Getting Down to Business
By Densie Webb | May 6, 2023 |
April was full of publishing news, a few eyebrow-raising bits about AI and more gut-wrenching news about book bans. But there was good news about indie bookstores and indie publishing. So, dig in!
AI
While the growing presence and influence of AI is concerning, there’s also the belief that it can’t replace human creativity. At least not yet.
INTRODUCING TOTAL CRAP, THE FIRST MAGAZINE WRITTEN ENTIRELY BY AI
A battle royal is brewing over copyright and AI
0% of My Skills Are Now Worth $0
Copyright Laws and AI Writing Bots: How Much of This is Legal?
How to Make Productive Use of ChatGPT
Size of LLMs won’t matter as much moving forward
Can AI Reduce Discrimination Against Non-native Writers?
Amazon
Like it or not, Amazon is the biggest game in town. Here’s what going on with them.
Amazon is Closing Book Depository at the End of April
Bookstores
Original bookstore promotion to keep book buyers coming to independent bookstores.
Independent Bookstore Day 2023 Thrived on Passport Promotions
Libraries and Book Banning
It seems that book banning hasn’t yet reached its peak, and libraries are a target.
Texas County to Consider Shutting Down Library After Book Ban Ruling
National Library Week to Include ‘Right to Read Day’
Missouri House Republicans want to defund libraries. Here’s why
PEN Report Shows State Legislation ‘Supercharging’ Book Bans
Publishing
The publishing industry is slow to change, but change is in the air.
Book Publishing’s Bilingual Boom
Survey Finds Self-Published Authors Making Gains
Trying to Find the New Normal in Book Publishing
Amazon Launches Your Company Bookshelf
Large Trade Publishers See Flat Sales for 2022
Bookseller survey finds debut authors struggle with lack of support
Harper Design Closed Among More Layoffs at HarperCollins
Google Becomes a Client of MVB’s Metabooks
Starting Salaries at Big Publishers Grow
The Emperor’s Old Clothes: Publishing’s Supply Chain Needs an Upgrade
‘Things are definitely opening up’: the rise of older female writers
Self-Publishing
Traditionally published authors, take note.
Self-published authors earn more than traditionally published counterparts, according to ALLi report
Social Media
The revolving door of changes taking place in Twitter are dizzying.
Twitter will let media publishers charge per article starting in May
Miscellaneous Newsworthy Links
Anatomy of a Fake Literary Agency Scam
Anything else you’d like to see in future columns? If you have a great free source of news about books, publishing, and the business of being an author, please share and I’ll check it out for next month.
Densie Webb has spent a long career as a freelance nonfiction writer and editor, specializing in health and nutrition and has published several books and tons of articles on the topic over the years. She is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Red Adept Publishing released her debut women’s fiction novel titled, “When Robins Appear” in 2020. It is available in ebook, audiobook, and paperback formats. Her second novel, best categorized as romantic/domestic suspense, “Breathing in Reverse” was published in 2023, also with Red Adept Publishing. She is currently working (but not fast enough) on novel #3. She grew up in Louisiana, spent 13 years in New York, and settled in Austin, TX, where it’s summer nine months of the year. She’s an avid walker (not of the dead variety, though she loves anything to do with zombies, vampires, or post-apocalyptic worlds), drinks way too much coffee, and has a small “devil dog” that keep her on her toes. And she is thrilled to be a part of the Writer Unboxed family!
Thank you, Densie, for the spread of article links. I follow Joanna Penn on her podcasts, and she is a great source on all things AI, too.
Thanks, Densie. We all need to be aware of book banning and fight it at every level we can. Support your local library. Support book stores. Buy books. Write book reviews and promote books on social media. And of course, write!