Interesting article in the NY Times today about the self publishing industry. Even though the web is mentioned as part of this growing industry, I think the article overlooks that the ease of this process made possible by the Internet is probably a significant factor in the growth. This is a part of a larger theme that I have been thinking about for some time - just how to measure the impact that the web is having on all business and personal activities.
Now, for as little as $3, an author can upload a manuscript or collection of photos to a Web site, and order a printed book within an hour. Many books will appear for sale on Amazon.com or the Web site of Barnes & Noble; others are sold through the self-publishing companies' Web sites. Authors and readers order subsequent copies as needed.
I mean in the past if it meant actually typing and printing a manuscript, and finding a service like this near you or someone to send it to, etc. - just those steps alone could put people off. Now - if you have the file on your computer - it is nearly done. To me this is yet another industry seeing growth because of the web - not because there are more people than ever who think, gee, I want to publish a book - but simply because they now can much easier than they could have a few years ago.
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