Publishing... Evolving, whether we want it or Not.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/17/technology/amazon-rewrites-the-rules-of-book-publishing.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha26 Please have a look at this article.

I read this, front to back and came away with extremely mixed thoughts. Depending on exactly how Amazon's actions would or perhaps will effect me is the bottom line.

Quote from the article... "Amazon will publish 122 books this fall in an array of genres, in both physical and e-book form. It is a striking acceleration of the retailer’s fledging publishing program that will place Amazon squarely in competition with the New York houses that are also its most prominent suppliers."

In reading the article in full, several things came to mind for me. The first was Evolution. Writers, publishers and agents are all in an uproar over the moves that Amazon is making. The truth of it is that it all comes down to evolving. Amazon, just like every other publishing company, is here to make money. No sales equal no money. In the ever changing world of writing and publishing, if you do not stay one step ahead of the competition, you will be left by the roadside, both youi And your writing, suffering.

The evolution of writing has changed, pretty much, non-stop since writing began. Remembering the days of paper and pen {Shhh, my first novel was on paper. Does that age me???} writing evolved to the keyboard, to the write, click, print and send to e-mail and e-submissions. We, as writers, went kicking and screaming, as our writing world took on a new shape and asked us to be more than just the writer. Publishing houses and book stores either followed the trend or closed their doors, forever. Evolution is present in almost all facets of life and living. In order to stay in the front running, publishing houses, as well as sites such as amazon must be in the innovation line of progress.

Next that came to mind was a song I remember. The Judds sang it and in one line, they too question the changes in the world. "Grampa, everything is changing fast... they call it progress, but I just don't know." Progress is measured by the going forward or changing something and making it better. Amazon, already a leader in the writers world, is doing exactly that. They are moving forward and trail-blazing, opening new avenues to writers. Isn't that what we are searching for? However, once again, it comes down to if you are one of the lucky to have amazon grab your novel and run with it.

"Amazon Signs Up Authors, Writing Publishers Out of Deal." Amazon is rewriting the rules for publishing and why not. I think back to when CreateSpace and Smashwords were making their debut. People were against them until they began seeing their books on line and on the kindle. As it is for publishing houses, so it is for us as writers. We must push our books forward any way they can be. Exposure is sales and we all want that. Amazon is only doing what we have needed for so very long. If publishers, those that have sat and enjoyed the kick-back from the authors they have published, want to stay in the game, they better play "follow the leader."

I am sitting on the fence, watching and waiting. I personally would Love to see Amazon snatch up my novels and give me the chance to do what it needs to do and that is sell. I am always on the look-out for someone to take my books as far as it will go. If Amazon hurts traditional or POD type publishers, then I say perhaps they need to do exactly what Amazon is doing. Perhaps Amazon has opened up something that will make taking a look at writers and working with them more a way of business. I see nothing wrong with what they are doing and wish nothing but success to them. Their success may one day become mine.

Times are changing and the writing world is changing quickly. We as writers must follow that change and hope that we are taken aboard the "evolution train" and take our books to the top, right where we all want to be.