY or nothing. I hate how agents think that.
I love books. Books cheer me up far more than a TV show ever will. I learn more, visit more places, and think of the world differently because of books. I think we authors need to stop bickering about the death of publishing, the crap of self-publishing, the end of bookstores, the greatness/evil of Amazon, and what editing really means. Instead, let's start talking value. Let's buy books that offer great reading value. I don't mean price; I mean story. Let's support small presses that *do* treat their authors fairly. Let's support independent authors who have made publishing their business and who put out products that can and do compete with big business.
Let's raise the bar for both quality and ethics and start putting our money there.
Today's "Spread the News" tip is to post this on whatever forum or social networking group you belong to that discusses books.
