From Blog to Print Publisher
Stories about blogs being turned into books is becoming fairly common nowadays as blogs become more and more accepted in the mainstream media. However, in what must be a first of its kind, a literary blog has turned into a publishing house!
Against market trends, Dzanc Books is a small publisher poised to succeed, hiring staff and expanding quickly. And that may be because it sprouted from a blog rather than a traditional printing press, and it is certainly web-savvy.
That’s right, a recent article from Wired written about the blog-turned-publisher says that Dzanc Books only publishes print books and has no ebooks in the pipeline (nor does it sound like they plan to get into the ebook business).
While it seems like an incredible leap, if one steps back and really thinks about it, going from blog to publisher isn’t that far of a jump. After all, isn’t blogging just a simplified form of self-publishing? This once again shows that the internet is opening up doors in the literary world that we would only dream about a decade ago.
While I applaud Dzanc Books, I’m not without criticism. I think they are making a big mistake by shunning ebooks:
Dzanc has no aims to overturn print media, though. It publishes old-fashioned paper-and-ink volumes, because "the book is going to be around forever," says Gillis. Dzanc hopes its titles receive kudos in the best old-media venues, such as reviews in The New York Times and display space in Borders.
Just because the print book might be around forever, doesn’t mean it’ll be popular. Don’t get me wrong, I love print books, but I can envision a day when everything is digital. Furthermore, Dzanc is taking a huge gamble by hoping to "receive kudos in the best old-media venues" like newspapers. Last I heard, newspapers, even large ones like the New York Times, were struggling to compete and stay profitable amid the rise and popularity of the newer business model that the internet has ushered in.
It’s also strange that a small press would care so much about getting display space at Borders. Most small presses shun large box chain stores and either peddle their wares online or find independent venues to stock and promote. Unless any of their books become bestsellers, it’s doubtful that Borders would even give them the time of the day.
Yes, I’m probably overly harsh on this new start-up, and I really want to give them the benefit of the doubt. But if any business wants to succeed, they must think into the future and try to predict where the market will be at down the road. Personally, I just don’t think print newspapers and places like Borders are going to have a mass influence in a decade or two like they do today.
Nevertheless, I hope they succeed. They do have one thing right, however, that small presses are publishing better quality books then ever before and they might be the ones who save us from the pointless drivel the large publishing houses seem to be cranking out these days.
From old to new media: Blog begets publishing house
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