Lake Atitlan, Panajachel, Guatemala

Friday, September 30, 2011

The Future is Bright for Writers


Look to Amazon if you want to know the future for books and writers. See the new Kindles they're coming out with in time for Christmas. See how their ad shows it in a teen-age girl's back pocket. See how they make it affordable as stocking gifts for your kids. See how they realize the Kindle has a whole new market of readers to find-- children and teenagers.

As e-readers get cheaper and more diverse, people will have several. I have a Kindle, but I'd like an iPad too. Why not a Nook? And kids will have them.

More people than ever will be looking for books to read on their new readers. So, writers, get busy writing their books! 

I've been kicking myself to write more. Soon I'll go from one book to three that are available as ebooks. I have another novel in the works that I hope can be ready for March release. I think I  can get another one done and into editing for next October release.

My goal is to have five books with my name on them available by next Christmas. Right now I have one. Pathetic, I know, but I have goals.

It's time to buckle down and get writing. We determine our own futures. If we don't write the books, then life goes on without our names on the titles.
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32 comments:

  1. JessSeptember 30, 2011 at 5:15 AM

    Love your enthusiasm and goals! You can do it (and be sure to tell us about your new titles as they come out!). Sounds like I'll be getting an e-reader for my oldest stepdaughter this Christmas~ she's reading-obsessed, and with the prices dropping, I supposed it's time to get her one :)

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  2. UnknownSeptember 30, 2011 at 5:22 AM

    Wow, five. Really? I'm aiming at two a year. I can't do five. Not with editing and marketing and all that. I think I would be dead.

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  3. Linda G.September 30, 2011 at 5:25 AM

    Busy - and exciting - times ahead!

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  4. Karen Jones GowenSeptember 30, 2011 at 5:39 AM

    Let me clarify, Clarissa, I don't mean I'm going to have 5 new books written and ready to go, I wouldn't be able to do that either. WiDo Publishing will make Farm Girl available in e-format (it's only been print), House of Diamonds is done & already in the line up for release, my new wip should be ready by spring (fingers crossed), and that leaves me with one and only one that I have to write from scratch and all that. Hoping I can do it for NaNoWriMo? Then revise and have it in editing & ready for release late next year?

    So that's how the 5 count adds up! We'll see if it works out that way.

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  5. Anne GallagherSeptember 30, 2011 at 6:09 AM

    I hear you loud and clear. I've got two coming out very very soon (like within two weeks hopefully sooner) and then I've got another ready to format to upload, and three that are half-written.

    I saw those new Kindles and I KNOW what's coming. So I'm with you there. Let's keep writing.

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  6. Carolyn VSeptember 30, 2011 at 7:31 AM

    Five! Wow, that is great! Plus the whole Kindle thing is awesome. ;)

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  7. Andrea Franco CookSeptember 30, 2011 at 7:44 AM

    Five books! How do you churn them out like that, Karen? I've been working on my novel for two years and counting now, and still am no where near finished with it. Please, please, tell me your secret.(: I want to be done.

    Also, thanks for the heads up about the electronic reading devices. I will have to chek em out. As always, great post.

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  8. BastSeptember 30, 2011 at 7:52 AM

    I have a Kindle now, but really want one of the new ones. And you're right about how kids and teenagers are being targeted. I've actually helped with that. Haha! I took my Kindle into work and one of my middle school students saw it and begged her dad to buy her one. She came in about two weeks later with it and I couldn't get her to put it away and do her classwork.

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  9. Rosalind AdamSeptember 30, 2011 at 8:49 AM

    You're so right to have a target. Good for you and I wish you luck in achieving it. I'd like to give myself a similar target but need a kick up the proverbial right now.

    I love my Kindle, and don't you think that Publishing Houses had better watch out? It's far too easy to bypass them these days.

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  10. Karen Jones GowenSeptember 30, 2011 at 9:08 AM

    Rosalind, I'm not of the mindset that publishers and agents are in trouble, since most of them reject so many mss the way it is. These rejected ones may keep trying for other agents and publishers, or they may decide to self-publish.

    Either way, I don't see that taking money out of the publishers pockets as there's always plenty of writers submitting manuscripts.

    What's hurt the publishers' bottom lines more than self-publishing trends is the closing of bookstores, as many of them depended on huge bookstore orders from the chain stores.

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  11. Matthew MacNishSeptember 30, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    It is an exciting time to be a writer!

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  12. Old KittySeptember 30, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    Christmas?!?!?!?! NOooooooo! Not yet! LOL!

    But seriously!!! Good luck and YAY for your goals KarenG!!

