My predictions for what the blogosphere would be talking
about while I was taking a medical break were very nearly right.
The Self vs
Trad debate became an examination of the take home pay of the author. The Guardian got stuck in on Author Earnings... Even the NY Times weighed in on Author income.
Bob told everyone to grow up, again. It is all about fairness.
The Amazon /Hachette argument is still going on with Hugh Howey commenting yesterday on various open letters circulating and whether we
should be holding out for higher prices.
But the big news that has everyone
hopping around the publishing blogosphere is the launch of Kindle Unlimited.
This is a subscription service launched by Amazon. Authors who have their books
enrolled get a share of the monthly pot of gold set aside if their book is lent
through the service and at least 10% of it is read. (just think about
this level of attention to your personal reading habits that the mighty ZON
knows about you from your Kindle.) Is it worthwhile to the author?
Dave Gaughran examines the fors and againsts… and Mark Coker thinks they could do better... Many authors agree
that exclusivity can be a problem.
Outside of this...
Dean Wesley Smith has started a new series of thoughtful teaching posts for authors on thinking like publishers.
Kirkus has even elevated Indie publishing to legit with a great opinion piece on getting a publishing team together.
The big Thriller conference has happened and Joanna Penn had her mind blown... as it included a visit to the FBI who are anxious that
writers get it right, the conference delivered on many levels. Great Post!
The Killzone guys are having fun with a co operative marketing venture if Thrillers are your reading drug of choice.
Publishers Weekly has been looking at the issue of piracy especially that of YA authors books.
In the Craft Section,
Porter Anderson on use of one star and five star reviews to
boost or punish a writer.
Porter also has a thoughtful post on standing up writing desks and how they should be seriously considered by writers for their health.
(this is something I have been interested in for a while...)
In the Marketing Section,
Everything you ever wanted to know about Twitter. I use Twitter for research and I learned some good tips from this post.
How to grow your personal mailing list. (comprehensive post)
Lindsay Buroker - what I would do if I was starting today... (must read post)
Steve Scott has been looking at his author income in detail
over the last year...as he tried various things. This is an interesting post
with honest breakdowns...from a non fiction writer. (I wish I could find
something similar for children’s writers)
To Finish,
Writer Unboxed has a letter to my aspiring writer self...
which has struck a chord with writers who have added a few post scripts...
I’m on the slow recovery road...this means I get to read
more. I have just devoured James Scott Bell’s latest craft book. Write Your Novel From The Middle...seriously good.
No comments:
Post a Comment