Hard Learned Lessons

In Publishing News This Week

If you have been anywhere on publishing social media this week you will have seen the news that Hachette employees are attempting to unionise. Publishers Weekly writes why they have taken this step.

Book manufacturing is in for a shake up according to a report from The Book Manufacturers Institute. The increasing uncertainty of getting books printed in China into the Northern Hemisphere market in time for release dates have publishers looking at alternatives. Is this the end of offset printing?

Has anyone ever looked at small press sales and wondered if they are sitting on quiet goldmines? One HarperCollins exec did, left HC and set up a website dashboard to track sales. Publishers Weekly interviewed Jim Hanas and asked why? The answers are interesting if you are thinking of setting up a small press.

Publishing Perspectives dives into the Book Industry Study Groups Survey on AI in Publishing. The survey highlighted significant areas of concern – the list makes grim reading. Now that the publishing industry has been exposed as the Authors Guild pointed out, (covered in last weeks blog) will anything change?

Penguin Random House are pushing the boat out with books from three different imprints to take advantage of a new tv series. This is what authors dream of when they sign their rights away. The Publishing House has all these rights and never uses them. PRH is doing some significant world building and expecting a cash cow from Baldur’s Gate.

Michael Cairns has written an interesting essay on Publishing Perspectives about the changing power dynamic that AI is forcing on publishers. I was looking for a quote to explain the essay but there are so many I think you should read it instead. It should be required reading for publishers.

Reedsy have discovered an elaborate scam where the scammers went to the trouble to copy their website. Being Reedsy they show exactly what happened in a 10 minute video from their founder who attempted to contact the scammers.

Literary Agent, Erin Niumata, has also been dealing with scammers impersonating her and other Lit Agents. Among other warning signs she reiterates that reputable agents will never charge reading fees. Always check the website emails. Always ring and talk to the company is my advice. Although if you check the Reedsy video- you could be talking with a scammer so don’t use the phone number from their website. Find another way.

Richard Curtis writes about the role Literary agents play in the emotional support of the writer on his latest Inside Agenting blog. He recounts a twenty five year old story (that has echoes to a story last month) with tragic consequences to the writer involved.

Rachel Thompson has an essay on the ten lessons her cat taught her about writing. They are really lessons about life as well as the craft of writing.

Katie Weiland is running her annual matchup with a writing buddy over on Helping Writers Become Authors.

Don’t forget about Storybundle if you want exclusive writing craft books for a low price. (In last weeks blog.)

Have you thought about writing your story for a different audience? Yasmin Agoe thought writing monsters for Young Adults would be just like her writing for adults. How wrong she was. It taught her to write better, she says on Writing Unboxed.

In The Craft Section,

Why stories need both the hero and the heroine’s journey- Susan Watts- Bookmark

Writing Good Prose- The Alliance of independent authors – Updated.

Guide to keeping conflict on the page-Jeanne Kisacky- Bookmark

Write authentic emotion- Angela Ackermnan- Bookmark

Writing slice of life with the Kishotenketsu method- September Fawkes

In The Marketing Section,

Where Should I sell my book?- Sandra Beckwith

Kindlepreneur adds a Kindle page count royalty calculator on the Tools page. Bookmark this for all the free tools!

Preparing to leave Social Media- Interesting essay from Claire Taylor

Kevin Tumlinson on building a direct sales shop video.

The 3 frameworks of successful bookmarketing-Author Gold- Bookmark

To Finish

Mark Lefebvre has written an essay in praise of Indie bookstores. As an ex-bookseller he knows the importance of repeat customers. How are you supporting your local bookstore? Do they know you? Are you only there to talk about your books? Do you support them in other ways? This is a thoughtful post to celebrate Indie Bookstore day… which should be every day.

Maureen

@craicer

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