Predictions for 2013
have been circulating the publishing blogosphere over the last week.
Will we be down to 3
mega publishers by years end?
Will Amazon drop free?
Tablets over e-readers
over print?
What kind of gatekeepers
will be around for the new new new publishing order?
With the publishing
business going through a revolution every other week...most predictors have
thrown up their hands saying we can’t predict anything!
One person who has stuck his neck out is Mark Coker of Smashwords. Mark has a unique position to comment
from. As an author and Bright Guy behind Smashwords he straddles not only the
publishing distribution side but also the trenches of the content providers
bearing the flag for small publishers and indie authors. He has 21 predictions and an in depth analysis of why he thinks each one will happen. (grab a big
coffee)
Kristen Lamb has also stuck her sword into the ground and put together some interesting comments on what is coming in 2013. She has some great ideas on how you can use different ratings
on different editions too. Great food for thought in 2013. Kristen had a huge
2012 establishing the international WANA Tribe community along with a busy
writing and speaking schedule...(Raise a glass to her)
What will happen to literary agents in 2013...their role is changing as rapidly as publishing.
For other
writers...the emphasis is not on what they think will happen outside the walls
of their study but what they should be focusing on inside.
Dean Wesley Smith is
always a quality read...he has his list of what writers should be thinking about going into 2013. This is GOOD ADVICE. (take with a nice boutique beer)
For those that want Chucks take on 2013 and writing....take a deep breath and plunge in.
(warning it’s Chuck! You could need a stiff drink!)
The NY Times has even
started their year with a look at publishing...but of a different sort. A book
designer fed up crappy covers on classic books has taken books he loves but
can’t find new editions of and is redesigning them and publishing them himself
under the Whisky Priest label. (cool label!)
e Singles burst onto
the publishing scene last year. PaidContent looks at why and what this year may hold for eSingle writers.
Passive Guy has an IP lawyer talk about legal issues in publishing...how much can you quote? (share
out the rest of the Christmas cake)
Rachelle Gardner looks at working in 90 minute increments...break for a drink.
Catherine Ryan Howard
has written a great article on ebook pricing and why she is moving all over the
place with it...(too much espresso? LOL)
Catherine uses Gumroad on her website to sell her books and this intrigued me so I investigated.
Pretty nifty outfit similar to PayPal but it means buyers don’t need to belong
to PayPal to use it and sellers can get shortened links to embed directly into
websites.
In Craft,
The brilliant K M
Weiland has been continuing her examination of scene structure. Take a look at
story scene structure part three and four and it will be completely
obvious why a major publisher has asked her to take some classics and apply her
magnifying glass to their construction this year.
Editor Lyn Price has a
close look at the multifunctional life of dialog tags used right.
In Marketing,
It’s time to look at
author websites...Have you cleaned up your website?
To finish,
Joanna Penn also had a
huge 2012...She looks back at her achievements and how she is working on a refined plan for this year. Plan A: indie career, working with her agent, continuing
her series, starting another one, audio books, podcasts, her online courses,
speaking schedule...
(Pass out in envy
overload.)
maureen
photo from Flicker/
Dinner series. (Mojitos...yum!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dinnerseries/6005326941/sizes/m/in/photostream/
