This week in the world of self-publishing:
2015 been a “quiet” year in publishing, writes Jonathon Sturgeon for FlavorWire in this December 23rd article––and self-publishing has not been exempt. As a small bright note, however, says Sturgeon, “adult coloring books and books ‘written by’ YouTube Megastars helped keep print books out of the red in 2015″––and many of these books were put out by indie, hybrid, and self-publishing authors. Looking ahead to 2016 may prove a bit more complicated, as Sturgeon goes on to say: “I will now make a series of extravagant claims about what will happen in book publishing in 2016. Some of these claims, I’ll admit right now, rest on little but the shaky edifice of intuition. Some rest elsewhere.” Among his predictions for 2016, Sturgeon predicts: “we will see the rise of the novel written by group or committee,” “we’re also likely to look on helplessly as computers write novels with increasing sophistication,” we should “Look for increased investment in Hollywood-style superprojects, and look for content that is fabricated especially for this purpose,” and “that publishing will lean harder on the multimedia blockbuster model of Hollywood because the ‘unexpected comeback of actual books’ is not as strong as we’re making it seem.” Sturgeon goes on to take a quick look at erotica and young adult literature, and given their huge popularity he concludes with one final prediction: “I also wouldn’t be surprised if we see a literary novel that emulates an erotic novel.” Whether or not he’s right on all fronts, FlavorWire is a massive distributor of information, much like BuzzFeed and PopSugar. It may not have the literary cachet of a Publisher’s Weekly article, but Sturgeon’s piece is likely to be read far and wide as an indicator of millennial attitudes towards publishing.
“Gone are the days where a writer had to send their manuscript by courier and hold their breath while waiting for a response,” writes Unity Blott in this December 24th article for the Daily Mail. “Now, thanks to e-book publishing, armed with just a laptop and an internet connection, anyone can be their own editor, agent and publisher.” She goes on to introduce four women––Mel Sherratt, Stephanie Hudson, Tracy Bloom, and Louise Ross––who, in her words, “got bored of waiting and took matters into their own hands.” Blott, who transcribes a brief interview with each woman, is keen to impress upon her own readers the value of independence and authorial control when it comes to publishing; each of these four women struggled to find their place in the world of traditional publishing, and found their homes––as well as an excellent sense of community and support––when they made the decision to strike out into the barely-tested waters of self-publishing. For more of Blott’s articles and information about Sherratt, Hudson, Bloom, and Ross, follow the link!
Says Pratima Shantaveeresh of the New Indian Express on December 24th, “Everyone has a book in them, but not all can put the first sentence down or sell the first book to a publisher.” Luckily, says Shantaveeresh, “there is The Write Club Bangalore, started in August 2011 to encourage aspiring authors.” The Write Club, only four years old, now has more than two thousand members––around 35 of which show up every week in Bangalore to practice, give each other feedback, and participate in a casual but rich atmosphere of mentorship and mutual support. The club’s principal organizer, author Sharath Komarraju, says that the group attracts “all kinds of writers … Those who treat it as a light hobby and want to write something fun every weekend, those who enjoy the social aspects of the club and attend to catch up with friends, and those who want to write and publish novels.” With a population of well over two million, Bangalore is the capital of India’s souther Karnataka state and a hotbed of literary talent and self-publishing. For more of Shantaveeresh’s article and an update on what’s happening in the publishing world in India, click here.
Echoing Shantaveeresh, Robert Kay begins his article for Hawaii Reporter (dated December 26th) with the line: “It’s been said that ‘everyone has a book in them.'” Kay––whose interest is, like Shantaveeresh’s, rather local––goes on to write that “Thanks to the Internet and the commensurate growth of technologies that support self-publishing, a number of Hawaii writers have taken the leap” into self-publishing. One of these authors, Mike Schmicker, has seen a great deal of recent success with his book The Witch of Napoli (“selling like hot cakes on Amazon,” says Kay). In March of 2015, The Witch of Napoli “hit the Amazon Top 100, ranking No. 41 in paid books out of 3.3 million books for sale in the Kindle bookstore”––and briefly “earned the No. 1 slot in both the historical fantasy and victorian historical romance categories in three countries — the U.S., Canada and England,” says Kay.
To read Kay’s full article and interview, chase the rabbit through this looking glass!
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.
ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog, kellyschuknecht.com.
