Comments on: Publish for what reason? http://blog.slushpilereader.com/2010/05/10/publish-for-what-reason/ Slush Pile Reader is a community in which readers and writers, rather than marketing and publishing executives, get the chance to choose which books they'd like to see published. More on us here. Sat, 30 Jul 2011 18:22:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Guest Blog by Malcolm Thomson: Writing, reading, publishing, … | Slush Pile Reader the blog http://blog.slushpilereader.com/2010/05/10/publish-for-what-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-387 Guest Blog by Malcolm Thomson: Writing, reading, publishing, … | Slush Pile Reader the blog Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:19:02 +0000 http://blog.slushpilereader.com/?p=172#comment-387 [...] the heading Publish For What Reason? Johanna Denize reminded us on this blog that “change is slow, especially when it comes to an [...] [...] the heading Publish For What Reason? Johanna Denize reminded us on this blog that “change is slow, especially when it comes to an [...]

]]> By: rod griffiths http://blog.slushpilereader.com/2010/05/10/publish-for-what-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-276 rod griffiths Wed, 26 May 2010 12:31:00 +0000 http://blog.slushpilereader.com/?p=172#comment-276 The tricky thing with e-books is how do you find out about your audience? Hard to do book signings when the thing is in cyberspace. We also need someone to invent a better e-browsing experience. In a book shop you can skim your eyes over a hundred books in a few minutes, on Amazon, or Smashwords or itunes (guessing here because the books bit hasn't made it to the UK yet), you get ten little pictures on a page and then you have to refresh to get ten more. You are very dependent on the available search categories, unless you know what you are looking for. It takes a while to get through 5,000 thrillers on the Kindle site at ten books per page. What I'd like to see is something in a coffee bar or somewhere like that where I could browse and chat and drink a latte or whatever and buy an e-book. We need someone to invent an e-browsing bookshop-in-a-box. It has to be cheaper than bricks and mortar and all that inventory. The tricky thing with e-books is how do you find out about your audience? Hard to do book signings when the thing is in cyberspace.
We also need someone to invent a better e-browsing experience. In a book shop you can skim your eyes over a hundred books in a few minutes, on Amazon, or Smashwords or itunes (guessing here because the books bit hasn’t made it to the UK yet), you get ten little pictures on a page and then you have to refresh to get ten more. You are very dependent on the available search categories, unless you know what you are looking for. It takes a while to get through 5,000 thrillers on the Kindle site at ten books per page.
What I’d like to see is something in a coffee bar or somewhere like that where I could browse and chat and drink a latte or whatever and buy an e-book. We need someone to invent an e-browsing bookshop-in-a-box. It has to be cheaper than bricks and mortar and all that inventory.

]]> By: Karl Kronlage http://blog.slushpilereader.com/2010/05/10/publish-for-what-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-203 Karl Kronlage Mon, 17 May 2010 18:00:01 +0000 http://blog.slushpilereader.com/?p=172#comment-203 Big publishers gamble everytime they publish a book, so the try to make the safest bet possible - an established author or celeb. I love the philosophy of slushpilereader - an alternative that can work. And good point about cutting costs. It's interesting to see what will happen with e-books. They are slowly gaining in popularity. I have a Kindle and now going to a book store seems like a waste of time. I'm reading more and buying more books. I wonder if some day students will have all their textbooks on a device similar to an i-pad. My feeling is there will be a demand for print books for awhile, even if that demand lessens. I believe publishers will have to print fewer copies and big chains like Borders and B -n- N will need to adjust. The point I see is this: times are changing. And Lexi, you've got the right attitude. I too don't feel the need for an advance and would rather throw that money into promotion / advertising. If a book doesn't sell, an author should be paid lavishly for it. Big publishers gamble everytime they publish a book, so the try to make the safest bet possible – an established author or celeb. I love the philosophy of slushpilereader – an alternative that can work.

And good point about cutting costs.

It’s interesting to see what will happen with e-books. They are slowly gaining in popularity. I have a Kindle and now going to a book store seems like a waste of time. I’m reading more and buying more books. I wonder if some day students will have all their textbooks on a device similar to an i-pad. My feeling is there will be a demand for print books for awhile, even if that demand lessens. I believe publishers will have to print fewer copies and big chains like Borders and B -n- N will need to adjust.

The point I see is this: times are changing.

And Lexi, you’ve got the right attitude. I too don’t feel the need for an advance and would rather throw that money into promotion / advertising. If a book doesn’t sell, an author should be paid lavishly for it.

