I’m a content iconoclast. Amazon is an iconoclast.
Publishing has changed forever. Get used to it.
Jessica Park has a best selling novel called, Flat Out Love. Her story covers the trials and tribulations of publishing attempts in the world of “traditional publishing.” Agents, rejection letters, attempted marketing, book signings, more rejections, advances, low royalties, more writing, and more rejections. In sum: writing for the publisher rather than the reader. It’s the essence of product rather than customer marketing. Personified.
Below is a direct quotation from a recent Amazon Ad:
“Did I cry over some of these rejections? Absolutely. Did I feel inadequate, untalented, hurt? Yes. Did I doubt my ability to craft a story that readers could fall in love with? You bet.
That’s Jessica Park, Kindle Direct Publishing empowers serious authors to reach readers, build a following, make a living, and to do it on their own terms. Readers get lower prices, authors get higher royalties, and we all get a more diverse book culture (no expert gatekeepers saying “sorry but that will never work”). KDP is already meaningful–22 of our top 100 best-selling Kindle books so far this year are KDP books–and more great stories are being published every day.
You can find Flat-Out-Love here. Thanks for being a customer.
Jeff Bezos
Founder & CEO”
The “diverse book culture” Bezos speaks of sums it up well. Content is indeed king, but it’s CGC (Consumer Generated Content), not publisher managed content. This is not to say traditional publishing does not have a place. It does. However, it’s now struggling to really find its place in this Brave New World of digital content where authors write and gatekeepers cringe in fear.
My book was published two years ago through Amazon. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made in my career. My book is selling well in both its paperback and Kindle editions. No gatekeepers. I wrote, created, and controlled my content destiny. Sure I made a few mistakes along the way but that’s part of the process. My readers like and use my book. It helps their small businesses. It makes a difference. That feels good.
Small Business Marketing – A Guide For Survival, Growth, and Success
If you have a book in you, consider self-publishing. Self-publishing does not decrease your self-worth. You are not less of an author if you publish through Amazon or other self-publishing channels. In fact, you may be more of an author.
You may be an iconoclast.
You may save your life, too…
Here’s how Jessica Park saved hers:
http://indiereader.com/2012/06/how-amazon-saved-my-life/
By Stuart Atkins
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