Hmmm, it is the Wild West in the publishing world these days. At least, two NY publishers have opened self-publishing branches. Authors are worried that their publisher brand will become synonymous with vanity press and poorly executed work. There is a lot of worry that the minimal paychecks writers receive now will become even smaller. That writing as a career will disappear for all but the very giant names- writers who are in essence their own corporations. The novel is dead. Books are gone. Anyone with the gumption to put words to computer screen can be published. The sky is falling. The sky is falling.
Truth is we are in a time of change- change driven by business models that aren't working in a global economic turn down. Desperate corporations are trying anything to make a buck to keep their shareholders happy. Workers of all levels lose out. What can you do?
Breathe in and out. Write the best book you know how. Keep improving your craft. Be willing to change when change happens and remember--we live in interesting times.
It's kind of scary dipping my toe into the publishing world when it's in the middle of such a big transition. But I have a feeling change will become a norm soon. With technology advancing as fast as it is, I have a feeling nothing will stay the same, so I might as well get used to a swift current now, huh?
ReplyDeleteWho are the publishers?????
ReplyDeleteHarlequin and I think, Thomas Nelson.(I need to triple check the latter.)
ReplyDelete