And now for the news!
Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing, specifically news from or regarding self-publishing companies!
First off, that article everyone has been talking about. You know the one! It appeared on HuffPost earlier this week courtesy of Devishobha Chandramouli, an author and entrepreneur. And if you’re like me and were immediately turned off by the title (“oh, it’s clearly set against self-publishing!”) … well, give it a chance! It’s actually one of the most elegantly worded defenses of self-publishing to come out in recent years in any medium and on any platform. Chandramouli distills down the benefits of self-publishing to six key ones, points we’ve talked about at various points on this blog: everything from rights and royalties to self-publishing’s failure to “slow down” despite industry predictions, from achieving marquee success with certain breakout stars to the slow but steady disappearance of the stigma which has so often surrounded it. But Chandramouli also presents a few realistic points of warning: that self-publishing still requires good writing to make a success out of a book, and that it places more responsibility on the author than in the traditional publishing model. We’re excited to see what Chandramouli does (and writes!) next, and highly recommend you read her full article at the link.
Ever been curious what the situation of self-publishing might be abroad, in other countries? We’ve mentioned India before in previous weeks as a hotbed for self-publishing creativity, but here’s a little concrete news about publishing companies in India courtesy of the India Blooms news service, which has the latest on which companies self-publishing authors in India are choosing to publish through. The list is packed with names that might be unfamiliar to our North American readers: Power Publishers, Notion Press, Partridge Publishing (part of Author Solutions), Pothi, and Educreation. Of these five, only one was founded and is based out of India (Partridge); the rest are home-grown and proud of it. For more about what has made these companies a breakout success in one of Asia’s hottest literary markets, read the full article at India Blooms!
As we’ve mentioned before (and regularly) on Self-Publishing Advisor, books don’t have exclusive rights to self-publishing: arts and media of all kinds have found ways to support new, creator-centric platforms which celebrate diverse kinds of art and place the creative control, rights, and the bulk of the earnings back in the hands of their creators. We’ve written about self-published digital magazines–ezines–before, too, and at length … but what else has been happening in the world of catalogs and magazines? Are there other models for what self-publishing can look like in this publishing sphere?
The answer, according to Patrick Henry of Printing Impressions, is a resounding yes! In fact, DigiPub may just have a great new answer to the ongoing question he poses in his opening to this great article: “do they have a grip on the future?” He reports on his experience at this year’s DigiPub conference, and many of the products and people who were there to discuss options. It’s a fascinating article, and not one you want to miss if you love the glossies and are curious about if there’s a place for you among their pages!
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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