Publishing News Roundup Series: Audiobooks Hit Big and The Rise of Children’s Publishing in China
by Maureen Crisp • December 3, 2018 • Follow
Published in News • No comments
Publishing is changing and continuing to grow.
Just when we thought the publishing world was saturated, new markets are continuing to grow. Audiobooks are on the rise, particularly though use on mobile phones. Across the world in China, children’s publishing has hit a hot spot. How can self-published authors take advantage of these market growths?
Are You Part Of The Resistance
Pic Flickr Creative Commons – Paul VanDerWerf
Hands up if you have listened to a podcast lately.
Hands up if you have read a book or a long-form essay on your phone.
The rise and rise of audiobooks and podcasts are making traditional publishers sit up and take notice. Publishing trends reports on the voice first generation. With the rise in voice AI assistants such as Alexa and Siri able to take on audiobook narration, publishers need to be thinking about audio books first not last.
I was interested in an article this week from Publishing Perspectives about the rise in children’s publishing in China. This was an almost non-existent market fifteen years ago. In the usual China fashion when the behemoth makes a decision the market can change almost overnight and so it is with children’s publishing. Stop and think what an opportunity awaits the savvy entrepreneur who markets into their school system.
Mailchimp is a popular email newsletter provider. If you have ever subscribed to an email list chance are high that you have received it from Mailchimp. Many authors use their platform to send out newsletters. (myself included) Mailchimp has recently teamed up with Square to offer a point of sale shop on a landing page. For any author who has wondered about direct sales, this is an interesting development.
Staying with tech tools for writers- Dave Chesson has pulled together his favourites. There might be something in there for you.
Joanna Penn has an interesting article on 7 mistakes that Non-Fiction writers make. How do you know if your idea is a good one, is one of them?
Kris Rusch has a great article on resistance. Are you getting in your own way when it comes to making a decision about projects? If you have ever second-guessed yourself or put writing projects away because someone else told you it wouldn’t fly… READ THIS ARTICLE!
Anne R Allen has two great pieces of writing advice. Confessions of a slow writer… and Stupid writing rules. They are both timely for NaNo and important just for the freedom to write without a nagging sense of doubt. Share them around with your writing groups.
In The Craft Section,
Can you put lyrics in your book– Bookbaby – Bookmark
Resources for NaNoWriMo
Don’t forget to check out the Storybundle Nano collection. There are some great books on offer here going very cheap!
In The Marketing Section,
To Finish,
The first of the holiday gift lists for writers have appeared with Write Life first off the mark this year. As it’s Thanksgiving in the US there are lots of specials on hand for writers in the tech scene Nate Hoffelder has the list.
If you relaxing after stuffing yourself… Take a look at this iconic Thanksgiving song by the master storyteller Arlo Guthrie.
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.