No one doubts that the publishing industry is making a seismic shift; the questions remaining have mostly to do with speculation over the final magnitude when
it’s all said and done, and the playing out of the aftershocks.
it’s all said and done, and the playing out of the aftershocks.
In the past
year alone, five writers I know here inAlaska ,
all successfully and traditionally published, have told me they’re seriously
exploring new ways to deliver their work to readers – and that’s only from the small
sample of writers I know well. One isFairbanks
author and 49 Writers instructor David Marusek, who kindly sent me three links
to timely pieces about the changing state of publishing, with permission to
share them with you.
year alone, five writers I know here in
all successfully and traditionally published, have told me they’re seriously
exploring new ways to deliver their work to readers – and that’s only from the small
sample of writers I know well. One is
author and 49 Writers instructor David Marusek, who kindly sent me three links
to timely pieces about the changing state of publishing, with permission to
share them with you.
“One of my models for ebook success,” Marusek writes, “is
the sci-fi thriller writer Jeff Carlson…he sent me a link to a current update
on one of his ebooks, a self-published novel fix-up of one of his popular
novellas. You’ll note that he…takes a hybrid approach, self-pubbing mixed with
traditional, including an upcoming book with Amazon’s 47North science fiction imprint.”
the sci-fi thriller writer Jeff Carlson…he sent me a link to a current update
on one of his ebooks, a self-published novel fix-up of one of his popular
novellas. You’ll note that he…takes a hybrid approach, self-pubbing mixed with
traditional, including an upcoming book with Amazon’s 47North science fiction imprint.”
Marusek also sent me this link to a post by John Scalzi, about “one of the big six trying to offload its
risk but stay in the driver’s seat.” Scalzi, says Marusek, “is a newish
bestselling sci-fi writer and probably one of the last of the breed who has
come up entirely via the traditional route.”
risk but stay in the driver’s seat.” Scalzi, says Marusek, “is a newish
bestselling sci-fi writer and probably one of the last of the breed who has
come up entirely via the traditional route.”
Finally, he shared a post
by Kris Rusch, which proved one of the smartest pieces I’ve read lately onchanges in the publishing industry: blunt, astute, to the point.
It would be lovely if as writers we could go about our
craft with nary a thought to how our books would reach readers, but such a
notion has gone the way of the petroglyph. Our best hope comes from
authors like Marusek who are both forward-thinking and generous with information and ideas about the State ofPublishing .
craft with nary a thought to how our books would reach readers, but such a
notion has gone the way of the petroglyph. Our best hope comes from
authors like Marusek who are both forward-thinking and generous with information and ideas about the State of
If you have links or thoughts to share on publishing –
traditional, alternative, or hybrid – send them to debvanasse (at)
gmail.com, subject line “Pub Corner.”
traditional, alternative, or hybrid – send them to debvanasse (at)
gmail.com, subject line “Pub Corner.”