Fears of the (Publishing) Future

Caitlin here. A few weeks ago, Dan and I were talking about the future of publishing and whether print books and bookstores are really on their way out. 

I don’t really think so, but I can see bookstores having less of a presence. This does make me sad in some ways, especially as I love the indie bookstore in my neighborhood (shout out to Hooray for Books! :)), but it doesn’t make my knees clank together in fear the same way it intimidates other writers I know.  

I read a lot of books on my e-reader and I don’t see a huge problem with readers reading my books on them. I think the growth of e-readers has helped writers more than it’s hurt them (though I get that that is arguable!). 

So, if I’m not afraid of a predominantly e-reader future, what does make me afraid?  

Well, the Amazon-Hachette stuff is certainly disturbing, but, honestly, my biggest fear is the growing sense that content in general, and books specifically, are free.  

When I got my recent book deal with a Harlequin imprint, I asked one of my friends (a non-writer) who reads a ton of romance a few questions about where she finds books, how she decides what books to read, etc. I had also heard that new writers can’t charge much more than $3 for a book and I wondered what she thought of that. Would she be willing to pay over $3 for a new author, or only on books by authors she knows? 

She looked at me confused and basically said, “I never pay for the romances I read.”

Never.  

And, I guess, why should she? There are so many writers who post their books for free. Sure, it's their prerogative, but it gets consumers thinking that it’s not something worth spending money on. That a few hours of enjoyment aren’t worth even a dollar. I find it hard not to be a little frustrated at those writers.  (Though, in fairness, I rarely look for compensation for my short writing.) 

What do you think? Do you think people will become less and less willing to pay for books? Are authors who post books for free hurting the industry? Even if they are, can we really be frustrated at them for simply exercising their right to share their own creations however they’d like?  

What’s your biggest fear in regards to the future of publishing? Do you see any trends that are helping writers?

Dan here. I'm excited and a little nervous that my conversations with Caitlin can be come the subject of her next blog post. But it is a timely topic, and one that new authors should be thinking about. As (over)confident as I am about building a writing career, I'm worried that by the time my book is sold, edited, copyedited, and published, there might not be any brick-and-mortar stores left. And that would make me a little sad. Admittedly, I'm part of the problem: I had a Kindle 2 and now have a Paperwhite. That's how I do 90% of my fiction reading, and I make no apologies for it.

I'm not nearly as worried about e-books as I am about the future of books in general. It's not just free books competing with our books: it's the internet, and video games, and social media. In this hyper-connected world, people just don't have as much time to read any more. Technology makes it possible to read any book you want while on the subway. That's wonderful news. Unfortunately, that same technology also lets you play Bejeweled instead of reading at all.

On the bright side, Amazon -- no matter how you feel about their business practices -- knows how to sell things. In particular, they know how to sell books. So, while the format may change, the pricing may fluctuate, books will continue to be sold. Someone will have to write those books. That's where we come in.

Karlie: This haunts me too. Dan, you hit the nail on the head when you said free books aren't the only problem. How much longer before books are out-of-date and under little demand? But on the other hand, there are writers making a very good living. So there is hope for us. :)

I'm one of those few people who would rather have the hard copy than read from a Kindle. My brain isn't wired that way. I probably pick my Kindle up once a month, if not less. But I do buy all my books through Amazon, so I guess you're right about that, too, Dan. ;)

Despite the rise of the e-book, I firmly believe there will always be a market for paperbacks/hardcovers.     The feeling of walking into a bookstore can't be replaced by the ease of clicking the Instant Buy button.

Lisa: I'm the most old fashioned one on here, though I don't expect anyone else to be. As an author I don't mind the e-readers, and I don't feel too badly about the free books since I believe an author puts one or two books out there for free with the hopes and expectation that readers will choose to buy his/her other books. As an author, I'm really not afraid of the progress and shifting that many other writers have started voicing their opinions about. As a reader, I AM worried. I don't have an e-reader. My daughter does and tried to get me to read a series that she loves on hers. No. I tried, but I just couldn't do it. I couldn't lose myself. I must feel paper under my fingertips. I also like buying them from the bookstore too (which is where I finally bought that series my daughter was talking about). Bookstores are beautiful things. So, when someone says papers books are on their way out with the dodo bird, I'm not liking that idea at all. My copy of David Copperfield literally falls open when I get to some of my favorite passages or scenes. Anne of Green Gables has my tear stains on it from where Matthew dies. Wuthering Heights has my fingernail marks from my anger at Katherine. My eyes gleam as I look over my favorite books sometimes. My imagination says: I was in there - in that world. My books, the ones that can be held in my hands, are my imaginary world and they call to me to come back...an e-reader can't hold a flame to my bookshelf. I could go on and on...I just like a book. It means something to me.