Comments on: Style Versus Substance: DBW and BEA

By: Pit Silas

Pit Silas — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:11:35 +0000

I was scanning something else about this on another blog. Interesting. Your linear perspective on it is diametrically opposed to what I read earlier. I am still mulling over the various points of view, but I’m inclined heavily toward yours. And regardless, that’s what is so good about modern-day democracy and the marketplace of ideas online.

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Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:01:07 +0000

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By: JoeW

JoeW — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:24:47 +0000

“Certainly BEA could use more focus on these topics (haven’t seen anyone from ABA or BEA here at DBW. Hope they’re paying attention).”

I think rilnj has made an important point. Sometimes it seems like the various parts of this evolving industry are each running on a separate track. Survival (certainly of bookstores, probably of authors being able to earn a living, and maybe of the publishing industry itself) depends on cooperation, ideas flowering from different perspectives. I hope we’ll see more of that at events like DBW and BEA, but I don’t know how much time we have.

By: bkpatrick

bkpatrick — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:20:50 +0000

Kellyann, I think you’re right: Authors haven’t delved deep enough into how they can become “apps.” I daresay many authors might say “But I don’t want to be an app!” Hmmm. If you don’t want to learn more about digital media and how it affects books, then take a good, long, hard look at what your goals in publishing are. Options still exist for Luddites, but they have different rewards.

Robin, thanks for such a terrific comment, and especially about the bricks-and-mortar part of the equation being AWOL. The thing is, authors still depend on bricks-and-mortar. How can we take that great relationship and morph it for the DBW PLUS BEA World?

By: Laura Strachan

Laura Strachan — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:17:30 +0000

I think MJ is right that authors need to be part of the conversation, not only about new digital delivery systems, but about the industry as a whole. There is still a mentality that authors deliver content and publishers publish it. But it needs to be a partnership. What resources do publishers have to enhance authors’ content (and this will be more and more important) and what resources do authors have to help publishers get that content into the hands of readers/consumers? Everyone is testing the waters right now, and perhaps this first DBW really needed to focus on the underlying structure of the industry itself. As for BEA, I don’t see BEA as even the content side, just another piece of the delivery side, at least as in its current form. Historically BEA was a trade show to facilitate pubs selling to booksellers. I think it is time to bring authors into the mix.

By: @rilnj

@rilnj — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:14:03 +0000

Don’t see any conflict (or even much overlap) re DBW and BEA programming. (haven’t been to TOC.)

DBW is a chance to delve deeper into the tech side of the biz; I could see this becoming a 3-day event, encompassing authors and booksellers.

Authors are mentioned frequently in almost every session I’ve attended, with lots of advice on how they should reach their audiences. Too bad few of them are here to listen and respond.

And I haven’t heard anything about how to include bricks & mortar bookstores in this brave new world (except Chris Morrow of Northshire discussing the Espresso machine and POD). Everyone agrees that bookstores hold valuable mindshare(Verso had stats yesterday to back that up), yet they seem to be an afterthought (if at all) in e-plans.

(of course, the high cost of a conference like this precludes most authors and booksellers from attending)

Certainly BEA could use more focus on these topics (haven’t seen anyone from ABA or BEA here at DBW. Hope they’re paying attention).

DBW so far has been energizing–not just the panels and session, but the conversations that have come out of them. I hope we can continue to build on what we’ve seen/learned here, and bring that to BEA in a practical way.

By: MJ Rose

MJ Rose — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:12:55 +0000

Great post – here’s my response: http://mjroseblog.typepad.com/buzz_balls_hype/2010/01/the-author-publisher-partnership.html

By: Kellyann Zuzulo

Kellyann Zuzulo — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:11:34 +0000

Very interesting post! -Something that all authors should be considering. And therein lies the rub: it is something that authors NEED to consider, i.e. the condition and evolution of how they are published, delivered, and read. As an author, I’d speculate that the dearth of authors at DBW is a lingering symptom of authors NOT taking enough in hand, of wanting to leave it to agents and editors, of being too caught up in the fiction of being just a ‘writer.’ Today, being an author means being your own manager and, increasingly, a digital advocate. Hopefully, next year’s DBW will include more authors. I know it will include me. Besides, I’d love to download M.J. Rose’s “Author as App” idea!

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:07:18 +0000

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