Monday, November 19, 2012

Where is Publishing Headed



With Amazon removing buy buttons from the Big Six publishers, where does the author go to have their manuscript published?

Amazon has also removed numerous reviews because of the hint of purchased reviews, which authors have admitted to so they could rank higher and sell more books.

With thousands of books written per year, and Amazon flexing its muscle, are authors suspected to publish according to whatever terms Amazon dictates, or find company to create the book and let the author sell and market their book themselves?

Traditional publishers currently ask authors about followers and request a marketing plan. Authors have two options:
  1. Hire a publicist to market their book
  2. Learn how to publicize and market their book on their own
As authors, forced into marketing mode, when are they going to find time to write their next book? Will there be fewer books written? Will there be fewer people wanting to write or even have a desire to be creative?

There are new indie publishers springing up almost daily. What do these indie publishers offer the author? Are they willing to help the author publicize, promote, and market books for authors, doubtful at best?

What this boils down to is the fact that authors are out in the cold even more than they were before. 

More than ever, authors had better learn about contracts, publicity, promotion, social media, scheduling book tours, book signings, media kits, designing a marketing plan, where to sell their books, or save for hiring a professional to do it for them.

Hiring professionals for publicity and promotion can be very expensive. Acquiring an agent is difficult and expensive; an agent is not the end all that authors believe it is.

Robert Medak
Freelance Writer/Blogger/Editor/Proofreader/Reviewer/Marketer

6 comments:

  1. It's certainly a brave new world for authors Robert. A publisher isn't the end-all that authors believe it is either, but however an author gets published, going in naively is foolish.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True, Magdalena. Authors must learn about the book business.

      Delete
  2. It is a difficult career for the author. We who produce the project are the last to see an advantages. But we persevere because we must!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Heidi, persevere and also learn about the business of writing, because it is a business.

      Delete
  3. Great advice! I have alot to learn so I appreciate this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The more I learn,it seems there is much more to learn, Debbie.

      Delete

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