30 Comments
May 16, 2022Liked by Winston Malone

I am not a writer and I believe books will always be published for readers to have and hold. I pray it never dies.

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I fully admit to being a novice with a lot of the nuts and bolts of the fiction publishing process/industry. However, it seems to me that getting published more traditionally is still the aim of aspiring fiction writers and hopeful authors in general.

As much as I love what we’re able to accomplish with writing on the internet now, I can’t help hoping that paper publication will always be a thing because I still love everything about physical books.

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Something I've been pleased to see is a general balancing of the playing field. For a time it looked like ebooks/Amazon were going to kill bookshops: that didn't happen. For a while it looked like print books were going to be a thing of the past: that didn't happen. Self-publishing is increasingly regarded with respect, while it has also moved away from having a chip on its shoulder: it's less about 'sticking it to the man' and much more simply an alternative way to reach readers - and as a result we're seeing some writers who are both traditionally and self-published, switching between them based on the particulars of the project.

It's all quite heartening.

And then you have the burgeoning online fiction and serial fiction scene, which had been around for years but really feels like it's entering a new, exciting period of wider acceptance and interest.

I spoke on a panel back in 2019, representing online fiction publishing (ie, Wattpad) alongside execs from Harper Collins and another Big 5 publisher (it was a panel programmed to represent a broad range of publishing options - which in itself was quite progressive even only a few years ago), and the lady from HC asked me afterwards if I'd ever be interested in tradtional forms of publishing. My answer was 'yes', of course - and that was a moment when I realised that it's no longer an either/or scenario.

Which is a good thing for writers, and for readers.

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My biggest issue with traditional publishing is that it takes so long to get a book out. That and from what I understand, the writer is still left with doing the bulk of their own marketing. I've recently made the leap into fulltime fiction writing - I'm republishing a book I indie published in 2008. My thinking is I can use that as leverage to then get a deal with a more traditional publisher with the book I'm currently writing. Who knows? If the the indie route goes well, I'll probably just stick with that.

I think it might take more creativity to make a living from writing - but there are so many ways now. (Like a paid subscription substack) that I think one can indie publish and earn enough to live off of. That is my determinant for success now. I spent too many years in the nonprofit world suffering with a low salary to save the world - I now believe a person can make a decent living doing what they love and are good at.

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There are definitely some benefits to tradpub advertising, professional editing, bookstore and online sales. I do not begrudge anyone for going that route at all. It seem to also have it restraints as well, the biggest being "we already have books talking about that" or "that is a saturated genre right now". Not to mention, some publishing houses have been know to censor, and cancel creators based of ideology.

So self-publishing is a way to get your work out there without jumping through all the hoops. But then the downside is there is a ton of work out there saturating every market right now. It's harder to get your work noticed within the sea. Personally, I plan on self-publishing so I can fulfill a bucket list item, and have that Rowling deal where all my characters are mine.

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May 16, 2022Liked by Winston Malone

More and more things are going digital now. Music, games, books, etc. I'm not very consistent with my adaptation. I haven't bought a music cd in years, I'm okay with both physical and digital versions of games (prefer physical though), and I have never read an e-book and don't plan to soon. Notice how my attitude is different across all those mediums haha.

Since I'm not a writer, success for me right now would be for a short story of mine to touch at least one person out there, enough to make them reach out and go "wow dude, this was amazing"

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i'm not against traditional publishing, and i still think it's worthwhile to attempt being published by a traditional publisher because it's the surest way to gain exposure to marketing, bookstores, reviews, lists, awards, etc. which is ultimately still the best way to get books in front of readers (though that may change). however, traditional publishers do less and less of that work for authors these days, so what they're really offering is credibility or cache. that's where i'd like to see independent publishing become a viable alternative, because right now i think indie/self-published books and authors are looked down on as inferior, when often they simply didn't fit the culture or business model of traditional publishing houses.

i haven't enjoyed a recent work of fiction published by a traditional publisher in years, though i still love classics. traditional publishers have changed their model and narrowed their focus mainly to cater to certain trends and ideological themes, and they don't appeal to me. (and as far as historical fiction, i was informed there were only a handful of acceptable eras, with very few exceptions: WWII, of course, regency, tudors, and perhaps vikings--the rest was a no go, unless fantasy.) they are very sure they know who readers are and what they want--or should want. if i really want to pursue publication, my only recourse is probably in indie/self publishing, maybe combined with an online format and a print-on-demand service.

but if traditional publishing decided to reform itself or expand its horizons again, i'd be right there with them. i follow my interests and wherever will best serve them. right now, it just isn't that place. that's where i'm reading, and where my writing best fits. i hope the big houses open their doors again to a fuller, more nuanced world of ideas, but i won't hold my breath. otherwise, independent writers, platforms, and publishers have to take up the slack where traditional publishing has let us down.

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