Industry News
I heard Jane Friedman speak at last years Pennwriters Conference. She shared some great ideas about social media and Twitter in particular. Late in December, she made a short list of 5 Industry Issues for Authors in 2016. It's very interesting and will only take a few minutes to click over there and read. I also recommend signing up for her newsletter.
I saw another little statistic in a recent Writer's Digest about the decline of traditional newspapers. So many of us get our news online, there's no reason to wait for or pay for a print paper. Actual full-time journalists jobs have been nearly halved in the last twenty years. Our local paper used to be published seven days a week with a big, thick Sunday edition with all the ads and coupons. They cut back to two days per week and Sunday a few years ago. All the news in the paper is old if you bother to turn your computer or TV on the day or hour before you see the paper. The first writing conference I went to, there were a number of journalists attending. I haven't met any since. It really is a dying career though someone is writing those news items I read online.
I mentioned I did receive a few book gift cards for Christmas, but the coolest gifts I received were those little things my children picked out because they know what kinds of things I like. My daughter gave me the Captain Hook magnet and the dagger-shaped thumb drive for my birthday. My son and his girlfriend gave me The Rocketeer comic book and The Phantom Funko Pop. The little magnet is a prize from my local writers group for finishing the 50/50 challenge last fall. Our president designs them. Fun times. And all these goodies are surrounding my desk.
Make sure you stop by IWSG today and learn something about submitting to anthologies. If you write short stories, you probably want to read this.
Looking back on 2016, more than a few people I know didn't have a great year with many disappointments along the way. This is for them.
"If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative." Woody Allen
Did any of the industry news surprise you? Did you have anything on your desk cooler than my goodies? Do you submit to anthologies? Do you ever read a newspaper made from dead trees?
20 comments:
Here's to a better 2016 for all of us.
There is much to be said about things being half full versus half empty. Sometimes we all get so focused on what went wrong and not what went right.
You did get some good gifts.
Like you, I appreciate seeing industry news links on blogs. In fact, blogging is one way I keep up with what's happening with writing and publishing in a personal way.
Those are some real geeky gifts!
Reporters and journalists are still needed online, but you're right, who needs a print newspaper anymore?
Our small town newspaper has never been good anyway. Would you believe you have to have a subscription to view it online? I've never encountered another paper that did that.
I haven't found a paper I like in a while, but I used to read my small town paper religiously before I moved. I loved that little paper. They were a six day a week paper for years, then went down to five days a week.
And I do have a wild crush on Captain Hook—love the magnet!
You got some good loot this year. :)
:sigh: I really miss newspapers. I loved reading them cover to cover early in the morning while everyone else was asleep. I still read early in the morning, but I miss all the local tidbits that were always tucked away in the paper version. It just got too expensive.
My husband reads the small local/community papers, and he still likes to pick up the Sunday one.
Love that Allen quote! It's so very true.
Such cute gifts you got :) I like it too because the givers of the gifts knew you well on what you would enjoy getting :)
When we moved here to Prescott, I got the local paper for a few months; I wanted to get a feel of the town and find out events. I found the paper was mostly ads and I could find out all I wanted about events by joining a Facebook site for city events here, so after 2 months I canceled my subscription. I think eventually newspapers will be obsolete like so many other things because of technology.
betty
Print papers are toast, they just aren't needed. But someone still has to write things online indeed.
I thought newspapers were declining years ago. I'm surprised they lasted another decade.
I want that Captain Hook magnet! ;)
I thought newspapers were declining years ago. I'm surprised they lasted another decade.
I want that Captain Hook magnet! ;)
Hi Susan - my brother still reads the local papers ... I'm afraid I don't - but should. I much to prefer to read print .. but appreciate the immediate and many varied inputs I get via Feedly ..
Cheers Hilary
I love it when people who love and know you pick out gifts for you. That is so special.
Print media is definitely having a hard time keeping up. I guess the world is going digital. And look at those cute gifts. I wish I had that magnet! :)
I only ever read newspapers at my parents' house. In a way it's sad how it's going because I trained as a journalist and got to work at my local paper (only for three months though). Seems there's plenty of online journalism going on though. That's evolution for you; a lot of town criers lost their jobs when newspapers started being printed!
A reader told me recently that ebook sales were down for 2015. Do you think that's true? I find it hard to believe.
Those gifts from your grandkids are awesome! Can't wait until I get a desk and have room to display some things! :)
I still love reading my paper made from dead trees. It's part of my morning ritual (with coffee), and I'll be very sorry if our paper stops publishing seven days a week.
Informative post Susan. Jane Friedman's article was informative too, if a little depressing. I certainly read most of my e-books on my Kindle app on my iPhone, even though i own a Kindle and an iPad. But I'll never lose my love of print books. No digital device replaces the sight or feel of a paper book. IMHO. :-)
Oh and forgot to say...one of my life's pleasures is to go to my coffee shop and spread out the papers. Ah, that crackle and flip. I'm hanging on because I do see the inevitable coming...
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