According to Adams and Barker, the publisher has "the initial decision to multiply a text or image for distribution." Then according to Darnton's communication circuit, the publisher would then hand the text off to the printers, then to the distributors, and so on through the cycle. Adams and Barker continue on to explain that one of the main duties in commercial publishing (the most familiar form of publishing) is to weigh the pros and cons of a particular piece of literature and decide if it is financially worth it for the company to print it. When you have a physical book that doesn't sell, the company is at a loss because of the cost of the materials it took to print and transport the book.
In the 21st century we have an (almost) free method of "printing" and "distributing" literature. Publishers have a medium for books that they aren't sure will sell. Instead of rejecting the books outright, they have a way for the company to make money off of these iffy books with very little overhead cost. While there are still traditional publishers like Random House and Penguin Press, there are now many on-line publishers who will publish your work for (sometimes) free. So now a publisher is not just merely the person who says ya or nay to your book being distributed, but instead become a nonjudgmental distributor.
A publisher has changed from being someone who decides weather it is fiscally responsible to print a book to an indiscriminate website that is fused with the printers, shippers, and sellers.
good points here.
ReplyDeletethis is a different way. I mean its kind of like relating it to people who make music via myspace? They do it for free, and when they start to get noticed big time labels notice and they know they can make it. Like youtube too - I think that's how Justin Bieber got noticed LOL.
ReplyDeleteanyways, this way I feel like not only saves trees but saves money like you said. If they get reviews on what is wrong with the book then they can fix it so it is more appealing to readers.
I think this all would help make books better in general.
very informative! wasn't necessarily aware of the online publishers that will publish work (sometimes) for free, but it doesn't surprise me. It makes me wonder if those companies are fully legitimate or if their the kinds of companies who try and get people to sign up for "online jobs" or something similar.
ReplyDeleteGood post! I thought it was interesting how you mentioned the free method of printing and distributing literature, I was unaware of that. If authors are able to publish their work online for free, it seems as though there would be an even larger variety of texts available to the reader, since they are not being necessarily accepted or rejected. But can ANYONE publish ANYTHING they want? Or is there some sort of process that happens in order to rule out literature that is fraud or not credible? I don't know the answer to that, just though I would ask!
ReplyDeleteIt's true, the system of getting a book published really has changed. Like you said, before the publishers really had to lookout for themselves first and foremost due to the possible money lost from all the work involved in making/selling physical books, but now with digital books there really isn't much for them to lose.
ReplyDeleteThis was really interesting to learn about how the publisher has changed over time. I did know that one could get published for free online. Which makes sense especial for nonprofit journals.
ReplyDelete