Published on February 3, 2010
This may be old news to you now but, just in case you missed it, Amazon had a showdown with Macmillan (one of the “Big 6” traditional publishers) over the weekend…and Macmillan appears to have won. Other large publishers are expected to follow suit.
Basically, Macmillan wants the right to set their own retail prices for ebooks, and to set their own sales terms to bookstores. In my opinion, this is how it should be. The publisher should be able to dictate the terms of sales of their books to bookstores. Bookstores, of course, can negotiate their own purchase terms with a publisher but no bookstore should be able to dictate how, or at what price, a publisher sells their books elsewhere.
You can read my comments on this situation in detail under Morris Rosenthal’s article HERE.
PublishersWeekly.com is posting frequent updates to this situation.
And, finally, don’t miss this article in Fast Company:
Amazon Revealed: It Hates You, and It Hates Publishers
UPDATE: Harper Collins is also now demanding better terms from Amazon. Click HERE to read comments by News Corp Chief Rupert Murdoch.
Published on February 3, 2010
Angela,
I’d like to thank you for being a good person and reasonable businesswoman. Even when I don’t have time to read your newsletter, just seeing it in my mailbox makes me feel better by reminding me that there are nice people in the world.
I’m writing the content of a website for a guy who has told me twice now that the check is in the mail. Can you believe he was surprised when I told him I was suspending work on his project until I received my check? In what Universe would a writer continue to send him material?
Thank you for letting me share.
M.
Published on February 3, 2010
specialty markets for writing
I don’t imagine I would have ever thought to write for the disability/mental health market if I had not become mentally disabled myself.
Published on February 3, 2010
I received a marketing email from (my POD publisher) offering to put my books on display at a book fair for several hundred dollars. Do you think it’ll be worth it?
Published on February 3, 2010
As a beginning writer, I wondered, “What do publishers want?” I lacked funds to attend conferences to ask editors in person, but I found answers in the publishers’ books.
Published on January 27, 2010
On Monday, we left the house on schedule at noon, heading for anywhere south that doesn’t have SNOW!
Published on January 27, 2010
writing scams
There’s an entire industry of people online now who making a living out of subcontracting writing work out to other writers – often for far less than they’re being paid by their client. I have nothing against hiring ghostwriters, nor against ghostwriting. However, I do have a problem with someone taking a “job” for $500, and paying another writer $5 to do it.
Published on January 27, 2010
Readers respond to our announcement last week.
Published on January 27, 2010
Talking about both time and money is difficult for many writers and other artists. The difficulty is not one that only newbies face.
Published on January 27, 2010
You’ve given warnings in your newsletter about writing for companies that require “test” articles. I received the following email from (a website). I sent a six-page pubs list of links to numerous published articles and manuscripts, so I know they know my writing style. Then they sent me an email mentioning test articles. A red flag went up inside me; but then again, this may be a legitimate request on their part. I haven’t come across this before, and though the pay isn’t great, I’m retired and I have no desire to get burned.
My question is: Have you come across this company and do you have anything positive or negative to say about them? Any other advice about dealing with them or others like them?
