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Ex-agent Nathan Bransford wrote a nice piece on his blog entitled Why I’m Still Optimistic about the Future of Books. That headline caught my attention because, viscerally, my reaction was, “Still?!” His post goes deeper than that, but what I noticed first was my own urge to chuckle.
No, I’m not predicting the death of books. My view is more nuanced than that. I think paper books will be published 100 years from now (assuming we aren’t all killed by nukes, bioweapons, supergerms, climate catastrophe or armies of the undead) but in small numbers and as a premium item.
Early this summer I attended a writers’ conference in which I saw the e-book future laid out. Many of the publishers and writers I met at the Canadian Authors Association conference in Victoria were already on board the train to the future. I met my first person there who doesn’t buy paper books anymore, for instance. Her bookshelves grow no heavier because her reading is now exclusively electronic.
When I came back, I shared that worldview with everyone I knew. I encountered resistance, incredulity and resignation. Personally, I’m excited about the DIY opportunities ahead of us. We still need writers and those writers still need editors. Publishers and agents are becoming optional. For some authors—especially if they already have an audience—publishers are in their rearview mirrors.
Where are you on this issue now? Has your opinion changed in the last year? Do you see e-books as another expression of rage and frustration by the talentless hacks rightly trapped in the slush pile? Or are e-books a way for independent authors to steer their own course to larger percentages and greater control of their books?
If you’re an independent writer, here’s a link to a comparison of self-publishing services you definitely need to consider:
Self-Publishing Company Comparison: Amazon CreateSpace, Lulu or Lightning Source? : Blogthority
If you’re a traditional publisher or are monogamous about the Gutenberg press, here’s an article about how e-books might be integrated tree book marketing:
E-books need print books, IPG hears | theBookseller.com
Please let me know your thoughts.
I’m staring at my comment box,
quivering in anticipation.
Related Articles
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- Bloomsbury USA Selects RoyaltyShare for eBook Sales Management (prweb.com)
- Digital publishing about economics, Forrester analyst James McQuivey says (teleread.com)
- Discoverability: “Metadata Really Matters for eBooks” (lib.uiowa.edu)
- Lulu.com Adds Big Options for Creators this Holiday (prnewswire.com)
- The Felicities of New Publishing (or Why Traditional Publishers May Someday Die) (seedlingsinstone.blogspot.com)
- All About eBooks Symposium: Friday, November 12th in San Francisco (prnewswire.com)
- Lightning Source expands POD to Australia (teleread.com)
- Self-Publishing Expo: Panel, “Flying Solo” (teleread.com)
Filed under: Books, publishing, self-publishing, Useful writing links, web reviews, book, E-book, Independent Publishers Group, Lulu, Nathan Bransford, publishing, Publishing and Printing, self-publishing
C h a z z W r i t e s . c o m 
Well, I have read your article and a few of your links and I have to say that self publishing SOUNDs like a dream come true for those who cannont get published, only want a few books to sell or fear the rejection/slush piles at the publishing office. However, I guess my biggest concern is what about a shelf full of tripe? Great, little Suzy want to publish her book of poetry at age 10, whip out your printer and take it to get bound at the local university. Why clutter up the universe with a BOOK? I don’t get why people would go to such lengths for this.
I want the rejection slips. Somebody read and didn’t appreciate, hope dashed, on to the next guy. It is a system, however flawed, that at least lets you know that your work is or isn’t worthy at this time. (At least for that guy, that day, in that office). Maybe there is some way to increase your odds, or maybe we can upgrade the system, but trying to by-pass it seems cheap to me.
As for e-books. I have found some really interesting books on-line that I would read IF they were free. I would purchase them if they were paper. Sounds silly, but I have gotten used to expecting free stuff on-line and I hate it when I have to hand over my VISA for a peek at something. A front cover is not enough to entice me to part with my cash and if there is no way to preview, how do I know that this is something I want to own? And that is the other thing. Many times I have gone to the library to test run a book, only to purchase it in the end because I see it’s ongoing value in my life. I can open it when I want and peruse it when I want using whatever parts I want. I don’t depend on my computer, electricity or anything other than my hands and eyes. I believe in books like I do in wood stoves. If everything else is not working for me, I can still cook, see and keep warm and with a book, I can escape reality, improve my conditions, find spiritural solace and entertain my children. The computer/internet provide all sorts of opportunities and shortcuts in life when they are working, but who wants to depend on that.
