Publishing news

Last time in the Publishing News series, I put together my post on Thursday and was unable to update Friday, so I missed a few good posts. I'll be adding them in with these two weeks' links.

Industry News

Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and other brick and mortar bookstores hold firm in their decision to not carry books published by Amazon, and explain why.

A recent court case could threaten library lending rights for both e-books and physical books, pertaining to books printed outside the US. With many publishing companies outsourcing the actual printing to other countries, this might impair the abilities of libraries to acquire new books. Libraries are asking that the Supreme Court redefine its final ruling, which says "the doctrine of first sale, the provision in the Copyright Act that allows any purchaser of a legal copy of a book or other copyrighted work to sell or lend that copy, applies only to copies manufactured in the United States," to the more specific "manufactured with the lawful authorization of the holder of a work's US copyright," which would not pose the same possible litigation issues.


The Wall Street Journal shares that your e-book is reading you: e-books are used to track reader data, giving publishers an insight into the readers' habits that has never been available before.


The Library Copyright Alliance and the Electronic Frontier Foundation call out the Authors' Guild on the HathiTrust lawsuit. HathiTrust is a digitization collective of research libraries created from the books scanned in the Google books project. The Authors' Guild suit rests on copyright infringement, but according to the LCA and the EFF, the Authors' Guild could have made a motion to have Google stop scanning at any point in the (so far seven-year long) process, but did not. They also consider HathiTrust to be covered under fair use law.

Please correct me if I misunderstand this, but from what I'm getting, basically many university libraries had their books scanned and digitally uploaded during the Google Books project, and the works were 'compiled' in HathiTrust, "a partnership of major research institutions and libraries working to ensure that the cultural record is preserved and accessible long into the future" (HathiTrust website). HathiTrust does not display books considered to have active copyright, but it appears the public can browse the site like any regular library catalog. Books with expired copyrights can be viewed in full; for the rest, HathiTrust has a link that finds which libraries have print copies of the book. Universities and students look like they can have full access to any book, copyright or not, for educational purposes.

The House Judiciary Committee is preparing to hold a hearing on something called the Market Equity Act, which will close the loophole that allows online-only retailers to avoid paying sales tax. The Retail Industry Leaders Association is in favor the MEA (big surprise, right?).

Publishing an e-book? Wish you had an ARC to hand out as promotional material? Check out Author Solutions'  BookStub, which is basically a business card with the book cover on one side and QR code, promotional number (for those of us with "dumbphones"), and downloading instructions for the e-book on the other. Each BookStub is worth one free book.

If you're planning on going with an inspirational publishing house, you should know that HarperCollins has acquired Thomas Nelson, which now gives them control of over 50% of the Christian publishing market.

The DOJ misses the deadline to publish 800 letters on the proposed e-book pricing settlement. With a stack this large, it hasn't been possible to read them all. They expect to have them posted by July 20, but question has arisen as to whether the delay violates the Tumney Act that gives the public the right to weigh in on decisions before the decisions are accepted by court.


Industry Blogs

QueryTracker's Publishing Pulse for 7/6 and 7/13.

Nathan Bransford posts These Last Few Weeks in Books.

Publisher's Weekly has a great post on the most common errors found when converting PDF files to ePub and why they happen, that also happens to be a positive review of a conversion program called Silk.

Agent Kristen has a series of vlogs, "Fridays with Agent Kristen," addressing issues in writing. Her latest is on prologues and why they frequently do not work.

We all worry about punctuation, but Editor's Blog advises us it's not usually the make-it-or-break-it of a novel. Still, good writing doesn't hurt, and so the blog lists some tricky situations in which "to comma or not to comma" is a legitimate question, as well as their recommendation for each scenario.

Agent Janet Reid answers questions: "Should my synopsis restate the parts stated in my query?" Yes. The two are independent documents and you should not assume that they will both be read. "Should I tell agents I've sent the query letter to other agents?" Not unless the agent requires exclusive queries, and that is fairly rare. Otherwise, agents assume you're sending out multiples of each query letter at a time (personally addressed to each agent, of course, not mass-mailed). "Is it okay to hire a editor if my manuscript is being rejected?" Yes, it's a great idea. Finding a reputable editor to help you improve your manuscript is an expensive investment, though, so start with a good critique group.

Also--and this could get interesting--she has offered to give a reply to all queries she receives once a week for one hour. This is as opposed to a form rejection; the promise doesn't mean feedback. And she asks for only legitimate queries, so if you're not really ready to query or you know she doesn't take your genre, please don't clog the pipelines.

On QueryTracker, Stina Lindenblatt offers ideas to help you find mistakes in your writing. It's hard to find your own faults after months of hard work, love, and sweat; she suggests giving yourself distance. Also, consider listening to your work on audio as opposed to reading it, or reading it backwards, to help yourself find the flaws that need addressing.

Also on QueryTracker, Jane Lebak posts on how redefining the word success can show us we've come further than we think. If making the national bestseller list is your only definition of success, you might always feel inadequate, even if you're making thousands a month from self-publishing.

And Danyelle Leafty posts an excellent when-and-what-stage of website design for authors. When do you begin blogging? While you're writing. Also go ahead and purchase your site name. But you shouldn't worry about writing your "About Me" page until you've sold the book. Post-publication, when it comes out, make sure you keep working on your News section.

Tina Gerow is a published author with a Big Six agency and about 18 novels and stories under her belt. So it's with plenty of authority that she can tell you there is no end to rejection letters: she still faces them even now. It's not personal; it's not you; it's just part of the business. Remember that rejection doesn't stop an author from being successful. Achieving your dreams is worth a little rejection on the way.

Rachelle Gardener offers 6 things to learn from Hemingway: among them, know when to put your work aside; if a story needs more time, then give it more time; and get to know other writers and discuss writing.

Sarah Manguso offers advice to new writers, including living cheaply, investing in your health, not responding to attacks, and slowing down once you've published.

GalleyCat publishes a list of free sites to promote your e-book.

Publishing Industry News

What's been going on in the publishing industry over the past two weeks? Quick links and summaries for your perusal:


Industry News

Barnes & Noble urges the DOJ to reject the settlements of 3 big publishers over the price-fixing lawsuit, saying that the settlements are not in the public's best interest and that there is no factual basis that the settlements will actually address the issues raised by the lawsuit.

