by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Keeping up with publishing news in, let’s say, 2000 wasn’t particularly interesting. I know I wasn’t paying attention to it. I wonder how many people were.
But today, keeping an eye on publishing is important for every writer considering publication. Actually, I think it’s important for readers, too, if they’re interested in the health of their local bookstore chain or whether they should invest in an eReader.
Luckily, there are some great sites to help us keep up with it all and to help us disseminate the information we receive. That’s a good thing, because it’s all changing so quickly.
Publishing news and analysis
Jane Friedman’s blog, in particular Porter Anderson’s Thursday segment, Writing on the Ether
Blogs that weigh in on e-publishing vs. traditional
Joe Konrath’s blog (A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing)
Dean Wesley Smith
The Business Rusch (Kristine Kathryn Rusch)
David Gaughran—Let’s Get Digital
The Shatzkin Files (Mike Shatzkin)
Help sorting out legal ramifications of these changes in publishing:
These are just a few great sites…there are many more out there. Want to add to my list? Or, what are your thoughts on the rapidly changing publishing world? (I think it’s a great time to be a writer.)
Catching up with your posts, Elizabeth.
There are some useful links to informative posts here, thank you.
Thanks for the great links. I will look them over tonight.
Teresa
Elizabeth – You’ve brought up a topic I definitely should learn more about. The savvy writer keeps up with publishing trends! Thanks for these links. I think one of the tougher things about being a writer these days is the myriad choices we have when it comes to publishing.
Thanks for these, Elizabeth! There’s always something new, isn’t there? What’s a poor writer to do?
I would also add the free Publishers Weekly Daily e-newsletter. I cancelled my subscription to PW after I found I could get almost all the same info in a more timely and easy-to-disseminate format for FREE.
Thanks, Elizabeth. I added three of your links to my blogroll.
I agree, it’s a great time to be a writer. I just wish it didn’t seem like a war between two sides. But maybe that’s inevitable.
Glynis–Thanks for popping by!
Journaling Woman–Hope you’ll find them helpful!
Laura–Unfortunately, it gets a little ugly sometimes. What I try to do is separate the barbs from the useful information. And there’s always useful info to glean from the posts, even the more combative ones.
Margot–The choices are a good thing, I think. And publishing news is something we could all stand to read more about. Because knowledge is power!
Thank you for these! Man, I don’t seem to have the stamina to keep up, but I know I ought to, so these links will help. Often I get my news from Helen Ginger or you…. erm. But it is good to know some resources. I can add these to my blog roll and then at least some of the time I will be caught up.
Great list. And I’d say if I had to read only ONE of those, it would be Passive Voice. He largely posts about what other blogs are posting, so you keep up with lots of different blogs that way.
(The commentary discussions are largely indie-centric, but lively and interesting.)
Hart–Adding them to your blog reader or blogroll is a good way to do it…lots of times the headlines give much of the story (especially in terms of sales gained or lost by the publishers and online retailers.)
Elspeth–It seems like a lot to keep up with, doesn’t it…social media, publishing shake-ups. I think we just try to do our best! I usually stay kept up with just a few minutes a day. Although I could spend a lot longer if I don’t watch the time!
M.E. Anders –Somehow I didn’t realize they had one! Thanks for the info. :)
Camille: I really enjoy Passive Voice, too. He also scours the net for interesting posts for writers.
And, very true about the blogs I mentioned–very indie-focused. I honestly tried to think of some on the other side of the issue (that are very pro-traditional and post on that topic on a regular basis) and I couldn’t think of any! Agent and publisher blogs, clearly, but they’re not addressing the topic all that much (understandably.)
I find a ton just reading through blogs!
Alex–That’s the nice thing–writers are good about broadcasting publishing news through their blogs. :)
Book Business Magazine puts out a daily newsletter, Publishing Business Today. That’s where I got the links to postings about KDP Select for Monday’s post.
Diane–Thanks for the tip! I’ll be sure to subscribe.