While fairy tales are ancient, dating back to the Bronze age, fantasy turns out to be a revival movement, rising from the grave of the recent dead. Mention of the word fantasy is minimal through through the twentieth century, with some peaks here and there depending on your source. Around 1945, fantasy took flight, soaring up and up, well into the twenty-first century. Why the change? What summoned the word fantasy back to life in 1945?
There’s growing unrest surrounding the proliferation of free and cheap books, particularly ebooks. The reasons for sharp discounts and giveaways are legion (and some reasons are better than others), but regardless of the reason, I see greater shaming of those who are seen to “devalue” literature in our culture.
A round-up of publishing industry trend articles, helping freelancers and authors anticipate changes coming in 2018.
Issues touched on: Barnes & Noble woes, the maturity of the self-publishing market, Wattpad profits, traditional publishing’s problem launching blockbusters, and the growth of the Amazon ebook sales/borrows
What should writers do if they feel that an agent isn’t honoring their obligations, contractual or otherwise? What’s the best way to speak up?
Anthology advances are small, contributors have little stake in the sales of the book, and branding a collective group is hard. But anthologies are still valuable and worth the effort. Here’s why.
More books are translated in France than in any other country: 1 out of every 6 books has been translated from a foreign language, many from English.
I would never tell someone to publish with a hybrid publisher—every writer’s goals are unique, plus hybrid publishing puts the financial risk on the author.
I’m a contributor to a new essay collection, WHAT EDITORS DO, edited by Peter Ginna and published by University of Chicago Press.
I’m the featured guest on the new Backmatter podcast from Leanpub, which is focused specifically on the publishing industry and its latest trends.
Print sales for traditional publishers are increasing this year—up by 2.6% compared to the first half of 2016. Ebook sales are continuing their decline.
Tapas, a new digital publishing platform, has led to meaningful earnings and readership for independent artists and writers in less than two months.
Today, our problem is not finding more great things to read. It’s finding time to read the great many wonderful things that are published.
How do agents—generally considered the gatekeepers to publishing companies—approach the issue of diversity in the publishing industry?
Here are the latest stories that are causing confusion (and sometimes moral panic) where it’s not deserved.
Should you self-publish or traditionally publish? This infographic will help you determine the best choice for you and your project.
How do agenting styles vary within the same family? Are there generational differences when agents approach opportunities such as self- and hybrid publishing, which didn’t exist until a few years ago?
Discussions about the “resurgence” of print and the comeback of independent bookstores amounts to wishful thinking, not an understanding of the industry.
Did you know Amazon’s print book sales grew by 15% in 2016—and the gain was primarily driven by Amazon’s own discounting on print?
The most important thing any author needs to know about book distribution is that more than half of all book sales (regardless of format) take place online.
BEA is a quality industry event, and it is a legitimate marketing and promotion opportunity. But for the majority of indie authors, it does not make sense to invest what are likely your limited resources in BEA.
My industry newsletter for authors, The Hot Sheet, released a special (and free) issue last week with original reporting from Digital Book World.
In 2015, Kindle Press published about 90 novels. By the end of 2016, it had published a total of 218 books—all chosen through the Kindle Scout program.
Pronoun works with independent authors to distribute their ebooks to the five major online retailers: Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Google Play. Pronoun charges authors nothing upfront, and doesn’t take a cut of ebook sales either.
Is it better to look for a literary agent first, or to approach editors and publishers? Much depends on the commercial potential of your work.
A list of the best blogs and websites focused on literary fiction and culture
A round-up of important 2016 publishing news and trends that will affect authors in the years to come.
This week, I was a guest on the Create If Writing podcast, discussing traditional and independent publishing.
Traditional publishers are experiencing a slump, and the decline of Barnes & Noble isn’t helping. A look at news and trends in book publishing in 2016.
Author and freelance editor Maya Rock offers six pointers for vetting a freelance editor.
Most writers want an MFA for one of three reasons: They want to teach writing, they want to get published, or they want to make room in their life for writing. It turns out these reasons for doing an MFA are actually based on myths.
Should you self-publish? There is no single right answer to this question—it’s always situational. It depends on you, your book, and your career goals. This post outlines the key questions you should ask.
Learn how to determine what genre you’re writing in and why it matters—plus the difference between commercial and literary.
If you’re looking for an alternative to ACX and more control over your audiobook production and distribution, then ListenUp Audiobooks is worth a look.
Author and ghostwriter Stacy Ennis discusses the process of working with a ghostwriter and how to know if hiring a ghostwriter is right for you.
Author and ghostwriter Roz Morris discusses the necessary characteristics for a ghostwriter, as well as who hires ghostwriters and why.
For years, serialization has been discussed as a significant area of opportunity for reading and publishing in the digital age. (And note to the sticklers out there: I’m using the terms serial and serialization interchangeably to refer to any situation where content is parceled out in small bites and delivered on a specific schedule, whether the […]
Learn how you can prepare for the future of publishing in this free workshop by Jane Friedman.
The problem is not whether print will survive, but how literary publishing adapts to a world where to publish something has lost value.
Author Ken Brosky discusses his Kindle Scout book deal and his and Amazon’s marketing plans for The Proving.
What authors need to know about current marketing practices and emerging business trends in the book publishing industry.
Thriller author Todd Moss discusses the pitfalls of using current events as the basis for a novel.
Helen Sedwick and Orna Ross discuss selling international rights to your book.
The majority of authors will not benefit from paid book reviews, and should invest their time and money elsewhere. Here’s why.
Literary agent and publishing consultant April Eberhardt discusses effective book promotion, what makes writing exceptional from a publishing perspective, her preference for representing women’s fiction, and more in this 5 On interview.
Sangeeta Mehta interviews agent Brenda Bowen about the success of the children’s picture book Sweet Pea & Friends: The SheepOver.
I’m interviewed by Len Edgerly of The Kindle Chronicles.
In conversation with Joanna Penn, I discuss digital publishing trends and what authors need to know as they head into 2016.
No one used to question the value of a publisher, but now everyone’s wondering: What are they good for?
This printable and interactive checklist guides your self-publishing project to completion, to ensure you don’t miss any important steps and to help you hit your target pub date.