E-book retailer Kobo reveals plans for a self-publishing platform. Author royalties will be up to 70% and authors can set the prices as they please, including giving books away for free.

Hachette Group is beginning a new line for commercial fiction called Redhook.

For Cloud, iPad, and Android, Kindle now supports childrens' books, graphic novels, and comics.

In the Authors Guild vs Google lawsuit over the book-scanning project, Google asks for an extension to file its motion for summary judgement. Also, French publishers drop their lawsuit, working out a settlement with Google to allow out-of-print books by French authors to be scanned.

Publishing companies (including Amazon) will soon be able to have their URLs end in .book.

Think Amazon's the only company dealing with book scammers? Not so. Barnes & Noble's PubIt! bans Nora A. Roberts, a scammer trying to cash in on the famous Nora Roberts.

Want to weigh in on the DOJ's lawsuit against major publishers? Deadline for public commentary is June 25, so get your letters written before then. (Where to send your letter)


Industry Blogs

QueryTracker's Publishing Pulse for 5/8.

Nathan Bransford posts The Last Few Weeks in Books.

Agent Natalie Lakosil suggests that writers do not requery a revised manuscript to the same agent unless the agent originally asked for a revise and resubmit, or the story has been basically completely rewritten. Requerying the same agent with a different manuscript is a good idea, though.

Jami Gold posts her ultimate guide to pitch writing.

The Zola Social Reader is an app that brings the people back into bookselling, allowing critics and friends to make their choices known instead of relying solely on algorithms for book recommendations. Notes can be shared, and you'll be able to write in the margins and highlight and share that, too. The beta version has just been released; the official is expected no sooner than July.

Rachelle Gardner reflects on what's changed in the past 4 years. She also talks about using the setting as a character in your book - the correct setting can enhance your characters' moods, display their faults, challenge them, or show what they want to be. And she advices us on using emotion in our publishing careers. The key to getting someone to buy your book is to connect them emotionally; if an agent turns you down, it may because they're having a bad day themselves, so don't let it get you down; if you want your readers to remember your book - they'll always remember how you made them feel, even if they forget the plot.

Janet Reid gives us an example what should be in a personalized PR announcement. Let's say you just got published and want to let your friends know. If you want to come across as not spam, you need to: personalize (yes, that's include each name and write to each person, and talk about why they'd like it and mention something specific to them that wouldn't apply to each generic person), include full information (title, word count/page count, price, publisher, genre), and a full URL (including introducing the URL with "Here's my book" or some such).

Over at GalleyCat, advice on how to market to the YA audience. Keep up the social media, go on blog tours, go to independent bookstores and invite readers, get people talking about you.

Here's an excellent inspirational post from Danyelle Leafty to keep us going, via Winston Churchill's advice.

If you're writing children's books and plan to write for e-readers, be careful about including too many apps, as they may be distracting and reduce a child's ability to retain information from the story.


That's all I've found on my news round-up.What other major publishing news have you encountered over the past two weeks?

Industry News

What's been happening in publishing for the past two weeks? News and industry blogs to catch up on what happened over Memorial Day weekend (and the weekdays before and after!)

News

Penguin challenges the DOJ's claim that they conspired with four other major publishers and Apple to set prices, pointing out flaws in the DOJ's arguments and the weakness of evidence against them. Macmillan and Apple also intend to go to fight the lawsuit in court.

In the Google BookScanning case, authors have been granted class certification. This allows them to sue Google as a group as opposed to individually. The Authors Guild has been officially granted status as an associational plaintiff, and the case could officially go to trial as soon as September [theoretically].

Amazon sent out a reminder this week to remind authors that Amazon does not allow content freely available on the web to be sold through them, unless the seller holds the actual copyright. (I would say this is probably a response to spam books, or "books" constructed through free content and then resold for a profit, that have arisen on Amazon's self-publishing sites, and that Amazon is continuously working to remove.)
E-book distributor OverDrive will be releasing a browser-based, no-download platform that will allow readers to read their ebooks on regular browsers. This will be accessible through e-ink readers, smartphones, tablets, and other platforms.

Publishers team up with Facebook to market books by providing book catalogues through Facebook, as well as allowing them to track Likes and other analytical information, and offering them tools for quick and easy advertising and app-building. The platform (skBookshop.com) does not allow readers to purchase directly through FB, but does allow them to see what's available.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt files for bankruptcy.

Amazon and the IPG have come to terms, although the terms have not been released to the public. The IPG promises its clients that it will not collect any distribution fees on Kindle sales between June 1 and August 31 as recompense to lost sales due to the disagreement.

If you're using Amazon's CreateSpace and want a physical check for your royalty payment instead of direct deposit, you'll need to earn at least $100 (up from $28). Direct deposits are available for amounts of $10 or more.

Momentum, the Australian e-book only imprint, will be going DRM free by early August. Sister company Tor is also going DRM free this year.


Industry Blogs

QueryTracker's Publishing Pulse for 5/25 and 6/1.

On Writer Unboxed, Chuck Sambochino talks about figuring out which writers' conferences are right for you.

Rachelle Gardner goes over what goes into a publishing contract. Things such as advances (how much, when they're paid, if there's a bonus for hitting sales goals), licensing rights (who/what/how long/where), royalty rates, competition clauses, reversion of rights, free book copies, and cover design are all under the "frequently negotiated" list. On the other hand, policies on editing and revising, due dates, and provisions on remaindering are rarely changed.

She also talks about what the editing process looks like for authors with a publishing-house. You start with macro edits (big things!) and move down the line to small things. And she covers advances: how much, how often they're paid out, if they're negotiable (depends, usually split between 2-4 checks for one book, usually yes). Also, do agents accept self-published authors? It depends on why the author self-published. Agents don't want authors who went to self-publishing because they got tired and bitter of the process, but they'll look at authors who went there for business reasons.

QueryTracker talks about making the most of your writers' workshops. First of all, make sure the courses are specific to your needs and meet whatever goals you have at the particular time. Look into the instructor's credentials, and remember that cost does not always equate with quality. Also make sure you have or can make time for the course before taking it.

And think like an author, says QueryTracker's Danyelle Leafty. Write with intent, be proud of your work, be disciplined to continue writing even when it's hard, and be willing to learn and make mistakes.

