BIG NEWS: Publishers Weekly and self-pub!

[artzicarol]

Hi Fellow Writers,
Big News on the publishing scene: Publisher's Weekly has made a new announcement regarding those who have gone the self-publication route. PW has now decided to include self-pubbed/POD books:

"We have decided to embrace the self-publishing phenomenon in a similar spirit."
http://tinyurl.com/38x9gao

Now, self-pubbers can be listed in PW for a $149 processing fee, which includes a 6-month subscription to the digital edition of PW. In addition, "at least 25" will be selected for a published review. (haha, 25 out of HOW MANY? talk about the lottery; I wonder what their criteria will be) They will be taking their first wave of submissions from Sept. 1 to the end of October. Good luck, if ya got one! They also say, "...we'll likely invite a few agent friends and distributors to have a look at what we've chosen."

I have a POD that just came out (rah! come see my book giveaway on my blog!--deadline is Sept. 7) so I am seriously contemplating forking out that $149 and being considered official by PW. Altho maybe that's just a way for PW to rake in some extra $$$. (Do I sound cynical? no! cant be!)

See any pros or cons here, anyone? Would it be worth it? If you have a SP book, are you motivated to do it?
Best,
Carol Riggs

[steve]

Konrath says it's bs, and I agree . Here's his post.

[polymath]

Seems to me mostly commerce driven. If Publishers Weekly will also involve competent reviewers, it might be a boon. But they're not a content review organization. On the other hand, it's another potential buzz generator joining in in a world of buzz generators vying for a fixed attention span.

[Nathan Bransford]

Was just about to link to Konrath's post on it, thanks Steve.

[artzicarol]

Wow, thanks guys. My writerly curiosity was tweaked/piqued, but I guess I should always listen to my cynical side. ;)

Yeah, ugh, $149! If PW was really serious and concerned, they wouldn't charge so much....

Some key, interesting points made by commenters on Konrath's article:
1. If your book is quality, readers can demand loud enough to get it into the PW on its own merits.
2. You could find reviewers online for cheaper.
3. You can alternately pay IndieReader and get a chance to get reviewed, promoted, etc--and if it's not accepted, you apparently get all but $25 back.

All new stuff to me. But interesting, very interesting...
(gosh, first Bowker's and their questionable manuscript submissions site, and now Publisher's Weekly. What are these big companies DOing?)
Carol

[artzicarol]

UPDATE: Commenters on the PW site have squawked about the very same things the Konrath writer and commenters mentioned. In response, later today PW is supposed to have a FAQ article come out to address some of the protests/issues. This oughtta be interesting...!