Comments on: Publishers: Why Are You Creating Huge Followings For Those Who Might Soon Be Putting You Out of Business? http://christinakatz.com/publishers-why-are-you-creating-international-followings-for-those-who-might-soon-put-you-out-of-business/ Write well, sell what you write, specialize, build your platform, partner wisely, keep learning, and prosper in the gig economy. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:03:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: melindaroos http://christinakatz.com/publishers-why-are-you-creating-international-followings-for-those-who-might-soon-put-you-out-of-business/comment-page-1/#comment-359 melindaroos Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:49:29 +0000 http://christinakatz.com/?p=862#comment-359 Why shouldn't authors develop their own platforms? <br><br>Publishers are not the gods of the book business. The market is changing, they should step up to the plate. They can choose to work together with authors who develop rich content or they can choose to operate in the traditional sense -- we all know where that will eventually end up. <br><br>At the end of the day, its the readers who decide if they will pay for content online or not. Increased competition and various platforms can only be good for the consumers. What is wrong with that scenario? Why shouldn't authors develop their own platforms?

Publishers are not the gods of the book business. The market is changing, they should step up to the plate. They can choose to work together with authors who develop rich content or they can choose to operate in the traditional sense — we all know where that will eventually end up.

At the end of the day, its the readers who decide if they will pay for content online or not. Increased competition and various platforms can only be good for the consumers. What is wrong with that scenario?

]]> By: Janet http://christinakatz.com/publishers-why-are-you-creating-international-followings-for-those-who-might-soon-put-you-out-of-business/comment-page-1/#comment-358 Janet Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:22:13 +0000 http://christinakatz.com/?p=862#comment-358 Honestly, this post confuses me, probably because I am not enough of an insider to know the details about the players involved. I thought Christina was a blogger (I'm reading it, right?). And many people become infopreneurs because the traditional publishing industry is so elitist, the average new writer might decide it isn't worth the difficulty to become affiliated. If becoming an infopreneur is a way for a writer to actually make a living, I'm all for it. Now if Christina is talking about someone who is the writing world equivalent of a snake oil salesperson, that is clearly a different matter. But those exploiters of human pain exist in all industries, yes? Honestly, this post confuses me, probably because I am not enough of an insider to know the details about the players involved. I thought Christina was a blogger (I'm reading it, right?). And many people become infopreneurs because the traditional publishing industry is so elitist, the average new writer might decide it isn't worth the difficulty to become affiliated. If becoming an infopreneur is a way for a writer to actually make a living, I'm all for it. Now if Christina is talking about someone who is the writing world equivalent of a snake oil salesperson, that is clearly a different matter. But those exploiters of human pain exist in all industries, yes?

]]> By: Guy LeCharles Gonzalez http://christinakatz.com/publishers-why-are-you-creating-international-followings-for-those-who-might-soon-put-you-out-of-business/comment-page-1/#comment-356 Guy LeCharles Gonzalez Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:02:22 +0000 http://christinakatz.com/?p=862#comment-356 You're going to catch some flack by not naming names on this one, but I have a pretty good idea of who you are and AREN'T talking about, and I totally agree. I've watched a few of them bounce around the conference circuit over the past year or two, using their traditionally published book as both validation and marketing device while they bash traditional publishers with sweeping generalizations, suggesting they don't serve any real purpose beyond a "free" printing press for quaint souvenirs of their ideas. It's annoying, hypocritical and, I think, starting to wear thin for a lot of people. You're going to catch some flack by not naming names on this one, but I have a pretty good idea of who you are and AREN'T talking about, and I totally agree. I've watched a few of them bounce around the conference circuit over the past year or two, using their traditionally published book as both validation and marketing device while they bash traditional publishers with sweeping generalizations, suggesting they don't serve any real purpose beyond a “free” printing press for quaint souvenirs of their ideas. It's annoying, hypocritical and, I think, starting to wear thin for a lot of people.

]]> By: lissowerbutts http://christinakatz.com/publishers-why-are-you-creating-international-followings-for-those-who-might-soon-put-you-out-of-business/comment-page-1/#comment-355 lissowerbutts Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:12:44 +0000 http://christinakatz.com/?p=862#comment-355 Interesting take on the -cool-kidder-blogger-dudes - and yes I know exactly which offer sparked that comment. I must admit not to be an aspiring author in the traditional sense - but I write and publish on my own blogs. I think the whole industry evolving and fast - I sued to turn to published newspapers for news - now I use blog sites and online papers - books I think will be the next. Nto fiction but definitly non-fiction. I think tradtional travel guide book publishers are already seeing that - I don't own a fance cell phone - but there have been times lost in a foreign town I would have killed for an "app" to guide me to the nearest guest house or cheap reastaraunt! Interesting take on the -cool-kidder-blogger-dudes – and yes I know exactly which offer sparked that comment. I must admit not to be an aspiring author in the traditional sense – but I write and publish on my own blogs. I think the whole industry evolving and fast – I sued to turn to published newspapers for news – now I use blog sites and online papers – books I think will be the next. Nto fiction but definitly non-fiction. I think tradtional travel guide book publishers are already seeing that – I don't own a fance cell phone – but there have been times lost in a foreign town I would have killed for an “app” to guide me to the nearest guest house or cheap reastaraunt!

