1.
21st Century Writer
By David Keener
Evolution in the Publishing Industry
Web Site: www.davidkeener.org Email: dkeener@davidkeener.org

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.
Part 1: The Jurassic Era
(1980 – 2007)

4.
Pop Quiz
How much
moneywillthe
author make from
selling a single copy
of this book?
(Note: Paperback Priced at$8.99)

5.
Answer
60 cents

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.
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.
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.
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.
Part 2: Asteroid Impact

11.
Pop Quiz
What happened in 2007
that totally changed
Publishing?

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.
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.
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.
Part 3: The Modern Era

16.
Case Study: Hugh Howey
David Keener Hugh Howey

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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