The state of the publishing industry is fine. As more and more book buyers and readers are embracing technology,writers and publishers will have to follow suite and meet their customers where they are. These days, everyone knows that the book readers can be found reading their e-readers which can be a Kindle, a Nook, or an iPad to name just a few. The impact of technology on the publishing industry begins to come to fruition. From mom and pop bookshops to large conglomerates and indie publishing companies, everyone is paying attention and is trying hard to adjust and adapt to the changing times.
Indeed, the operative word is change. The publishing industry has known a lot of changes over the years. The changes brought the adoption of technology in the last few years have made it possible for writers to focus on developing their craft and telling great stories which can be published in various new formats and media. UrbanBookBlogger.Blogspot.com wants to chronicle the new ways that writers are using technology to connect with their readers. For sure, today's technology makes it possible to publish a book in a matter of minutes. Preparing the manuscript still requires a lot of time. It is still led by the writer's inspiration and creative skills. That is a luxury that the modern tech has allowed the writers to concentrate on developing his or her craft.
Julie Bosman of the New York Times summarizes the changes this way "Authors are shrugging off publishers to self-publish their work. Publishers are advancing into retail. Barnes & Noble is getting deeper into the gadget business, and Amazon is stepping into publishing.."
We must say that the days of disdain of the self-published authors are long gone. Technological advances in the areas of publishing platforms such as Lulu.com, Kindle, Nook eBook, Smashwords.com, and others show how readers can download their books right in the comfort of their homes.
The competition of prices that exists among the providers of e-readers is good for the consumers and buyers of the e-books. Amazon.com does not want to be left behind. In fact, it is on top with its assortment of Kindle e-readers. Barnes and Noble has just released its Nook Color. Well, Apple has its inconic iPad and iphone devices.
Many industry insiders are predicting that as digital is going global at a very fast rate, the publishing industry will benefit hugely. The devices that are common these days in the United States and many first-world countries or in the hands of those who can afford them have not reached the masses of say- India, Latin America, and Africa-. In one word, once these same devices are found in most places on the planet, there is going to be a huge demand for e-books that can delivered in local languages. Obviously, languages such as English, Spanish, French, Danish, German, Japanese and others will have a head start because of the early arrival and adoption of this cutting-edge technology. Must we say that it is going the times when being able to connect with readers in their native tongues will be very beneficial for the authors who speak more than one languages!
With self-publishing platforms such as Kindle, PubIt, and many blog platforms such as Blogger, blogspot, wordpress, etc, writers will be able to connect and nurture their clients' base, the readers.
The role of social media: The book professionals as well as the writer/author/publisher/self-published will have to incorporate the tools that are made readily available by the likes of Facebook and Twitter. Any self-respecting writers or agents or publishers must have these accounts. For those who have not been able to make sense of these new tools, they can attend conferences with titles such as these: "“Twitter Fundamentals for Book Professionals” and “How eBooks Will Save the Book: Putting Storytelling and Creation at the Center of Publishing..."
What is clear is that the stories or the content will reign as kings. The methods of delivery and making them accessible to the readers will occupy a special place in the new publishing industry.
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