Publishing Predictions

The recent news that Borders has filed for bankruptcy reminded me of publishing industry predictions contained in a Publishing Poynter’s Newsletter I received in January.

The newsletter included predictions not only from Dan Poynter (Para Publishing), but also from Publishers Weekly, The Daily Beast, Mark Coker (Smashwords), Danny Snow (Society for New Communications Research), Michael Hyatt (Publisher Thomas Nelson), Alex Pham (Los Angeles Times), and others.

Here’s an overview of some of their predictions:

Bookstores:
Dan Poynter: Brick and mortar stores will continue to close. Rent for a bookstore on the street is higher than for an online site. Read more...

Judith Rosen, Publishers Weekly: If the last few months of 2010 are any indication, this year's most successful bookstores will have a smaller footprint, more diversification, or both. Read more...

Danny Snow: Watch for widespread closings of brick-and-mortar bookstores in 2011, possibly dealing a mortal blow to old school print publishers, and the wholesalers and distributors that supply offline booksellers. Read more...

Ebooks:

Jim Milliot, Publishers Weekly: The U. S. book publishing industry is rushing headlong into the digital future, a process that is changing everything about how books are acquired, manufactured, sold, and read. Read more...

Mark Coker: Indie ebook authors are becoming more professional and sophisticated, and they’re starting to climb the bestseller charts without the assistance of a publisher. Ebooks will account for one third or more of unit consumption. Why? Ebooks cost less and early ebook adopters read more. Read more...

Dan Poynter: The future of nonfiction publishing is ebooks. The future of ebooks is color. The future of reading is on a screen. Ads will begin to appear in Ebooks. Unlike print books, ads can be added into an ebook any time and charged for by the (sold) book. Ebook publishing and reading will continue to grow. Read more...

Danny Snow: Expect continued growth in sales of periodicals and books in digital form, especially to users of smartphones. Anticipate a titanic struggle taking shape between Amazon, Apple and Google for dominance in the epublishing world. Read more...

Michael Hyatt: Free e-Readers: E-tailers will do this as a premium for readers who buy bundles or join e-book clubs. Or they might provide a dramatic discount to induce the next segment of holdouts to try digital reading. More and more the dedicated reader will be seen as a commodity, just like razors are to razor blades. In the near-term, expect to see the major e-Readers drop below $100. Read more...
Mainstream Traditional Publishers:

Dan Poynter: More and more established authors will abandon their New York publishers when their contracts let them. Read more...

Mark Coker: 2011 will be the first year traditional publishers feel the need to compete against the indie ebook alternative. Agents will bring new credibility to self publishing by encouraging authors to proactively bypass publishers and work directly with ebook distribution platforms. Read more...

Alex Pham: For more than a century, writers have made the fabled pilgrimage to New York, offering their stories to publishing houses and dreaming of bound editions on bookstore shelves. Publishers had the power of the purse and the press. They doled out advances to writers they deemed worthy and paid the cost of printing, binding and delivering books to bookstores. In the world of print, few authors could afford to self-publish. The Internet has changed all that, allowing writers to sell their works directly to readers, bypassing agents and publishers who once were the gatekeepers. It's difficult to gauge just how many authors are dumping their publishing houses to self-publish online, though for now, the overall share remains small. But hardly a month goes by without a well-known writer taking the leap or declaring an intention to do so. Read more...

Self-Publishing:

Mark Coker: Self Publishing goes from option of last resort to option of first resort among unpublished authors – Most unpublished authors today still aspire to achieve the perceived credibility and blessing that comes with a professional book deal. Yet the cachet of traditional publishing is fading fast. Authors with finished manuscripts will grow impatient and resentful as they wait to be discovered by big publishers otherwise preoccupied with publishing celebrity drivel. Read more...

More demand for Print on Demand (POD):

Calvin Reid, Publishers Weekly: Print on demand and short-run digital printing will continue their methodical growth in 2011, a tribute to the technology's utility to publishers looking to keep backlist titles in print or quickly replenish out-of-stock frontlist titles. Read more...

