And now for the news!
This week in the world of self-publishing:
“I’ve got an agent. So now what?” asks William Kowalski as he opens this October 1st article for AuthorLink. You wait and you wait, but nothing happens. “If your agent hasn’t managed to sell your book within a year or so, you may be justified in moving on,” he writes before urging authors not to wait that long before opting to go with self-publishing. He acknowledges the checkered past attributed to authors choosing this route (“It was the last resort of the unpublishable, the illiterate, the hack, and the crank who couldn’t get anyone to take him seriously.”) before moving on to defend it as anything but:
There is nothing inherently wrong with self-publishing. It does not mean the author is devoid of skill; it means that the commercial publishing world does not yet see a market for it. There’s a big difference.
[…]
I think that writers are on the right side of the historical tsunami that is currently sweeping over the publishing world. As of this writing, it is no exaggeration to say that the publishing industry is on life support, and is not expected to recover. It’s really that simple.
And it is. Kowalski gives ample attention to authors of genre fiction as well as hybrid and experimental works, “literary fiction,” and the constant struggle to make peace with traditional publishing and all of its attendant demands. An all-around fascinating piece, you can check out Kowalski’s article at the link.
A lot has been made recently of Rupi Kaur’s self-publishing blockbuster success with milk and honey–yes, that’s all lower-case in e.e. cummings fashion–a collection of poetry with a firm grip on the bestseller list despite its complete lack of traditional connections. “Forget Wordsworth, Whitman and Yeats. A new generation of inspiring young female poets are changing the way we look at the form, using social media to reach their rapidly growing fanbase,” writes Stephen Russell in his October 1st piece for The New Daily. Because Kaur’s not the only young female poet making a mark in the world this year, and she’s not even the only young female self-publishing poet. Although Kaur’s book has been picked up by AMP after proving it had legs, she’s just one of several “insta-poets” AMP’s publisher and president Kirsty Melville says to watch out for, according to Russell: “These young poets write as a way of communicating their inner lives in a very relateable way, and in a form that is readily shareable.” By choosing to self-publish on Instagram and other social media websites, Melville says, readers are given “immediate access to poets’ written and performative work and this immediacy engenders a closer emotional connection.” Kaur is in good company, with “insta-poets” Lang Leav, Cleo Wade, Hera Lindsay Bird, and Alicia Cook round out Russell’s list of authors to watch out for. To read more, click here.
The people behind Indie Author Day 2016 are spreading the word of a new opportunity related to their upcoming event in this press release posted to Digital Journal on September 28th. The event, taking place at the Montclair (N.J.) Public Library, is one to watch! It will feature Jane Tabachnick, a book promotion consultant (with her own website and everything!) and take place on October 8th along with all other IAD2016 activities, the featured online streaming element of which is scheduled to begin at 2 PM EST. According to the organizers, Tabachnick “will outline the key components for publishing and promoting your book successfully,” and will focus on “best practices for self-publishing and book promotion”:
While the industry often speaks about the two sides of publishing – tradition and self-published, Ms. Tabachnick will speak about the complexities of self-publishing, which underscores that it is more than one single method, in contrast to traditional publishing. She will cover the range of options for authors to consider within self-publishing, going over the pros and cons of each strategy, so that authors will be better informed about how to position themselves for success She will also cover top book promotion strategies including no cost, low cost and premium options.
Tabachnick’s panel will take place just before the main event, from 12 noon to 1 PM, and while there’s no word yet on whether any of the on-site interviews will be archived for public access, the Montclair Public Library encourages drop-ins and last-minute registrations. So if you’re in New Jersey on the 8th of this month, consider swinging by their website to learn more!
As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self-publishing industry. This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self-publishing process, which will lead to a greater self-publishing experience. To help you stay current on self-publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Monday to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.
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