I admit I am probably missing something, but the vibe I get from their eye-stabbing website (my brain is still throbbing) is they'll still basically operate like a traditional publisher. They're just going to ask writers to forgo their advance in exchange for a larger share of the profits (if there are any.) I think this is fair (I think advances are stupid, status-driven, and usually overblown), but I also don't think this company will behave any differently than any other traditional publisher when it comes to deciding who and what to publish, how to market and promote it, etc. (I hope I'm wrong). Also, I'm inherently wary of the judgement of anyone who approved an entire website in that yellow! WTF, man?
I think this is a fair conclusion at this point. The proof will be in how they operate once they start publishing but it kind of feels like they’ll roughly follow the “old ways”… still, who knows, maybe we’ll all be pleasantly surprised. It’d be good to see someone shakeup the gloomy status quo of TradPub.
I'm happy to read of a genuine focus to re-energize and give a voice to new and un established authors. I feel the current traditional vs Vanity model stifles the efforts of the dreamers. Damned if you don't succeed, damned if you pay to play. I welcome your initiative. There has to be more options than what we believe are the cultural norms.
Thanks, Jim! So glad to hear your positive take on this. The more options and the more transparency we have in the industry, the better. So many small presses are working hard on behalf of their authors, and I think this is one small step for the mainstream toward recognizing that hard work!
Yes a definite positive take from me. Any reform on old structures for the benefit of the unsung is a good step forward. I remember pitching a similar endeavour a decade ago to assist independent filmmakers have their productions made only to be met with hard-vitrial. NYMBY culture in the creative space stifles everyone. It's a joke. More power to you and I wish you well. Hopefully I can get involved. Thanks for the commentary and speak soon.
That's so interesting! Thanks for sharing that about your attempt to assist indie filmmakers. I can't imagine how much more difficult that industry is due to the budgets for making movies. Stay in touch!
If by "collaborative " they mean an author must pony up cash to publish a book, I would stay away from it. It's still pay to play, and despite this new era of indie success stories, I would never pay to publish unless it's taking care of my own expenses at Bear Media which I own. I publish sometimes two of my own books per month with the company. Keep in mind I consider myself a hybrid author because I publish independently and traditionally.
Hey Vincent, I totally agree that pay-to-play isn't great for the author. I hope that's not the case with Authors Equity, but I'm holding out hope they will bear the upfront costs for the author like other hybrid publishers do. It remains to be seen what their business model will effectively become. I'm intrigued, to say the least.
It's so great to hear that you've got your own company! It's a smart move, and I like the idea of considering oneself a hybrid author. There's no need to shut potential doors to publication if they open up to you. I can get behind that mentality.
25 years doing this full-time, I've seen it all Winston. I've also seen so many pubs, editors, agents, writers, come and go with the wind. I'm sort of a survivor, and these days I'm very possessive of my IP. I think all authors should be in 2024 and beyond. The old 20th century model has been broken for ages and now is beyond repair.
Other than the names and screaming yellow, there's not much to go on yet - that's just about the most bare-bones website you can get. I signed up for the newsletter, but I'll be carrying on as before with my own little strategems in this crazy business. :)
What's telling is that the founders of this new company weren't able to enact this kind of model within a large publisher, despite leading them from the top.
I admit I am probably missing something, but the vibe I get from their eye-stabbing website (my brain is still throbbing) is they'll still basically operate like a traditional publisher. They're just going to ask writers to forgo their advance in exchange for a larger share of the profits (if there are any.) I think this is fair (I think advances are stupid, status-driven, and usually overblown), but I also don't think this company will behave any differently than any other traditional publisher when it comes to deciding who and what to publish, how to market and promote it, etc. (I hope I'm wrong). Also, I'm inherently wary of the judgement of anyone who approved an entire website in that yellow! WTF, man?
I think this is a fair conclusion at this point. The proof will be in how they operate once they start publishing but it kind of feels like they’ll roughly follow the “old ways”… still, who knows, maybe we’ll all be pleasantly surprised. It’d be good to see someone shakeup the gloomy status quo of TradPub.
Hey, saw this article today and thought y'all might be interested:
https://thebaffler.com/latest/the-gigification-of-publishing-sinykin
Love this comment. Eye-stabbing yellow. On point.
🤣🗡️👁️
I'm happy to read of a genuine focus to re-energize and give a voice to new and un established authors. I feel the current traditional vs Vanity model stifles the efforts of the dreamers. Damned if you don't succeed, damned if you pay to play. I welcome your initiative. There has to be more options than what we believe are the cultural norms.
Thanks, Jim! So glad to hear your positive take on this. The more options and the more transparency we have in the industry, the better. So many small presses are working hard on behalf of their authors, and I think this is one small step for the mainstream toward recognizing that hard work!
Yes a definite positive take from me. Any reform on old structures for the benefit of the unsung is a good step forward. I remember pitching a similar endeavour a decade ago to assist independent filmmakers have their productions made only to be met with hard-vitrial. NYMBY culture in the creative space stifles everyone. It's a joke. More power to you and I wish you well. Hopefully I can get involved. Thanks for the commentary and speak soon.
That's so interesting! Thanks for sharing that about your attempt to assist indie filmmakers. I can't imagine how much more difficult that industry is due to the budgets for making movies. Stay in touch!
If by "collaborative " they mean an author must pony up cash to publish a book, I would stay away from it. It's still pay to play, and despite this new era of indie success stories, I would never pay to publish unless it's taking care of my own expenses at Bear Media which I own. I publish sometimes two of my own books per month with the company. Keep in mind I consider myself a hybrid author because I publish independently and traditionally.
Hey Vincent, I totally agree that pay-to-play isn't great for the author. I hope that's not the case with Authors Equity, but I'm holding out hope they will bear the upfront costs for the author like other hybrid publishers do. It remains to be seen what their business model will effectively become. I'm intrigued, to say the least.
It's so great to hear that you've got your own company! It's a smart move, and I like the idea of considering oneself a hybrid author. There's no need to shut potential doors to publication if they open up to you. I can get behind that mentality.
Thanks for the comment!
25 years doing this full-time, I've seen it all Winston. I've also seen so many pubs, editors, agents, writers, come and go with the wind. I'm sort of a survivor, and these days I'm very possessive of my IP. I think all authors should be in 2024 and beyond. The old 20th century model has been broken for ages and now is beyond repair.
V
Other than the names and screaming yellow, there's not much to go on yet - that's just about the most bare-bones website you can get. I signed up for the newsletter, but I'll be carrying on as before with my own little strategems in this crazy business. :)
Interesting.
Great news for authors new and established.
Yeah! Should be good for everyone involved, hopefully. We'll have to see how it plays out. Thanks for commenting, David.
What's telling is that the founders of this new company weren't able to enact this kind of model within a large publisher, despite leading them from the top.