The Book Blog Merges with Peter DeHaan’s Byline to Cover the Art of Writing and the Business of Publishing
All keyposts from The Book Blog have been successfully integrated into my writing blog, Byline, with a convenient feed of recent posts on this site.
The scope of Byline has been appropriately expanded to now cover “the art of writing and the business of book publishing.”
New content about writing and publishing is added to Byline each week. Please check out my latest posts. And while you’re there, leave your email address in the sidebar on the right to receive an email each time a new post goes live.
As long as there are readers, writers will have work to do
“Reading is here to stay,” wrote Robert M. Sacks in the November/December 2012 issue of Publishing Executive magazine. His astute observation caught my attention, captivating my thoughts, both then and even more so today.
Discussions and speculation about the rapid evolution in the book publishing industry threaten to overwhelm us; considerations abound… read more>>
Book publishing, however, does not exist as two sides of a coin, with traditional publishing (often called royalty publishing) on one side and self-publishing (once called vanity publishing) on the… read more>>
There are 4 reasons why self-publishing versus traditional publishing doesn’t matter
Authors often wonder if they should bypass finding a traditional publisher and just self-publish their books. It’s a weighty question with a plethora of answers.
Each option possesses a list of pros and cons, warranting careful consideration, but today I’ll share four reasons why … read more>>
The form that a published book takes doesn’t matter as much as many people think
Publishers, authors, and readers each approach the print versus ebook debate from different perspectives. Among these three points of view exist an array of opinions. Consider:
Publishers are in business to make money. Never forget that. They aren’t philanthropists, seeking to advance authors’ work or serve the common good (though both are laudable secondary goals). They can make money… read more>>
Young people are more apt to read books than older folks
To listen to mainstream media about the state of book publishing leaves most people with an incorrect understanding of the industry. The press gives the impression that fewer people are reading and those who do are mostly older. The industry is dying, so why bother to write and publish books?
Yes, things are changing, but not how most people think. The truth is young people are… read more>>
It’s never been easier to publish a book, but that doesn’t mean we should
I once read a self-published e-book, a novella. I read it for several reasons: it was recommended (which turned out to be a bad reason), it would be a quick read, I’d never read a novella, and it was free (I got what I paid for).
On the plus side, the opening captured my attention, the story line was intriguing, and the ending was a delightful surprise. On the negative side, the book did not… read more>>
Will book publishing follow the path of the music and movie industries?
When people look at the future of book publishing they often draw parallels to music and video. In many ways this is instructive, but not in all cases.
Look at the history of music. With music there were 78-rpm records, cassettes, 8 tracks, vinyl records, CD, and iTunes… read more>>
“Reading is here to stay,” wrote Robert M. Sacks in the November/December 2012 issue of Publishing Executive magazine. His astute observation caught my attention, captivating my thoughts, both then and even more so today.
In past posts, I discussed the 
There are 4 reasons why self-publishing versus traditional publishing doesn’t matter
Publishers, authors, and readers each approach the print versus ebook debate from different perspectives. Among these three points of view exist an array of opinions. Consider:
Effective communication should address both linear and 3D thinkers
Is it enough for authors to embrace a publishing mindset or must they go further?
To listen to mainstream media about the state of book publishing leaves most people with an incorrect understanding of the industry. The press gives the impression that fewer people are reading and those who do are mostly older. The industry is dying, so why bother to write and publish books?
I once read a self-published e-book, a novella. I read it for several reasons: it was recommended (which turned out to be a bad reason), it would be a quick read, I’d never read a novella, and it was free (I got what I paid for).
Will book publishing follow the path of the music and movie industries?