Hybrid publishing’s moment; book summary purge; radioactive mayonnaise: Newsletter 11 September 2024
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Hybrid publishing’s moment; book summary purge; radioactive mayonnaise: Newsletter 11 September 2024

Newsletter 61: As traditional publishing declines, hybrid is a viable alternative for serious authors. Plus, Amazon and B&N flush misleading book summaries, the Internet Archive faces another copyright setback, three people to follow and three books to read. It’s time to fully embrace hybrid publishing A hybrid publisher is a publisher you pay to publish…

The downside of change; manipulating LLMs; publishers blast book bans: Newsletter 4 September 2024
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The downside of change; manipulating LLMs; publishers blast book bans: Newsletter 4 September 2024

Newsletter 60. Why our culture fetishizes the new and what to do about. Plus, little free libraries take on book bans, the FTC bans fake reviews, why everyone should write a book proposal, three people to follow, and three books to read. Change is Seductive, But It Creates Cognitive Conflict I want you to think…

How to be brilliant; Claude from authors; Daily Wire succumbs: Newsletter 21 August 2024
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How to be brilliant; Claude from authors; Daily Wire succumbs: Newsletter 21 August 2024

Newsletter 58: The five ways brilliant people are different, why St. Martin’s press isn’t doomed, and Kamala Harris’ — er Harris’s — er, hmm. Plus three books to read and three people to follow. Five-fold brilliance In our work, we sometimes encounter individuals who inspire us. They seem to have such creativity and clarity about…

Beyond workplace heroics; Negative AI branding; conservative manifesto postponement: Newsletter 14 August 2024
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Beyond workplace heroics; Negative AI branding; conservative manifesto postponement: Newsletter 14 August 2024

Newsletter 57: Is rewarding heroics making your workplace better? Plus, Project 2025 book delayed, AI’s marketing value is less than zero, Scottish WorldCon triumph, three people to follow and three books to read. Every heroic workplace act is a sign of failure I worked in companies for 33 years. I was often the hero, and…

Google busted; copyright office commentary; X sues advertisers: Newsletter 7 August 2024
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Google busted; copyright office commentary; X sues advertisers: Newsletter 7 August 2024

Newsletter 56: Why Google got caught and it won’t matter; public domain photo search engine; X whines about boycott. Plus three people to follow and three books to read. Did Google cheat? What do you think. Did Google violate antitrust law by unlawfully using its monopoly to exert leverage in other markets? Of course it…

Hourly perversion; Hillbilly redux; Ingram hypocrisy: Newsletter 31 July 2024
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Hourly perversion; Hillbilly redux; Ingram hypocrisy: Newsletter 31 July 2024

Newsletter 55: Why paying people by the hour is the most pervasive and perverse trend in business. Plus the Hugos reject automated entries, JD Vance gets rich off his VP nod, Ingram bans a book about AI in publishing, three people to follow and three books to read. Nobody smart or skilled should work by…

Truth and research; biased bestsellers; cocaine sharks: Newsletter 24 July 2024
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Truth and research; biased bestsellers; cocaine sharks: Newsletter 24 July 2024

Newsletter 54: Honesty is impossible but essential, why the Times bestseller list favors liberals, free books for 2 million kids, plus three people to follow, three books to read, and a sneak preview of our author ROI research. On telling the truth We all are certain we are honest people. We all hold truth as…

Creatives ascendant; AI-publisher roundup; Big 5 publisher challenge: Newsletter 17 July 2024

Creatives ascendant; AI-publisher roundup; Big 5 publisher challenge: Newsletter 17 July 2024

Newsletter 53. Why AI will boost, not threaten, true creative workers; Jane Friedman summarizes AI’s impact on publishers; Audible shares royalties. Plus three people to follow, three books to read, and how to get 77 Kindle books for less than a dollar each. The future belongs to creative workers There are so many ways to…

Gen Z graduates impress; Barnes & Noble rebounds; Authors Against Book Bans: Newsletter 3 July 2024
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Gen Z graduates impress; Barnes & Noble rebounds; Authors Against Book Bans: Newsletter 3 July 2024

Newsletter 51. A tribute to the grueling journey of this year’s graduation class. Plus, ableist ChatGPT, foot traffic to bookstores improves, plus three people to follow and three books to read. Spare a thought for the college Class of 2024 About 4 million people will complete a college degree this year. This is a class…