Seth Godin Says of Traditional Publishing: “I’m Through!”
By DianeBest selling author Seth Godin (12 New York Times etc. bestsellers) dropped a bombshell on the publishing world when he announced on his blog that he’s not going to publish “traditionally” anymore.
“I’ve decided not to publish any more books in the traditional way. 12 for 12 and I’m done. ”
Why would a successful author ditch the world that has helped create his success? (Or has he succeeded despite it?)
“Traditional book publishers use techniques perfected a hundred years ago to help authors reach unknown readers, using a stable technology (books) and an antique and expensive distribution system.” (Of the latter, I wrote a post back in March 2007 called “The Fatal Flaw in the Book Publishing Industry.” We’re finally now seeing its collapse.)
In an interview with Jeff Rivera for a Mediabistro feature, Seth elaborated: “I like the people, but I can’t abide the long wait, the filters, the big push at launch, the nudging to get people to go to a store they don’t usually visit to buy something they don’t usually buy, to get them to pay for an idea in a form that’s hard to spread … I really don’t think the process is worth the effort that it now takes to make it work. I can reach 10 or 50 times as many people electronically. No, it’s not ‘better’, but it’s different. So while I’m not sure what format my writing will take, I’m not planning on it being the 1907 version of hardcover publishing any longer.”
What strikes me especially are the words, “really don’t think the process is worth the effort that it now takes to make it work.” Attend any #bookmarket Tweetchat on Thursdays at 3pm Central, and you’ll hear a dizzying array of ways authors try to market their books in an overcrowded market, all to get, what–$1 a book, if that?
Seth Godin is not the only successful author who feels this way. Successful mystery writer Joe Konrath has been saying some astute things on his blog. I can name other best selling authors who have confided that if they had to do it over again, they would not go the traditional publishing route. (I won’t, however, name names because these things were said privately.)
Is this the beginning of the end of publishing?
The end of one era, maybe. But, as I’ve been saying for some time, “new era publishing” will rise up in its place.
It’s been happening for some time. Recent developments such as Kindle ebooks taking off, retail chain stores being up for sale, and publishers laying off people right and left only point to the end of what Godin points out has been an antiquated system for some time now.
I will be digesting these recent events and coming up with some more observations/analysis and, I think, perspectives on opportunities. I invite you to do the same.
Here are some other useful links:
- audio of Seth Godin’s recent thoughts on publishing a talk for the Independent Book Publishers
- Wall St Journal article, “Author to Bypass Publisher for Fans“
- Publisher Michael Hyatt’s take on “Why Most Authors Should Not Emulate Seth Godin”
- Another perspective: “You are Not Seth Godin but …”
Your thoughts? Share them here.
6 Comments
August 26th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
I have to agree with Seth. Traditional publishing is dying. I tell people who are interested in publishing a book that self-publishing or ebooks are the way to go. You keep control of your material and you get paid more for it. As a self-published author myself, I can say that I’m glad I chose that route.
John Hinds
WhyPublishYourBook.com
August 26th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
Thanks, John. You might also want to read my July 27 post on why even if an agent wants your self-published book (and it does happen more and more), what to consider.
August 26th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
The only issue I have with E-books is getting something to the people. When you’re self promoting it’s hard. I just entered a contest where I wrote an essay for Anthony Bourdain’s Medium Raw and between my 600 twitter followers and my 700 facebook friends, I had 5 votes. How can I expect these people to race out and buy a kindle?
If I knew how to create a machine to support me, I’d of done it. A guy who’s an established name can say, “Fuck it, I want the money.” Trent Reznor and radiohead did it and it worked, why?
Millions people already love them. No one knows who I am and if I put my book out on the web through an E-publisher, what does that do for me? I know I won’t break the bank with a publisher, but it at least gives me a head start to a process that if I could want to go my own route after a name was created, I could.
There needs to be a channel for new authors to connect with forward thinking people who crave different voices. Trouble is, unlike a laptop which anyone can watch a youtube video, you really can’t read a book with the same ease.
If someone want’s to school me on E-books, look me up and let’s talk shop. I’m sick of looking at rejection letters anyhow.
August 27th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
I can see what you mean Robert. Promoting a book yourself is hard work and then some, and you feel as if you’ve barely gotten anywhere once all is said and done.
I took a blog approach with my book, posting it for free and allowing others to read it and tell me what they thought. It really helped, and got me some followers as well.
I’m in the process of self-publishing right now, and a friend of mine had a great idea. Local media. I live in a slightly small town, so it was easy to contact the newspaper and get them to write an article about me. After that i got a call from the local radio station, wanting to interview me. If I keep this up, soon i’ll get interviews in nearby towns, and after that i hope to make state news.
So you can see that there have been some steps i’ve needed to climb. It’s not been easy, and it wont get any easier. But i’m still making a name for myself, or at least trying. I dont like the idea of relying on some bigwig company to get me to the top. It will feel so much better knowing I did that myself.
All i’m saying is that with self-publishing or traditional – the author makes the final choice. It depends on how you want things to go, but the results CAN be the same, if you work for it.
September 21st, 2010 at 4:00 pm
I don’t believe traditional publishing will ever die. I do believe that writers now have other VIABLE options to sell their work. Those that love to have control of their project, want to put forth the initial investment and have a business sense when selling (you know publishing is about sales) then they can now produce a quality product. But nothing is wrong with selling your work to someone who’s willing to do all of that for you. Now though, authors have a lot more choices
and nothing is wrong with that.
September 21st, 2010 at 4:11 pm
The problem that makes me wonder if traditional publishing will die is the business model itself. They are largely based on catering to the retail, which is disappearing. If the Seth Godins (i.e., those whose books actually sell and subsidize other books that don’t) defect, how can publishers sustain themselves? And as publishers demand more and more of authors (i.e. that they market their own books), then why would the authors need the publishers? (Which is part of why people like Seth are going on their own.) And if authors can’t hang onto more lucrative rights (such as audio and digital versions), again, they would think twice about publishing in the traditional way.
I think traditional publishing has to change, or it will die. Seth does not, apparently, believe they will change. I honestly don’t know, myself. The publishers I know are grappling with these realities, and it’s not at all easy.
I will mourn if traditional publishing goes away. I already see sloppily edited books, even from traditional publishing houses. I think good editing is one of the first things that goes, and that bothers me a lot. A culture needs to be literate.
So I hope you’re right, but I have my doubts….