Quote:
Originally Posted by caleb72
My problem is that in some ways, it's too much like the business it attempts to replace.
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I'm having to face the evidence that when given complete freedom of expression and having removed the restrictions of McDonalds publishers, that indie authors have tended to adopt a "follower" model rather than a "leader" model. It's probably unfair of me to think that the reverse was going to be universally true given the individual time and money investment to only maybe get a return, but I had naively hoped.
The gems are there - just have to dig a bit.
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Valid point.
But bear in mind that it is very early in the evolution of indie publishing.
Aside from the fact that a lot of the Indie material is actually "reprints"--the backlist of established writers--a lot of the new material is coming from authors trained and ingrained with the limits of traditional print publishing. Just look at the story lengths and the still-prevalent concern with word counts and book length. (Topics already covered round these parts in other threads.)
Because indie publishing is still trying to establish itself as a reputable alternative channel it is (mostly) running on a parallel track to the corporate publishers and to a large extent measuring itself by the same metrics (sales, sales, sales).
This is changing.
We are starting to hear of Indie publishing successes that *don't* necessarily involve selling books by the hundreds of thousands but of reaching under-served audiences, of experimenting with old/deprecated formats (serials, pamphlets), or going places traditional publishing would never go. (A 300,000 word monolithic SF novel by a total unknown? Good luck getting that out in the world without Manhattan or Hollywood connections.)
In the early days, TV was Radio-with-a-camera and Teleplays, plays performed before a single camera. It took a while for the new medium to find its natural voice and its own unique practices and customs. And even now, two generations later, the medium is still evolving new conventions. Like shows with no music themes or intro.
ebooks are not just print books without the pulp; even for narrative text works there is room for new formats, new practices, new genres.
As you say, the majority of authors still haven't internalized the full implications of the new
freedom.
But they will.
The easiest prediction to make is that the old straightjackets of length (short story, novella, novelette, etc) are going to disappear or, better yet, take on new meanings. A lot of the "everybody knows" rules will be successfully challenged and debunked. (Just as, once upon a time, on TV "everybody" *knew* that TV show episodes *needed* to be standalone so they could be run in any order and viewers could jump on an any point in the series or miss one and not be lost. Until Hill Street Blues and STNG proved otherwise and paved the way for BUFFY and 24. Now practically every show runs season long narrative arcs and ends with a cliffhanger or status quo change or both and it is the shows that don't that are the mavericks.)
Indie publishing is terra incognita and for now the pioneers are staying close to what came before and keeping an eye out for what works (and doesn't) for those that stray from the known practices. Is it safe to travel by night? How much food and water does the wagon train carry?
So yes, a lot of what is coming out of indie circles is going to be familiar in form and function. It is too early too expect too much boldness. ("You can tell the pioneers by the arrows in their backs.") And, of course, once somebody proves the market will accept something different, then that will be added to the lore of the business. Everybody will know that you *can* do that.
Just keep in mind that in any activity, true leaders and envelop expanders-- the test pilots, if you will--are few and far between. And have a high mortality rate.
Give it time and keep searching for the odd jewel here and there, I expect you'll slowly see the number of them grow as the industry matures. A few leaders and a bunch of followers is exactly what you would expect at this point in time. And way better than nothing but followers of "old lore". (We have to take our victories where we find them. Baby steps.)
BTW, the need for new ways of thinking and behaving runs both ways; authors and *readers* both need to develop new practices and conventions. And, as near as I can tell, we are.
Things are good but they're getting even better.