In Publishing News this week,
Recently a publishing industry analyst in America predicted that 2023 would be a year of transition for the publishing industry. Change is scary for a conservative industry. Many big publishers will hang on to old ways of doing business for as long as possible while closing their eyes to the swells gathering momentum, ready to break over their heads. Mark Williams has a quick rundown on what publishers should be preparing for.
Meanwhile in the UK, the BBC reports on Welsh publishers who can no longer absorb rising print and paper costs. Either they stop publishing or they raise prices. What will they do?
Over in Germany, RTL Deutschland, owned by Bertelsmann, is responding to the “rapidly changing media landscape” by closing 23 magazines with the loss of over 500 jobs.
Publishing Perspectives reports on China’s rapidly declining bookstore sales but there is an upsurge in digital book sales. Once again children’s books are saving the publishers.
Around the Indie publishing watercooler, the talk is the rights grab clause appearing in Findaway Audiobooks contract. (Schedule D) Apple is able to use your audiobook to teach its AI voice. ‘Not on,’ scream the writers. However, it’s not the writers who lose out, it’s the narrators. They own the rights to their voice. An article on the problems of voice over artists and AI spells out what is coming.
AI isn’t all bad, says David Meerman Scott. He has an interesting article about how he uses the tool to work with articles he has already written. Think of it as a super-fast word processing assistant that can repurpose your own content.
Kelley Way has collected the top articles on Intellectual Property from 2022 that appeared on the Writer Fun Zone. If you need a quick refresher on what is your IP and how to use it to your advantage- check out this comprehensive list.
Victoria Strauss has a roundup of last year’s big writing scams, shonky contract clauses and vanity publishers who rip people off. Remember that money flows to the writer. If a publishing company asks for money to print your book…tread very carefully as you run in the other direction.
The Guardian reports that the Women’s Prize Trust is expanding their writing prize to include a new Non Fiction prize.
Anne R Allen has a great post on Beta readers. What they are and how to manage them. First, figure out what you want them to focus on when they read your book.
Scott Myers has a great article on high concept vs strong concept in writing. Check it out to see which one is best.
In The Craft Section,
Are you writing a shiny idea or a robust story- Sandy Vaile- Bookmark
A books worth of character development questions and articles- Now Novel – Bookmark
How to write a rich setting- Donna Jo Stone
How to write physical pain- Becca Puglisi- Bookmark
Tips for dealing with the passage of time- K M Weiland
In The Marketing Section,
24 quirky March promotions for your book- Sandra Beckwith- Bookmark
The lazy authors guide to platform building- David Gaughran
How to use comp titles- -Robin Currie-Bookmark
Why you should have a blog- Nina Amir
A step by step guide to using Booktok- Penny Sansevieri- Bookmark
To Finish,
Roz Morris has an interesting article on how easy reading is hard writing. In it she reflects on the writer process and how every writer has their own unique way of coming to grips with a story. Many writers take years to nail down a process that works for them.
Kris Rusch also writes about process in her latest blog post. When the world feels like its falling apart your process can get you through the tough times. When sales drop off, when marketing feels useless. When you slog through the story.
You write the book word by word. And that is all that is needed.
Maureen
@craicer
Do you want the best of my bookmarked links in a handy monthly newsletter?
If you like the blog and want to shout me a coffee, hit the coffee button up top or here. I appreciate virtual coffee love.
Thanks.
Pic: Photo by Matt Paul Catalano on Unsplash
