Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin Publish yourself QA
Feb 27, 2019
Dive into the fascinating world of self-publishing! Discover how the history of shelf space influences pricing and page counts for ebooks. Explore the valuable roles gatekeepers play in curation and amplification, and learn how to build your audience directly. Unpack the tension between free and paid content and its impact on commitment. Also, get insights on choosing the right editor to capture your voice and the importance of generosity in the digital space. Seth encourages you to speak up and make your mark!
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How Paperbacks Shifted Publishing
- In 1932 a Hamburg publisher called Albatross introduced cheap paperbacks and changed publishing.
- Penguin copied the idea and paperbacks opened publishing to new authors and readers.
Shelf Space Created Page Count Rules
- Page count mattered because bookstores had limited shelf space and publishers minimized risk.
- That led to strict genre lengths and pricing decisions that constrained creative choices.
Choose Impact Over Page Count
- Focus on the impact you want to make and the audience you serve rather than chasing a magic page count.
- Once you pick a genre, let the book be the length it needs to be to create that impact.
