Resources and tips for the self-published author.

Publishing News Roundup Series: The Response to Continued Publishing Changes

by Maureen Crisp •  August 11, 2017  •   Follow

Published in News  •  3 comments


 

The publishing world is constantly changing. How can we keep up with it?

Especially since the rise of self-publishing there have been a lot of changes in publishing. The business is changing and we have to change with it.

 

Ch Ch Change

 

 
Changes are afoot.
 

 

Those three words can encourage anticipation or dread depending on your past experience with change. The publishing industry has been on a roller coaster ride since 2007 and the introduction of the Kindle, the marker for huge change in the industry. Among the changes being rolled out this week are changes to the Kindle Unlimited page read payout. Check out the new version 3.0 rules.

 

Facebook is turning their attention to Groups. If you are still annoyed by the changes to Author pages… be prepared. This doesn’t bode well. Groups are popular among authors for fan communities and networking groups. Boosted posts in groups will not be welcomed.

 

An interesting piece of news caught my eye from HarperCollins. They are actively seeking out young writers on Wattpad and offering them print deals. This week I’ve read two publishing commentators on the death of the Traditional or Legacy midlist publishing career. Publishers are throwing money at the big writers or the debut writers. The pressure is on debut writers to have a hit right out of the box and they have no say in their contract terms. I’m hoping that the HC/Wattpad deal protects these young authors.

 

Passive Guy takes a look at a recent Mike Shatzkin post on the future of Barnes and Nobel, the largest book retail chain in USA. It is looking shaky with shareholders calling for it to be sold. What does it have to do to survive? Is the future bookstore Amazon showrooms?

 

U K Society of Authors president, Phillip Pullman called this week for a return to fixed prices for books. This took publishing people by surprise. Can you really turn back the clock?

 

Kris Rusch has another fantastic blog post on Branding. Expanding your audience with slow growth. After you read her very wise words jump on over to Joanna Penn’s interview with Dean Wesley Smith on understanding copyright, intellectual property and how to license it. Dean and Kris are mentors to a whole lot of high flying authors. They are the best teachers of the business of writing around.
Ruth Harris has a brilliant post on the writers discomfort zone and how to survive and thrive in it. How do you turn anxiety into creativity?

 

Jane Friedman has a great post on using Amazon Ads and Joanna Penn has another standout chapter from her new Marketing Book. If you are thinking about publishing these are must read articles!

In The Craft Section,

3 ways to show not tell– Darcy Pattison
 
 
Story Tropes – Lazy or helpful– Jami Gold- Bookmark
 
 
Writing cliff hangers– Now Novel-Bookmark
 
Character motivation- Angela Ackerman- Bookmark
 
Two rules to write by– Print Posse
 
The Blueprint for writing a novel– Martina Boone- Bookmark!!! (print out)

In The Marketing Section,

Building relationships with readers– Rachel Thompson – Bookmark
 
 
 
Book Cover Design fundamentals– Joanna Penn- Bookmark
 
 

 

 
 
The importance of categories and keywords– Indies Unlimited- Bookmark
 
10 tips on working with illustrators– Kelly McMorris-Bookmark

To Finish,

If you are a long time reader of the blog you will know that I believe that authors need to work together collaboratively. It’s good for moral. It’s good for marketing. It’s good for accountability. It’s just good. Angela Ackerman has another six ways that working collaboratively eases the load and helps you weather the publishing changes.
Maureen
@Craicer

About Maureen Crisp

Maureen Crisp has been writing her weekly publishing roundups for over seven years. She is a traditionally published children's author as well as indie-published. She lives in New Zealand and is heading the team organising the 4th National Conference of Children's Writers and Illustrators. She is currently trying her hand at writing a children’s book series if she can drag herself away from forever tweaking her Mars novel or obsessing over space.