Those of us in publishing live in interesting times. It’s not a curse but a fascinating experience. Things seem to be changing very rapidly, and the ground is shifting. From almost nil less than a decade ago, digital formats now account for 40 per cent of sales of books for adults at Hachette UK.
One of the most interesting aspects is how the position of authors has shifted. They have gained more freedom and better options even while their numbers have grown and the chances of making money have shrunk. The phrase “independent author” has gained wide acceptance, and rightly so.
These changes have created amazing opportunities for people who might not previously have had access to publishing. Print self-publishing was costly and all too often resulted in a shed full of disintegrating novels. Digital self-publishing is not easy, as the Cork author and independent publisher Catherine Ryan Howard, whose first book was Mousetrapped: A Year and a Bit in Orlando, Florida, makes clear in her engaging blog, catherineryanhoward.com. But it is considerably cheaper and allows access to a huge audience even if catching their attention is very hard.
In the past authors were often charged huge amounts for services they did not need because discussion about self- publishing was limited, whereas active communities of engaged writers now help each other to publish and to do so well.
Whereas in the past self-publishing lacked status, in the digital world new and established writers have put out their own material. New writers have built audiences of millions and in some cases attracted traditional publishers to bid for their work. Established authors, such as the poet and novelist Philip Casey, have found that their backlists can have a fresh lease of life on the digital shelves.
The old snobbery about self-publishing was unhealthy and restrictive compared with the energy and vibrancy of independent film- and music-makers. With luck fewer authors will be frustrated in pursuing their goals. And readers will get to enjoy more and better books.
