According to this article, What Does It Mean to Own a Book, by Minda Zetlin, writers need a heads up on the future of good old books on paper. When all the deals are made between Google and others like Google, with the publishers for books that can be bought and downloaded online, it is likely the writers who will be the losers.
She compares the coming downloading of books to what happened in the music industry.
Publishers have, for the most part, been remarkably slow and awkward in dealing with this new era when people read on mobile devices rather than paper. But sooner or later,
Google or someone else will come along and negotiate a subscription-based deal with the big New York publishers.
And authors will likely be out in the cold, collecting the text equivalent of four tenths of a cent per song, unless we do something about it.
This article on the site of the American Society of Journalists and Authors might be a forewarning of what is to come in the writing world. Read and tell us what you think.
The ASJA Monthly
Glenda-fascinating article! As to what I think-I don't know-I kinda see both sides : ) But like the music industry-I think the publishing industry is headed down that road and they will not be able to stop and turn around. I guess like the author said-the best thing to do is to be informed of all the subscription details your publisher may place in your contract.
ReplyDeleteJust returned from a big conference in Nashville and everything in this article was discussed. Attention was drawn to ebook published works that seem to have never seen an editor's eye. Agents are in a tither also, so much so I heard one lament all she wanted was her 15%...therefore it's up to the client to forward to her a well edited piece of work. The market is in a state of flux and we, the writers, must beware of who we send our work to, preferrably to a well recommended agent or editor.
ReplyDeleteNancy Purcell
Thank you, Nancy, for sharing what you learned at the conference. Every day I have questions from writers regarding publishing. It is a shame that the ease of publishing now has flooded the market with poorly edited books.
ReplyDeleteHi Tipper,
ReplyDeleteJust today I spoke with a former student of mine who was smart enough not to sign a contract that gave away all of her rights to her work. She said others she knew were ignorant to such things and I am afraid that is true for many new writers. Contracts must be carefully read and understood in any business.