The dead tree world is dying. Thank goodness

Ten months after sending the literary editor of a national newspaper a review copy of The Plan, today I get an email reply.

"Thanks for sending us a copy. But we're not going to review it."

Unknown to her, in the 297 days it took her to type that, The Plan has outsold most of the books she did review.  Indeed, it's been a top 30 best seller on Amazon UK and, apparently, their best selling print-on-demand book ever. 

I  suspect that most stuff literary editors do review is written up at the behest of dead tree publishers and their agents.

But that's the beauty of print-on-demand publishing, long tail internet distribution and blog driven sales. It smashes the power of that tight little knot of people who once ran publishing - and decided what made it.

The web'll break up those little knots of people who dominate the press lobby, television, the arts and politics, too.

Can't wait.

Posted on 8 July 2009 by Douglas Carswell

Comments

"The web'll break up those little knots of people who dominate the press lobby, television, the arts and politics, too. "

Unless the megalomaniacs on both sides of the pond find a way to restrict freedom of expression on the web.

Read this and wonder: <a href="http://faustiesblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/cover-ups-what-they-dont-want-you-to.html">cover-ups</a>

<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4655196.stm">And from the mouth of the BBC</a>.

Posted on 8 July 2009 14:29 by http://faustiesblog.blogspot.com

It'll be a sad day when hard books become redundant. Even at 18, the world moves too fast. CD's and books, not Ipods and PDF's for me thanks.

Posted on 8 July 2009 19:17 by Josh

Who said anything about iPods and PDFs, Josh?

The Plan is available in print or for download - the choice is yours.

Posted on 9 July 2009 13:08 by James

Well done Douglas, your achievement is an inspiration to all writers and would-be publishers, not to mention iconoclasts!

I'm going down the self-publishing route for a business book, I'm writing. People have told me about your success and that's why I've done it.

Posted on 9 July 2009 20:23 by Brian Jenner

I have just posted a comment on Daniel Hannan's blog, but might as well spread the good cheer. Congratulations on the success of "The Plan", Douglas. I hope it continues to do well. I have just sent my brother-in-law a copy for his birthday and plan to send the rest of my family copies later.

Posted on 10 July 2009 00:47 by Thomas Rossetti

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