~shifting directions

Here we are, nearing the end of the fourth month of 2011…

I can’t believe the year is already a third over. Time flies when one is buried in both work and writing.

For those of you who occasionally check my blog, I apologize for my long absence and appreciate your loyalty.

The last several months have been a wake-up call for me. It all started at the San Francisco Writers Conference in February, where the predominate message on how to get published was nearly 180-degrees from that of last year’s conference.

In 2010, the traditional route to becoming a published writer  (i.e. via agent, publisher, etc.) was still being promoted at the conference as the smart and secure way to go. Those who were venturing into self-publishing were viewed with shaking heads and whispers of doom. But at the same time, some folks were watching the risk takers–and taking notes.

Several major events in 2010 and early 2011 indicated the wind was beginning to shift in the other direction.

The number of e-book purchases sailed past hard copy numbers in several categories, firing a warning shot across the publishing bow that the whole world felt. The bankruptcy of Borders was a direct hit, the first of many salvos that are continuing to rock the publishing industry.

The February 2011 Conference was aflame with the recent Borders news, yet highly optimistic about the changing publishing climate. And sessions on self-publishing, or indie publishing as it’s now being called, had an equal presence with those following the traditional, or legacy model.

In March, a new storm hit the publishing world as established author Barry Eisler walked away from signing a two-book, $500,000 contract with St. Martins Press to publish the books himself. And a week later, self-publishing darling Amanda Hocking signed a four-book $2,000,000 contract with the same St. Martins Press.

Needless to say, these two events left many folks scratching their heads.

But when it comes down to the dollars, both decisions make perfect sense. Barry retains control over his story and his release schedule (it can take up to two years for a book to hit the stores after signing with a publisher). What’s more important, and the deciding factor in his decision, is that he can earn more in the long term by publishing the books himself than he could using the traditional model.

For a little insight into Barry Eisler’s choice, check out this conversation between Barry and Joe Konrath. A follow-up to that post can be found here in Part 2.

Amanda Hocking, on the other hand, gained a legitimacy and recognition that is difficult for self-published writers to attain. She also now has a team behind her to take care of much of the publishing details, freeing her up to do more of what she loves–writing. To read about her decision, I encourage you to visit Amanda’s blog.

As for Amanda’s accounting, some would argue she could have made more by publishing those four books herself. But I don’t think she’s going to be hurting for money, because she still has her self-published titles that are selling well. And as print readers discover her books and visit her website, her self-pubbed works will keep selling.

Ultimately, these two authors did what they felt was in their best interests, and no one should question their decisions.

But we can watch the results of those decisions unfold, and learn from them.

I know I am, and I know which direction I’m heading.

I realize the self-pub route is difficult and requires a lot of work. But so does the traditional, and if I go that route, I have an uphill battle (see December’s ~biases in publishing).

My posts will be infrequent over the next several months as I re-position myself to publish on my own. I have a number of changes to make, both to blog and website, and a lot of preparation to get Watcher ready to hit the market by my target date.

So continue to check back once in awhile for news about the paradigm shift that is shaking up the publishing world. It’s a revolution that’s been a long time coming, and I’m excited to be a part of it.

8 thoughts on “~shifting directions

  1. Hey Roh; nice to see you pop back in.

    I admire e-pubbed authors who can put the time and energy into promoting their work. Of course, not all inde-pubbed authors were ready for publication either . .

    Either direction takes loads of patience and perserverance.

    ……….dhole

    1. Hi, Donna!

      Sorry I’ve been off the radar so much lately. Between writing and researching what direction to take my book, there’s not been any time to blog.

      I’d also kinda reached a point where I’d run out of things to say. But that has now changed, because I decided to share my research with everyone so that maybe they can benefit from it as well.

      Glad to be back, and thanks for stopping by!

  2. Yes, there has been a massive shift in the publishing world. But from speaking with the professionals in the UK at a recent conference, editors, publishers and agents alike seemed pretty positive about this. We shall have to wait and see.

    Good luck with your book! I’ve been taking a semi-blog sabbatical myself (only posting once a week now) till I get mine ready for agents. Yup, I’ll try the traditional route first, but you’ll never know…

    1. Hi J.C.!

      It seems the overall message is positive, regardless of whether it’s from the legacy publishing or the indie publishing side of the fence.

      There are so many options open to writers now. It’s a pretty exciting time, and I’m thrilled to be part of it.

      Thanks for stopping by!

  3. It’s a tough decision. I’m still on the fence. Check my blog on Sunday from a guest post on the subject from thriller writer Jeff Carlson, who is a successful, multipublished author who has recently tried the indie route to supplement his bestselling Penguin releases.

    1. Hi Anne!

      I just returned from visiting your blog – your April 3 and April 17 posts on self-publishing are great.

      I look forward to tomorrow’s guest post – thanks for stopping by to let me know about it!

    1. Thanks, Ryan. It’s a decision I’ve been mulling over for awhile, but I have no doubt that it’s the best way for me to go with Watcher.

      And thanks for believing in the story. That means a lot to me.

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