News for Writers – January 21

Even after the close of the Consumer Electronics Show, news continues to pour out about new developments for readers and writers.  Here’s a sampling from this week.

AMAZON UPS AUTHOR COMMISSION TO 70 PERCENT FOR KINDLE TITLES

Starting June 30, Kindle authors and publishers can choose a payment option that will yield roughly double the current royalty rate.  There are a few strings attached.

  • The book must cost between $2.99 – $9.99.
  • It must be priced at least 20 percent less than its printed version.
  • The book must be made available in all areas in which author-publisher hold rights.
  • The book must allow use of Kindle’s Text-to-Speech capability
  • The option will only be available, for now at least, for titles sold in the US.

For a fuller explanation of the implications of this announcement, read the Goodbye Gutenberg blog post on Slate’s The Big Money website.

AMAZON KINDLE PUBLISHING PLATFORM NOW AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE

It’s relatively easy to publish one’s work for the Kindle via the Kindle Text Platform.  Amazon makes available at the platform website a thorough, step-by-step introduction to how one must prepare one’s electronic manuscript for uploading.  Normally within a few days, the book will appear in the Kindle Store.

Amazon is now going international with this platform, following its announcement a few days ago of worldwide availability of the Kindle DX reader.

In a related development, PC Magazine announced this morning that Amazon is opening up the Kindle to independent software developers, in a move to encourage increased capabilities for the e-reader.  Already, PC Magazine reports, developers are working on an interactive Zagat Guide and on a group of word games and puzzles.  While the Kindle does not offer the programming flexibility of Apple’s iPhone, one can still expect some surprising new features for the Kindle to emerge.

HARPER-COLLINS IN DISCUSSION WITH APPLE

Many people, me included, are breathlessly waiting for Apple to unveil its new product next week on the 26th.  It’s widely assumed that Steve Jobs will announce an Apple Tablet computer that will serve as both portable computer and e-book reader.  Rumors have surfaced this week that Harper-Collins will be making much of its catalog available for this new e-reader, adding to the anticipation of next week’s event.

This is a significant development.  Harper-Collins is one of the most savvy publishers out there regarding adoption of new online capabilities for promotion of its leading authors.  I hope to do a thorough post about what Harper-Collins is doing late this month — it’s a helpful model for all serious writers to consider.

REFLECTIONS ON LARGER E-BOOK READERS

Personally, I’m waiting for a leading larger-screen e-book reader to emerge.  The 6-inch screens of the original Kindle and Sony E-Reader just don’t do it for me.  I was excited to see announcements at the recent CES about soon-forthcoming larger readers — and we still have the new Apple Tablet soon to be unveiled.  But which of these new readers will I eventually select for purchase later this year?  Laptop Magazine’s website gives some very useful perspectives in an overview review about what features these readers need in order to succeed, with specific reference to the newly announced readers.  I’ll be looking forward to the magazine’s detailed reviews, once their reviewer has time to play with these new devices.

A COUPLE OF FREEBIES FROM WATERSTONE’S

Waterstone’s is a huge British bookseller chain.  It has come up with an interesting promotional gimmick to promote Ian McEwan’s forth-coming novel Solar.  Readers who hold a Waterstone’s card can download for free a previously published McEwan short story, available in e-book format in three monthly installments leading up to Solar’s release.  This is an idea that is becoming common among writers who are active on the internet:  offering freebies to draw in an audeince, with the hope of building a solid readership.

Waterstone’s also offers at its website an insightful, yet brief intoduction on how to get published.  It’s worth a read.

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