Thanks for reading and writing Alex. You bring up some interesting points. Here are my replies:
“However, I guess my biggest concern is what about a shelf full of tripe?”
Most self-publishers would probably say, “You mean besides the tripe that’s already on the shelf?” Everything published is tripe to somebody. Gatekeepers don’t keep the tripe off. We’re just really talking about volume here. You’re right, there will be more bad books but that’s because there will be more books available. You’ll go through the same evaluation process you do now. With new ways of reaching the reading public, the idea is the good stuff will still be found because we’ll be telling each other about the books we love with our increased interactivity.
“Great, little Suzy want to publish her book of poetry at age 10, whip out your printer and take it to get bound at the local university.”
I don’t think Suzy is characteristic of the digital publishing revolution. In the past, self-publishing was most appropriate for people with a large platform, speaking at the front of the auditorium or classroom while selling their books at the back. Self-pubbing makes sense, then and now, for memoirists who are just writing their biography for the benefit of their family.
The change is, self-publishing digitally and POD is opening up as a profitable avenue for writers who want to be published sooner than later or (and this is the key indicator) for people who have already been published but want more control of their book and greater profits than traditional publishing affords. Those middleman contracts are killers. No, self-publishing isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve got the entrepreneurial spirit, I can see it. Dave Eggers founded McSweeney’s because he couldn’t take the wait traditional publishers would have forced upon him. More writers are becoming publishers. I’m a more choice and more-variety-is-better kind of guy.
“Why clutter up the universe with a BOOK? I don’t get why people would go to such lengths for this.”
Well, I don’t think we could clutter up Ohio, let alone the universe. I think the simple answer is, these people really love books.
“Maybe there is some way to increase your odds, or maybe we can upgrade the system, but trying to by-pass it seems cheap to me.”
I think a lot of people agree with you. Many would-be self-publishers also try to shortchange the so-called shortcut to publication. One self-publishing company manager told me she has received manuscripts that not only didn’t have an independent editor look at it at all, it was apparent the writer didn’t even bother with spellcheck or a proofread. You’re absolutely right that there will be a lot of unprofessional stuff emerging as the field opens up. That’s one of the incoveniences of the human condition and anything new, I guess. It’s the price we’ll pay for all that diversity I’m looking forward to reading.
“As for e-books. I have found some really interesting books on-line that I would read IF they were free. I would purchase them if they were paper. Sounds silly, but I have gotten used to expecting free stuff on-line…” You’re not alone. A lot of people feel that way. My first e-book purchases were just textbooks, business management stuff for reference and audiiobooks. However, when I look at the prices of e-books, it’s hard for me to justify that prejudice anymore. There will continue to be lots of free stuff online, but soon it won’t be the book itself. It will be extras, giveaways and stuff that promotes the sold product. Scott Sigler started by giving his books away a chapter at a time. People decided they couldn’t wait for the next chapter and his legend was born.
“A front cover is not enough to entice me to part with my cash and if there is no way to preview, how do I know that this is something I want to own?”
Books sold online need preview pages to help you with that decision. As bookstores continue to suffer and close and publishing morphs into whatever it’s becoming, feeling the heft of the book you’re considering will be a dead luxury for most books.
“The computer/internet provide all sorts of opportunities and shortcuts in life when they are working, but who wants to depend on that.”
Barring apocalypse? Just about everybody. 😉 I do agree with you about woodstoves. I’ve got mine cranking some heat right now and it’s very cozy.
Thanks again for contributing to the discussion.
Thanks for mentioning my self-publishing company comparison.
I think the key to self-publishing is the ability to promote the book without the help of a publishing company/bookstores. I’ve been blogging on Canadian financial topics for several years, so writing a financial book was a natural connection.
The greatest thing about POD is the lack of financial commitment – you don’t have to order and finance 500 copies up front. Not mailing or distributing them is pretty nice too.
Thanks for your post. It’s a heavy part of the evaluation writers need to go through if they’re considering self-publishing.
Thanks Chazz, You made some very valid points. May have even changed my mind on a few things. =)
Alex, thank you. You’re obviously awesome. It’s so rare to find someone who keeps an open mind. This is the Internet where trolls and haters patrol to stir up crap for fun. Thoughtful replies break the paradigm. Cheers, mate!