tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post5767568746209087688..comments2024-03-15T09:26:02.796-05:00Comments on PROJECT MAYHEM: A New (Publishing) WorldProject Mayhemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05154342399869089664noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-31979135053680743942012-02-05T11:48:00.428-06:002012-02-05T11:48:00.428-06:00David,
Thanks. I do have my mind set on traditio...David, <br /><br />Thanks. I do have my mind set on traditional publishing, but when I started out in attempt to really discover where we were at in the publishing world, I wanted to clear my mind of bias. And what I discovered was the fact that we are at a point in time where the possibilities are endless for people with initiative. I had an agent tell me not too long ago, "I'm not sure an editor is necessary anymore." I was a bit put off by that at first, but she might have a point. If one is able to write with life and vigor, and is technically sound, the only thing necessary otherwise is a solid cover design and a good marketing push. I think we're about to see some innovative ventures in the next few years.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-64787528525625564802012-02-05T11:36:07.339-06:002012-02-05T11:36:07.339-06:00Mike - I very much appreciate the objective presen...Mike - I very much appreciate the objective presentation of your solid points. No venom either way - refreshing. It's exciting to watch the momentum build. Ereader popularity among kids must be gaining - & I base that on (in my case anyway) the not-so-scientific data called January book sales ... with zero promotion. Royalty rates, publishing method, whatever - can't beat the thrill of getting an email from a kid or parent explaining how they look forward to the next book. <br /><br />Good job - great post.David Ebrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03037059701518103541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-85682574283208106682012-02-04T10:42:08.032-06:002012-02-04T10:42:08.032-06:00Marissa, if for no other reason than to see your d...Marissa, if for no other reason than to see your debut in e-format as well as print (when it releases on April 3rd), you have to get an e-reader.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-79036967110146634502012-02-03T22:08:09.089-06:002012-02-03T22:08:09.089-06:00It does feel like an exciting, albeit uncertain, t...It does feel like an exciting, albeit uncertain, time in publishing. I feel like e-books are kind of where we were with the internet fifteen years ago. Folks were trying it out, some used it regularly, and some barely knew what it was. But then the amazing changes and ordinariness of it developed at warp speed.<br /><br />I haven't invested in an e-reader device...yet, but I know it's coming! Great summary!Marissa Burthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079821721448782710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-83590354150034267912012-02-03T15:25:53.839-06:002012-02-03T15:25:53.839-06:00Yes, Hilary, things changes so, so quickly. Hard t...Yes, Hilary, things changes so, so quickly. Hard to keep up sometimes.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-69837822087807023722012-02-03T15:25:10.793-06:002012-02-03T15:25:10.793-06:00Yes, we both know (as teachers) how valuable those...Yes, we both know (as teachers) how valuable those school visits are. We teachers make the best authors, huh?Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-9886211141531408422012-02-03T15:24:26.163-06:002012-02-03T15:24:26.163-06:00Hard to call someone who has been writing for ten ...Hard to call someone who has been writing for ten years writing a "new writer" but I know what you mean. Good luck with the book; glad to hear it's going well thus far.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-41356960936860879992012-02-03T15:22:33.816-06:002012-02-03T15:22:33.816-06:00Yes, those 2-3 year time periods must be killer fo...Yes, those 2-3 year time periods must be killer for the debut author, right? I bet self-pubbing your debut, JACKPOT, was nice to be able to put it out when YOU wanted it out.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-78843618165440004932012-02-03T15:21:00.417-06:002012-02-03T15:21:00.417-06:00Kell, me too. Serials seem like such a refreshing ...Kell, me too. Serials seem like such a refreshing spin on the e-reading thing. If handled effectively, I can see it working well.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-43564983761214655562012-02-03T15:20:08.694-06:002012-02-03T15:20:08.694-06:00Thanks, Mike G-G. Bob Dylan was right about the ti...Thanks, Mike G-G. Bob Dylan was right about the times, huh.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-523245143765698112012-02-03T15:19:23.248-06:002012-02-03T15:19:23.248-06:00You know, I read that Guardian article and thought...You know, I read that Guardian article and thought it was interesting. Here's the link for anyone who's curious: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jan/30/self-e-publishing-bubble-ewan-morrisonMike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-45883091909938379632012-02-03T15:18:07.989-06:002012-02-03T15:18:07.989-06:00Dee, I definitely agree with the "noise"...Dee, I definitely agree with the "noise" out there that muddles some great work. That's why you hope that "cream rises" saying hold validity.<br /><br />And I'd normally agree with you about MG ereadership being a couple years away, but now that I've seen the e-readers around my small school in great numbers, I'm not so sure. I think it's speeding up.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-71947642883526680112012-02-03T14:29:32.649-06:002012-02-03T14:29:32.649-06:00I think it was Harlequin who opened a self-publish...I think it was Harlequin who opened a self-publishing imprint a couple years back and I remember everyone aghast. It was a big scandal at the time. Now, it's really no big shake. It's so amazing how quickly things change. There is room out there for all types of authors. A good book, is a good book, is a good book! :)<br /><br />Great post, Mike!Hilary Wagnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18199287020561210673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-10480533057790125172012-02-03T11:42:40.255-06:002012-02-03T11:42:40.255-06:00Wow, fantastic post, Mike! You did a great job of ...Wow, fantastic post, Mike! You did a great job of summarizing the current state of publishing. I cringed at the thought of e-readers for a long time,and now I can't imagine being without my Kindle.Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-792345417783556172012-02-03T11:28:18.748-06:002012-02-03T11:28:18.748-06:00Well said, Mike. The best things a middle grade au...Well said, Mike. The best things a middle grade author can do these days are school or Skype visits. You can get paid (sometimes) and connect with kids and share your work with them. Kids come out of "good" school visits with a sense of urgency to get that author's books. With all the "books" available in so many different outlets, self-promotion is necessary. Introverted writers will have it tough in the future, unless they write something that catches on in a big way.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05514067724256745623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-24009774333659118712012-02-03T11:17:39.047-06:002012-02-03T11:17:39.047-06:00Such a great piece and recap of the changing lands...Such a great piece and recap of the changing landscape of publishing.<br /><br />Since I'm a relatively new writer (only ten years and four unpublished novels in) I find the change exciting. It's let me get over the first hurdle and find an audience. My book is starting to take off and that's exciting, really exciting! <br /><br />Change for the sake of change is never good but I don't think that's what we're seeing. These changes seem to reflect what's happening in the big, wide world and that's a good thing!Johanna Garthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15515478890074610814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-11885247821108428542012-02-03T09:28:18.676-06:002012-02-03T09:28:18.676-06:00Great post, Mike.
I'm with you -- shuddering...Great post, Mike. <br /><br />I'm with you -- shuddering at the planned release dates, 2-3 years down the road, of a deal you see on Marketplace.<br /><br />Also, as you point out, It's just a hard business all the way around -- for both traditionally and self-published authors. <br /><br />DavidDavid Kazziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11753721662077319561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-75021996039048055772012-02-03T09:06:03.105-06:002012-02-03T09:06:03.105-06:00Interesting summary. I'm quite interested in t...Interesting summary. I'm quite interested in the idea of serials.As a reader, it's not for me -- I already get frustrated with serial TV dragging on too long and rarely finish a trilogy -- but I think that young readers will enjoy this and it may be a great model for writers/publishers as well.kell andrewshttp://www.kellandrews.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-814349438953593732012-02-03T08:51:36.319-06:002012-02-03T08:51:36.319-06:00Great post, Mike. Lots of opportunities out there ...Great post, Mike. Lots of opportunities out there for people to try new things, and yeah, trying new things is essential in a changing environment. <br />Thanks!Paul Grecihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11340974339238587138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-67324395100587003542012-02-03T08:34:28.396-06:002012-02-03T08:34:28.396-06:00Fascinating piece, Mike! You made me think of thin...Fascinating piece, Mike! You made me think of things in a new way.Michael G-Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-32926491414864948182012-02-03T08:03:14.398-06:002012-02-03T08:03:14.398-06:00It's absolutely fascinating. And this is an ex...It's absolutely fascinating. And this is an excellent post summarizing what's happening and how you feel about it. Thanks, Mike!<br /><br />I loved The Deathday Letter, and Shaun is a friend of mine, so I'm really looking forward to finding time to read THE DARK DAYS OF ME AND HIM. I think the first two chapters are available already.<br /><br />Did you see that the AAR officially announced that Agencies as publishers was a conflict of interest as far as they're concerned? I forget the exact wording, but it is what it is.<br /><br />The Guardian also had an interesting article on self-epublishing becoming a bubble much like the initial e-commerce bubble, but I don't think that says anything about ebooks in general.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-14273098598746519402012-02-03T07:43:54.653-06:002012-02-03T07:43:54.653-06:00Very timely post, Mike. I love the changes in publ...Very timely post, Mike. I love the changes in publishing, except I don't love the uneven pace of it in different sectors.<br /><br />For example, I want bookstores to reinvent themselves so they will not only survive but multiply. The browsing aspect of discovering new books and new writers is so important that I don't want that to disappear. <br /><br />I love the idea that writers can put books out that may not fit a huge market, but can attract readers anyway. Unfortunately, there's so much noise out there, I fear it will be hard for good books to find readers. That's still the problematic aspect to this all.<br /><br />And for middle grade, while ereadership is expanding greatly, it will take a couple of years for it to really be common among kids. Then there's the issue of getting the word out. Teachers and librarians are still a middle grade writer's best friends for getting books into the hands of kids, in whatever format that might be. How will that happen in the future? Will it change from the way it happens today, with the emphasis on reviews in major journals? <br /><br />For writers, I think now the best thing to do is write. Duh, right? The more well-written manuscripts you have, the better your options, whatever way you choose to go.<br /><br />Love that you posted this. I'll be interested in the comments.Dee Garretsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14533945691880883871noreply@blogger.com