Adria Giattino Considers How Smashwords Compares to Other Self-Publishing Resources

Smashwords is a self-publishing company that has contributed significantly to the growth of the self-publishing sector. Adria Giattino, publishing professional, considers how the Smashwords model differs from those of the company's competitors.


Self-publishing is a new trend in the publishing industry-one that seems to be here to stay. A welcome opportunity for many would-be and established authors alike, the self-publishing model has created a system through which writers can forgo the querying process (which rarely ends in a book deal) and distribute their work on their own. Forbes has recently spotlighted the growth of Smashwords, a popular self-publishing platform. Adria Giattino, a publishing professional, responds to the article with her own thoughts regarding the perks that Smashwords offers authors.

Forbes details the foundation of Smashwords, which was established by Mark Coker. He and his wife spent a year writing a book and began the querying process. Although their novel was applauded by agents, it failed to land a deal. After two years of revisions and rejections, the Cokers decided to innovate the publishing industry rather than give up. The traditional publishing route based book deals on "commercial merit," a practice that Mark Coker found unsettling.

"Commercial merit is a dangerous way to judge a book," Coker asserts. "It means you get more stuff by Kim Kardashian than by undiscovered authors potentially writing future classics."

Smashwords is the result of Coker's ensuing entrepreneurial efforts. He created a self-publishing platform that has published 127,000 titles. The 44,000 authors of these titles collect 60 percent in royalties-a number far above the 12.75 percent that writers typically collect within the traditional publishing model.

But Smashwords has done more than simply create a place for authors to publish. Coker has established distribution deals with many digital bookstores, including those managed by Apple, Sony, and Barnes & Noble. However, the self-publishing organization has yet to sign a deal with publishing giant Amazon, which holds the majority of the ebook market share through its line of Kindle ereaders.

"Smashwords' refusal to sign a distribution contract with Amazon sets it apart from its competitors," comments Adria Giattino. "While critics may view it as a weakness, this decision could prove to be the company's largest asset: Smashwords retains the power to set its own eBook prices."

As the self-publishing industry continues to expand, Adria Giattino is interested to see how it evolves to fit the needs of the ever-changing market.

ABOUT:

Adria Giattino is a professional within the publishing industry. Based in New York, New York, Adria Giattino earned her Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in writing at Barnard College of Columbia University. Today, Adria Giattino continues to build her career in the publishing business through internships and other professional opportunities. She currently works with a major publishing house, completing tasks pertaining to manuscript styling, eBook data transmission, production, copyright issues, and more. During her free time, Adria Giattino pursues numerous freelance writing and editing projects.

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Original Source: Adria Giattino Considers How Smashwords Compares to Other Self-Publishing Resources