Publishing's Not Dying

11/16/2014

To writers like myself, the idea that publishing is dying is terrifying. The fact that so called "experts" are saying that something I've been working my whole life at is becoming obsolete is painful. They say that Kindles, Amazon.com, and ebooks in general are destroying the paper library. When I get nervous about publishing dying, I have to remind myself that there are still people like myself--people that love the feel of a real book. There are still people that look forward to going to a bookstore and picking out a book in person. I disagree with the "experts". I think that these people think that books, like movie stores, are dying, because people love the internet too much. However, regarding the movie argument, movie stores started in the 1970s, whereas books have been around for thousands of years. So, "experts", I think that you should reconsider your thoughts of books dying. There are too many print lovers, and book nerds to let books disappear. Check out this chart that shows the finance end of publishing.

If you can look at those margins, and then tell me that publishing houses will stop printing, I think that you may be crazy.

The photo above shows the revenues between the year 2000, and the year 2012. Book sales are growing. This is in large part from help of ebook sales, but not from printing dying. Ebooks are offering more revenue for publishing houses, who continue to print books. You may see less bookstores, or the uprise of Indie bookstores, but I don't believe that bookstores will ever become obsolete. We love books too much for that.

This may seem like the incessant complaining of a writer who believes too much in her craft, which you can believe if you'd like to, but it's also the pointing out of big business from someone that appreciates business. Think what you want, but don't lose faith in the printed book.

Thanks to HughHowey.com for the photos!
http://www.hughhowey.com/two-important-publishing-facts-everyone-gets-wrong/

3 Comments

Author

Hello! My name is Elysia. I've written since I was six years old, and I wrote my first novel when I was twelve. I'm from Maine, and now live in Charleston, South Carolina. As far as random happy things, I've ridden a Clydesdale on the beach in California, zip-lined and swum in caves in Mexico with bats and stalactites, and spoken to an audience of 1,500. I own an old typewriter and one of Pete Wentz from FOB's guitar picks. I love to travel, and have visited nearly every US state, Canada, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, the US and the British Virgin Islands, Mexico, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Bonaire, Aruba, Switzerland, and Barcelona. I also dream of one day watching the ball drop in New York City. I love to type (I know, I'm a weirdo), and can type approximately 140 WPM, nowhere close to Barbara Blackburn's 212 WPM record, ugh, the overachiever.

Marketing is one of my passions, and I believe that with it, companies can multiply their business and the effectiveness of their brand.

My other passions are entrepreneurship and empowering other young people to beat stereotypical "youngness". Wisdom must be achieved by age, but success is attainable by anyone.

I talk here about writing my book, the path to publishing, and becoming an entrepreneur.

Read more about me on my website: www.elysiaregina.com

Bay

12/13/2014 06:51:31 pm

Hey Elysia,

I am currently in the midst of a novel myself and I was curious if you had any tips on how to approach having it published once it is finished? I've submitted poems before in the past but I'm a little leery when it comes to my novel; I'm afraid of it being taken or submitted to some sort of scam-site. And after submitting it to a recommended and viable publisher what sort of follow up should I arrange?

Thanks!

Elysia Regina link

12/14/2014 02:28:07 am

Bay,

When it comes to publishing novels, the majority of publishing houses won't consider an unsolicited (not represented by an agent) manuscript. In other words, before you can go to publishing houses (unless you're thinking of self-publishing) you have to be represented by a literary agent.

The best way to find a legitimate literary agent is to use some sort of guide that lists them. I have Writer's Digest's Guide to Literary Agents. I would highly suggested investing in that book, because it'll give you an expansive list of agents and who/what kind of work they represent.

Additionally, technically after you've written something, it's copyrighted. No one can steal it, and legit agents wouldn't even consider it, so you're safe on that end.

Once your manuscript is edited as cleanly as possible (obviously perfect isn't an option, but you want it as perfect as you can make it), and you've had a few "readers" read over it, because lots of times you'll read over mistakes that you can't see, you'll want to put together a query letter. Google how to write one to literary agents. Then start submitting to agents, wait for a response, and when you get a "yes!", you'll be on the path to publishing!

Good luck, and I hope that this was a help!

Elysia

12/14/2014 11:56:21 pm

Thank you so much! That was very thorough advice, I've already been searching the books you mentioned.
Thanks again, (:
-Bay

Publishing's Not Dying

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