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Monday, August 23, 2010

Books Seth Godin Gives Up on Traditional Publishing

Posted by Paul Constant on Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 4:20 PM

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Mediabistro has an interview with the wildly overhyped marketing "guru" where he announces that he's through with publishing:

"I've decided not to publish any more books in the traditional way. 12 for 12 and I'm done. I like the people, but I can't abide the long wait, the filters, the big push at launch, the nudging to get people to go to a store they don't usually visit to buy something they don't usually buy, to get them to pay for an idea in a form that's hard to spread ... I really don't think the process is worth the effort that it now takes to make it work. I can reach 10 or 50 times as many people electronically. No, it's not 'better', but it's different. So while I'm not sure what format my writing will take, I'm not planning on it being the 1907 version of hardcover publishing any longer."

I think Seth Godin is a mediocre mind, but he's probably right about this: For his kind of huge audience—international, heavily plugged-in, concerned with the newest thing—publishing doesn't work. There are millions of ways he can push his marketing slop to eager fans, and he can probably make more money at it some other way. A lot of bloggers will make a lot of sky-is-falling hay about this, but only a very select few authors—authors who have been built up to mega-celebrity status by the publishing industry, by the way—can completely circumvent the publishing machine like this.

Comments (6) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

So, you're saying that only someone riding a horse and buggy, can see how short lived it is as transportation...and only he has the bragging rights to say so?

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on August 23, 2010 at 6:07 PM

why hate and get ad hominem without listing any reasons he's lame or whatever. To each their own, but I think his message about tribes is sound. If he's a wanker, at least say why.

Posted by nickster on August 23, 2010 at 6:25 PM

@2 "ad hominem"

Ad hominem is not insults.

Posted by using pretty words you don't understand on August 23, 2010 at 10:31 PM

@unreg'd - from Wikipedia: Ad hominem abusive: usually involves insulting or belittling one's opponent in order to invalidate his or her argument.

you are weak

Posted by nickster on August 24, 2010 at 12:01 AM

so let me get this right Paul.

You bitch and cry about his assertation that the new way is better.

And furthermore, you almost gloat that the only way to play the game is to agree to the status quo, and don't fight the established way of getting published. In effect you are fighting to keep new technology away, as you yourself detest the idea of moving away from traditional books, bookstores, etc etc. You really are a self serving asshole.

Posted by Waaaaahhhhhh my name is Paul Constant Crybaby on August 24, 2010 at 6:53 AM

Seth Godin is kind of interesting - but he's not a good writer of books. Have any of you ever tried to read his books? They are stretched out, repetitive retreads of his online material. I'd be interested in what his book sales look like over the years because that's got to be part of his motivation.

Also, he's kind of a tool.

Posted by Soupytwist