By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
As authors and writers, we’re always learning about resources and industry tools that we can use to improve our book project performance and the enjoyment of our writing and marketing experiences. Today let’s talk about e-publishing and the constantly changing face of the digital publishing world.
To start with, maybe you’ve seen others reading ebooks on their laptop, Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader, iPad or other digital reader or maybe you even have one of your own.
Today, more than ever, there are a variety of ways to get published. One of the most fascinating methods is using digital book publishing or e-publishing. On the rise now for a few years and these days growing at a fiercely rapid pace, digital book publishing is more prevalent than ever. If you haven’t heard about it, then you must be hiding under a rock. If you’re not sure what it really means, that’s another story and one that’s more common than ever among writers.
Just take a look in your favorite search engine and search for e-publishing. When I did this, I received more than one hundred million results!
There is lots of information available now – almost too much – that could make your head spin. Ironically, digital publishing is really intended to simplify and speed up the production, publication and promotion of your book. Confusing? For many, it is.
Determining your own book publishing strategy first is the highest and best way to approach the digital publishing options available for your project.
Take a look at the variety of people who are saying that traditional book publishing will go away in favor of digital options.
32-year-publishing veteran Jerry D. Simmons, former VP of Field Sales with both Random House and the former Time-Warner Book Group said, “The New York publishing business model is dead,” in his interview published in an article on Technorati.com this summer. In the article, Simmons answered questions about e-publishing and what it means to the book business. (Source: Seasoned Publisher Says E-Publishing Will Replace Traditional Books by Lynn Voedisch and published on Technorati.com July 27, 2010)
New York Times bestseller Seth Godin also said in his interview this summer with MediaBistro’s Jeff Rivera, “I’ve decided not to publish any more books in the traditional way.”…”I can reach 10 or 50 times as many people electronically.” (Source: New York Times Bestseller Seth Godin to No Longer Publish Books Traditionally by Jeff Rivera and published on MediaBistro.com’s GalleyCat website on August 20, 2010)
And then there’s fiction writer J.A. Konrath, probably best known for his Jack Daniels police procedural series of novels and his horror fiction, who earlier this Spring announced he was cutting his ties with the traditional book publishing industry and going digital. In an article on Bookstove.com, John Harmon reported that Konrath announced his upcoming novels will be published electronically first on the Kindle and at Smashwords for other ebook readers, then will be made available in print through Amazon’s CreateSpace program
. Harmon goes on to state that Konrath, a professional author, is “making money without a print publisher.” (Source: Fiction Author Cutting Ties with Traditional Book Publishers by John Harmon and published on Bookstove.com on May 27, 2010)
Everywhere, from the book industry professionals to the authors themselves, everyone has got their eye on ebooks and digital publishing. To that end, the future of the book publishing industry has never looked brighter as new options mean new opportunities for more people to become authors.
Sorting through the landslide of information can seem daunting. The first All About eBooks Symposium this weekend gives authors an opportunity to sort it out a bit and learn more about the ever-expanding ebook options. It is also a sign that digital publishing demands more forums for discussion, education and an understanding of new technologies.
However, the truth still remains – whether you choose to publish your book electronically or not: you can’t use your book as your hook until you have a book.
Finish your book. Weigh your options. Publish wisely.
For more information on this Education Corner topic and others, please refer to www.YourBookIsYourHook.com/blog for more articles and resources to help you with your books.