This week in the Kindle!
Yes, the Kindle news is flowing fast and furious as everyone assesses their favorite new white book thingy of the future. What does it all mean? Um. Depends on who you ask.
First off for your nuts and bolts review, David Pogue always delivers a great rundown and he likes the new version quite a bit. Meanwhile, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos went on the Daily Show to talk to Jon Stewart, whose conclusion was essentially: “It costs what now?” (Also on the Daily Show: confirmation that they are working on books beamed to brains. Bezos: “We’re working on that.” Well, hurry, please!)
Of course, we all know by now that the Kindle 2 is stirring up controversy with its text to speech function, and the head of the Author’s Guild took to the pages of the New York Times to assert that authors have a right to a share of revenue from derivative audio uses, even if said audio sounds crappy at the moment. (And especially since the said crappy audio is getting better).
How do authors feel? Well, Neil Gaiman came out very quickly against the Author’s Guild stance by saying that when you buy a book you’re buying the ability to read it out loud (although actually, the Author’s Guild isn’t disagreeing with this — just having an e-reader do it) and that no one is going to confuse it with an actual audiobook.
Author Jason Pinter strongly disagrees with Gaiman: Amazon is making money off of the technology, and he says that authors have to stand up for their share of the pie when the market is segmented, particularly because the technology is only going to improve. In a nod to Gaiman, Pinter writes: “Major bestselling authors have less to worry about because the bookstores (and audiobook producers, and all other tributaries) can expect a certain number of sales. As tides rise, people with bigger platforms will be able to keep their heads above water. But the situation is different for authors who must squeeze out every bit of potential book revenue to stay afloat.”
Well. At least we’re all agreed that Amazon is going to completely dominate the new book world, right? Um….. Also depends on who you ask.
First up, writing for Slate is Farhad Manjoo, who writes that publishers are doomed as Amazon uses the Kindle to gobble up an increasing share of the e-book marketplace and will subsequently flex its muscle a la Apple and iTunes. Meanwhile, Mike Shatzkin argues that Amazon will lose its competitive advantage in an e-book world as new devices challenge the Kindle and as the new companies don’t have to worry about Amazon’s huge logistical advantage with physical books. (HT Maya Reynolds)
Got all that? Welcome to the new publishing world! We totally have this under control.
Hmmm…. did I forget anything? Oh yeah: here’s what your Kindle looks like naked.
In non-Kindle news: more fallout from the Great Query Flood of ’09, as agent Rachelle Gardner was forced to abandon her policy of responding to everyone, and would like everyone to please remember that we don’t have time, nor are we paid for, personalized responses to every manuscript we receive. But we still try.
And finally, ever wondered whether you or one of your fellow writers have crossed the line from confidence straight into delusion? J.A. Konrath has a helpful breakdown.
Have a great weekend!
T. Anne says
Hilabeans,
Please pass the positivity Kool-Aid.
Nathan,
Internet rumors have the Apples e-reader out as early as fall 2009. I think I’ll let the K2 purchase slide until then just in case.
It’s sort of exciting to me that the publishing world is on the threshold of some major shift. No, I don’t think you’ll be out of a job, but I do believe there will be more room for aspiring authors. I just can’t wrap my head around the idea every rejection is valid. There are a plethora of wonderful writers hindered by these narrow gates.
Anonymous says
Dear Nathan,
I have been a reader of your blog for some time now, and I have to say, of all the agent/editor/author blogs out there, yours is probably the most comprehensive on what’s going on in the publishing industry.
However, I have to say that for the most part, your posts are all about what’s wrong with the publishing industry. Yes, yes, I know, the publishing industry is in a state of crisis and I get that it is harder than ever for an aspiring writer to break through. I commend you on giving the honest truth and not trying to lead people on.
BUT
I sometimes think that as much as you try to give writers the cold hard truth, it would be nice if you could give some encouragement and hope as well. For many of these people, we’re not just talking books, we’re talking dreams.
Yes, many will not ever be published.
Yes, those that do will most likely never be able to make a living from it.
Yes, the industry is changing so much that it is harder than ever to make a debut.
Yet, I have to believe that there is a reason why these aspiring writers shouldn’t give up.