    Take care
    x

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  13. Donna K. WeaverSeptember 30, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    I've got a Nook but I want an iPad. I totally get it! My boss recently mentioned how his son got him to use his iPad for two weeks (the son was hoping his dad would buy it from him). My boss is now hooked; he bought it.

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  14. PatsySeptember 30, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    I don't really consider myself a fan of Kindles and the like - but if they get more people reading, then they must be a good thing.

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  15. Luanne G. SmithSeptember 30, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    I don't have a reader yet. I'm thinking of stealing my father's. I know he doesn't really use it. He only bought it because it was a new gadget and he's a gadget guy. *Cue Mission Impossible music*

    What? I'd give it back if he asked, though it would be loaded with lots of my friends novels, hehe.

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  16. Simon KewinSeptember 30, 2011 at 11:43 AM

    I agree with all that. Hey, do you want to come write my blog for me? I figure you'd do a much better job than me!

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  17. Amy SaiaSeptember 30, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    That's wonderful. I might try NaNo this year. THr thought makes me nervous, but it could be a lot of fun.

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  18. Alex J. CavanaughSeptember 30, 2011 at 12:16 PM

    I'm hoping to one day have three. Really!
    And you do want an iPad - trust me.

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  19. Rob-bearSeptember 30, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    You write books with the speed that some of us write newspaper columns. (Well, not exactly, but close.)
    Blessings and Bear hugs as your try to accomplish these serious goals.

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  20. Donna ShieldsSeptember 30, 2011 at 5:45 PM

    That doesn't sound so unrealistic. I have two coming out-one in Nov and one in Dec. I have another at the halfway mark and another started. Plus I have one that would be starting from just an idea. So another three, like you, by next Christmas 2012? Not too bad.

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  21. Michael Di GesuSeptember 30, 2011 at 9:22 PM

    You know Karen, you really do have an EXCELLENT point. With all these new affordable e-readers we do need to get busy and get our books out there.

    Thanks. I feel another book coming on... LOL.

    Have a great weekend.

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  22. Arlee BirdSeptember 30, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    I like to be optimistic, but realistic at the same time. I think its easier than ever now to get ones writing published, but selling it will still be a challenge, especially with all of the writing competition. Marketing innovation will be the key.


    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  23. Denise Covey October 1, 2011 at 4:26 AM

    So far those new Kindles are only available in the US so I hope that changes soon.

    At least you have one available, I have none, but am working on a collection of short stories which I hope to format/upload soon.

    Just reading today that youngsters like their stories in present tense. Just thought i'd mention it, someone might be interested!

    Go write!

    Denise

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  24. Karen Jones GowenOctober 1, 2011 at 7:33 AM

    Arlee, Now that you mention it, I have Jim Bronyaur guest posting on this very topic next week.

    I like this: "Marketing innovation will be the key" Well said!

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  25. Karen Jones GowenOctober 1, 2011 at 7:36 AM

    Denise, Your comment went to my spam folder! (I just now found it.)I suppose because it said "these new Kindles are only available" LOL.

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  26. AnonymousOctober 1, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    Good luck with your goals! I have one out and a second about ready to go. A third will soon follow. Its a great time to be a writer!

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  27. Golden EagleOctober 1, 2011 at 11:23 AM

    Good luck reaching your goals! :)

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  28. TaleiOctober 1, 2011 at 2:39 PM

    Thank you for the inspiration, Karen! I love it. Good luck with your 5 titles too! I hope to finish and query one before end of this year. Next year, I hope to have at least finished two more manuscripts!

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  29. Susan Kaye QuinnOctober 2, 2011 at 8:58 PM

    Those are some seriously ambitious goals! Go YOU! (And I'm right there behind you, scribbling like mad. LOL)

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  30. AnonymousOctober 3, 2011 at 8:28 AM

    That's why I'm writing a paranormal YA, it will be available on Kindle on Halloween :)

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  31. Theresa MilsteinOctober 6, 2011 at 2:50 AM

    Good luck with your goal. I'd love to see you with five book out in the world by then.

    As for me, I may actually get a KIndle. I was so anti-Kindle! But now that I'm back in school, I realize that many of the papers for class are on-line. It's such a pain to print and carry all the papers around, not to mention the expense. So (gasp) I'll read them on a Kindle, which won't bug my eyes like a computer screen. And I can highlight.

    Ah, technology.

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  32. Mirka BreenOctober 7, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    Your post is spot-on, Karen. As a kid-lit writer, I know that a day will come when a version of an E-reader will sell for $9.99, and the world of picture books will change forever also.
    But until they are in that price range, most parents will not put them in toddler/preschoolers’ hands. Not without supervision.
    Print books are here to stay, at least for a while. But as you noted, the future is closer than we think~~~

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