In Publishing News This Week
The Judge handed down a ruling on the Internet Archive Library copyright case which has annoyed the plaintiffs, (AKA some of the biggest publishers.) The judge is trying to steer a middle course by allowing the Internet Archive to stick with making eBooks of print books that don’t already have an eBook format. This stops the publishers or the authors who have reclaimed their rights doing their own eBook version. Publishing eBooks for in-print books is not fair use. Appeals to the ready.
With the ever louder clamour to ban books… various library organisations have banded together to promote the banned books. Penguin Random House has joined the party by making a whole lot of resources and books available to kids. Let Kids Read. I was nonplussed to read the opening remark in this news article. How can teachers think AI would tell them what books to ban?
Last week I reported on Jane Friedman’s woes with AI scraped books that had her name, and by extension reputation, plastered all over them. The story went viral and was reported on many international news sites, including our national radio programme. Jane has published an article on what to do if you are in a similar situation. Based on many writers testimony all over the internet- this is going to become more likely. One pundit stated that keeping a strict eye on your Amazon Author page where these books are likely to show up is essential. Amazon won’t do anything until you tell them to.
Wired has a story on the Prosecraft AI backlash- Why the great AI backlash came for a tiny startup you’ve probably never heard of. Are they just the convenient low hanging victim for scared people or is there some deeper motive in the AI backlash against them.
Writers in Kindle Unlimited were dismayed when the latest pages reads compensation got down to .0004 cents a page. Many writers publicly stated this was the end for them being in the KU program. Craig Martell of 20 Books fame devoted a 5 minute focus chat on this topic. If you are wondering what you should do check out the wise words of the 20 books captain.
Joanna Penn has an interesting interview with Steph Pajonas on using AI tools to help writers with disabilities. Some of the tools can be very useful.
Literary Agent Janet Reid explains why selling YA is so hard now. This is a good exploration of why some books can be the next hot thing until they aren’t.
Are you being eco friendly in your publishing? The Alliance of Independent Authors has an interesting article about how you can up your sustainability practice.
Chuck Wendig has an interesting post on why he is focussing on standalone books instead of series. It all has to do with rights. There are potentially more exploitable rights in standalones. An interesting perspective when everyone in the Indie world is paddling the other way.
Roz Morris has a great article on story telling details she now does on auto pilot. It all goes back to great editing teaching her a few tricks.
In The Craft Section,
What are pinch points and where do they go- Sue Coletta
How to determine the age of your target reader- C S Lakin- Bookmark
How to find the narrators voice- Michelle Barker- Bookmark
What are plot devices and why you should be cautious- K M Weiland- Bookmark
The basic formula of fiction- James Scott Bell- Bookmark
In The Marketing Section,
How to write a newsletter people will actually share- Lisa Norman- Bookmark
Best practices for selling books- Elizabeth Craig
Crafting an irresistible book pitch- Penny Sansevieri- Bookmark
The business of writing- Angela Ackerman
Author websites- Goodstory Company- Bookmark
To Finish,
How many times have you come up against the myth of the solitary writer? It has a certain romance to it. Left alone the writer will be most productive and their genius will flower naturally in a series of stunning books.
Yeah about that. The reality is a lot different. Writers need a community says Elizabeth Craig.
A few decades back there were writers who couldn’t deal with the world so needed the dutiful wife to do everything. This article looks at the wives who put up with a lot from their tortured genius writer spouses.
I would be reaching for the frying pan and not in a good way if I was shackled to these writers.
Maureen
@craicer
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Pic Getty Image from Latest WGA strike news
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