I disagree strongly (as someone who follows three different micropublishers and their travails), and I can tell you why in one word:
Amazon.
Actually, I take that back.
Amazon and Ingram. Two words.
If those two (and they're formally in cahoots) won't carry your stuff, you're DONE. And what with Ingram's return policies and other things, and Amazon's general mistreatment of the Known World? They're being worked around.
What we have here is a situation like we had in 1999 in software. Basically if it wasn't Windows, it *wasn't*. Today? Most people's most-used computers fit in their pockets, don't have keyboards, and don't run Windows. People get disruptive. And since all books end up existing in software at at least some point before they see ink on paper... (unless somebody is showing off a Gutenberg...)
Don't get me wrong. Microsoft is still very relevant... in the workplace. And I think traditional publishing has a long tail... but that's not where the kids are going to go with their stories, not their first choice.
But then... maybe some still will. They will think back over history and muse about The Fun They Had with old-school books and real live teachers. Hey, vinyl is making a comeback...
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ysabetwordsmith
(no subject)
Date: 2018-05-04 03:00 pm (UTC)Amazon.
Actually, I take that back.
Amazon and Ingram. Two words.
If those two (and they're formally in cahoots) won't carry your stuff, you're DONE. And what with Ingram's return policies and other things, and Amazon's general mistreatment of the Known World? They're being worked around.
What we have here is a situation like we had in 1999 in software. Basically if it wasn't Windows, it *wasn't*. Today? Most people's most-used computers fit in their pockets, don't have keyboards, and don't run Windows. People get disruptive. And since all books end up existing in software at at least some point before they see ink on paper... (unless somebody is showing off a Gutenberg...)
Don't get me wrong. Microsoft is still very relevant... in the workplace. And I think traditional publishing has a long tail... but that's not where the kids are going to go with their stories, not their first choice.
But then... maybe some still will. They will think back over history and muse about The Fun They Had with old-school books and real live teachers. Hey, vinyl is making a comeback...