Nathan Bransford reminds us that the dichotomy between self-publishing and traditional publishing isn't an "us-vs-them" situation: many authors do both.

Pixar's story artist Emma Coats shares her list of secrets to writing a great story.

What publishing news have you encountered in the past couple of weeks?

Publishing News

Publishing news for the past two weeks. Yet another episode of "what's going on in the real world!"

News

Larry Kirshbaum, who will be overseeing Amazon Publishing, sits down for an interview on how Amazon Publishing will work. He says they will be a small publisher, putting out 40-50 books a year, and that they will publish a lot of books. They plan on using recommendations to help sell books - "if you like that, you'll like this" - to target books with audiences. However, he also recommends writers do their own publicity.

The DOJ rejects the motion to dismiss the class-action suit against Apple and 5 publishers for price-fixing. This is despite the settlement the DOJ has already reached with 3 of the publishers. (There's a shorter article here; these are not two separate cases but simply a motion to dismiss this single one, which I felt wasn't quite clear in the first article.)

People are still reading. They're reading more than apparently they were 50 years ago (or just admitting it more!)

Random House has created a Brand Marketing position for their Crown Publishing Group, and filled it. It appears her job is to help authors create and market their brand (i.e., their names). I imagine she'll be doing the same for the imprint itself.

Back in 2008, Georgia State University violated copyright laws by digitally uploading numerous copyrighted works to their archives without permission and making available for free to students. Most universities do this to some extent, but it's a question of scope: how much is available, such as chapters versus entire books; and how long it's available, as in for a semester or for decades; and how protected it is, as in can non-students access it.  This case precedes the Google Books case of uploading by a couple of years. Now the case has finally come to a close, with courts ruling against GSU. The Association of American Publishers has released an official statement on the decision. They're happy that suit has succeeded, but are disappointed that GSU was not held entirely liable and is still abusing some "fair use" laws.


Industry Blogs

QueryTracker's Publishing Pulse for 5/11 and 5/18.

Nathan Bransford posts The Last Few Weeks in Books. He also mentions the challenges facing the industry in this new era (that is, during the advent and expansion of digital publishing.) If you've been keeping up with the news the past couple of years, you've probably come across most of them yourself, and been wondering the same things. I'll pay you an imaginary $10 if you can guess them all before reading.*

On QueryTracker: You get a request to revise and resubmit from an agent in reply to your submission. What do you do? First, consider the revisions. Are they reasonable? Is this the right agent for you? If so and if you agree with the revisions, take your time. Don't rush, even if it means you get the resubmission done months later. Be thorough, and if you think of a better revision than the suggested one, do whichever is best.

Rachelle Gardner tells us not to count on the income from the first book. Sure, some may be made, but the money won't go nearly as far as you're hoping it will. And worse, writing for the paycheck because you need to pay the bills will slowly kill your love of writing. If you need the money, get another job - even if it means less time to write. That's not to say you can't ever make an income on writing; it just means be smart about it and make sure you can support yourself if the cash isn't what you expect.

And it can be tempting to put a book out before it's ready. Really tempting. But don't. Good books take time, and it's a loss to the reading world to publish a could-be-great book before it's had its proper editing. Not to mention that putting a lower-quality book than you are capable of into the hands of readers might just kill your career before it begins. Sure, they might know your name - but do you want to be known as "that writer who rushed the plot and didn't edit"?

There's also the question of "what if my agent doesn't like my next book?" Your agent signed you because they believed you were capable of writing, and writing well. But sometimes it happens. Ask yourself why: is this book the same quality as my last? Remember that your agent is not required to any book you write, just because you write it. Your agent is your agent because she/he is looking out for your career. Chances are, she'll work with you to fix the book and bring it up to par. If you trust her advice, move on. Otherwise, maybe it's time to get a new agent.

Self-publishing? Take a look at the Kentucky Indie Writers' post on the importance of editing. At the very least, good editing shows your self-respect as a professional. Teresa Reasor (post writer) also lists reputable editors to help you make the most of your work, and a link to find Editor Freelancer Association rates so you know what to expect to pay.

Agent Kristen teaches us what a plot catalyst is, and how to use it to write an amazing query in a vlog. Query plot paragraphs do not sum up the entire novel; they just identify the plot catalyst. That's the thing that happens that starts the novel going. Figure out what the plot catalyst is, and build your paragraph around it. And don't defenestrate your computer during the suspense-building slides.

Darcy Pattison talks about how to build an author platform, even if you're not yet published. Mostly? Talk about what interests you. Talk a lot, and connect with people who have similar interests. Just because you're not talking about a book doesn't mean much - you're making connections who will be more likely to read what you write when you are published.

GalleyCat offers an amusing chart on the process of publishing.


What news in the publishing world have you come across in the past two weeks?

*Did you win? Great! Instructions for collecting your imaginary $10: Close your eyes. We're sitting on a tropical island in the middle of nowhere, a school of dolphins jumping out of the blue water on the horizon. I hand you a $10 bill. "Congrats. Now keep your eyes closed just a little longer while I take advantage of this free tropical vacation. Thanks!"

Publishing News

Publishing news for the past couple of weeks!

News

The DOJ has officially filed an antitrust lawsuit over e-book pricing against Apple and 5 of the Big Six publishers (but not Random House). HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette Group will be agreeing to a settlement in the DOJ vs. Big Five and Apple case. Apple, Macmillan, and Penguin will be fighting the antitrust charges in court. The terms of the settlement are quite a hassle, although they don't necessarily mean an end to the agency model - just the ability of publishers to set the prices, which is why the publishers wanted the agency model in the first place. CNET analyzes the case and suggests that it's not likely that the charges will stand against Apple, even if they do against the publishers. CEO of MacMillan, John Sargent, posts his statement on the issue on Tor.com. Amazon intends to lower prices on eBooks again.

(If you're not up to date on the case, here's a longer and more thorough summary. Or, you can check out the short version at the bottom of the page.)

Probably because of this ruling, at least two of the Big Six in the publishing world have, for the first time, not signed Amazon's latest annual contract. I assume this means their books will not be available through Amazon, at least not new. This follows in the pattern set by the Independent Publishers' Group, who also refused to sign with Amazon after disagreeing with their terms. 4,000 titles lost their eBook "buy" buttons on Amazon for the refusal, although they are still available through other sellers such as Barnes & Noble and Apple, and in some cases on Amazon in paperback.