The future of authoring is multimedia:
The Daily Beast: As the capabilities of ereaders like the Kindle and Nook grow, and as tablets like the iPad set the standard for consuming electronic content, more publishers will feel the push to turn books into hybrid forms that combine audio and video. The shift will be apparent mainly in nonfiction, where biographies will begin to include video and audio recordings of their subjects, but some clever practitioners will produce killer multimedia ebooks that will begin to blur the lines between novel and videogame. Read more...

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Some of these predictions might make you mad, sad, or glad. But for writers, I hope they represent new opportunities and discoveries.

EVENTS THIS WEEKEND

March 5, 2011, Saturday

“Reading Across America”, celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday, arts, crafts, games, chance to get your book published, BORDERS, Coeur d’Alene, 2:00 PM

“Dr. Seuss Story Time and Birthday Celebration” at AUNTIE’S BOOKSTORE, 402 W. Main, Spokane, 11:00 AM

“Timothy C. Ely: Line of Sight” at 2316 W. FIRST AVENUE, Spokane, WA, daily until April 14, Cost: Payment required - Adults, $7. Seniors & Students, $5 Children under 5 are free.

Mr. Ely's exquisitely bound books integrate Western and Eastern religious and mystical traditions, astronomy, particle physics, cartography, alchemy and sacred geometry. His lavishly unique manuscript books are in museum and private collections throughout the world. The centerpiece of the exhibition is an enormous graphic work - up to 25 feet wide and 10 feet tall - that Ely will paint and draw directly onto the gallery's south wall with a variety of projected forms, with pigments, beautiful metal armatures, wire, and thread. This work, in essence and animated, open book, will exist only for the life of the exhibition. Opens at 10:00 AM

Fallon Jones signs her book Betrayed: How the Education Establishment Has Betrayed America and What You Can Do About It, Barnes and Nobel by Spokane Valley Mall, 2:00 PM

Establishing Credibility with Readers and Editors

Do you know the address of the Eiffel Tower?

How does a writer establish credibility with a reader? How can you make your reader feel like he, too, is in Paris and can visualize exactly where the protagonist of your book is? Narrative descriptions are the reader’s entrée into your scenes. They are always important but especially for foreign locales or plots set in a different era. Dialog will also help make your story believable. Teens today say, “Like, no way!” but a teen in the 1920’s would say, “You’re all wet!” Attention to details is paramount. By depicting a location with verisimilitude, you can more easily set an accurate, believable scene and tweak your reader’s interest for reading further.

“I turned right on Rue de Palais. The black Volvo tailing me turned also. I parked haphazardly and ran into the courthouse. Seeing an exit, I slid to it and slipped through the door on to Rue Bourgeois and into the wooded park.” Sounds okay but if your editor is a traveler, has lived in Paris or likes to check maps and you are wrong, you will lose credibility as an author. If others can not trust you on this, what else are you writing that is false?

The obvious answer to writing credibly is to visit the site at the time of year to match your plot. “Oh, gee! I have to go to Paris for my book, honey.” Before you pack your bags and get a pat down at the airport, you will want to study many books about Paris. Read guidebooks and highlight places that may fit your plot. Buy current maps and take them with you; you can study them on the plane. Invest in or use a library’s books on the geography and topography of Paris. Write down what you think you will see based on these books. When on actual terra firma, check your notes and amend them for accuracy if necessary.

While in Paris, take extensive notes and pictures. Remember to write down smells and what colors and hues you see. Your reader should sense the stereotypical Frenchman with a mustache and beret and accordion music in the background. Use a small voice recorder to capture extra feelings or actual sounds to take home. A good way to learn about your chosen location is to ride public transportation. You can listen to conversations and take notes on people’s dress to write more authentically in your story. If you are up for it, you can interview people like doormen, wait people and museum guards to gain further perceptions.

Note the ethnic makeup of the area; learn about the economics, politics and climate of your location. I observed during a recent visit to Sydney, Australia that all young businessmen wear black business suits with peg leg trousers, white French-cuffed shirts and shined, pointed toe, black, dress shoes. If you set your plot in Sydney and described a street scene using what you thought you knew based on the men’s business dress in Spokane, you would be off the mark and “lose cred”.

