Where I am Now…
Since we get a daily trickle of visitors to this now defunct blog, I just wanted to let people know where they can find more. We all pretty much got busy and went our separate ways. (Eeek that sounds like we don’t like each other. We do. We’re just busy.) Anyone with publishing rights here is always welcome to toss up a post any time the mood strikes them.
I’m obviously leaving this blog up because a lot of people contributed a lot of useful information.
I had considered maintaining it myself, but I’m WAY out of the indie closet now so I feel no need to separate this stuff out from my regular blog. I make a lot of posts about the state of the industry and indie authorship at my personal blog: Zoe Winters’ Blog.
I also am the resident blogger at Indie Reader.
Another great resource for indies looking for info is Publetariat.com
Changing of the guard…part deux
Recently, a job opportunity has opened up to me that I just couldn’t say “no” to. I won’t bore you with the details, because the details really are quite boring. Suffice it to say that between it, my ‘day job’, my writing & marketing, and my family responsibilities, I will not have enough time to give Publishing Renaissance the attention it needs and richly deserves. Hence, I am handing the reins of command back to Zoe, the original Captain of our ship. (How’s that for a mixed metaphor?)
Thanks to all of you for your readership, contributions, and support. 
The details
It’s been awhile – too long, actually, and I apologize for that – since we announced that we’re going to be making some changes here at Publishing Renaissance. Here, in short, are the details. Starting in September, our format will change from semi-daily blog posts to a monthly e-zine. This way we’ll have more time to devote to quality and variety. Publishing Renaissance will also have a more structured look and feel, with specific categories and features that will include:
- Marketing
- Opinion pieces
- Indie Author Spotlight
- Publishing Industry news
- Technical tips (how-tos)
- Moving Beyond Indie (tips for indie authors looking for an agent or publisher)
- Success Stories Business Tips (information for those starting their own business as their own imprint)
- Various columns (humor, slice-of-life, etc)
- Focus on Genre
Most of these ‘categories’ are currently being covered by our staff, but with the new format it will be easier to find specific kinds of articles that are of interest to you, or to find particular information you need. Our existing articles will be saved in the archives and will still be available to read. We will still be open to guest blogs and Creative Works submissions as well.
The look of Publishing Renaissance will change, too. In fact we’ll be fiddling around with that a little bit in the days and weeks to come, so don’t be alarmed if you pop in here during the next month or so and things look a bit odd.
The first issue of the new format will be published in September. We’ll have an announcement with a more specific date coming very soon.
A major revamp!
I’ll bet you’ve been wondering why things have been quiet around here lately. The reason is this: we’re in the middle of a major revamp here at Publishing Renaissance, one that will bring some significant improvements in appearance, organization, and – most importantly – in quality. More information will follow in the coming days, including info on an upcoming newsletter.
In the meantime, if you haven’t already, please consider following us on Twitter. We’ll be posting links to some of our older articles you may have missed, or forgotten, that are still helpful and relevent, sometimes funny, and always entertaining.
A Different Review for This Week
Before I begin the wrap up, an announcement about July’s Creative Works submissions. Because it’s a holiday next weekend in the U.S., we’re pushing things back. The new deadline for July’s submissions is Wednesday, July 8. The new works will be posted Friday, July 10. For submission information, please check this page. And a heads up, because I’ve been asked: No fan fiction please. (Copyright issues. That’s a headache we don’t need.) And now, on with the show…
Instead of posting my usual ‘Round The Net wrap up of writing / self-publishing news, I thought this week I’d post a ‘Round The Blog wrap up of some of the articles we’ve written here at Publishing Rensaissance. I’m going to highlight one from each of our current regular contributors. Happy reading! And have a great weekend!
Skating The Promo Annoyance Meter For Indie Authors -Zoe Winters
Cleaning Our Houses – Moriah Jovan
Bookstore to Bookstore – Robin Altman
Building A Mystery – Evangeline H
Free Books and Ebooks and Promos, Oh My! - Alan Baxter
Crime and Punishment – RJ Keller
Someone is wrong on the internet!
Last night, Alan posted a link back to a very excellent article on his blog about social networking. In it he gave a few examples of why “online activity and social media is by far the strongest influence in readers these days.” And it’s true. It really is worth it for self-published writers to put ourselves out there on places like Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, Amazon message boards. We should utilize our own blogs and comment on others’ blogs as well. The numbers prove that it’s worth it. But I’m going to talk today about the kind of social networking that won’t do you – or anyone – any good, is a big, fat waste of time, and can actually reflect badly on self-published authors as a group.
Yep, you probably guessed it. It’s all the damned bickering.
There are people out there who don’t like self-publishing. There are people out there who don’t like self-published authors. There are people out there who think we’re a bunch of gullible, untalented wannabes who clothe ourselves in respectability by giving ourselves the phony, pretentious, undeserved title of “indie.” And I’m going to let you in on a little secret.
You’re not going to change their minds by bickering with them on the interwebz.
You can go to their blogs and leave facts and figures in their comments section. You can site instances of Self-Published Authors Who Made Good. You can give them your own sales numbers and recommend well-written self-published books until your fingers are raw from typing…and you’re not going to change their minds. We’ve seen so many of these kinds of conversations that the responses are predictable.
- That author only made money after NY picked her up.
- Most of your sales probably came from family and friends.
- The majority of self-published books are crap.
- Your mama wears combat boots.
Back and forth, back and forth it goes for days, sometimes even weeks. And when all is said and done, nobody’s mind has been changed and you’ve just wasted precious time that could have been spent writing or editing your book, networking on Twitter, or reading this blog.
Even worse is the sudden surge of bickering amongst self-published writers. Obviously we’re all individuals, and independent minded ones at that, and obviously disagreements are going to come up. It’s the nature of the beast. And it goes without saying, although I’ll say it anyway, that we each have the right to air our opinions, and honest discussion is a good, healthy thing. But bickering back & forth with another indie writer, in full view of the public, isn’t just a waste of time, it makes you look bad. By reflection it makes every serious self-published writer look bad. It makes us look unprofessional. It just proves to the naysayers what they’ve been saying all along: that we’re a bunch of gullible, untalented wannabes. And that isn’t good for anybody.
I’m not about to tell anyone what they can or can’t say on their own blog, or anywhere else on the internet. It isn’t my style and it isn’t my place. But I do urge all of you to consider the points I’ve made here today the next time you feel the hair on the back of your neck start to rise when you read something that pisses you off. Because the only real way we’ll ever prove to those people – eventually – that we’re talented and professional is to act like it.
The power of blogging and social media
I made a post on my blog today about the nature of blogging and social media and its impact on the world of books and what people choose to read. I thought the good people here at PubRen would be interested in the content, so head over to my site and have a read.
What do you think? Is social media working for you? Do you use online recommendations like those mentioned in my post to select your reading material?
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