Podcasting your novel?

So I recently ran across an article at Time.com about self-publishing online, by way of podcasting. Interesting. Online publishing seems to be realizing itself in new ways every day, but is this a positive or negative move? I think maybe both. The possibility that the internet will become one huge slush pile of free, independently released digital/audio books is daunting and unpleasant, however, having the ability to take charge and get your work out there seems like a positive move for aspiring writers (especially now with the economy causing publishers to downsize and scale back their lists).

J.C. Hutchins, a writer who couldn’t get his book published, is interviewed in this article. His point is that his work meant something, and that he felt he should be able to share it despite his inability to get it published. Cue podiobooks.com, where serialized audiobooks are released for free. Can’t hurt, can it?  Technology is changing the industry, ready or not, so people who are ahead of the game are making their own opportunities.  I think it’s great–these methods of publishing are challenging not only the medium for reading, but how publishers choose books– this link brings another Time article in to support my point. The writer who put her own book out on the iuniverse, after failing with agents and publishers, received an offer a year later for the same book from Simon & Schuster.

I think a lot of the criticisms rise from the supposed rapidity of change occurring in the industry … I am certainly more appreciative of regular books over e-books, or audio books, but this intrigues me. The potential for increasing both the quantity and the variety of books available are staggering.

Advertisement