tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post4013112398173703503..comments2024-03-25T21:30:28.970-07:00Comments on <b>Smashwords</b>: Will Book Publishers Become Irrelevant?Dovetail Public Relationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039664167177159146noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-53412768311602278412013-02-06T06:42:10.461-08:002013-02-06T06:42:10.461-08:00I think the world is changing far more rapidly tha...I think the world is changing far more rapidly than we realize. I just got word today that schools are considering not teaching cursive writing anymore. Opting out for technology alternatives, meaning they won't be teaching our children how to write their own signature. Now, with that in mind, it tells me when this generation grows up, Everything will be on tablet or computer. Paper copy will be the old relic and kept under special lock and key like a valuable antique. So...all those who do business via paper or rely on some form or that will be obsolete. Publishers are part of that old fashioned 'paper' idea. Everything is becoming instant...including books. Short cuts, and simplification are the way of the future...and ebooks and everything online is the way we are headed. Those archaic publishing companies (in my opinion) will be hit hard. Already, paper is becoming obsolete...or everyone is pushing it anyway. How many of us have to go online to get our paychecks now? 'Save a tree' everyone says...I'm thinking the publishing companies are like those trees. We aren't really talking about preserving as much as we are simplifying in this demanding, time consuming, complex world we live in. Everyone wants a quicker, easier method because TIME is the factor for everyone. I also think teachers will become obsolete, but that is a whole other can of worms.(Just my humble opinion:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-22769160902805263732013-02-06T05:25:25.944-08:002013-02-06T05:25:25.944-08:00Mark, it was a great interview, and Audie Cornish ...Mark, it was a great interview, and Audie Cornish put all the right questions to Michael Pietch, though Pietch's responses didn't quite do it for me. As you said, we're all on the same team. Traditional publishers must face the fact that the playing field has changed and they need to adjust their business model if they hope to remain relevant. One thing traditional publishers still have the upper hand in is marketing & publicity. Pietch drove that fact home as well.<br /><br />Peace & love to us all in the pursuit of our goals!Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11108038613426722566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-35868203301106252962013-02-05T20:41:07.989-08:002013-02-05T20:41:07.989-08:00You're all right with me. And I say that ever...You're all right with me. And I say that every where I get a chance to.<br /><br />The thing I love about all this is the publishers going through all these somersaults and backbends to get a piece of the epub pie. Virginia Llorcahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08354795459855491623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-25653417711842077992013-02-05T11:55:54.683-08:002013-02-05T11:55:54.683-08:00I couldn't agree more.I couldn't agree more.Take Back the Internethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02014630327171150079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-3101913471311384932013-02-05T09:12:12.423-08:002013-02-05T09:12:12.423-08:00We're all at the same side. If only publishers...We're all at the same side. If only publishers could see that. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03184554841692701878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-49071240748076160672013-02-04T20:38:34.650-08:002013-02-04T20:38:34.650-08:00What concerns me about the big houses is the shrin...What concerns me about the big houses is the shrinking shelf space. Borders is gone and B&N is probably shrinking faster than they want to admit. If the big publishers are basically just putting their authors on Amazon and the distributers that Smashwords already reaches, how much longer will new writers have any interest in going with an old school contract?<br /><br />I think it might be worth their time and captial to try opening their own small footprints at local malls. No stock carried - just rows of touch screens with their hot new authors on default display. <br /><br />They could pick up the catalogue from Smashwords in much the same way that Apple does. That way, they get a piece of the indie action as well, but still get to put their own titles front and center when you walk in.<br /><br />For those who prefer paper, they could put an espresso printer behind the till.A.G. Claymorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109502266487845431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-77937273958999229612013-02-04T18:46:21.356-08:002013-02-04T18:46:21.356-08:00Great interview, Mark.Great interview, Mark.Paul Salvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11818202201018195312noreply@blogger.com