]]> By: cal0033 http://christinakatz.com/publishers-why-are-you-creating-international-followings-for-those-who-might-soon-put-you-out-of-business/comment-page-1/#comment-354 cal0033 Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:01:57 +0000 http://christinakatz.com/?p=862#comment-354 As a yet-to-be traditionally published author, it seems a little harsh to lump all bloggers and infopreneurs together. Anyone who pays $297 for a "special report" rather than buy a $20 book deserves to be out the cash. However, breaking in is really hard (I've waited 2 weeks to hear back from a potential agent whether I will even be considered as a client so that I might get my work in front of a publisher). Maybe if it didn't seem like publishers were in ivory towers it would be less tempting to find alternate routes to success. As a yet-to-be traditionally published author, it seems a little harsh to lump all bloggers and infopreneurs together. Anyone who pays $297 for a “special report” rather than buy a $20 book deserves to be out the cash. However, breaking in is really hard (I've waited 2 weeks to hear back from a potential agent whether I will even be considered as a client so that I might get my work in front of a publisher). Maybe if it didn't seem like publishers were in ivory towers it would be less tempting to find alternate routes to success.

]]> By: Merry Writer http://christinakatz.com/publishers-why-are-you-creating-international-followings-for-those-who-might-soon-put-you-out-of-business/comment-page-1/#comment-353 Merry Writer Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:17:42 +0000 http://christinakatz.com/?p=862#comment-353 I'll agree with you, I've seen so many writers that aren't really even writers. They farm out the real work to a ghost writer and just sell, sell, sell. I'm also sick of seeing writers create blogs and websites in the pretense of wanting to help another author reach their potential. It's a scam at best, and writers should flee such sites. I'll agree with you, I've seen so many writers that aren't really even writers. They farm out the real work to a ghost writer and just sell, sell, sell. I'm also sick of seeing writers create blogs and websites in the pretense of wanting to help another author reach their potential. It's a scam at best, and writers should flee such sites.

]]> By: Jenn http://christinakatz.com/publishers-why-are-you-creating-international-followings-for-those-who-might-soon-put-you-out-of-business/comment-page-1/#comment-352 Jenn Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:56:13 +0000 http://christinakatz.com/?p=862#comment-352 As someone who will never be one of the cool kids, and is totally turned off and burnt out on the hype, too, I just have to say: Amen. As someone who will never be one of the cool kids, and is totally turned off and burnt out on the hype, too, I just have to say: Amen.

]]> By: Fi Phillips http://christinakatz.com/publishers-why-are-you-creating-international-followings-for-those-who-might-soon-put-you-out-of-business/comment-page-1/#comment-350 Fi Phillips Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:30:39 +0000 http://christinakatz.com/?p=862#comment-350 Hm. I can appreciate where you're coming from here, C but as a fiction writer who also blogs, I'm slightly hurt by the suggestion to publishers that I'm not to be dealt with. I would love to be published (traditionally) and see my stories on the bookshelves. I'm unlikely to publish online because that just doesn't hold the same satisfaction for me. However I do like to blog about the process of my writing. Surely raising my visibility can only assist any publisher that might wish to partner with me.<br><br>I also sell plays online to be used by amateur theatre groups, schools and other organisations as fundraisers. I keep prices low to assist in the fundraising. I make a pittance out of this venture. I'm certainly not in it to make a quick buck. Publishers aren't interested because my plays aren't performed by professional theatre companies. Hm. I can appreciate where you're coming from here, C but as a fiction writer who also blogs, I'm slightly hurt by the suggestion to publishers that I'm not to be dealt with. I would love to be published (traditionally) and see my stories on the bookshelves. I'm unlikely to publish online because that just doesn't hold the same satisfaction for me. However I do like to blog about the process of my writing. Surely raising my visibility can only assist any publisher that might wish to partner with me.

I also sell plays online to be used by amateur theatre groups, schools and other organisations as fundraisers. I keep prices low to assist in the fundraising. I make a pittance out of this venture. I'm certainly not in it to make a quick buck. Publishers aren't interested because my plays aren't performed by professional theatre companies.

]]> By: Links: Happy Birthday, Dad 2010 Edition | Meryl.net http://christinakatz.com/publishers-why-are-you-creating-international-followings-for-those-who-might-soon-put-you-out-of-business/comment-page-1/#comment-351 Links: Happy Birthday, Dad 2010 Edition | Meryl.net Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:01:44 +0000 http://christinakatz.com/?p=862#comment-351 [...] Publishers: Why Are You Creating Huge Followers for Those Who Might Soon Be Putting You Out of Busin...: Excellent read from Christina Katz on the partnering (or not) of publishers and authors. I’d love to know what you think. I’m still listening, learning and assessing. [...] [...] Publishers: Why Are You Creating Huge Followers for Those Who Might Soon Be Putting You Out of Busin…: Excellent read from Christina Katz on the partnering (or not) of publishers and authors. I’d love to know what you think. I’m still listening, learning and assessing. [...]

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