In Publishing News this week,
The first of the AI lawsuits has been decided with a Californian Federal Judge handing down a pre-trial ruling that the Anthropic company was using fair use to train its AI using copyrighted material. However, the fact that they used pirated material was a problem. Read the article from Publishers Weekly and find out what the AI companies are doing now to get around licensing the work for training purposes. I wonder if the judge will address the trampling of the moral rights of the authors.
Publishing Perspectives looks at the latest statistics from the American Publishers Association and sales are down across the formats. These numbers are just snapshots they hasten to add. Hopefully it is not a downward trend.
On the African continent Mark Williams based in The Gambia looks at how AI is making an impact in publishing. If you can’t get any print books and only sporadic internet what are you to do? Mark talks about how publishing in Africa is quietly breaking records as they figure out ways to get books into the hands and ears of people across the continent.
Mark also looks at a little Romanian startup with big plans to grow across Europe and Latin America. It’s not about competing with everybody else but looking at who everybody else is overlooking and filling the gap.
Because writing and journalism go hand in hand, I try to keep an eye out for what is trending in journalism writing. Reuters, one of the world’s biggest news agencies, has released their digital news report for 2025, a snapshot on where people get their news from and who they trust to give them news. Ouch. Social Media wins out.
Adam Tinworth drills into the data and points out how journalists have to change to cope with the emerging media tsunami.
In fun uplifting news, London has its first dedicated romance book store, The BBC reports. Finally, some positive reporting about this genre. Could it be because the Romance genre was behind $1billion worth of sales last year in the UK? The bookstore is loud and proud with a Smut Hut inside it. Interesting how the BBC just couldn’t bring themselves to name the bookstore.
The Alliance of Independent Authors has an interesting article on the audiobook book boom and how indie authors and publishers are looking closely at KDP’s AI Virtual Voice. Is it worth doing and how do you price it for the consumer?
Anne R Allen has an excellent article on building inventory. This is a positive spin on not being published. I am reminded of one of our most beloved children’s authors who when an American Big Publisher saw her work at an exhibition came calling. Do you have anything else besides that story, she was asked. Margaret Mahy pulled a suitcase out from under the bed. It was stuffed with stories.
Johnny B Truant has been writing lately about the Artisan Author. He has an interesting article on taking back the power over your author career. Have you really looked at who has the power? It is often not the author. So what can you do about it?
Savannah Cordova has an interesting article on Angela and Becca’s blog about writing what you know. She turns this familiar writing adage on its head. Know What You Write.
In the Craft Section,
Different character arcs for the same character- K M Weiland Bookmark!
Do you have to use the 3 act structure?- C S Lakin
Semi colons and other punctuation- Becca Puglisi- Bookmark
The importance of conveying character- September Fawkes- Bookmark
6 cheats to tell well- September Fawkes.
In The Marketing Section,
5 tips for stella cover design in 2025- Savannah Cordova
10 Amazon KDP secrets- Rachel Thompson- Bookmark
Pinterest -best kept author marketing secret- Melisa Bourbon-
Bookmark
2 Great posts from Written Word Media- Pen to camera don’t ignore YouTube and Marketing on a shoestring- Bookmark
To Finish
Being a kiwi… a New Zealander, I am used to seeing the Haka – often described as a Maori War chant by overseas commentators, at important events. To the outside world it is mostly seen on television at international sports matches to honour the opposition by bringing your best game. Here in Aotearoa New Zealand, it is also performed to honour someone who has achieved great mana or made a community impact by their life and actions. School prizegivings and graduations are often punctuated by Haka from the families of students. It stops us all in our tracks. The recipient is usually in tears for the honour bestowed. The Haka is never taken for granted. Recently Elizabeth Heurgo wrote in Writer Unboxed about the passion of the Haka and how she is using it to tackle the blank page. It’s a fascinating essay linking the Haka to Literature and Booker Prize winners. Your blank page may generate the honour of a haka for your work. You just have to write.
Maureen
@craicer
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