Though we can’t be certain*, we think the British press is on schedule: one article touting the future of self-publishing per quarter. It’s almost enough to make us wonder if there’s some sort of publishing revolution happening across the Atlantic. If only we had a correspondent who spoke English.
Though the article intermingles self-publishing and print-on-demand, we simply do not have the time to explain differences. Place to go and all that. Likewise, we cannot focus on a cost/benefit analysis of self-publishing. What we’re enthusiastic about is potential. We do enjoy potential, especially on rainy days.
Print-on-demand technology is rapidly improving. There is no reason to doubt that it will reach a level that allows it to achieve the goal stated in the name: actual product on demand. Like you walk into a store and come out with a freshly printed and bound book. All in the amount of time it takes to slurp down a cup of coffee.
Hey, it’s our fantasy world, we can do what we want.
Already, we’re seeing that authors are reacquiring their rights (go, go, go!) and turning to POD, self-publishing, and/or electronic publishing as ways of making backlist product available. Hmm, it seems like we just wrote an article on this topic. Ah, we did.
There are, it should go without saying, pitfalls and obstacles when it comes to self-publishing. This Internet thing you’re using right now? It can help you make informed choices. Informed choices are what separate us from ants.
* – Short of doing actual analysis; we do not get paid enough for that.
Technorati Tags: self-publishing, print-on-demand, POD, electronic publishing, publishing