Smashwords has announced that they will continue to use the agency pricing model.

Also, there was no Pulitzer Prize awarded for fiction this year. The other categories all have awards, but not fiction. The lack of an award is not unique; it's happened a total of 62 times across all the categories.


Industry Blogs

Jessica Faust over at BookEnds, LLC will be ceasing her frequent blog updates after 5 years of consistent blogging - if you've been here before, you know I'm sad to see it go. She's still got all her great posts available, though, and may occasionally post in the future when something good comes up. Also, in case you missed it, all the agents at BookEnds now have new e-mail addresses. Don't send your queries to the wrong ones.

Jane Lebak over at QueryTracker offers suggestions on writing your synopsis. You should expect to have it 500-1000 words, and include only what you need: Your character's inciting incident, and he or she decides to do about it. Give the ending, and include side characters only if absolutely necessary. Danyelle Leafty joins her with advice for figuring out what your writing style is: are you an outliner or a pantser (do you outline, or make it up as you go), a marathon writer or a sprinter (do you write in short spurts, or long marathon sessions), a flypaper or a fisher (ideas come easily, or ideas come hard)?

QueryTracker also offers its Publishing Pulse for 4/13. (edit Friday afternoon: and 4/20.)

Over in PubRants, Agent Kristen reminds us that if we're asking about "the next big trend," we're already behind it! By the time the story would be written, printed, and published, the trend is almost over, and certainly no longer the fresh new thing on the block.

Rachelle Gardner gives suggestions on beginning a career without sabotaging yourself. Are you in this for the "long haul"? Then never stop improving your writing, don't make agents or editors mad at you, stay positive, and keep your eyes on new technology! Also, don't screw yourself up with social media.

And she offers two sides of the debate: Why authors self-publish and why authors still look for publishers.

Nathan Bransford offers a nice recap on the whole DOJ vs. the Big Six and Apple lawsuit, and speculates on what the world will look like after it's settled.

Over at the Ink-Stained Scribe, Lauren Harris offers advice on using Yarny to work writing into a busy schedule. It's a cloud-based program that writers can use to, say, write during their lunch breaks. Because it's internet-based, the documents are accessible anywhere the internet is.


The Short Version of DOJ against five major publishers and Apple:
When Amazon began selling eBooks at a loss, they gained almost 90% of the market. Shortly thereafter, five publishing houses and Apple each approached Amazon and pretty much said they wouldn't let Amazon sell their books if Amazon didn't switch to the "agency model" of pricing. This raised eBook prices, because it meant the publishers would be setting the prices instead of the retailers. Ironically, this earned the publishers less money per book than the "wholesale model" that allowed retailers to set the prices, as Amazon was absorbing the initial loss under the wholesale model. But since Amazon could use sales from their other markets absorb the cost of selling eBooks at a loss, Amazon began to dominate the market. Since the implementation of the agency model, Amazon has declined to about 60% of the eBook market, allowing other sellers (such as Apple and Barnes & Noble) to compete. Then the Department of Justice filed a antitrust lawsuit against Apple and the five publishers who demanded the agency pricing, on grounds that they colluded in an anti-competitive way to raise the price of eBooks. Amazon has come out and said the first thing they intend to do is lower prices on eBooks as soon as they can.

More related articles: US sues to lower prices of best-seller e-books, E-book antitrust suit against Apple a win for Amazon, and Speculation abounds that Amazon triggered e-book lawsuit. All three have a bias against Amazon (which is something to keep in mind when reading them), but they do give implications on how the ruling may affect the industry as a whole.

Amazon does give grants to independent booksellers and publishers adding up to a total of about $1 million. There's a long list tucked away on their page of their beneficiaries. Recipients say the grants are crucial to staying in business, but critics speculate on the possibility of Amazon using the grants to buy off independent publishers. It can't be denied that Amazon has been crucial to keeping some of these independent publishers in business, though.

What publishing industry news have you seen in the past couple of weeks?

Publishing News

Quick question for my readers: do you prefer the links popping up in a new window, or acting as direct links? Warning for this week: I have them opening in new windows. Just trying a little something different. Let me know if you prefer this format!

Industry News

The DoJ is close to settling with Apple over price-fixing. This settlement may end Apple's "most-favored-nation" status. The deal may also shift pricing control from publishers to retailers, which is a move away from the agency model publishers have been using and back towards Amazon's wholesale model. Good news for Amazon.

Estimates on the amount of money lost by untaxed Amazon purchases puts the number at about $52 billion. That's right, with a b. Taxes that could have gone to fixing state deficits.

According to GalleyCat, 20% of global readers have purchased at least one eBook in the past 6 months.

Google ends its eBook agreement with indie bookstores, meaning it will no longer sell eBooks through any medium except Google Play as of January 2013.

Got something published? A new site has pirated copies of many copyrighted works, including romance and other genres, despite claiming to be only for children's eBooks. I suggest checking the site for your own work and request it be taken down, assuming you don't like e-pirates handing out free copies of your work without permission. Terms for getting the material removed are on this page. The site's copyright agent in charge of these issues is Josh Jones, 427 California Ave, Unit 1, Santa Monica, CA 90403, e-mail: copyright@epubbud.com, fax: 310-862-4900. Books may be posted with slightly incorrect titles and may or may not include the author's name, which only makes finding out if you've been pirated all the more fun.

Is fanfiction going mainstream? With the publication of Fifty Shades of Grey, which acknowledged its origins as Twilight fanfiction, readers and writers begin to question the boundaries that have prevented fan-written fiction based off other published works (including manga, TV shows, movies, books, etc) from entering the market in the past. Of course there are legal issues, but there's also the question of a possible shift in cultural regard towards fanfiction as a legitimate form of literature.

In Nova Scotia, libraries are protesting Random House's price increase by no longer purchasing Random House eBooks.

A look at publishing in Russia, the 3rd largest book production market in the world (after the US and China). Due to declining reading habits, the country is expecting a loss in sales this year.

BookExpo America is opening its doors to the public for the first time this year. Okay, so it's invite only (there's only a thousand extra tickets floating around, offered to publishers and booksellers to award as they choose to fans).

Industry Blogs


Talking about BookExpo, Rachel Stark weighs in with her opinion. Some booksellers aren't too happy, but could having a book convention be a good thing? ComicCon sure gets a lot publicity, and is very popular. Would a book convention generate the same excitement towards reading?