So, I’m daring you to devote a full week of posts to the positive in the publishing industry.
That’s right…I want to see posts about some of the great things that are going on (because the deals on Publishers Marketplace haven’t ceased yet). Give your faithful blog readers a silver lining in all of this doom and gloom.
Can you do it? Five days of nothing but flowers and sunshine when it comes to giving your sage advice?
I dare you.
Arron Ferguson says
“Well. At least we’re all agreed that Amazon is going to completely dominate the new book world, right? Um….. Also depends on who you ask.”
My money’s on Amazon. If you take a look at the Amazon Web Services (AWS)(1), they are creating a playground for technologists to do anything from create virtual private servers, to billing and e-commerce stacks.
Seriously, they are creating an aggressive campaign that is wooing those who are swayed towards e-commerce to jump aboard. If publishers don’t see this, they’re soon going to be extinct.
(1) Amazon Web Services. 18 February, 2009. Wikipedia.org. 27 February, 2009. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Web_Services.
Writer from Hell says
Enuff said – agent to the writers! Just for a change let us have a 360 degrees..writer to the agent.
https://anewradar.blogspot.com/
Anonymous says
Anon 11:27 – agreed.
I am so very tired of all the industry related blogs which basically state the following:
1) It’s a business so we don’t have to be courteous.
2) All you aspiring authors are irritating little idiots.
3) Amazon is evil!
Good grief, why bother querying? Might as well go straight to Lulu.com.
P.S. My word verification is ‘brati.’
jjhoutman says
Here’s what The Onion has to say about the new Kindle:
https://www.theonion.com/content/infograph/the_new_kindle
Jen says
Ugh. I just wish they’d get rid of the Kindle completely. I hate eBooks and eReader things. Give me actual paper pages any day. Every day. Books smell good and the feel of paper under my fingers as I turn pages is what gets me up in the morning.
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
Most of my posts are about what’s wrong with the publishing industry? This week I wrote about book revenue breakdown, the importance of learning to summarize your work (which I believe everyone can do), had a de-lurk day, the difference between sympathetic and unsympathetic characters, and the varying reactions to the Kindle, some of which were positive and some of which were negative.
Who’s being negative?
Ink says
Mira,
Keep commenting! I may not always agree with you, but I think you’re great. You’re always funny, honest, interesting and smart. We can have rowdy discussions! Seriously, I don’t think anyone’s thinking bad thoughts your way, at least not on any general level. Keep it coming.
P.S.
a) yes, though it often doesn’t work nearly as well as we might hope.
b) sometimes, though people write for all sorts of reasons, and many writers are conformists.
c) yes, but I like blue better. And grey, too, unless we’re talking about a dreary day. I’m all for sunshine. Is this bloody winter every going to end?
My best,
Bryan
Ink says
The Daring Anon,
I respect your sentiment, but I think Nathan’s pretty upbeat and funny most of the time. If he regrets layoffs and current publishing struggles that’s only natural, as this is his business and those are people he might know, people he might have worked with.
And I don’t think he should coddle us. I, at least, don’t want that. I’m not here for a pep talk. I come for information, and I stay because of the laughs and the interesting discussions. If writers don’t want to hear the facts (or engage in the interpretive discussions), well, they don’t have to read or comment. I don’t intend that in a mean or dismmissive way, just as a simple commentary. If you don’t like the attitude in the industry you don’t have to listen to the chatter. I’ve certainly never been put off by any of Nathan’s personal comments, which in my view definitely tend towards the positive (though in a realistic sense). Yes, he posts links to some depressing things, but that’s simply the state of the industry and it’s not required reading. I’d rather know the lay of the land. And, well, he post videos of piglets doing cute things…
The business is tough, and I’m fine with that. If it’s a true dream then such incidental stuff will do little to dissuade me. Personally, I’m not happy that the publishing industry has slowed in a year when I’ll probably be submitting two projects… but that’s the way it is, and at least I’ll be well-informed on the process. And my chances are my own. Statistics, averages… these are meaningless in terms of individual cases. My chances are made by my stories, my writing. That’s it. Bad odds aren’t going to make me throw in the towel, as query stats, while interesting, offer no basis for prediction on any specific project, which has to stand on its own merits. And I like that challenge. Writers need internal motivation, I think, a sort of blind amibition to write great stories. After that we can let the chips fall where they may.