Pretend you want to write a sequel to The Great Gatsby from Daisy Buchanan’s cousin’s viewpoint. Studying the social scenes, morals, slang and habits of Long Island in the 1920’s would be a necessity. You will need to do in-depth research via old pictures noting the architecture of building, and what cars and buses looked like then. Visiting museums that have clothes from that decade will enable you to describe Daisy’s new frock; it certainly will not be polyester and wrinkle free. Read other books written about that same era but do not rely on that author’s descriptions of things. He may not have done his research.

Conducting your inquiries, visiting sites if possible, studying maps, social mores, politics, economic situations, and looking at a plethora of pictures establishes credibility with your readers as well as your editors and publisher. As Daisy Buchanan would say, you will be hotsy totsy and just ducky.

Question: Have you ever traveled to a specific location to do research for a story or book? Has a trip to a different location inspired a story after visiting there?

Redundant phrases

Thomas Jefferson: "The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do."

A redundant expression (pleonasm) is a group of words, usually a pair, in which at least one word is superfluous. Some expressions are used colloquially while others are down right silly no matter where they are uttered.

Many have come into standard use through repetition or as part of a vocation. Null and void, terms and conditions, and sworn affidavit are pleonasms in the legal field. Commonly used to become “correct”: joined together (in holy matrimony), safe haven, PIN number (Personal Identification Number number), ATM machine (Automated Teller Machine machine), heat up and mental telepathy.

Some humorous expressions are: hot water heater (shouldn’t it heat up cold water?); bare naked (if you are naked, you are bare); armed gunman (versus a gunman without arms, how does he hold his gun then?); temporary loan (all loans are temporary otherwise is it not a gift?); true fact (are there false facts?); end result (is there a beginning result?); foreign imports (versus domestic imports?); tuna fish (are tuna anything but fish?); and my favorite, free gifts. Writing using redundant expressions is not better writing, only longer writing.

Here are some redundant expressions to be avoided.

starve to death, each and every, reason is because, final conclusion, still remains, best ever, clearly evident, fellow teammate, reflect back, tiny bit, advance warning, usual habit, sudden impulse, pick and choose, passing fad, added up, sand dune, cancel out, and also, skipped over, wept tears, thoughtful deliberations, utter annihilation, my personal opinion, exactly identical, could possibly, crisis situation, former graduate, empty out, cancel out, basic fundamentals, round in shape, spell out in detail, unexpected emergency, closed fist, illustrated drawings, complete monopoly, kneel down, stand up, depreciate in value, future plans, definitely decided, different varieties, sum total, made out of, reason why, first conceived, could possibly, proceed ahead, general public, preboard, usual habit, sharing the same, absolutely guaranteed, past experience, lag behind, completely opposite, but nevertheless; evolve over time; refer back to, over exaggerate, brief moment, excess verbiage, ask the question, already exists, and also, pouring down rain, over again, foot pedal, and personal friend.

Do you recognize your own speech habits in these phrases? Does “preboard” sound weird to you or normal? Can you think of any others not listed here?

These sites list many redundant phrases. http://grammar.about.com/od/words/a/redundancies_3.htm

http://home.comcast.net/~garbl/stylemanual/redundant.htm

TGIF: Literary Things to Do

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the books are so delightful! If cabin fever makes you determined to venture out this weekend no matter how low the temperature dips, here are a few events worth braving the elements for:

On Friday, B. J. Campbell, author of Close Calls: True Tales of Cougar Bob, is appearing from 11-2 today at Black Sheep in Coeur d'Alene, and Joyce Caudel, author of the Hat Pin Murders, will be at Hastings in Spokane Valley from 12-3. Friday evening, Thomas White will sign copies of his suspense thriller, Justice Rules (set in Spokane) at 7 p.m. at Auntie's Bookstore in Spokane.

On Saturday, Eileen Garvin, author of How to Be a Sister: A Love Story with a Twist of Autism, will appear at Auntie's Bookstore at Riverpark Square at 2 p.m.

Also, a reminder that if you're participating in Our Region Reads by reading Jamie Ford's The Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet--or if you're just interested in the story of the Minidoka Internment Camp--then you'll want to hear historian Robert Sims of the Idaho Humanities Speakers Bureau, Friday at 3 p.m. at the Spirit Lake Library and 6 p.m. at the Athol Library, or Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Hayden Library.