Thinking about creating an interactive book in Apple for the iBookstore? The system still has a ways to go yet; only links and videos work (except links to Amazon); anything else places the book under the "Apps" page.

There's a contest on BackSpace for the best logline of a fictional work (as in, a manuscript that has not yet been written).

And the deadline for the FF&P's On The Far Side contest has been extended to May 30, with a new category added. Entries must be romance with any of the following subgenres*: Hard SF/Futuristic, Dark/Light/General paranormal, Time Travel/SteamPunk/Historical Elements, Dark/Urban/General Fantasy, Young Adult, any of the above With Romantic Elements *(meaning the novel isn't romance but has romantic elements), and new this year: Erotic Paranormal Romance.

GalleyCat suggests scanning your author website (or any personal website, for that matter) for malware, and offers suggestions on how to do so for free.

A writer asks Jessica Faust if she should look for another agent after a contract expires. BookEnds doesn't do automatically expiring contracts, but she suggests in cases that you make formal your contract severence before seeking a new agent. It's not okay to look for a new agent when you're still active with your current one. However, if the agent hasn't placed the manuscript, consider offering her your next to sell. Many now-published authors didn't sell their first manuscripts, anyway, but made their first sale on subsequent ones.

She is also asked about permissions for quotes. There's a bunch of different factors involved; it's best to check before using them. That isn't something to worry about in the submissions to agents process, but it should be taken care of before publication. (I would especially look into it as a self-publishing author!) And how long do you wait for someone to get back to you on a full manuscript submission, when you've been referred to them by another agent? Wait about 10 weeks before giving them a nudge. Also, respond to people on Twitter - make it interactive for them. And don't forget to update your website. Your real fans will check by every so often (I probably check Lisa Shearin's site once a month or so, myself), so don't let them leave disappointed.

Rachelle Gardener reminds us to treat our writing like a business in terms of taxes. That is to say, go ahead and set aside your tax when the check comes in, because it's not automatically taken out. Keep your receipts. And put something into savings!

She talks about making a living as a writer: Part 1, Part 2, Challenges, and what one writer did to make ends meet when she quit her day job.

Nathan Bransford publishes the Last Few Weeks in Books. He also talks about why the Harry Potter eBooks are and are not a big deal.

QueryTracker posts the Publishing Pulse for 3/30.

And they offer lessons to be learned from the investment industry, and tips on social networking (make it interactive! Don't "follow and unfollow," and respond to everyone, not just the same select few. And don't constantly advertise your book. People aren't following you to receive spam.)

Suzanne Purvis offers 16 tips for getting productive in the writer's seat.

Janet Reid instructs that writers should not put a table of contents into their manuscript submissions. She also lets us know the proper filename to give our manuscript submissions: TitlebyAuthor.doc (.rtf, etc)

Publishing News

Either I've missed something, or these past two weeks haven't been particularly heavy in the breaking-news arena. It's mostly industry blogs this week. Please leave a note in the comments if you've encountered anything of note that needs to be added for these past two weeks!


Dorchester is trying to sell the company. Agent Kristan has details - as in, a copy of the letter.

At QueryTracker, we have the Publishing Pulse for 3/9, 3/16, and 3/23.

QueryTracker also has a post on chain of custody for evidence for crime scenes, a post on creating a great book cover, recommends getting business cards (one suggestion they offer is VistaPrint, which sends 250 cards for the cost shipping & handling),

Nathan Bransford posts Last Week! In Books! for 3/19.

I should think most of know this by now, but when submitting a requested manuscript, make sure all the chapters are in a single document. For heaven's sake, don't submit 30 different attached files! And where do you put the page number when formatting your manuscript? In the right-hand side of the footer. Use an auto-number feature so the manuscript can be reformatted without messing up the numbers.

Ever queried an agency, been turned down, and wondered if it was okay to query a new agent to the agency? Jessica Faust over at BookEnds says sure, it's usually fine. Related thereto, is it okay to request switching agents within an agency? Also yes, if you think the new agent is a better fit and they're willing to make the switch. And no, just because a publisher isn't accepting unsolicited manuscripts, doesn't necessarily mean you have to have an agent. For some publishers, "not accepting unsolicited manuscripts" means they want to start with one-page query letter. They'll decide whether or not to ask for more from there. For others, it does in fact mean "no unsolicited materials."

She also answers some random questions: "Do you automatically reject a query if the author does not have a college degree?" (No.)  "Is 'mainstream literary fiction' an appropriate term/genre to describe a novel in a query letter?" (Yes.) "Do you work with authors from other countries?" (Yes.) "[I] am wondering if pursuing publication using a different last name will affect the career I hope I can have as a novelist." (One is fiction; the other nonfiction. No, it shouldn't cause a problem.) "When an agent requests pages, are they referring to the physical pages in a word document, or is the referring to 250-word pages?" (You're usually fine using the Word page count.) "What are your thoughts on teens drinking and swearing [in young adult novels]?" (The YA audience believes in keeping it real. Don't talk down to teens.)

Rachelle Gardner defines "publishing auctions" and how the work. A publishing auction is when several publishing companies like (or are expected to like) the same manuscript, and want to bid on the right to publish it. There are three main kinds of auction, but in every case, the best offer gets the deal (this does not always mean the largest advance). Or a publisher can "pre-empt": that is, offer a good deal before the auction happens, and the agent and writer decide they like the publisher enough to accept.

She also defines an "author-agent agreement." This is essentially the formal, written agreement between the author and the agent. Not all agents use them right away, especially with new clients. If you're not comfortable working without one, talk to your agent on why they're using a verbal agreement. Only go with them if you're comfortable with the situation.

And she talks about the 5 most common author website mistakes. Make sure the site is up-to-date and is focused on the reader, not the author. She also talks about "the typical advance" - which can vary widely, and may not be as large as you think. It varies based on genre, author experience, publisher, platform, and the number of books expected to sell.

Industry News

Publishing news for past two weeks. It's been a busy week for me, so short blurbs today! If I've missed anything major, please drop the links off in the comments section.

