Does digital publishing mean the death of the author? | Richard Lea

We used to know what it took to be a writer – you had to publish a book. But electronic publishing is piling pressure on myths of the author's lifeWhat's the difference between making money out of books and writing books that people want to buy? Turns out it's about 40% – if, that is, you believe this year's Digital Book World (DBW) survey.Only 20% of the 1,600 self-published authors surveyed, and just a quarter of the almost 800 writers with a traditional book deal, judged it "extremely important" to "make money writing books". Shift the issue to publishing "a book that people will buy" and the figures leap to 56% and 60% respectively.But of course, you say – this is literature we're talking about. These authors have loftier concerns than the grubby business of making money. Art is their province. If they must consort with the commercial world to find an audience, then so be it. But heaven forfend they should be interested in something so base as raking in the cash.Except, in the digital age this kind of logic just doesn't wash. If all you're interested in is finding an audience for your work, then electronic distribution allows you to find it without any connection to the marketplace at all. Write your masterpiece, stick it on your website, and sound the trumpets for the victory of Pallas Athene. Or, if what you're really looking for is the grateful adulation of your adoring fans, stick it on Scribophile or WritersCafe and get ready to feel the love. These days the only... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #digital revolution

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Does digital publishing mean the death of the author? | Richard Lea'


NewFronts or TV upfronts? Lines blur as digital publishers mature

The themes of the 2019 Digital Content NewFronts all felt very familiar: Digital publishers spoke profusely about brand safety, original programming and scale. They are the same themes that will likely dominate the upfronts later this month, when TV networks pitch their new programming and ad... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #johnson johnson #ad formats #garett sloane


US Authors Guild Praises Nora Roberts’ Legal Action on Digital Plagiarism

The leading author-advocacy trade organization in the United States announces that it's in talks with Amazon on issues of 'plagiarism and scams.' The post US Authors Guild Praises Nora Roberts’ Legal Action on Digital Plagiarism appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #legal action


TLA 2019: A Blast for Librarians, Publishers, and Authors

More than 7,000 librarians, 450 exhibitors, and nearly 300 authors and illustrators participated in the 2019 Texas Library Association Annual Conference, held April 15–18 in Austin. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Richard Charkin: Reflections on Publishing Association Work

Richard Charkin looks back at his four decades with the UK's Publishers Association and the many book publishing issues the PA dealt with. The post Richard Charkin: Reflections on Publishing Association Work appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #richard charkin #publishers association


Curbside Splendor Under Fire by Authors, Goes On Publishing Hiatus

Curbside Splendor has gone on a publishing hiatus this year as the 10-year-old literary press responds to author complaints of not receiving royalties by terminating contracts and reverting rights to books to their authors. Publisher Victor Giron hopes to resume publishing books in 2020. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Cranachan Publishing signs debut author Joan Haig

Scottish publisher Cranachan has signed debut author Joan Haig to its middle-grade imprint, Pokey Hat, for her first title Tiger Skin Rug. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


‘Grand experiment’: Digital publishers see Apple News+ as a testbed, not savior

Publishers including Vox Media, Business Insider and theSkimm will use Apple News+ to test things that will develop their own consumer revenue operations. The post ‘Grand experiment’: Digital publishers see Apple News+ as a testbed, not savior appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2019-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital publishers #business insider


Content Blockchain Project Wins One of Germany’s Digital Publishing Awards

The Content Blockchain project, a collaborative effort among three companies, includes the development of the ISCC, an identifier of content in a decentralized ledger environment. The post Content Blockchain Project Wins One of Germany’s Digital Publishing Awards appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Why this digital publisher refuses to blame Facebook for media's woes

Subscribe to us on iTunes, check us out on Spotify and hear us on Stitcher, Google Play and iHeartRadio too. This is our RSS feed. Tell a friend!Ben Lerer has a message for digital publishers: Stop blaming the big, bad duopoly for eating your homework. Continue reading at AdAge.com Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #google play #rss feed #digital publishers


Why video is still the best investment for digital publishers

Today, video is recognized as the most important medium for viewer engagement. Despite a competitive environment publishers still are aware of the importance of engaging audiences via video. From building trust in the content to gaining internal confidence in a video strategy, here are a few... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2019-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #video strategy #digital publishers #important medium


Publisher, Author Groups Protest Library Book Scanning Program

More than 36 organizations from around the world have spoken out against a library book scanning program known as "controlled digital lending," dubbing the practice "systematic infringement." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #systematic infringement


Richard Charkin: Nine Lessons From a Small Indie Publisher

'Time will tell whether Mensch has published its first triumph or its first turkey,' writes Richard Charkin, small press publisher. The post Richard Charkin: Nine Lessons From a Small Indie Publisher appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #richard charkin


US Publishers Slam ‘CDL’ as ‘Systematic Infringement’ as UK Authors Write to Foundations

In a growing controversy over the Internet Archive's handling of copyrighted material, the Association of American Publishers joins complaints from authors' organizations. The post US Publishers Slam ‘CDL’ as ‘Systematic Infringement’ as UK Authors Write to Foundations appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #systematic infringement #internet archive #copyrighted material


Bloomsbury India begins academic publishing with local authors

Bloomsbury is starting academic publishing in India this year as it continues to evolve its business in the country. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #local authors


HQ acquires three crime novels from digital author O'Sullivan

Digital author Darren O'Sullivan will join the HQ Fiction list after the HarperCollins imprint acquired three of his crime novels. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hq acquires #crime novels


Wildfire to publish 'history of lies' by Humans author Tom Phillips

Wildfire has acquired the second book of Humans author Tom Phillips, looking at "the ingenious ways, throughout history, we've managed to avoid telling the truth" Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ve managed


Rise in union activity is clashing with digital publishing’s business struggles

Union inroads into media have many observers predicting a better long-term future for beleaguered newsroom employees. The post Rise in union activity is clashing with digital publishing’s business struggles appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-12-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post rise #digital publishing


Richard Charkin: Don’ts for Publishers in 2019

Change 'may be neither necessary nor useful,' Richard Charkin says, in contemplating the coming year for publishing companies. Skip the strategy meeting. The post Richard Charkin: Don’ts for Publishers in 2019 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #richard charkin #coming year #publishing companies


Slate's editorial staff goes on strike as tensions at digital publisher escalate

Writers and editors at Slate have voted nearly unanimously to green-light a strike, escalating tensions between the digital publication and its newly unionized employees.Slate's editorial employees authorized the potential strike by a vote of 52 to 1, according to a spokesman for the Writers... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2018-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #president trump


Ad buyers: Don’t blame us for the death of the publishing middle class

The demise of Mic has become a cautionary tale for media that relied too heavily on Facebook and tried to be everything to everyone. The post Ad buyers: Don’t blame us for the death of the publishing middle class appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ad buyers #cautionary tale