The Merry Go Round

As I write this, news is filtering out from agents and publishers on Twitter 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.

I haven’t been able to find an official report on this but I expect it will come soon. (Edit Update, Now out from Publishers Weekly) 
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 ISBNS 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.

Publishing Perspectives took a look at New Zealand’s Storylines Festival changes. If you haven’t caught up with the news... coming to a small town somewhere in the provinces this year...

Joanna Penn has a guest post from Rachel Amphlett on her popular site about getting into libraries. However if you are in Auckland on February 11^th you can see Joanna Penn in person and learn lots of tips about Self Publishing and Marketing books in person. 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

6 vocal tips to cultivate voice

How to make your home office work for you

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,

5 tips to create a cover that sells

Tech tools to produce and sell children’s books

7 things authors must do differently in 2017- Penny Sansevieri- 

Bookmark

Sell sheets – Judith Briales- on The Book Designer- Bookmark

Essential tips to promoting Non Fiction on Goodreads

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.

Everyone is heading back to school and work this week. Get your writing plans locked in and jump on the Merry Go Round again.

Maureen

@craicer

Pic from Flicker Creative Commons- Forsaken Fotos

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Steaming Into 2017

Hello 2017.

I was surfing the internet today looking for inspiring blog posts for the first roundup of the year and an avalanche of great thoughts from the publishing blogosphere came thick and fast.

While the Southern Hemisphere is taking off to the beach and shutting down for Summer, the Northern Hemisphere, where the bulk of the Traditional Publishers have their head offices, are planning and implementing changes.

The demise of publisher All Romance Ebooks hit romance writers hard. A going out of business email on the 28^th of December giving everybody 4 days notice is particularly nasty. Kristine Rusch writes about this and how it might have come about. 

If you are involved in publishing with a small press PLEASE READ IT! Even if you are not, you should read it because this scenario will be played out again and again with publishers big and small. This is a publishing economics lesson!

(And then read part two!)

If you are writing in the educational market then news that PRH is selling Pearson may be a small shock. Is 2017 going to be the year of big change in the textbook market?

Jane Friedman had a great roundup post of the important changes in publishing in 2016.

Jane references the Digital Book World conference, which is on at the moment and there is some great stuff coming out from that. (#DBW17) Porter Anderson talks about the opening day themes and where publishing might be heading in 2017.

Susan Spann is also looking at things writers might need to do differently in 2017. As a writer and a practising lawyer Susan is a fund of great information.

WriteOnCon, the online writing conference, is happening in February. For the first time there will be a charge but it is only $5. Take a look at the Schedule and drool.

Jane Friedman has two great posts on distribution. The new kid on the block, Pronoun, is offering great deals for authors who sign up with them and Should you be in an exclusive relationship with Amazon? (With 50% of print and digital sales, can you afford to turn your back on them?)

Ricardo Fayet of Reedsy has some great observations about author collaboration and how important he thinks it will be in 2017.

In The Craft Section,

How to start a story- Reedsy- Bookmark

Pacing and momentum in revision- April Bradley- Bookmark

Two interesting posts from Sara Letourneau. Writing Blurbs and Plot Arcs, pt 1. Bookmark both.

5 ways writers can screw up their characters

How to maximise your time for writing

Writing your next book.

In The Marketing Section,

7 Bookmarketing services to question- Jane Friedman- Bookmark

Book Cover credits- Mallory Rock

Setting Self Publishing goals, - Bibliocrunch

How to choose the best software for Print Design- Sarah Juckes for Alli - Bookmark

Negotiating Contract Options- Susan Spann

Tutorial on Using Canva for Social Media- Barb Drozdowich- Bookmark

How to market children’s books- Karen Inglis- Bookmark

To Finish,

Joanna Penn interviewed Kris Rusch recently and a fantastic interview it was too. Over the years I have learned a lot about how the business of writing works from Kris and Dean, her husband. Kris is free with her advice and time on her blog and there really is no one better to provide you with the long view in publishing and writing. 2017 is a new year. Kris talks about empowering authors to go out there and kick butt.

Maureen

@craicer

Pic: Flickr Creative Commons – Milo Bostock

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