Publishing News Roundup Series: The NYT Cuts Some Bestseller Lists and 1984 Makes the Bestseller List
by Maureen Crisp • January 30, 2017 • Follow
Published in Publishing Tips • No comments
As the NYT Bestseller lists start to shrink authors are beginning to worry.
It is difficult enough to get on these lists, and now it seems it will be even more difficult. Authors and illustrators, such as ones of the graphic novel genre, are worried for their now lowered chances of getting on bestselling lists. What will happen to these genres? Will they suffer from this list change?
The Merry Go Round
This week agents and publishers have been talking about changes to the New York Times Bestsellers List. In 2015 The NY Times added a lot of categories that were seen as good news for publishers and authors in the diverse and children’s markets. Not any more. It seems that most of the children’s books categories have been pulled leaving only MG and YA Hardcover and Picture Books and Series. Mass Market Paperback and Graphic Novel bestseller lists have been pulled. Print and Ebooks have been combined. Publishers Weekly reports on the changes. Publishers and Agents are already flagging that unless you have a lot of marketing dollars to go hardcover, chances will be slim to get on the list in future. In other news George Orwell’s 1984 is topping the Bestseller lists… I wonder why?
In the decline and fall category, but in a good way… Writer Beware points to the latest Bowker statistics. The drop in ISBN’s issued to Author Solutions companies…
Now that the Digital Book World Conference is finished, people are reporting on all the great ideas to take forward into 2017. Jane Friedman and Porter Anderson have a comprehensive roundup of ideas, themes and tips discussed. And Goodreads gets specific with their 7 Savvy Insights for Book Marketing from DBW17. Take some time to look at what everyone was talking about.
Joanna Penn has a guest post from Rachel Amphlett on her popular site about getting into libraries. Joanna also talks about 5 ways to make money from your books in 2017.
Elizabeth Craig has a great post on preorders. She has been trialing them and she writes about what impacts they have on her writing and sales.
Larry Brooks has an interesting post on the bottom line explanation of why authors fail. This is a must read and a soul search.
Roni Loren has an inspirational post on choosing a word that will encapsulate your writing year.
The 12 by 12 Picturebook challenge is on. Every year I say this year will be the year to do it… and then I get sidetracked. Go and have a look. It is awesome! Reminder also, Write On Con is coming soon…
In The Craft Section,
Reverse Outlining– Purdue University
Storyboarding your plot arcs– Bookmark
An authors guide to Book Subtitles-Ingram Spark Bookmark
Writing Memoir- Think outside the book– Anne R Allen- Bookmark
How to make a good story in 9 steps – Now Novel- Bookmark
In The Marketing Section,
7 things authors must do differently in 2017– Penny Sansevieri- Bookmark
Sell sheets – Judith Briales- on The Book Designer- Bookmark
Podcasting for authors -Sean Platt-Bookmark
The Bookblogger list– Bookmark
To Finish,
The SFF Marketing podcast is well worth your time. The team of Lindsay Buroker, Joe Lallo and Jeff Poole have great guests and the marketing discussions are universal. Their latest podcast is on the 80/20 marketing ruleand tips learned in 2016.
And if you are looking for more resources check out this list of Apps for the Serious Writer.
Get your writing plans locked in and jump on the Merry Go Round again.
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.