Major News

Science Fiction Writers of America, SFWA, drops Amazon links to all their books in protest of Amazon's drop of the Independent Publishers Group contract (PublishersLunch, Whitley Law Group give more information). Amazon refused to renew after hearing the demands from IPG. Links to books on the SFWA website will be connected to Barnes & Noble and other bookstores instead, unless Amazon is the only place they can be purchased, in which case the existing links will remain.

PayPal is attempting to censor Smashwords by not allowing transactions for books containing bestiality, rape, or incest. But this movement started further up the line than PayPal: the online financial institution is under pressure from credit card agencies, and is taking all the blame, like it or not. It's of important note that many of the books that readers are being denied access to are perfectly legal despite being objectionable to the majority population, and that much of the debate around this censorship is that it is taking legal material out of accessibility - setting a precedent to censor other legal material. Smashwords and privacy organizations are fighting back on the grounds that once an arbitrary "morality line" has been drawn, it can be redrawn at a later time to restrict free speech (history majors: does this sound familiar?). Also of note was the extremely short time period Smashwords had originally been given to work with to remove the content. PayPal has relaxed a few of its deadlines, and talks are ongoing.

The Department of Justice warns Apple and Penguin, Hachette Book Group, Macmillan, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster that they will go ahead with the anti-trust lawsuit over eBook price fixing. No surprises here - they've just now been officially warned.


Industry Blogs


Agent Kristen at PubRants points out a recent trend she's seen of a particularly bad idea: Don't cry wolf with a false offer of representation from a publisher. Your prospective agent will know - or she'll find out fast! And in case you're wondering, the publisher Dorchester has closed the doors, turned out the lights, and pretty much disappeared. No surprise there.

At BookEnds, LLC, Jessica Faust reminds us to work smarter, not harder. Blogging? Blog tours? Social networking? Sticking bookmarks to trees and random passersby? Track your success and do what works, not what 'everyone says' you're supposed to do. She also discusses her rejection letter evolution. And by the way, agents do enjoy acknowledgment every now and then. Don't be afraid to say "thank you" if you really mean it!

A reader asks Faust, "Do I really need an agent? I'm already signed with an editor." Faust suggests waiting until negotiating the contract for the next book, and getting one then.

Rachelle Gardner urges you to know your competition. Look up comparable titles. Also, she offers things writers should know about Pinterest and GoodReads.

Over at FF&P, they've just finished their first annual conference. Reviews so far have been good! I know I had a great time, and so did everyone else I spoke to.

At QueryTracker, we have Publishing News for 3/2.

We also have an article on using the language our characters use. How we speak is one of the ways people use to immediately classify us. So if your characters aren't talking with the vocabulary and grammar of their profession, social class, interests, and other foibles, they'll be less believable.

Nathan Bransford tackles the question of "Is there a self-publishing bubble?" His opinion? No, it's the beginning of an increasing trend that won't die off. And he gives us a rundown of last week in books, covering up to 3/5.


Okay, that's all I've come up with. What news for the publishing industry have you encountered in the past two weeks?

Publishing News

This week's Publishing News, divided between "News" and "Industry Blogs."


News

Penguin ends its relationship with Overdrive, effectively ending its eLending program with libraries. This leaves Random House as the only one of the Big Six to offer unrestricted lending of its titles for libraries. There will, however, be a price increase.

Barnes & Noble is continuing its boycott against Amazon Publishing, and other publishers join the boycott.

International publishers shut down a site that hosted over 400K pirated eBooks.

The Authors' Guild throws in their official statement on Amazon, noting that Amazon's success isn't a result of positive capitalism and the natural success of a well-thought business strategy, but rather a predatory pricing strategem designed to eliminate fair competition.

QueryTracker posts its Publishing Pulse for 2/17 and 2/24.

Google drops some of its bookstore affiliates who sold Google eBooks. In pre-order sales, hardcover books still trump eBooks. In Canada, Random House takes over McClelland & Stewart, much to the dismay of small publishers. RH has promised to maintain the M&S traditions that have made the historical publishing company a Canadian icon. And Barnes & Noble sales rose in the third fiscal quarter, but the earnings fell due to heavy reinvestment into the digitial world. Seems like a sound investment to me - especially as the Nook is becoming its own source of immense profit and helping B&N stay in the game against Amazon's Kindle. Also contributing to the decline was the switch from only selling new & used textbooks to also providing cheaper rental ones - thank you, B&N!

A recent survy shows that teens are not embracing eBooks. Yet YA eBook sales are booming: "over the recent holiday season Barnes & Noble sold five times as many YA e-titles as print ones online." It's not hurting print sales: sales as a whole are growing, both digital and physical. It probably helps that publishers are aggressively marketing to teens, from offering the first book in a series for free to releasing exclusive short stories in e-format.

Industry Blogs

And one of QueryTracker's bloggers, now a published author, offers her perspective on the myths of the editorial process versus the reality she has now experienced. Also, querying an unlikeable character is difficult, but it can be done. Figure out what makes you like the character enough to write about him, and then include that. Carolyn Kaufman offers advice to Pantsers dealing with writers' block.

Agent Kristen at PubRants warns writers to look for publishers selling books in places they don't have the rights to. If you catch your book being sold internationally and you don't think international rights were part of the deal, tell your agent immediately, because you'll end up not getting money you should have. Why are books showing up in the UK in such a way? Because the UK market is one of the toughest to get into, and publishers are only signing best-sellers. So authors are being brought in through exports (which can get misreported or unreported in the royalty statements), or finding ways around the system.

Rachelle Gardner offers a 3-part series on what we in the publishing industry can learn from Kodak (part 1, part 2, part 3). First off? Don't get stuck in the past. If the market changes, change with it - clinging to the old sales tactics (like trying to make a profit off film in a digital camera economy) will kill us. Secondly, figure out who our customers are. They're not beholden to us - they can get their material elsewhere. So if we want them to come to us, then we have to provide them what they really want. And lastly, be prepared to change. The industry is changing. Start gathering information, research how it's changing, and change with it. Be innovative!

She also offers words of encouragement - don't give up; publishers are still buying new authors! And a list of 13 ways to impress an agent. Most of the basics you already know: research the agent, be professional, know what other books are in your market. But there was one surprise for me: Show videos of yourself talking. Since being able to market your book is important, showing you can speak in/to public is also important. Guest blogger Julie Cantrell follows up with a how-to-make-your-own-book-trailer guide.

