I do think that the days of dead-tree books are numbered. They just take up too much room, cost too much to store and ship, and computer-age people like being able to carry a thousand books in their pocket and buy one at any time with the push of a few buttons. But like music- which is also now readily available on your computer or phone- they see the tons of free stuff out there and are more reluctant to pay up. Sure, a lot of the free stuff is garbage, but there's plenty of good stuff if you look. Also, people are spending so much time on Facebook and blogs and playing video games these days that I think most of us are reading fewer traditional novels and stories. Being a rich professional writer has always been a long shot, but obviously even moreso today. I think that people who build up a fan base- like Stephen King (we'll buy anything he puts out), or someone who offers a book or two free on the internet and they're good enough that people will read them, and want to pay for subsequent books- will be able to profit. There are a number of bloggers who developed a big fan base by writing for free, and then published a book and did well with it. But they could show the publishers: "I have 7 million followers on my blog, X% of them will buy a book by me." For a new unpublished writer without that.... it seems futile to even try. I don't think I have a point here.... just rambling. ;)
Can you provide a link to a representative of this theory?
ReplyDeleteI'll have to go have a look. This was an impulse question and personally I don't believe it. I'll dig out the links SK.
Deletehttp://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jul/11/traditional-publishing-fair-sustainable-society-of-authors This might actually be on point!
ReplyDeletehttp://damiengwalter.com/2014/07/06/books-arent-consumer-goods-that-is-whats-wrong/ Here's another.
ReplyDeleteI do think that the days of dead-tree books are numbered. They just take up too much room, cost too much to store and ship, and computer-age people like being able to carry a thousand books in their pocket and buy one at any time with the push of a few buttons. But like music- which is also now readily available on your computer or phone- they see the tons of free stuff out there and are more reluctant to pay up. Sure, a lot of the free stuff is garbage, but there's plenty of good stuff if you look. Also, people are spending so much time on Facebook and blogs and playing video games these days that I think most of us are reading fewer traditional novels and stories. Being a rich professional writer has always been a long shot, but obviously even moreso today. I think that people who build up a fan base- like Stephen King (we'll buy anything he puts out), or someone who offers a book or two free on the internet and they're good enough that people will read them, and want to pay for subsequent books- will be able to profit. There are a number of bloggers who developed a big fan base by writing for free, and then published a book and did well with it. But they could show the publishers: "I have 7 million followers on my blog, X% of them will buy a book by me." For a new unpublished writer without that.... it seems futile to even try. I don't think I have a point here.... just rambling. ;)
ReplyDelete