“Nothing is more difficult than to introduce a new order.”
“Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new.”
Taken from Machiavelli’s THE PRINCE.
It is very unlike me to quote Machiavelli. But this hit me when I started reading Pip Coburn’s excellent book THE CHANGE FUNCTION. He uses it to start the book. It’s perfect for describing what is happening in Book Publishing today. The Publishers who have been in control for the past few decades are being seriously threatened by the new upstarts and the Accounts. There is revolutionary change in the industry.
Some of the corporate publishers will thrive and others will die.
Some of the independent publishers will thrive and some will die.
Some of the key bookselling channels will thrive and some will die.
So, it is a good time for the rules to be challenged. Look at doing things that have not been done. Chaos is good. It leads to new players and new a new order.
I have spent most of my career in traditional publishing. Now I spend almost all my days in the experimental part. It’s all good. It is always best to respect the past and build on it.
Winners and Losers are being determined…
