Every time I see an article on self-publishing, I get this sick little grin. Who would have thought ereaders would have made self-publishing so relevant now? When I started up my domain I was just proud to find people willing to share their writing and learn from each other. Maybe even try to put an anthology together, but the task of such a thing was in itself daunting. Back then even publishing something on your own was difficult and expensive. Now, it’s as simple as clicking a button or so it seems.
Until recently, reviewers and booksellers looked down on self-published authors the way Anna Wintour scorns Dress Barn. Now new writers and established authors alike are increasingly taking publishing into their own hands, and the publishing establishment is paying attention. According to a recent Bowker report, the market for “nontraditional books” in the United States grew by more than 750,000 new titles in 2009—a 181 percent increase over 2008. Five of the top 100 bestsellers in the Kindle store—which now produces more sales than Amazon’s hardcover list—are currently self-published.
Electronic books are very easy to make, and they’re quite inexpensive compared to a hardcover edition. Couple that with ease of access and 70 to 80 percent in return of royalties, and it’s a better bargain for the burgeoning author. The only downside is that you’re not going to sell if you’re not any good. Out there in commercial land, it’s difficult to sell one good book well while being inundated with drivel.
So while it’s getting easier to spread the word and publish the next Great American Novel, I have a feeling that the publishing industry isn’t quite finished yet.