Have books become obsolete?
If you spend too long on the internet, you might start to think books are dead. But one of the strange things that is still true, even in this world of iPads and ebooks and endless blogging, is that a book gives its writer credibility.
Today I was reading an article on Guardian Books about radical alternatives to conventional publishing, which included interviews with a number of new authors including feisty feminist Nina Power. The article was tilted more towards an academic type of reader, but I was fascinated by what Nina Power had to say about The Book itself:
The thing that really surprised me was the very different status a book still has in people’s minds, even if the arguments and the texts have already appeared online in blogs and journals … The book still retains a curiously weighty status in comparison to blogs.
I’ve seen this phenomenon many times myself, but I spend so much time online keeping up with all the changes in publishing that I’d begun to wonder if it still held true. The fact is that you can use a well-written, well-presented book to enhance your credibility in your chosen field. It’s still true today, though the publishing world be turning a little to one side these days! 😉
And this is another little tip I’ll give you for free… the average reader does not differentiate whether a book was published by one of the Big Six publishers, or if you did it yourself. If it looks good and reads well, they don’t really care what the chain of supply was. It’s not important to them. The content is what matters. So even a self-published book enhances the author’s credibility in the field.
So, what are you doing still here? Go and write that book! 🙂
I’m a big reader, and until I became aware of self-publishing and decided to jump in myself, I NEVER looked to see who published a book. If it was awesome, I only cared about remembering the author’s name so I could find more books by that person. Now I simply check out of professional curiosity.
Good point, Kayla. And as the traditional publishing process keeps getting squeezed by lower income, there are times when a self-pubbed work can be of superior quality, because a self-pubber values excellence over the bottom line. Hope your self-publishing adventure is going well. 🙂
Hi Belinda… I am not a published writer, but am an avid reader. I love books… the kind you hold in your hand and turn the pages as well as those on my Kindle. I cannot imagine my life without books and the richness they add to my life. Keep on writing!
Hi Carol, yes I love to read too. Bring on the books! 🙂
Hi Belinda , and fellow Aussie! – great post and it’s good to hear from someone in the field that it’s still worth writing a book. Being able to self-publish on kindle has allowed many of us who tried (unsuccessfully) in the past, to publish work. This gives us hope. Thanks!
Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi. (sorry, was that a bit yobbo-ish?) 😉
Thanks for stopping by, Maranna, and I’m really glad the new self-publishing opportunities have opened up new worlds for you.