Saturday, June 16, 2012

The Changing World of Publishing

It's a concerning time when we hear of many Indie published authors, the e-book revolution, and agents and editors reactions.Some are saying agents are running scared, and agents should be worried.

Have a look at Nathan Bransford's blog, Should Agents Be Worried? Also Rachelle Gardner's blog, Are Agents running scared? It's been an interesting read and in a few years it will be fascinating to discover the outcome.

We all have our ideas of where the world of publishing is headed. I personally think that agents will receive less submissions, as will editors. I also think they will still be around, and be valued by writers. After all, we still need that help in negotiating contracts, and the area that comes after that big Sale. Most traditional publishers now have a digital publishing section, and this seems to be increasing.  I don't think there is anything to be concerned over.

We have to remember change is inevitable and we have to move with that change, but not as far as there will be no agents, or editors. There are some writers who still prefer the traditional way of publishing. It's like a computer. The change in the computer industry is strong, from the huge heavy desktop computer, to laptops, notebooks, and I pads.

They are all still computers, but executed in a different way. Hardware and software must change to support the modern computing workload, including media rich applications.

We may see the changing face of agents, editors, and publishing houses, but executed in a different way. 

Have a great day.  :)

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Suzanne
Great post. I checked out the others, and I must agree that if we don't change well some of us will be left behind. Writers have adapted to new computers, btw, great analogy)editors have adapted to new systems, and agents have, so they will adapt to the newer world of publishing. I don't see too much change happeneing with their role, although as you stated it could slow down due to the Indie published.

Mark.

Tarnya said...

Hi Suzanne,
Great post I agree. I don't know how writers and authors keep up with everything. Change happens everywhere, it's knowing what is changing and reacting to that change in the way you think best.
I think agents and publishers will always be around, and also e-books and self published, it's like adding more to the family.

Tarnya. x

Suzanne Brandyn Author said...

Hi Mark,
Thank you for stopping in. I guess its how we all adapt to new computer programs. There is always something changing. I get used to programs on the internet or in word, and then it's changing. It's the same as i-phones, i-pads, anything. You learn it, and then you have to start over and learn a newer version. :)

Suzanne Brandyn Author said...

Hello Tarnya,
Adding more to the family of publishing. I like that.:)
Thank you for stopping in.

Imelda Evans said...

Plus ca change, plus c'est le meme chose! (Or, the more things change, the more they stay the same) I think was it changing is the monolithic nature of publishing. It will be more diverse, more distributed and one hopes, faster, but there will still be roles for people who help the work get from the writer's head to the reader's heart. Good post, Suzanne!

Suzanne Brandyn Author said...

Hi Imelda,
Thanks for stopping in. I agree. There's more than enough for everyone. :)

Anonymous said...

I can almost see agents adding the hat of publicity director. Writers want to write, not publicise themselves. Perhaps for those thinking of self-pubbing, an agent could off the services of promotion. Just a thought...

Suzanne Brandyn Author said...

Hi Sandy,
But those writers would have to pay the agent, so they'd have to be making a small cent or two. :)

I agree we want to wrtie. But again the changing world of publication requires some amount of PR work to be done by the author. Some publishers also promote authors better than others.

Thanks for stopping in. :)