Quote:
Originally Posted by fjtorres
Publishers currently defend their "special" place in the product supply chain in four ways:
1- Gatekeeping, keeping the "slush" out of the market. ....
2- Editorial services - proofing, editing, formatting, covers. ....
3- Up-front financing - basically, payday loans that trade *potential* future income for a guaranteed up-front lump sum. ....
4- Distribution services - in the pre-internet era, freedom of the press was only for those than owned one. ....
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I'd add one more:
5- Advertising - letting the public know this book exists, and that it's worth their time and money.
That's the *only* aspect that indie authors will never be able to do as well as a big company... and it's the aspect publishers cut first when they're feeling strapped for cash. Over the years, they've pushed more and more of this onto the authors: Start your own blog! Schedule your own bookstore appearances! No talk shows, not even local-tv interviews, for anyone not on the NYT Bestseller list! No press releases, no attempts to get reviews in big publications, no "coming soon" announcements for the midlist.
No wonder those authors are pondering how much they can do for themselves. While print distribution is still tricky for indie authors and small publishers, it's no longer essential to an author's career. Advertising is, and will remain, crucial to a financially successful career. And publishers are failing to provide it for anyone they don't think is a superstar.