Writers and Recession . . .

[Monazwx]

Ok, to discuss the business side of this; we maybe in a recession or maybe not, but I'm wondering how the downturn in the economy affects the sale of your work? Are you trying to market your work elsewhere (non-US)? Writers, give us the dish!

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

deleted - don't want to threadjack, even potentially

 

[rgraham666]

I sell so few copies of my work I've no way to notice if the economy is bad or not.

 

[Monazwx]

deleted - don't want to threadjack, even potentially

What happened?

 

[Monazwx]

I sell so few copies of my work I've no way to notice if the economy is bad or not.

Good luck with that.

 

[jomar]

The recession has had absolutely no effect whatsoever on sales of my writing. But if I ever publish something I'll be certain to let you know.

 

[neonlyte]

Ok, to discuss the business side of this; we maybe in a recession or maybe not, but I'm wondering how the downturn in the economy affects the sale of your work? Are you trying to market your work elsewhere (non-US)? Writers, give us the dish!

Books are generally regarded as 'recession proof'. Sales (certainly EU sales) stay fairly constant through economic cycles.

 

[Monazwx]

Books are generally regarded as 'recession proof'. Sales (certainly EU sales) stay fairly constant through economic cycles.

Really, that's strange, because I thought that reading would be one of the first 'luxuries' to go, except for the dreaded textbook.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Book sales are declining and the industry is contracting, anyway, but publishers always welcome Super Stars who sell gozillions of books. During a recession people dont buy books, they borrow them from the library.

What I see in my crystal ball is an industry where new authors have almost no chance of seeing print unless they bring a large audience with them. Publishing will be like major league baseball where you start out at the bottom writing for something like the LITEROTICA LITTERBUGS, then advance if an editor stumbles across you and likes your stuff.

One of the things I do is furnish newspaper writers with material they use in their columns. I create puzzles, funny quotes, humorous anecdotes, and brief articles that accompany the principal feature or column. I manufacture the 'bling.' Like this quote I created: IF THE OLYMPICS AWARDED A GOLD MEDAL FOR SKATING ON THIN ICE, I'D WIN IT. Popular writers always need good bling to add snap, crackle, and pop to their stuff.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

The adjustments the publishing industry is still making because of the internet probably dwarf any recession effects. They're still trying to figure out how to leverage this technology to best advantage. Publishing opportunities in E-markets are probably up, in hard-copy, probably down. If you're a journalist, you're just screwed as newspapers are folding right and left.

Between self-publishing and POD and E-books and Amazon's Kindle technology, things are as up-in-the-air in publishing as they are in the music business. It's a mad scramble and no one knows what's going to come out on top.

 

[Monazwx]

What I see in my crystal ball is an industry where new authors have almost no chance of seeing print unless they bring a large audience with them. Publishing will be like major league baseball where you start out at the bottom writing for something like the LITEROTICA LITTERBUGS, then advance if an editor stumbles across you and likes your stuff.

This sounds pretty grim, because it means that if you don't have a hot blog or something solid to bring to the table, you're screwed, and I don't depend on luck.

P.S. I like the 'bling'.

 

[Monazwx]

The adjustments the publishing industry is still making because of the internet probably dwarf any recession effects. They're still trying to figure out how to leverage this technology to best advantage. Publishing opportunities in E-markets are probably up, in hard-copy, probably down. If you're a journalist, you're just screwed as newspapers are folding right and left.

Between self-publishing and POD and E-books and Amazon's Kindle technology, things are as up-in-the-air in publishing as they are in the music business. It's a mad scramble and no one knows what's going to come out on top.

I agree that e-markets are a promising up-swing, and hopefully writers can reach the younger generation through Kindle and other e-products. But I'm thinking that the boomers are still more tactile, and prefer their hardcovers. In lieu of newspapers, maybe e-magazines should be the journalists next step?

 

[CharleyH]

Ok, to discuss the business side of this; we maybe in a recession or maybe not, but I'm wondering how the downturn in the economy affects the sale of your work? Are you trying to market your work elsewhere (non-US)? Writers, give us the dish!

As a writer? The American market is the least of my worries. They always paid shit. That's why I write for Europeans.

 

[Monazwx]

As a writer? The American market is the least of my worries. They always paid shit. That's why I write for Europeans.

Are you an American living in Europe? What made you decide to focus on the European market? What genre are you in? What makes writing for Europeans different than writing for an American audience?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

MONAZWX

Let me say it another way.

Go back in time one year. Estimate the odds of Obama or Sarah Palin being on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Zero?

A good book and a hot blog will get you published quicker than a good book alone.

 

[CharleyH]

Are you an American living in Europe? What made you decide to focus on the European market? What genre are you in? What makes writing for Europeans different than writing for an American audience?

Hi, Mona. I'm a Canadian living in Europe. I didn't "decide" to focus on the European market. They focused on me. I write porn and fetish articles and most of what I write is actually targeted at the American market. However, in my experience, European companies simply pay better than American companies for the same job and they are more professional and appreciative of my work.

 

[Monazwx]

MONAZWX, Let me say it another way.
Go back in time one year. Estimate the odds of Obama or Sarah Palin being on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Zero?

Amazing isn't it? Last month this time, nobody even knew this Palin chick, (and in fact, she still may not be gracing OPrah's show for a while) but I get your point.

A good book and a hot blog will get you published quicker than a good book alone.

This portin has me concerned though because usually, if your blog isn't about politics, religion or sex, blogs aren't really that hot, ever. And for a newbie getting a large readership from a blog is a challange.

 

[Monazwx]

Hi, Mona. I'm a Canadian living in Europe. I didn't "decide" to focus on the European market. They focused on me. I write porn and fetish articles and most of what I write is actually targeted at the American market. However, in my experience, European companies simply pay better than American companies for the same job and they are more professional and appreciative of my work.

Strange, you work for Europeans but your target audience are the Americans? But hey, whatever works.

 

[sr71plt]

I did notice a dip during the dot.com collapse, which came at the same time as a German buyup of American publishing houses--but I haven't noticed a decrease (yet) in the current recession.

 

[wafflemtl]

Really, that's strange, because I thought that reading would be one of the first 'luxuries' to go, except for the dreaded textbook.

It's also a cheap and enjoyable way to have "another life" or escape the one you have for a few hours when time is bad (like a recession ...). So I don't know if it will be the FIRST luxury to go for me. Cinema is more expensive for exemple. Or really good food.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

MONAZWX

To grow a hot blog you must offer wares patrons want. You need to be better than the competition or fill a vacant niche....then promote yourself.

 

[Monazwx]

It's also a cheap and enjoyable way to have "another life" or escape the one you have for a few hours when time is bad (like a recession ...). So I don't know if it will be the FIRST luxury to go for me. Cinema is more expensive for exemple. Or really good food.

I don't know the last time I've been to the movies.

 

[Monazwx]

MONAZWX

To grow a hot blog you must offer wares patrons want. You need to be better than the competition or fill a vacant niche....then promote yourself.

Ok, I'm on it.
(I like the way you start your posts with the poster's name. It makes it easy for searching out. Thanks.)

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

MONAZWX

I kinda think the future of newspaper writing involves freelance bloggers who specialize with arcane subjects. I think the freelancers will form syndicates like cartoonists join, and the papers will buy your stuff from the syndicate.

 

[wafflemtl]

I don't know the last time I've been to the movies.

Me neither

But good food THAT! I remember