]]> By: Lexi Revellian http://blog.slushpilereader.com/2010/05/10/publish-for-what-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-190 Lexi Revellian Sat, 15 May 2010 10:36:34 +0000 http://blog.slushpilereader.com/?p=172#comment-190 Big publishers tend to be good at marketing, which gives them the assurance that they know what they are doing. If they sign a writer, celebrity or unknown, market her book aggressively, and it makes good sales, that tells them they must be on the right track. What they don't know is how many readers are disappointed after the hype, and won't be buying the next book by that author. Nor do they know how well the books they reject would have sold, given the opportunity. And because they've handed over the slush pile to agents, new writers come expensive. I'd happily sign a no-advance contract in order to get published, and let my novel take its chance with the public. But no agent would be interested in obtaining that deal for me. Big publishers tend to be good at marketing, which gives them the assurance that they know what they are doing. If they sign a writer, celebrity or unknown, market her book aggressively, and it makes good sales, that tells them they must be on the right track. What they don’t know is how many readers are disappointed after the hype, and won’t be buying the next book by that author.

Nor do they know how well the books they reject would have sold, given the opportunity. And because they’ve handed over the slush pile to agents, new writers come expensive. I’d happily sign a no-advance contract in order to get published, and let my novel take its chance with the public. But no agent would be interested in obtaining that deal for me.

]]> By: Alexie Aaron http://blog.slushpilereader.com/2010/05/10/publish-for-what-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-186 Alexie Aaron Fri, 14 May 2010 15:31:33 +0000 http://blog.slushpilereader.com/?p=172#comment-186 I have to agree that the major publishers are tying their own knot as they step on the gallows of bad decisions. My immediate family purchases a lot of books, and as I entered the volumes, both paperback and hardback, into our library database I noticed something interesting. All but a few were from small publishing houses. Not just the survivors of takeovers but new enterprises that seem to be listening to their customers. My husband looked not to the bestseller lists for his next author to read but to the publisher of the last series he read and was not disappointed. E-books haven’t hit our household yet, mostly due to the limitations of the present technology, but I expect this to change, and when it does I expect that SPR to be a major source of quality reads. I have to agree that the major publishers are tying their own knot as they step on the gallows of bad decisions. My immediate family purchases a lot of books, and as I entered the volumes, both paperback and hardback, into our library database I noticed something interesting. All but a few were from small publishing houses. Not just the survivors of takeovers but new enterprises that seem to be listening to their customers. My husband looked not to the bestseller lists for his next author to read but to the publisher of the last series he read and was not disappointed. E-books haven’t hit our household yet, mostly due to the limitations of the present technology, but I expect this to change, and when it does I expect that SPR to be a major source of quality reads.

]]> By: Tweets that mention Publish for what reason? | Slush Pile Reader the blog -- Topsy.com http://blog.slushpilereader.com/2010/05/10/publish-for-what-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Tweets that mention Publish for what reason? | Slush Pile Reader the blog -- Topsy.com Wed, 12 May 2010 09:45:36 +0000 http://blog.slushpilereader.com/?p=172#comment-172 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Slush Pile Reader. Slush Pile Reader said: Publish for what reason? Slush Pile Reader has the answer: http://bit.ly/bxm2Bx [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Slush Pile Reader. Slush Pile Reader said: Publish for what reason? Slush Pile Reader has the answer: http://bit.ly/bxm2Bx [...]

]]> By: Johanna http://blog.slushpilereader.com/2010/05/10/publish-for-what-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-169 Johanna Tue, 11 May 2010 23:54:46 +0000 http://blog.slushpilereader.com/?p=172#comment-169 I believe you are onto something and I have indeed heard of those venturing into multichannel publishing. The major problems, however, are production cost and end price to customer. Is it doable? I do not know but it will sure be interesting to see. I believe you are onto something and I have indeed heard of those venturing into multichannel publishing. The major problems, however, are production cost and end price to customer. Is it doable? I do not know but it will sure be interesting to see.

]]> By: Malcolm James Thomson http://blog.slushpilereader.com/2010/05/10/publish-for-what-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-164 Malcolm James Thomson Tue, 11 May 2010 06:48:36 +0000 http://blog.slushpilereader.com/?p=172#comment-164 Good points raised here. However, I am wondering whether we are overlooking one of the most significant points with regard to the narrative fiction and electronic interface devices. What I spy on the horizon is a move towards transmediality. I look forward to storytelling as compelling as any successful novel, but delivered not just as written prose, but in multiple forms on multiple platforms. Good points raised here. However, I am wondering whether we are overlooking one of the most significant points with regard to the narrative fiction and electronic interface devices. What I spy on the horizon is a move towards transmediality. I look forward to storytelling as compelling as any successful novel, but delivered not just as written prose, but in multiple forms on multiple platforms.

]]>