Really, REALLY interesting article here by Sarah Lacy of the Pandodaily. In short, pretty much what we as indie authors have sensed, and why we look skeptically at people that want to submit to traditional publishers anymore. I think a follow up question is this. Do you think indie authors will get crushed under Amazon’s thumb someday? (Think getting 30% of your sales price rather than 70% because there is no other game in town).
“Confessions of a Publisher: ‘We’re in Amazon’s Sights and They’re Going to Kill Us’” by Sarah Lacy
Posted: January 18, 2012 in WritingTags: Amazon, indie publishing, marketing, publishing, self-publishing, Writing
Comments
If the thought that Amazon is “stupid” had ever crossed a retailer/publisher’s mind, the thought would have been ironic since they were already dead men walking. Amazon rules. Now only to crack their recommendation algorithm…
I don’t think it’ll get to the point where Amazon will be the only game in town. Been hearing some rumors about a better self publishing option from Apple. Kobo is already doing the same thing as well. As long as someone else is successful though that should keep Amazon in line.
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Interesting and scary stuff. Less competition is always bad for the little guy/gal.
A better question would be; who needs Amazon? A writer now has many platforms to publish on, indeed, who needs a platform? All we need now is a good story, some free, off the shelf software and a PayPal account. Writers could go truly independent. I admit that they would not get the exposure that they do now on Amazon/Kindle, but they could still sell books.
Amazon needs authors more than we need Amazon.
Dig the philosophy–the tenacity.
I think there are so many other options than amazon, with so much more flexibility, that monopolization is probably not going to happen. I didn’t realize this until I started seeing the myriad of places you can actually publish an e-book (especially to make it available in e-pub formatting, too) and now it seems unnecessary to panic over Amazon’s future taking of of the world.
As to traditional publishing… lots of people prefer the feel of a physical book. But then with POD, that’s not necessary any more either. Let’s see how long some of those big NY houses last.
Amazon will continue to be an innovator as others try to catch up. Will royalties change? Maybe. Will promotional programs change? Definitely. It’s a fun time to be an indie writer.