Comments on: Off The Cuff

By: Jill James

Jill James — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:16:59 +0000

I want an e-reader for Christmas soooo bad.

I think I like the unplug idea. I need to do that to get some serious writing done.

By: Ali

Ali — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:48:56 +0000

Glad I stopped by… I didn’t know about B. Dalton How sad.
What I would like is an ereader that let’s me put my ebooks in different files

By: Karin Tabke

Karin Tabke — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:40:14 +0000

i’m about to go unplugged myself.

By: toni mcgee causey

toni mcgee causey — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:20:40 +0000

I think one of the changes will be video chats — writers, instead of traveling to a bookstore in an area, will be video-conferenced in live. There’s even a signature machine that was invented a while back where the author can sign on one end at the machine and the book placed into its corresponding machine at the other end creates the actual signature — so it can be personalized. I would imagine this is going to get adapted pretty quickly to computer software simply using a stylus on the author’s end and something similarly easy on the recipient’s end.

I think in the Google Wave software is going to change interaction online because everything will be more integrated, and threaded discussions will be easier to follow.

I think we’ll see the creation of smaller, online-only and specialty-focused publishers who will try to beat the clutter of the marketplace by becoming known as the house who publishes a specific kind of fiction. Right now, people don’t think of a specific publisher’s name because those publishers are so big. But the various imprints have their own focus and personality and at some point, the publishers are going to see the advantage of that imprint having its own portal and personality online, creating a reputation for that kind of fiction. We’re going to go from a super conglomerate attitude to a smaller-is-better, specific-is-marketable attitude.

Great subject, Syl! Glad you were able to be so focused on the writing!

By: Debra webb

Debra webb — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:12:35 +0000

Wow, S.J., I need to stay more on top of things! What an eye opening post! Though I’m not up to speed on the technology changes, I can definitely reiterate that things are changing fast!

By: RKCharron

RKCharron — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:15:08 +0000

Thank you for the great update post SJ.
I love how interconnected everything is becoming.
I hope you have a wonderful week.
Love & Best Wishes,
RKCharron
xoxo

By: K M Britt

K M Britt — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:34:31 +0000

I can’t stand audio books and reading to long on the computer gives me a headache from the glare. Nothing beats having a book in hand.

By: Silver James

Silver James — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:10:31 +0000

When my books comes out next spring, the ebook will run $6.00 USD compared to $12.99 USD print–directly from my publisher. That seems fair pricing to me. My publisher is DRM free (a whole ‘nother can of worms and I’m glad that decision was made–has to do with file sharing for those unfamiliar with the term) and in all formats but Kindle. It will be available at a higher cost from Amazon for Kindle.

I’d like an ereader but I’m technologically challenged so I’ve been waiting (not to mention the whole beta vs. VHS thing of Kindle/Sony/?? going on).

I remember when we typed out a manuscript and sent it off and paid to have it returned if it was rejected because who wanted to retype the darn thing! Now? I just sent off a full attached to an email. Wow!

I’m off the jury duty….*sigh*

By: Terry Odell

Terry Odell — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:48:03 +0000

OK, I’ve been in Canada for a week with very limited time for the web, so I’m going to say Hi, and then go back and read everything I missed. (I did manage to get some recaps and pix on my blog, though)

I love that e-readers are becoming more prevalent. I hate that it’s still all about the formatting. It should be about the content.

And why is $9.99 a LOW price? Compared to a hard cover, maybe, but my books are more like $6.99 in digital format.

By: Jessica Scott

Jessica Scott — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:08:56 +0000

Book selling is always going to be about books. The argument is going to shift away from copyright of a product, though, to content. Is your book copyrighted or is the word document you created it the protected document. As we shift into greater online focus, there will be a greater demand for content on demand, which will tempt publishers to speed up the publishing process. This may allow writers to get more content out there but will the quality slip? The first open source e-reader will revolutionize online book sales, paving the way as a kindle killer. The still mythical apple tablet has the potential for this with Stanza but that depends on people being able to transfer their amazon editions to another format.
The big conversation is going to be about format wars as a device trys to seize and hold market dominance.
Great Topic!