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 28th 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.
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
