Events & Resources

Where to go to find out more? Whether you need help with a specific issue, or want to attend a workshop, we can direct you to the events and resources that provide the best guidance.

Assuming the Risk for Your Own eBook - A DCL Webinar and White Paper

by Laura Dawson
Bowker | Tue Feb 18, 2014

On Tuesday, February 18, Bowker and DCL co-presented a webinar called Assuming the Risk for Your Own eBook. The white paper that accompanies this webinar is available here, or at the DCL website here.

Topics covered included:

Types of editorial processes - developmental, fact-checking, copy-editing
Designing your eBook - for different devices and platforms
Marketing best practices - courtesy of Sandra Poirier-Diaz of Smith Publicity
Distributing your ebook to different vendors

Inside Publishing

News & Resources

Webinars

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Looking For Clues In A New Market

by Laura Dawson
Bowker | Mon Feb 17, 2014

In the world of self-publishing, one critical component that's been missing has been reliable data about how self-published books are selling. Last week, the self-published author Hugh Howey released some data on 7,000 ebooks on the Amazon bestseller list, from the mystery/thriller, romance, and science fiction genres. He posts his report here:

The other eye-popper here is that indie authors are outselling the Big Five. That’s the entire Big Five. Combined. Indie and small-press books account for half of the e-book sales in the most popular and bestselling genres on Amazon.

Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller's Futurebook blog, provides the following caution here:

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Distribution

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Word Count. Ready? Set. Go!

by Laura Shabott
Bowker | Tue Feb 4, 2014

A wonderful example of a word count marathon is November’s National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I plunged in this past go-a-round and produced 50,024 words in 30 days. The title of the work-in-progress is FISH, a story about love, loss, betrayal and redemption set in the beautiful but cruel seaside resort Provincetown. Would this budding novel have even happened without the pressure cooker of 1667 words a day? No.

The experts say that 500 to 1500 is an average daily word count for novelists and authors. A person who is starting from scratch is at zero. How do you go from nothing to a sizable output of writing a day? Here are some tips:

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Publishers Weekly On Self-Publishing In 2014

by Laura Dawson
Bowker | Fri Jan 31, 2014

Publishers Weekly just ran a piece surveying the self-publishing landscape for 2014, in which they note that authors are seeing that writing is only the beginning of the publishing process.

"It’s almost been a giddy feeling about all the new opportunities, but I think we’ve reached a slightly more mature period,” says Beat Barblan, director of identifier services for Bowker. “We are seeing more authors who say they want to be an author beyond just a hobby, and recognize that they have to be much more entrepreneurial.”

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Bowker Self Publishing Report: 2012

by Laura Dawson
Bowker | Tue Nov 12, 2013

A new analysis of U.S. ISBN data by ProQuest affiliate Bowker reveals that the number of self-published titles in 2012 jumped to more than 391,000, up 59 percent over 2011 and 422 percent over 2007. Ebooks continue to gain on print, comprising 40 percent of the ISBNs that were self-published in 2012, up from just 11 percent in 2007.

“The most successful self-publishers don’t view themselves as writers only, but as business owners,” said Beat Barblan, Bowker Director of Identifier Services. “They invest in their businesses, hiring experts to fill skill gaps and that’s building a thriving new service infrastructure in publishing.”

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Marketing & Publicity

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Other Resources

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It's Conference Season

by Laura Dawson
Bowker | Tue Oct 1, 2013

Porter Anderson has a great roundup of the latest publishing conferences at Ether for Authors.

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Events

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Authors Guild Head Has ALS

by Laura Dawson
Bowker | Fri Sep 20, 2013

Paul Aiken, who has long helmed the Authors Guild, announced today that he has ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. Through treatment of allergies, he discovered his ALS symptoms lessened with steroid injections. He is embarking on that experimental treatment and posting updates about it at n=2.com.

Aiken said he expects skepticism about the remission of his symptoms and will begin posting pertinent medical records...on Monday to help answer questions. He admits he has no way of knowing whether his remission will continue or whether he has some odd strain of ALS, so his treatment might not apply to others. He's hoping to use the blog to help find out.

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A. C. Crispin, 1950-2013

by Laura Dawson
Bowker | Fri Sep 6, 2013

Writer Beware co-founder A.C. Crispin has died this morning. Her WB partner, Victoria Strauss, posted:

Ann's death is a huge blow, personally and professionally. But to all you writers, readers, and subscribers (and scammers): know that Writer Beware will NOT be going dark, slowing down, or otherwise pausing in its work. We're here for the long haul.

Her publisher, Tor, posted an obituary as well:

A.C. Crispin will be missed for her vigilant devotion to sticking up for writers, her wonderful candor, her thoughtful and exciting writing, and most of all, for giving the fans of various fictional worlds sweet and unforgettable gifts.

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Tasha Harrison: "I Was Sick of Rejection"

by Laura Dawson
Bowker | Fri Aug 30, 2013

The Guardian profiles self-published author Tasha Harrison in their Self-Publishing Showcase series:

I'm in control – well, more than I was, at any rate. My books are selling and people are contacting me to say how much they've enjoyed reading them. I've waited a long time to have that satisfaction! I have instant access to my sales figures, can change my cover image, price and content whenever I want and work to my own deadlines. I'm not worrying too much about what genre I fall under, either. Overall, self-publishing has been liberating.

She offers thoughts on pricing, marketing, building an audience, as well as a brief excerpt of her book Pearls.

News & Resources

Getting Started

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Events & Resources

Assuming the Risk for Your Own eBook - A DCL Webinar and White Paper

Looking For Clues In A New Market

Word Count. Ready? Set. Go!

Publishers Weekly On Self-Publishing In 2014

Bowker Self Publishing Report: 2012

It's Conference Season

Authors Guild Head Has ALS

In Case You Missed It

A. C. Crispin, 1950-2013

Tasha Harrison: "I Was Sick of Rejection"

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