Just my thoughts. Feel free to disagree or send letter bombs. I have prongs and a radiation suit for just such an occasion! Always be prepared…
My best,
Bryan Russell
Anonymous says
Mira,
Just wanted you to know that all of these ANON comments are not one person. You are getting lots of support on here. I only made the 6:37 & 7:08 comments. You are important, and so are your thoughts.
Marilyn Peake says
Mira,
I actually enjoy your posts, and get the impression that many others do as well. I think people are just comfortable discussing topics openly and intelligently here, so opinions that are the opposite of yours aren’t actually meant to refute your opinions, just meant to express another point of view. When I’m busy, I respond to Nathan’s blog but don’t even get around to reading the other comments until much later. On especially busy days, I regret it, but I have to skim over most of the comments. Many times, different opinions are the result of very different experiences within the publishing industry, and all those experiences are very real to the people who have been through them. In other words, all the opinions are valid, but based on different facets of the same industry. Personally, I would be disappointed if you stopped posting here, Mira. I post here a lot…and practically every time I do, I blush and tell myself I really should learn to shut up and lurk. Writers are always taking risks like that.
RoadScribe says
At least she gives us a time frame and says no to the SASE saving postage expense and will contact us via email if she is interested. This agent I will check out and be glad to query if she is into romantic suspense. If not her blog and yours is my daily read.
Thanks for posting this Nathan.
Marilyn Peake says
Ink said:
“…I think Nathan’s pretty upbeat and funny most of the time.
“And I don’t think he should coddle us. I, at least, don’t want that. I’m not here for a pep talk. I come for information, and I stay because of the laughs and the interesting discussions.”
I agree! There are many different types of writers’ groups, including those that repeatedly tell writers that, if they keep on writing, chances are they’ll be rich and famous someday. Those types of groups can be extremely helpful when a writer’s working on their very first project and bolstered by blocking out any and all information about possible failure. But, after a while, a lot of the information in those types of groups just doesn’t match reality. At this point in time, I want to know what’s really happening in the world of publishing…information that changes every day…and I want to be able to laugh at the millions of daily frustrations encountered within that world. I think that Nathan does a great job of providing lots of valuable information about the real publishing world while keeping a remarkable sense of humor.
Mira says
Okay, thank you guys. I’m feeling embarrassed that I imagined I was sooo important and that I was being ostracized. I have a habit of speaking out loudly, and then going “uh, oh. What’s going to happen to me now?”
You’d think that would stop me from speaking out in the first place, but somehow it doesn’t.
Marilyn, it feels good to hear that everytime you post, you blush. So, do I!!! Well, it feels good in terms of identifying, but if I had the power to help you not feel that way, I would! Your posts are always so mature, intelligent and thoughtful. It’s how I want to post when I grow up.
Anonx3 – your support means alot to me. I feel sad that I won’t know which Anon is you when you post in the future, but I know you now. And thank you.
Bryan, I loved having a rowdy discussion with you in particular. That was fun!! You’re great, too. I love your intelligent, assertive but gentle style.
Okay, I’m all reassured. Thank you again.
And now to post…..and then blush.
🙂
Marilyn Peake says
Mira,
You just made my day! Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!
Anonymous says
Mira,
Sorry most of the time I can’t sign in because of where I am posting from, but I’ll say hi every now and then, and you’ll know it’s me.
I get hot and feel queazy on occasion after I post, because when I have something to say it’s usually different than what everyone else says; otherwise I let the conversation take it’s course without me. Is that what I was doing, blushing? Honestly I thought I was past all of that, but you could be right. I’m not used to having people angry with me and when it does happen I think it affects me more than it should, but sometimes I just can’t keep my mouth shut either, darn it.
JDK
Mira says
You have a good weekend, too, Marilyn. I meant every word.
JDK, nice to meet you. And I know exactly what you mean! I think Marilyn’s right. It’s part of the blessing and curse of the author – taking risks. Saying what we need to say – because we have to. And then hoping we don’t get into TOO much trouble for it.
But Ink is right too – nothing wrong with a rowdy discussion, right? 🙂