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IMHO: No Such Thing as a Happy Medium

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Medium was never a money-making platform for most writers, and with the recent departure of its founder, its potential has hit rock bottom.
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A Legal Battle Sheds (Some) Light on Libraries & Digital Lending

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The suit against the Internet Archive’s CDL policy raises important questions on how library lending affects publishers and authors.
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Book sales update: July 20, 2022

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As of July 2, print book sales have fallen 7 percent versus last year in the US market, according to NPD Books.
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Lightning Source sets minimum discount for small publishers

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Ingram is mandating that Lightning Source customers use a wholesale discount of at least 30 percent on new and old titles alike.
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Ingram launches book wholesaling operations in UK

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Ingram already offers print-on-demand and distribution services in the UK; starting in September, they will expand to offer book wholesaling, as they do in the US market.
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Simon & Schuster’s publisher steps down after two years

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When Dana Canedy was hired by Simon & Schuster in 2020, it was the first time a Black woman had been put in charge of a major publishing imprint.
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The DOJ’s suit to block a Big Five publishing merger starts on August 1

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In November 2021, the US Department of Justice moved to block, on antitrust grounds, the acquisition of Simon & Schuster by Penguin Random House.
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Wattpad Stars program comes to an end

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Given the recent launch of the Wattpad Creators program, Wattpad has alerted Wattpad Stars that their program is phasing out by the end of this year.
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A reality TV show for authors: America’s Next Great Author

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Writers can sign up for a casting call for a chance to pitch their book idea to a panel of experts.
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The Secret Side Careers of Successful Authors

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Many successful authors maintain side writing careers, in less glamorous forms such as grant writing, copywriting, and ghostwriting.
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The Building Blocks of Scene

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“Making a scene” in public often happens spontaneously, but creating emotionally compelling scenes on paper requires considerable planning.
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3 Things I’ve Learned About Storytelling (and Life) from Performing Narrative Nonfiction

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One author’s tips for performing your stories in front of a live audience.
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Closing Image: July 6, 2022

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At The Bookseller Marketing and Publicity conference, Hazel Kenyon of Nielsen Book Research in the UK presented the latest stats on the UK book market.
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Links of Interest: July 6, 2022

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The latest in the creator economy, Amazon, culture & politics and more.
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B&N and TikTok partner on summer reading promotion

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The #BookTok challenge encourages TikTok users to engage in behavior they are already engaging in: reading books and sharing their reactions.
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PageBreak Conference takes place this October

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Positioned as a next-generation publishing event, PageBreak is an opportunity for the industry to gather and examine what’s next.
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New children’s imprint: Allida Books

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HarperCollins Children’s and Clarion Books have launched Allida Books, named for a “Korean word that means to inform, announce, or make known.”
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Amazon Trend Report: Vigilante Justice

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This subgenre has high sales but low title growth, making it attractive for authors wanting to break in.
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IMHO: How Much Does Platform Matter?

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I analyze 2022 memoir deals to determine the role of platform in the author’s success.
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How BookTok Is Affecting Traditional Publishers

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Book acquisition may start to trend toward books that inspire strong emotions in readers—and therefore more organic content on TikTok.
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Book sales update: July 6, 2022

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It’s a good time to be writing comics and graphic novels. Sales in the category increased 62 percent in 2021 in the US and Canada.
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Wattpad launches a new paid program for creators

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The Wattpad Creators Program is meant to serve the most engaged writers on the platform by offering them cash stipends and marketing and editorial support.
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Ingram’s Lightning Source moves away from phone support

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IngramSpark eliminated phone-based customer service during the heart of the pandemic, to the consternation of many.
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Amazon’s ebook return policy garners wider media attention

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Self-publishing authors, among others, have long complained that Amazon’s ebook return policy is far too permissive.
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7 Questions to Design a Better Arc of Change for Your Protagonist

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Your novel’s external and internal parts must be intricately woven together to create a work that truly resonates with readers.