E-publishing carries pros and cons for authors

In the February 8 issue of “The Weekly Standard,” author James Gardner pointed out the up side of electronic publishing: access to the sum total of written knowledge available instantly no matter where you are (as long as you have an internet connection).

In addition to all the books he pointed out that are available for free (if published prior to 1923 when modern copyright law was enacted), a wide variety of new publications are available as e-books or pdf versions for a much lower price than hardcover or softcover editions.

To a writer, this may seem like bad news. How can we make a living in an already competitive publishing market when prices for e-books are dropping? Where will we find work? Will our job disappear?

To these concerns, I say a world of opportunities have opened for writers, editors, and even publishers. We can make a living with lower prices because the volume of sales for e-books on the internet is potentially exponential. Rather than a small market of those who browse bookstores or Amazon, you have the opportunity to reach the entire internet public – for decades.

We will find work because there will always be a market for current fiction and non-fiction. Those who read fiction want new stories and new characters – especially if it’s an interesting series. Non-fiction continues to be a growing market, and everyone is interested in learning something new about an area of special interest to them, such as history, biography, or self-help.

For publishers, the world of e-books solves a problem that has been around since Gutenberg printed the first Bible: the budget has only so much room for launching new books every year. However, in a world of online publishing, the budget can be stretched because of savings on paper, ink, and shipping (just to name a few expenses).

Most importantly, to me, is that research is vital for writers, especially in the area of non-fiction. Imagine the amount of research you can conduct when the world’s great libraries and books are open to you at the touch of a button. It is like finding a way to walk the universe.

Links to like:

• Project Gutenberg
• Online Libraries
• Bibliothica Alexandrina (the reincarnated Library of Alexandria)
• iPhone App: Free Books (small fee for app but books are free to download to phone or computer)

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Cecilia Sepp is an association management consultant and writer based in Silver Spring, MD. She is currently in her third year on the AIW Board of Directors as Immediate Past President and chair of the Member Engagement Committee. She blogs at Association Puzzle.

Photo Credit: "Clix" on SXC.hu

With the onset of social media, many people the last few years have been declaring the death of the association. Their argument is basically “Why pay when you can get the same thing online for free?”

I am not one of these people, and I never will be, because you cannot get the “same thing” online for free as you get when you become a dues-paying member of an organization.

We join associations because we want to meet people, learn from them, share what we know, and hopefully come out of the experience better. This is why networking will always remain one of the top three reasons people join associations.

While online community building (aka social media) offers us ways to communicate and build ties at any time from anywhere with a wireless network, it is only part of the relationship.

The voices over the phone, or the handshake at an event, are the things that seal the deal. Dialogue and exchange of ideas are dynamic activities that cannot maintain momentum or energy traveling over networks.

Yes, there will be those who disagree, usually with a snarky tone of voice: “You’re wrong! Online chat rooms are places where people build relationships and constantly share ideas.” Well, I say you are wrong.

Anonymous exchanges with bad spelling and self-serving messages do not create community. Tone of voice and body language are still important cues for delivering information and messages. You will not get these online no matter how many of these –  : ) – you put in your emails.

This is why the human touch will always be a requirement for community. Whether you come to a monthly coffee klatch, or attend a Pubspeak, or participate in a teleconference, that human energy is what breaks through the loneliness of the writing life and helps you remember that you are not alone.

That is why you join.

Note: AIW has lowered the annual dues in response to needs of its members. Until December 31, 2009, annual dues are only $100.00–only $8.33 per month! You can pay for multiple years at this rate, but you must act before the end of the year.

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Cecilia Sepp is an association management consultant and writer based in Silver Spring, MD. She is currently in her third year on the AIW Board of Directors as Immediate Past President and chair of the Member Engagement Committee. She blogs at Association Puzzle.