We are all well aware that the pandemic has affected all sectors and everyone’s lives in unprecedented ways. Despite the fact that cuddling up with a good book is a quarantine go-to for many, the publishing industry as a whole has had to scramble to adapt to changes brought about because of the pandemic. Here are some of the major ways that the publishing industry has grappled with these changes, as well as some questions about our uncertain future as we struggle to return to normalcy.
Indie Publishing
The Magic of Portland’s Independent Publishing Resource Center
By Erica Wright
For authors and artists who don’t have access to publishing technology or spaces to create, print, and publish their work, there are distinct barriers to doing what they love. However, there is an incredible nonprofit organization right here in Portland that seeks to break down these barriers and make publishing affordable and accessible to all.
The Library Writers Project and Ooligan Press: Meet-Cute!
By Nif Lindsay
So what’s the big deal about bringing an ebook to print? Ooligan Press has been working on learning the answer to that through its partnership with Multnomah County Library (MCL). Every year, MCL’s Library Writers Project (LWP) is open to local Oregon authors for submission of their self-published works, and the top entries are chosen by librarians and acquired for the MCL collection as ebooks.
Divide and Conquer: Management at Ooligan Press
By Bayley McComb @tweetsthings
The entirely student-run Ooligan Press is divided into several tiers of management, including team members, project managers, and department leads, all of whom are overseen by Portland State University faculty.
Goodreads Says Goodbye to Free Giveaways
By Madison Schultz
Goodreads, the Amazon-owned social media site for bibliophiles, introduced a major overhaul to its giveaway system in early January. Previously, giveaways were free to host, making them a popular and cost-effective marketing tool for indie authors and publishers. Readers eager to win free books would browse the giveaways page and enter any contests that caught their eye, resulting in lots of exposure for books that might not otherwise get seen. The only cost to the host of the giveaway was that of the book (or books) and shipping.
Short Stories and Small Presses
By Kristin Choruby
Short stories have long been considered something of a necessary evil in the world of publishing. It is a truism that “short stories don’t sell,” and the major publishing houses are usually reluctant to take on any anthology that doesn’t feature at least one superstar author. A small-scale press, on the other hand, can be […]