Is self-publishing on the decline?

[Everly]

Since people seemed to really like my article about How to Promote your Book on Goodreads, I thought I would put up another interesting discussion. I wrote an article about the decline of self-publishing. I put it up on the group I moderate, and it got a lot of buzz. I would love to know what you think about self-publishing and whether it is on a decline and if so why?
http://ellelapraim.com/is-self-publis...

[Chrysoula]

What is the source for the idea that ebook sales are down? I see you have a chart showing that self-published books dipped in the top 100 list near the end of the year but there's no previous years' numbers to compare to, nor a set of numbers with the trad. published books extracted. I also notice that the year-end dip corresponds some to the level at the beginning of the year, which makes me assume there's some seasonal element to the sales...

I have seen the recent posts suggesting the 'race to free' is going to destroy publishing, but those posts mostly display a deep lack of understanding, so I see no reason to pay attention to them. Worrying if self-publishing is on the decline is like worrying if youtube is on the decline.

[Doc]

I think it is more likely that you'll find that authors who were previously self-published are now getting more attention from traditional publishing and are moving over to the Trad side for at least some of their works. Many authors find that once they get past the gatekeepers, Trad publishing gives them a better payout for less work.

Doc

[Richard]

But it's still the "getting past the gatekeepers" thing. Authors who don't write in Romance, Sci-Fi, or one of the few other growth genres are going to have a very hard time finding a trad. publishing home, no matter how well they write or how nicely structured their books and/or pitches are. Trad. Publishers who look at Indie Authors are looking for huge sales and a huge social networking/marketing machine already set-up. If you don't have celebrity cache, or lots and lots of followers, then you are still a risk that will require investment to develop -- something trad. publishers still have an aversion to in this changing marketplace.

[Chrysoula]

Doc wrote: "I think it is more likely that you'll find that authors who were previously self-published are now getting more attention from traditional publishing and are moving over to the Trad side for at lea..."

This is interesting because I was just talking to a Trad Pubbed author who outright said that if she didn't feel loyalty to all the fans who buy her books out of bookstores (and if she didn't have a contract) she would move to self-publishing and make more money with less restrictions (like arbitrary word count) just based on the online component of her audience. She based this on the sales of some related short stories.

So there's definitely people moving both directions. I think it depends on what they already have vs. what they want.

[Bridget]

I think what all of it boils down to more than anything is the economy is tough for everyone. Sales can dip for a number of reasons at the beginning of the year as everyone catches up on their holiday gifts and spending.

People make all those resolutions to exercise more, don't spend as much, or read the classics...so sales dip.

I think we all know numbers are subjective. Data is easy to manipulate into the mold we want to see. Just from the number of new books I come across each day, I'd guess we aren't in danger of running out of anything to read anytime soon.

[Richard]

I just posted an unequivocal example of how reading books may be on the upswing in my blog: www.sailletales.com

I mean... I gotta grasp at anything I can!

[Michael]

Elle wrote: "Since people seemed to really like my article about How to Promote your Book on Goodreads, I thought I would put up another interesting discussion. I wrote an article about the decline of self-publ..."

Re: "Race to free." What lack of understanding is that? I'm trying to get my head around the issue of all these free and almost-free books and how they impact authors like me with a Trad Pub book.

[Dick]

Self-publishing is alive and well. My friend, Chris Orcutt, a goodreads author, did a free promotion at the Kindle Store on Wednesday and Thursday for his mystery novel, A Real Piece of Work. He hit #4 on the Kindle Top 100 Free list. His book returned to its list price of $4.99 on Friday. He broke into the Kindle Top 100 Paid list just before midnight on Saturday. The book's publication date was November 28. Wow. Kudos to Chris.

[Rachel]

I agree about the "get rich quick" crowd slowly going by the wayside, and go riddance. I think a lot of writers thought self publishing would be an easy way to earn some money or get their book out, and are finding it doesn't work that way. I don't think any of that means self publishing as a whole is in any danger. In fact I feel a blog coming on.

[Richard]

You go with that! Self-publishing, if you have any desire to begin some kind of long-term, dare I say, career, is the thorniest, rockiest path of all. But that said, assuming you are also constantly striving to improve your writing and identify your readers,it will teach you more than you can imagine. Keep your ears and eyes open, and let the learning begin! Keep in mind that some of the greatest writers of all time had to begin this way. Folks like Sam Clements, EA Poe and many others hawked their own books. It's a grand tradition.