Nathan Bransford suggests that we remember not to get too attached to our characters. If we like them too much, we end up losing a chance to make the story better, because we can't kill them off or make them do things we hate. Make your characters ugly; give them real flaws. It makes them better characters. And he reminds us that it's not enough to paint a vivid picture with your words - a book needs a plot, and it needs to move. Good mental pictures alone do not keep readers reading. He also posts This Week in Books for 2/17.

It seems like every book with a young adult protagonist is automatically categorized as YA. But sometimes, it isn't written to be a YA book. A reader asks Jessica Faust how she should choose the genre. Faust answers that if it isn't YA, then it's not YA - in this case, if it's a mystery written for adults, that's the genre, even if the protagonist is young. She answers another reader's questions on whether to include the prologue in a partial request, whether she should double space her selection, and whether or not she should include her age in her query. Simply: Yes, yes, and no. And if the story makes sense without the prologue, consider taking the prologue out entirely.

 Faust also talks about her ideal client: one who communicates! A monthly e-mail giving updates makes her very happy. She also updates her dictionary of publishing terms, and points out the difference between alerting and spamming on Twitter. It's okay to Tweet that your book has just been released; it's not okay to direct Tweet someone with "This book is awesome!" You might recommend a book to your friends this way, but not your own book - that's when it becomes spam.

Rachel Stark on TracChanges reminds us that those of us in the publishing industry are what media giants call "early adopters" - you know that eReader you've had for years and won't put down? Most people just got one. Even if everyone else you know already has one, trust me, the majority of readers are only starting to get them. Remember that the first-comers aren't your only audience.


What news in the publishing industry have you encountered in the past couple of weeks?

Publishing News

Barnes & Nobles has decided not to stock books published by Amazon in their physical stores. They will still sell them online.

NPR posts an article on how publishers and booksellers are afraid Amazon is going "devour their industry." The article points out Amazon's predatory tactics, such as the monopoly-like structure, predatory pricing, and its price-check app.

The UK paper The Guardian publishes an article comparing the current self-epublishing eBook bonanza to an economic bubble. In essence, thousands of amateur writers are rushing in, paying high costs for editing and covers and such, and finding that they make little to no money from what they expected to be easy money. The disillusionment turns them away from writing and from reading, and reduces the market. Worse, in order to stay competitive, they've marked down their prices to almost nothing (and in many cases, absolutely nothing), hoping to acquire paying readers through word of mouth for later works. Only all they've done is trained readers to expect free eBooks, which means nobody makes money in the future. The expected outcome, according to the Guardian, is a market crash.

For Romance writers, there's a new eBook-only imprint line with Grand Central Publishing.

An author is suing McGraw-Hill on claims that they have been cheating him on his royalties. The claim rides around third-party royalties for sales outside the US being misreported. The plaintiff is seeking class-certification for a class-action suit.

Do you write paranormal, futuristic, or fantasy romance? Want to go to the FF&P conference in New Orleans from March 2-4, but can't afford it? They're offering scholarships to authors with an economic need! And no, you don't have to be a member of the RWA's FF&P to attend. This conference is open to the general public, now has 25+ sessions, and offers pitch sessions with acquiring editors and agents... and since it's in its first year, that means you'll face much less competition than you would at any other professional conference. Keynote speaker Maggie Shayne, in case you're wondering.

Agent Kristen announces that her agency, Nelson Literary Agency, has developed a system to allow authors to self-publish reverted-rights works in a two-part post. Since AAR doesn't allow agents to be publishers, this means they've had to draw a fine line: none of the authors are required to join; authors may join without the agent doing any of their work; and authors may hire their agent to provide certain services to them at the standard agent cut. The authors maintain full ownership of their rights.

And why is it that only about 60% of agented manuscripts sell (compared to about 1% of unagent manuscripts)? Agent Kristen offers editor feedback from a manuscript she was really, really excited about - but almost couldn't sell. What were the editors thinking? Take a look.

Rachelle Gardner explains why agents don't always go for the largest advance possible. If a writer is looking for a long-term career, there are other aspects worth looking at, such as royalty rates and likelihood the book will buy out the advance. Editors will be more likely to continue publishing an author who makes them a profit (i.e., buys out their advance) than one who does not. Sometimes, this means taking a smaller advance. She also asks her readers about their expectations for book signings in the future, and if they will continue to purchase books to be signed, or if they'll use apps that allow virtual signature collection. And she adds the importance of giving your character real flaws, not just superficial ones. Is she too hard on herself? Then she's probably too hard on others, too. And that makes the character enduringly memorable.

Jessica Faust answers the question, "If I've revised my story, and forgot to change the character's name in the query when I changed it in the story, should I send an e-mail to the agent explaining this?" Her answer: Chances are, the agent won't even notice. She also talks about why agents edit. It's so that publishers will be more likely to buy the book, because the more editing the book needs, the less likely it is to sell. It costs publishers to edit, and the more editing, the higher the cost.

Thinking about being a co-author? Ellery Adams explains what it takes. And most of is honest, blunt communication. Can  your relationship stand bluntness? If so, you may be able to successfully coauthor.

Rebecca York reminds writers to draw their readers in right away, and avoid slow beginnings.

QueryTracker's Publishing Pulse for 2/3 and 2/10.

And Nathan Bransford is back with his This Week! In Books! for a few more links. Yes, several of them are on publishing houses trembling in their boots over Amazon, and one is asking why publishing houses are necessary. There's also a link covering the response (things the houses do provide). He includes a link to the topic on e-book bundling, too, and a few topics in his forums.

Edit: Added Friday afternoon: Novelists, Inc., has created a free downloadable guide to The New World of Publishing. Includes a glossary of terms, a how-to on ebooks, advice from experts, and direct links to helpful resources.

Publishing News

Publishing news for the past couple of weeks. It's been busy!

Major News:

Apple reveals a new app for authors, available for free download. iBooks Author allows writers to easily import word files and assemble them into an e-book, presumably to publish them in Apple's iBookstore. But there are a few legal issues to be aware of before using: for the most part, if you sell the work (as opposed to giving it away for free), you can only sell it through Apple's iBookstore. Selling it through any other means (such as PubIt!, Smashwords, or even traditional publishing) becomes illegal. But if you want to give it away for free, you can give it away anywhere, as long as nobody makes any money. Isn't that nice of them?

