Successfully reported this slideshow.
We use your LinkedIn profile and activity data to personalize ads and to show you more relevant ads. You can change your ad preferences anytime.
21st Century Writer By David Keener Evolution in the Publishing Industry Web Site: www.davidkeener.org Email: dkeener@davi...
Overview • The Jurassic Era - When Gatekeepers Ruled the Earth • Asteroid Impact - The End of the Big Publishers • The Mod...
Part 1: The Jurassic Era (1980 – 2007)
Pop Quiz How much moneywillthe author make from selling a single copy of this book? (Note: Paperback Priced at$8.99)
Answer 60 cents
When Gatekeepers Ruled… • Lots of money being made…. - By Publishers, Retailers and Agents • But hardly any going to the w...
The Agent: The 1st Gatekeeper • Gets 15% of each deal for life • Negotiates contracts w/o legal training • No accountabili...
The Publisher: The 2nd Gatekeeper • Accounting practices from Dark Ages • One-sided “standard” contracts • No accountabili...
The Retailer: The 3rd Gatekeeper • Not a level playing field for writers • Publishers pay for “placement” • Books sell in ...
Part 2: Asteroid Impact
Pop Quiz What happened in 2007 that totally changed Publishing?
A Marketplace Amazon created a new business model… • They built a “marketplace” for books - A level playing field - READER...
The New E-Sellers • Amazon.com - Worldwide • Barnes & Noble – Mostly US • Smashwords – Worldwide • Kobo – Mostly internati...
The End of the Big Publishers • Writers don’t need publishers • Writers don’t need agents • Writers have negotiating power...
Part 3: The Modern Era
Case Study: Hugh Howey David Keener Hugh Howey
Hugh’s Road to “Glory” • Self-published novellas and YA books - Gains experience; polishes craft • Wrote “Wool” – a short ...
Rise of the Nimble Author • NOW is the time to be a writer • The Gatekeepers have been removed • Formatting an ebook isn’t...
Questions? ~ A Presentation From ~ David Keener dkeener@davidkeener.org www.davidkeener.org David Keener is a writer, Inte...
Homework (1) • The Passive Voice (from David P. Vandagriff) - Daily Publishing Industry Survey - He’s a Lawyer, his wife i...
Homework (2) • Dean Wesley Smith - Blogs on “Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing” - Husband of Kristine Kathryn Rusch - ...
Homework (3) • David Gaughran - 2 top books on self-publishing - davidgaughran.wordpress.com • David Keener - Blogs on div...
21st Century Writer
Upcoming SlideShare
Loading in …5
×

21st Century Writer

18,860 views

Published on

Today is the best time ever to be a writer. Discover what being a professional writer used to be like, how the publishing industry is now changing in fundamental ways, and how you can become the writer you always wanted to be.

Published in: Education, Business
no profile picture user

  • Be the first to comment

21st Century Writer

  1. 1. 21st Century Writer By David Keener Evolution in the Publishing Industry Web Site: www.davidkeener.org Email: dkeener@davidkeener.org
  2. 2. Overview • The Jurassic Era - When Gatekeepers Ruled the Earth • Asteroid Impact - The End of the Big Publishers • The Modern Era - The Rise of Nimble Self-Publishers • Questions • Homework
  3. 3. Part 1: The Jurassic Era (1980 – 2007)
  4. 4. Pop Quiz How much moneywillthe author make from selling a single copy of this book? (Note: Paperback Priced at$8.99)
  5. 5. Answer 60 cents
  6. 6. When Gatekeepers Ruled… • Lots of money being made…. - By Publishers, Retailers and Agents • But hardly any going to the writers - Even worse than the music industry There is no other profession besides writing in which an experienced practitioner, such as a mid-list writer, cannot make a livable wage.
  7. 7. The Agent: The 1st Gatekeeper • Gets 15% of each deal for life • Negotiates contracts w/o legal training • No accountability to writers - For performance or accounting • Supposed to serve writers - Often biased towards publishers
  8. 8. The Publisher: The 2nd Gatekeeper • Accounting practices from Dark Ages • One-sided “standard” contracts • No accountability to writers • “Hold-backs” against returns • Caters to corporate buyers, not readers • Won’t publish writers without a “platform” • Increased emphasis on “blockbusters”
  9. 9. The Retailer: The 3rd Gatekeeper • Not a level playing field for writers • Publishers pay for “placement” • Books sell in 6 weeks, then they’re dead • Automated ordering systemsprevent authors from gradually growing their “base” • No insight into readers
  10. 10. Part 2: Asteroid Impact
  11. 11. Pop Quiz What happened in 2007 that totally changed Publishing?
  12. 12. A Marketplace Amazon created a new business model… • They built a “marketplace” for books - A level playing field - READERS determine if writers succeed • Writers get 70% of list price on ebook sales * • Real-time sales data; prompt payments * For books priced $2.99 - $9.99
  13. 13. The New E-Sellers • Amazon.com - Worldwide • Barnes & Noble – Mostly US • Smashwords – Worldwide • Kobo – Mostly international At least 25% of the market is now ebooks
  14. 14. The End of the Big Publishers • Writers don’t need publishers • Writers don’t need agents • Writers have negotiating power • Writers have choices • Writers can make REAL money
  15. 15. Part 3: The Modern Era
  16. 16. Case Study: Hugh Howey David Keener Hugh Howey
  17. 17. Hugh’s Road to “Glory” • Self-published novellas and YA books - Gains experience; polishes craft • Wrote “Wool” – a short story - So successful, writes 4 more novelettes • Publishes “Wool Omnibus” - Becomes major bestseller • Signs Simon & Schuster “Wool” contract - Keeps ebook rights Has sold over a million books…
  18. 18. Rise of the Nimble Author • NOW is the time to be a writer • The Gatekeepers have been removed • Formatting an ebook isn’t rocket science • You’re the source of the magic If you’ve got something worth saying, there’s an Audience for you!
  19. 19. Questions? ~ A Presentation From ~ David Keener dkeener@davidkeener.org www.davidkeener.org David Keener is a writer, Internet expert, and speaker based in Northern Virginia. He speaks regularly at conferences and other events. Copyright @ 2013 David Keener. All rights reserved. Homework
  20. 20. Homework (1) • The Passive Voice (from David P. Vandagriff) - Daily Publishing Industry Survey - He’s a Lawyer, his wife is a Writer - www.thepassivevoice.com • Kristine Kathryn Rusch - Award-winner – F & SF, Mystery, Romance - Loads of experience as writer, editor, publisher - Blogs on e-publishing subjects - www.kriswrites.com
  21. 21. Homework (2) • Dean Wesley Smith - Blogs on “Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing” - Husband of Kristine Kathryn Rusch - www.deanwesleysmith.com • J. A. Konrath - A top indie writer and self-publishing advocate - Blogs on “A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing” - Publishes real sales/dollar amounts - jakonrath.blogspot.com
  22. 22. Homework (3) • David Gaughran - 2 top books on self-publishing - davidgaughran.wordpress.com • David Keener - Blogs on diverse writing & publishing topics - www.davidkeener.org - /2013/03/my-indie-publishing- strategy-5-key-strategies

×