[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

And, speaking of how Indie publishing is destroying the world, here's a view from the litfic camp:

http://thefutureofpublishing.com/201...ing-ecosystem/



A lot more at the source.
Including some... interesting... math.

It's a fun read, really.

I don't think this has *anything* to do with the litfic "camp"; it's the view from the indie publishing camp, which doesn't seem to produce much litfic.

In answer to the author's question, though:

My point is simple: A reputable publishing group offers awards to some of its best titles yet can’t really move the needle on those books’ sales. If these awards can’t help sales, what can?

the answer is fairly easy. Don't have *55* categories and give awards in each one. (Maybe it's 54 categories, I kind of lost count). That's not really an award as much as it is a publicity move: they are creating awards that only independently published books can win, *and* they are creating so many awards (55 per year) that a lot of books are going to be "award winners." (And by creating a "digital" award, they've added even more). There is *one* Booker prize each year, and it isn't limited to members of a particular trade group. Other prizes may distinguish between a few categories (fiction/nonfiction/international, typically) - but not 50+.