Resources and tips for the self-published author.

Writing has always been a human form of art.

What happens when AI takes over writing? How will it affect the art of writing and what will it do to authors?

What is your goal?

Around the publishing blogosphere this week…
What is the biggest threat to the print industry at the moment? Ho hum you think… another article about digital or audiobooks… NO. The lack of paper for printing is starting to make itself felt.  Publisher’s Weekly reports that at the recent BISG conference, it was the number one topic.


Somebody hasn’t told Wattpad that there is a shortage of paper… They are steaming ahead with their print publishing arm. Their first offerings are off to a great start after being chosen by an AI.


Amazon this week trumpeted that you could contact them and talk to a human… They meant Alexa… who isn’t human. However, this raised an interesting point. What happens to copyright if an AI writes the book? Passive Guy took a look at what’s happening in the music world with AI scores.


If you have parted ways with your agent, how much should you disclose about the relationship to another agent? Bookends Literary talks about agent baggage.


Meanwhile, in the print distribution business… the only US competitor for Ingram has just thrown in the towel with their retail wholesale division. The industry pushed back when Ingram wanted to buy Barker &Taylor last year, because of the power one distributor would have in the marketplace. Who is laughing now? Not the publishers.


If you are wondering how Bookstores are doing this year check out this comprehensive article by Nancy Herther for Against The Grain– a blog site for bookstores, libraries, and publishers. If indie bookstores are struggling why is Amazon opening up more bricks and mortar stores? Are Indie bookstores really taking a hit? 


Every time I turn around Streelib seems to be doing something interesting... (Hmmm their  goal could be world domination outside the US/ UK.) They are getting into Apps. Their press release this week announced they had partnered with Stary which has over one million users in the 10 months it’s been operating. Stary is just like Wattpad and we know what happened there… 


Jami Gold has a great article on The Power of Character Arcs. If you were one of the many who saw Endgame this week. This discussion on drive and focus is the article for you. (There are no spoilers.)

In The Craft Section,

Making a big revision– Jami Gold- Bookmark


How to treat your setting like a character– Kyle Massa- Bookmark


7 tips to make your monsters meaty


Stay on target – Janice Hardy


7 thoughts about collaboration- Dan Brotzel- Bookmark

In The Marketing Section,

How to reduce marketing anxiety– Booklife


Author publicity for the camera shy– Bookworks- Bookmark




Ten reasons to run your writing like a business– Leigh Shulman- Bookmark


An informal guide to understanding facebook ad jargon– Digitalgal


No one is born famous– Penny Sansevieri


How to write effective facebook sponsored posts– Social Media Examiner- Bookmark 

To Finish,

Kristine Rusch has a very interesting post on goal setting this week. How often do you set little goals? This is a mindset shift which may end up changing your work life completely. My To Do list has To Do Lists on it… I’m off to break it all up.


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.