nlowell, 12 days ago

@ianRobinson

The biggest obstacle between writers and readers has always been publishing.

Lately their stranglehold on distribution through bookstores has been bypassed by upstarts like Amazon, Draft2Digital, and the authors who learned that cutting out the middlemen meant they didn't need to sell 100,000 units to make a living.

A few people still make the most, but Amazon's infinite shelves can, at least, make every book available.

#SelfPublishing

ianRobinson, 12 days ago

@nlowell Yep. The periodical approach via paid and Pay what you can newsletters is attractive as well. The Martian started that way IIRC, as did the Wool/Silo books. And probably many others I don’t know about.

nlowell, 12 days ago

@ianRobinson

There's so much room in the market for various kinds of monetization. 💯

I've found there actually is one true path.

Unfortunately, everybody has a unique one and has to figure it out for themselves. 🤪

ianRobinson, 12 days ago

@nlowell Mine is ghost writing articles for various companies ☺️

knowprose, 12 days ago

@ianRobinson yikes.

ianRobinson, 12 days ago

@knowprose Indeed.

stuart, 12 days ago

@ianRobinson ouch.

This bit made me smile though.

ianRobinson, 12 days ago

@stuart Silver linings! Offset a bit by the testimony about the bidding war to get Shapiro to write a book.