However, they also are alleviating the mandatory $500 per semester students have to pay for textbooks by offering textbooks at a must less expensive electronic rate with their iBooks 2. Anyone who has thought they'd paid tuition and then paid it again in books will rejoice over that.

Romance writers: The registration for the 2012 national conference in Anaheim, CA is now open. It runs July 25-28. If you can afford it and you're serious about publishing, go. Agents are much more likely to look at your work if you pitch in person, you'll learn a lot, and you'll meet other writers who can give you invaluable advice.
Nonmember of RWA registration price: $570
Member of RWA registration price: $495
Hotel costs:
Single/Double Occupancy: $199 per night through April 9; $219 per night after April 9
Triple Occupancy: $219 per night through April 9; $239 per night after April 9
Quad Occupancy: $239 per night through April 9; $259 per night after April 9
Don't forget travel costs when determining whether or not this conference is within your budget. Can you drive there? Will you fly? Plus give yourself a food and purchase allowance (Personally, I'm penciling myself for $200 at minimum). On the plus side, the trip would be a business expense for writers.

MegaUpload, a site that hosted pirated works including books, comics, and digital content, has been shut down and the founder and employees indicted.

The saga of the lawsuit against publishers for price-fixing continues. The newest consolidation of claims does not target either RandomHouse or Amazon; those accused are Apple, HarperCollins, Penguin, Hachette, Simon & Schuster, and Macmillan. The suit asserts that the price-fixing between the major publishers targeted has "driven up the cost of e-books by as much as 50%." Amazon cites evidence of being approached by the 5 companies individually with threats to unlist e-book titles if they didn't capitulate to raising their e-book prices.

NBC news announces the formation of NBC Publishing, which will specialize in digital publishing. The focus seems to be on creating 'enhanced' e-books that incorporate multi-media, such as sports clips.

Amazon's trying hard to clean plagiarized works from their e-shelves. There's a huge selection of 'self-published' writers who are publishing plagiarized works in disguise, and for every one they shut down, another pops up. It's bad PR for both Amazon and all the legitimate self-published authors out there.

Amazon releases KDP Select's 'stats.' But what do these stats mean? There are things we don't see, and probably should. Their press release only mentions, for example, the top earners. We don't hear about the average income, or what the lowest-earners get. We also don't hear about the estimated losses writers suffered from removing works from all other sites. I'd like to see a rounded report, please.

Publishers are less enthusiastic about ebooks this year. Mostly, the novelty is wearing off, and they no longer expect eReaders to save the world. Um, I mean, get non-readers reading.

In Canada, Random House acquires the major publisher McClellan & Stewart.


Industry Blogs

Rachelle Gardner answers the question, "Would an agent ever recommend self-publishing? If so, when?" There are some factors, she says, that affect the answer. Is the material time-sensitive? If there's not enough time for it to be traditionally published, then yes. There's also the cases of authors who aren't looking for a traditional publishing path, and some authors who are in a position to make more by themselves than with a traditional publisher. In the latter case, the author needs to have an established market, the time to invest in marketing, and the ability to reach his or her audience effectively. In most cases, however, she would personally not recommend it.

She also addresses the issue of agents taking a longer time to respond some queries than others in a two-part post. This has to do marketability and competition as much as quality. Stories with great writing, brilliant storyline, and a popular genre might get an instant reply; stories with great writing, brilliant storyline, and a smaller market may be deliberated upon. That isn't a guarantee it will sell, but it's also not a guarantee it won't. An editor or an agent might hang onto a submission they particularly like but aren't sure they can sell, just in case an opportunity comes up: for example, a publisher might be looking to fill a specific slot in a target genre, and your manuscript just happens to fit.

And should you go with an indie publisher? A reader asks Rachelle, "I was offered a contract for e-book only, but I want a physical copy of my book. Should I take the deal anyway?" It depends on what you're looking for. If you want a physical copy, then no. If you want the validation of traditional publishing, then no. But if you want to be published more than you want a physical copy, and you've verified that the indie company is valid and doesn't scam its clients, you might consider it.

Jessica Faust reminds readers to never bring a manuscript to a pitch. Editors and agents don't want to haul the paper around. You can bring a few samples to the conference just in case they ask for it, but don't plan on handing it to them. And it's typically better not to bind or staple the sample.

For writers with offers from publishers but who want agent representation first, she suggests the subject line "publishing contract offered, need representation" and a short introduction paragraph explaining, followed by the rest of the query. This will catch an agent's eye and let them know what's up.

Romance writer Roni Loren posts about what makes agents stop reading queries.

QueryTracker posts the weekly Publishing Pulse for 1/20 and 1/27. They're also holding a contest for the first 100 words and the logline. Genres to apply? Commercial fiction, especially romance, upmarket women's fiction, and children's literature. Subgenres listed, but pretty inclusive, so that science-fiction romance is eligible.

Writing a crime or law novel wherein the defendant tries to use the insanity defense? QueryTracker explains just what the insanity defense is, how it's used, and when it first started being used. The site also offers an article on world-building. How do language, culture, and geography affect the development of your world, your characters, and the story's conflicts? Details unique to your world will enrich the story.

Query Shark gets asked a question, too: Does she expect authors to fix and find their own grammar errors? For real queries, yes. It's disrespectful to the agent's time not to proofread, so errors in a query will get a toss. Has the writer bothered to have someone proof for them? Do they understand the general mechanics of writing? If the answer to the latter question is 'no,' then the agent will probably pass on them until they've gotten it more or less down. On her site, she's a little more lenient, but she isn't going to mark all the spelling and grammar things out for the writer. The writer should be able to catch those on his or her own.


Edit: Added Friday afternoon:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt will be distributing Amazon Publishing's books.

Agent Kristen talks about the AAR's (Association of Author Representatives) discussions on the ethics of agents publishing or helping their clients publish via ePublishers. Nothing new has been passed yet, but they reiterated a couple of things: Members of AAR may only receive money from the client for these transactions. In other words, "Agents can't be publishers and still be AAR members." Also, the agent must put the client's welfare first and must inform the client of all costs associated with the ePublisher.

Agent Vickie Motter discusses how to format your manuscript so that agents can easily read it on an eReader. These guidelines are a good idea to apply to any manuscript, by the way, so don't be afraid to use them on a manuscript that will be read in another method.



What other publishing news have you seen these past couple of weeks?