"The rumours of my demise are greatly exaggerated"

By Dennis Lowery

 

A recent article touches on a topic that concerns all writers/authors today:

... more importantly, ebooks and e-publishing will mean the end of "the writer" as a profession. 

Are books dead, and can authors survive? | Ewan Morrison via www.guardian.co.uk

He is wrong on the most important point he tries to make.

Yes—in many ways the digital revolution has empowered writers and lowered the barrier to publication. But here is the statement I disagree with in his article:

“…it will mean that writers offer up their work for next to nothing or for free. Writing, as a profession, will cease to exist.”

This will happen only if writer’s/authors let it become so. As mainstream/old-style publishing houses become less important as a means of distribution for authors; more control will be in the hands of those authors who choose to take it. There are many ways now for authors to reach their audience and deliver to their market their product (book). Yes—the big names will leverage them first to sell into a well-developed fan base and demand for their work. But new authors can do this as well though it’s a much slower process since they have to grow their base as they go.

Gary Gauthier in a posted comment to Jane Friedman in the new social networking community, Google+, nails it in his comment, “Great writing will always be in demand. This demand will only increase as good writing becomes more and more accessible.”

As my final thought I'll quote this:

"The rumours of my demise are greatly exaggerated"