Shout-out to Alex and the awesome co-hosts for today: Rebecca Douglass, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Cathrina Constantine, and Jacqui Murray!
July 1 question - Is there anything you'd like to see changed, added, and/or rearranged about the book publishing industry?
I'd like to see AI-generated books not taking the place of actual writers. I'd like to see more indie authors given a better chance. The entire query process could be better streamlined. A form, where all authors could input what they have (perhaps even with offshoots to define categories/ genres by the definitions agents agree on, especially when it comes to ages - just a checklist), and then instead of authors hunting all over for agents, all agents and small press publishers, etc, could go to ONE central place and see if they can rep any of the submitted ideas. This would eliminate the problem of authors sending query letters to agents who don't represent their work.
It may also reduce query letters that are rejected because some agents want things formatted one way, and others another way, and some demand comp titles and others do not, and so many tiny things that can get a good book rejected.
The publishing industry might be in decline. (https://www.authormedia.com/traditional-publishing-in-crisis-sales-down-9-4/) But book publishing has exploded! (https://ideas.bkconnection.com/10-awful-truths-about-publishing)
If the traditional publishing industry plans to survive, they need a shift to what they can offer authors, because it's faster and easier to go indie and cut the industry out. With more readers looking at ebooks, the promise of higher print sales isn't the draw it once was. There aren't as many "bookstore windows" to offer an author. And, as authors seem to have to do most of their own marketing anyway, the question is looming as to why they're splitting sales profits with agents and publishers.
Other than a customer mailing list and distribution network, what advantages do you feel the "Big Five" traditional publishers offer to authors today? (Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Hachette Book Group, and Simon & Schuster.)
A word about Quotation Marks:
https://medium.com/for-the-love-of-language/the-hard-and-soft-rules-of-dialogue-88881f1b6f31
An issue I've encountered when reading and editing is that of quotation marks. I've learned that " and ' are used differently in various versions of English, depending on the region of the writer.
Other than a customer mailing list and distribution network, what advantages do you feel the "Big Five" traditional publishers offer to authors today? (Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Hachette Book Group, and Simon & Schuster.)
A word about Quotation Marks:
https://medium.com/for-the-love-of-language/the-hard-and-soft-rules-of-dialogue-88881f1b6f31
An issue I've encountered when reading and editing is that of quotation marks. I've learned that " and ' are used differently in various versions of English, depending on the region of the writer.
🤯
This explains a lot. I've read a few books now where dialogue is in single quotes, and it confused me as to why this would be, how an editor didn't notice it page after page.
July is your best chance to find my ebook collection for FREE at @Smashwords as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JLDorner #SWSale2026
https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner I'm grateful for follows! https://www.goodreads.com/j_lenni_dorner
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website. Watch for special features!
This explains a lot. I've read a few books now where dialogue is in single quotes, and it confused me as to why this would be, how an editor didn't notice it page after page.
Which way do you use quotation marks? Have you ever noticed the ' " difference in a book?
July is your best chance to find my ebook collection for FREE at @Smashwords as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JLDorner #SWSale2026
Come get your free ebooks! July exclusive.
📚💙 — J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge
https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner I'm grateful for follows! https://www.goodreads.com/j_lenni_dorner
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website. Watch for special features!
https://www.myrandommusings.co.uk/2026/06/anythinggoes-linky-477/
