To all those who suffered loses of any kind on September 11th, we offer our sincerest condolences. And to those who are working to make sure it never happens again, our heartfelt appreciation.
Also, thanks so much to all of you who spread the word about the podcast. We had over 50 tweets and re-tweets. Congratulations to @leigh2481 who won a signed copy of Ally Condie’s matched. E-mail contact@wordplaypodcast.com to claim your prize. More cool prizes coming soon.
Are traditional publishers doomed? Does self-publishing make it harder or easier to get an agent? What is, literary agent, Michael Bourret reading? And how the heck do you pronounce his last name? These questions and more can only be answered by listening to episode 3 of the Wordplay podcast.
Jeff, James, Nathan, and Michael dig into topics like e-books, editors, agents, self-publishing, and what publishers must do to earn their authors’ loyalty. Listen to the very end to hear what Jeff feels he adds to the podcast.
Next week is our first “Just for Kids” episode. So be sure and tell your children, students, nieces, nephews, and annoying neighbor kids about it. If you like the Wordplay podcast and want to share it on your site, use the embed code below and please link back to this site.
Music for this episode is Change by Shearer. Used under a creative commons license.
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So excited to hear that I won a copy of Matched! I just tried the email you listed above twice and I got an “undeliverable” message both times. Please let me know how else I might be able to reach you, and thanks again!!
Never mind. Looks like it was just misspelled in the blog above. Looking forward to reading Matched soon! Thanks you guys, and thanks Ally!
Sorry, Leigh-Ann. My bad. But I did get your e-mail. Congratulations!!!
I really appreciated the insights you shared in #3. I’m not very widely-read in terms of self-published books, mainly because the few I have read have been so bad! Not being an industry insider, even I couldn’t help but squirm at all the amateur mistakes, oversights and blotches that made it to print. It was enough to bias me against them for good. But you were kind to those who do a great job…and of course there probably are traditionally published books that aren’t awesome, too. Anyway, just wanted to say you guys are 3-for-3 on the podcasts. Great job!
Really good stuff! It would be fascinating to hear one additional perspective: that of a self-publishing author or advocate. I think the conclusion was right on though–these two will coexist long into the future.
Love this issue. It was great to hear a calmer understanding of the new publishing dynamic. It’s a brave new world. Will the transition music for the “just for children” episode have gentler music?
Thanks, everyone. We will definitely get a self-pubbed author or two on. I’d especially love someone like Amanda Hocking, who did it the hard way and absolutely made it work.
Yes, next week’s music will be more kid friendly. But I’m very disappointed that no one noticed the theme thing we had going on for the last two episodes.
Another great podcast. I’m always pleasantly surprised at how you can all talk so seamlessly without interrupting each other =).
And to comment on this topic, I am definitely for having an agent/publisher behind you. For the learning process alone, I think this is a great asset to getting published traditionally. I wouldn’t dare put out a book I wrote without several (experienced) eyes on it. I want my book to be the best it can be, and I just don’t have the time or money to go hire a bunch of different people to help me put out a product.
Thanks guys! And I love how you still stuck up for both sides. =)
Just for fun, I wish J.A.Konrath would’ve had a seat on this Podcast!
Haste yee back
Fantastic Podcast again guys! I’ve really been enjoying these!
Love the analogy between a film and tying in with a good agent who spots the bad actors and recasts! You guys are great. I’ll look forward to the next one!
thanks for the thoughts guys. i’m concerned about the constant attack on “quality” by indie authors. i can’t tell you how many books i’ve wasted good money on published by one of the big 6 that were so horribly written i had to refrain from throwing it across the room. quailty does not necessarily = big 6.
Amie,
I don’t think any of us are attacking indy authors or saying all traditionally published books are great. Instead we are saying that putting together a good book requires great editors no matter which route you go.
I think a lot of beginning writers who haven’t managed to get in print yet resent the big publishers, and think of them as people who say no, people who hold back good fiction. Resentful aspiring writers therefore look forward to the deaths of the big publishing houses because they think that this means it will be easier for authors to get their works to the readers. But I think that few of us here on the outside of those publishing companies understand how hard they work to get books to the market. If the publishers really do go the way of the dinosaur, I think we writers will be sorry.
But I agree with Michael Bourret. Publishers are unlikely to disappear, in part because they are positioning themselves to exploit new trends and technologies, such as ebooks. It’s just like oil companies and car companies, most of whom invest a lot in alternative technologies. They would be stupid not to.
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