So today John Green posted a video about some of the difficulties that are going on in the book publishing industry right now. As a writer, I find this a little worrying.
What I find so troubling is not the thought that it might be more difficult for me to get published, it is the idea that there are people out there who honestly think that print books will end up completely obsolete, or that the e-book is the solution to all the industry’s problems.
For those who are unaware, some time ago, Amazon came out with the Kindle, which is pretty much an iPod for books. I think this is a terrible idea. I don’t want to read an entire book on some little screen, or even on my computer. My eyes are terrible enough as it is and I spend enough time staring at the computer.
I also find it very troubling that someone posted this in the comments of John’s video:
IdleGod (3 hours ago)Books are dead and dying. All they are is text in an non portable format. If books became available online, via a subscription type service, like Netflix, then perhaps more books would be read. I know I won’t buy any novels because they just cost too much when I can get a movie for a fraction of the cost, that has a much higher production value that I can share with my friends. You cannot share books, or rather, the experience of reading the book. Books only lend well for individual endeavors.LittleMissLilxox (3 hours ago)Haven’t you ever read F451? There whole world changed because people stopped reading books, so people stopped thinking, or freely thinking anyways. Books help are imagination to grow and they inspire TONS of thoughts. Movies give you that picture so you don’t get to imagine and create it, and yes I love my movies, but nothing would ever beat books.IdleGod (3 hours ago)Just because a book says so, doesn’t mean things will turn out the way it predicts. Especially works of fiction. Informative books are significantly more important then fiction. However, reading those is getting less important as information is much more easily gathered via the internet. You can find alternate opinions, as well as all scientific papers, within seconds. No longer do you need to purchase any books, or spend hours researching, as we have the technology to take away that time.
Join the discussion here, in the comments of John’s video or elsewhere. It really doesn’t matter where, just discuss it! And buy books!
Like you, I’ve watched publishing thrash about looking for solutions as it tries to maintain the status quo. Many of the things that are happening, as related in your post, are true. The unfortunate part of the story is that the core of traditional publishing is bent on committing suicide. They refuse to see, understand, observe, take your pick, that their current path of corporatizing an art form “ain’t workin’.” Most hard core readers prefer a print page over a screen, just ask. BUT, the trend toward constricting new ideas and new authors drives readers to the net. In the name of industry “survival” we’re down to a handful of book stores, publishers, agents, and, yes, major authors. The biggest rewards in this corporate industry are reserved for those who say NO. Operating on the theory that if a little poison fails to work, one should increase the dose, we should soon see one major pub house, one major marketer, computer gen fiction, etc. The astounding part is when evidence such as “Harry Potter” slaps ‘em in the ol’ kisser they’re surprised, happy, and see no relation between cause and effect. I love writing, books, and regardless of the tone of my comment here, that love extends to publishers and even (gulp) agents. In order to improve my craft, I did my own survey- stood in front of bookstores and libraries- and took 202 observations from avid fiction readers who prefer my genres. Wow, is the what they want different from what they’re getting. I hope there will be an enlightening, but barring that, I’m afraid RIP. ###
If you could use a few laughs, visit me at http://www.SandySays1.wordpress.com and read a few of my blog entries.