Have a wonderful weekend, get some writing done, and may all your shivers come from a really gripping story instead of the wind chill factor.

Are you an organized writer?

I was interested to learn that organization and time management guru Don Aslett will be the keynote speaker at the 2011 Idaho Writers League state conference in Pocatello next fall (September 22-24, for those of you organized enough to keep a calendar that far ahead).

Although he's never heard of me, Don Aslett and I go way back. You see, I'm not the world's most naturally organized person. As a young adult trying to navigate my first apartment without someone picking up after me, I soaked up Don's books like water in the desert. Clutter's Last Stand. For Packrats Only. Is There Life After Housework? Don's books enabled me to laugh at myself and, more importantly, to make some important changes in how I managed the material goods around me. Thanks in large part to Don, I am now a recovering slob, although it remains an ongoing process.

One of Don's books of particular interest to writers is called Get Organized, Get Published!, co-authored with Carol Cartaino. I was happy to see that it is still in print, because it's a gem for writers. Whether your challenge is organizing large projects, managing your time, or coping with a messy desk and office, this book is a big help. Even if none of those challenges applies to those of you who are neatniks and precision-schedulers, it provides many helpful tips and tricks to put you even more on top of things. Chapters include Finding the Time to Write, Making Your Master Plan, Organizing Your Work Area, Organizing Research, Organizing Your Marketing Attack, and much more.

Here's part of the jacket description:
"Writing, wanting to write more and always wanting to write better is your goal--your dream. There's no good reason you should be stopped from reaching it. But the phone's ringing, dishes are stacked in the sink, laundry's in the dryer, and your desk is barely visible under a pile of birthday cards to be sent out and bills to be paid. How, and where, can you find the time to write?"

My one criticism of the book is that, being older (my copy is dated 2001), it doesn't cover much of the fabulous new technology that's become available in recent years to help us manage our lives. But the timeless principles of getting and staying organized remain the same.

So pick up a copy of Get Organized, Get Published! and consider attending the 2011 Idaho Writers League conference to meet the man himself. Both endeavors will be time well spent.

4 score n 7 yrs ago r Fs brot 4th on this cont...

At first blush it may seem as though Presidents Day has little to do with writing, except possibly the benefit of a day off from job or school to devote to your latest masterpiece. This gift of time is a treasure, for sure. But you might also want to spend a few minutes thinking about presidents, too, in the spirit of the day. Here's a twist: have you ever though about former U.S. Presidents as writers?

Imagine Lincoln at his desk, pen in hand. "Eighty-seven years ago"....{scratch, scratch}..."Eighty plus seven years ago"...{crumple, toss, fresh sheet}..."Four score and seven years ago"...{will anyone know what a "score" is? bite pen, look out window, call Mary for a cup of tea}...

Presidents Day has got me thinkin' about Lincoln (and Washington, too, but his name doesn't make such a pleasing rhyme). How much of what we know about these men has come to us from things they wrote? Speeches. Memoirs. Even letters to friends that have been preserved through the centuries show a careful precision and graceful language that is lacking in much modern correspondence. Can you imagine what historians 200 years from know will discern from text fragments like " Whasup LOL TTYL"?

Thanks to the wonder of the Internet, the writings of presidents are available at a keystroke. To see some of Lincoln's writings, start here. Many of Washington's writings are available here.

Of course you don't have to limit yourself to only these two presidents. Choose your favorites and search online for their writings. Ronald Reagan, for example, reportedly wrote most of his radio commentaries himself instead of using professional writers, and other presidents did, too. But even when presidents relied on speechwriters to pen their timeless words, good writing is still good writing.

You could say that the formal language of the past sounds archaic and stilted to modern ears, and you would be right. But try to look past mere style to see what it was about these pieces that have made them ring down through generations: the rhythm and length of sentences, the word choices, the attention to detail. If a certain presidential speech, paragraph, or phrase has stuck with you over the years, analyze it as a piece of writing and find out why. Who knows . . . maybe those historians 200 years from now will be grateful and refreshed to stumble across your clear and elegant prose in a sea of smiley faces and LOLs.

Enjoy your Presidents Day. As Washington signed off the end of his letters, "I am, sir, with great regard your most obedient servant..." In other words,

TTFN!