Quote:
Originally Posted by bob_ninja
As an example, many people no longer listen to movie reviewers. Many go to IMDB and look at the votes of ordinary people. Using this new technology it is now practical to open the publisher's functions such a gatekeeper to a wider set of people, perhaps even a mix of professional and amateurs.
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Although I agree with the idea of more small, independent publishers, I don't think this comparison is apt. The ratings at IMDB are all on movies that have already made it through a highly selective production process (as hard as that is to believe at times).
The Baen open slushpile model is a pretty good one. Offering a "finder's fee" for recommending a book that really does make it through publication and becomes popular might help to make it more worthwhile for people to wade through the slush. Increasing someone's boosting power based on the earnings of books they recommended would be a good way to help keep the random cronyism in check. E.g. as a new reviewer, I only get 10 points a week, and it takes 100 points to get a book out of the slushpile and into the inbox of a professional editor (whatever that might mean in this system-- probably someone who will get a more substantial share of the earnings, though not as much as the author). I can't spend more than 10 boost points on a single MS. But if a book that I recommended makes it through the editing process and starts to sell, I get more boost points per week, based on that-- and I can apply those points to the next MS I think is worth an editor's attention. Perhaps with enough of a boost ranking, I get an invite to become an editor myself, with a share in the profits of successful books. (It might depend on whether I have any talent in the midwifery of books-- not everyone who can pick a good MS is good at working with authors to help them polish their work.)
This could be a writer's workshop, as well, similar to other online writer's workshop models in which writers comment on each others' work, and can't get comments on their own work until they've commented on a certain number of other MS.