Lawrence Block, in a fantastically wonderful post (called All Changed, Changed Utterly…), gives a perfect sense of what it has been like to move from one side of this crazy industry into indie publishing.
And with his wonderful writing he lets you understand what it feels like to a person like me (or Kris) when we have spent thirty-plus years in the old system to suddenly find this new system. After reading his column, you might understand why every-so-often I just shout out, “I love this new world!”
So please, please, please go read his column, even if you are not indie publishing. (It’s Lawrence Block, for heaven’t sake.) And if you haven’t already, follow the links and buy a book or two that he talks about at the end. (The Scudder short story collection, The Night and the Music, is a personal top favorite of mine.)
Go read the column. You will be very glad you did.
http://lawrenceblock.wordpress.com/2012/04/22/all-changed-changed-utterly/
i so much appreciate DSW your telling us people to read, you are the finder of needles in haystacks for certain
drcpe
who asks before sending a note to you about your classes again… I sent the email to you the first time through the email feature here on your blog site. Is that the right one to use, or is there another email addy?
Thanks so much
drcpe
E-mail feature here? Didn’t know I had one. Just contact me at dean at deanwesleysmith dot com and put workshop only in the subject line to try to avoid the spam filters I have set up, which are something pretty strict. (grin)
That’s a pretty good article, but it’s too late for me. I’m already sold. Kris finally pushed me over the edge when she quoted Clay Shirky: “Publishing is a button.” Yeah, it’s bumper-sticker-simplistic, but it’s also pretty hard to argue with. It’s going on my wall.
I won’t say I would say no to traditional publishing; but self-publishing is now my default plan.
I agree, great article, Dean. I know I’ve said this before but to get all of these changes from Lawrence Block’s perspective is mind boggling. He’s seen everything. I own all of his books on writing and now adding his blog posts to that: Wow. I love pretty much everything he’s ever written and to see him still going strong and even thriving in this new enviroment is amazing. I hope he does so for another twenty years. Or more. (grin)
That’s an amazing tale, and to think it came from Block. Who would have guessed even a year ago, huh?
Funny thing, the cover of “Hank the Cowdog” looked familiar to me for some reason. Wonder if I ran across it somewhere? Hmm, something to ponder.
From Lawrence E. Block’s post:
“…publishers had come around, telling her how much they could do for her. ‘I tell them I already know what they can do for me,’ she said. ‘They already did it.’”
Priceless.
My favorites are:
“Is The Night and the Music making me rich? No, hardly that. But it’s making me happy.”
and from an LB comment:
“Instead of waiting forever for a publisher’s sales reports (which I sometimes suspect are as much creatures of the imagination as are my novels)….”
The second quote made me think of some of the things Kris has written about.
“Now that she was doing so well, she said, publishers had come around, telling her how much they could do for her. “I tell them I already know what they can do for me,” she said. “They already did it.”
No kidding. Once all the heavy lifting is done, publishers kind of remind me of vultures dropping by with hopes of being able to snatch a few mouthfuls.
One of the first things I did this morning was log into amazon.com and buy a couple of his books. His blog has put paid to any doubts I had about self-publishing. Thanks you both (and Kris, too).
Looks like he isn’t the only one:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2134534/Childrens-author-GP-Taylor-hes-decided-self-publish.html
After talking to her over lunch, I really want to send this to my aunt. She is absolutely convinced I shouldn’t self-publish. Thing is, I’ve been planning to self-publish for almost 7 years now. I wonder what she’ll do when I start making more money than she does . . .
Thanks for sharing LB blog. I bookmarked the site. Very interesting.