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By: Rebecca @ Diary of a Virgin Novelist

Rebecca @ Diary of a Virgin Novelist — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:03:14 +0000

I am shocked that 28% of the population are avid readers. That thrills me down to my little writing toes (now THAT would be cool! writing with my toes!).

I still don’t know about this whole ereader thing. I agree with Kristan’s perspective on pirating but I wonder what exactly has ABA up in arms.
.-= Rebecca @ Diary of a Virgin Novelist´s last blog ..How do you write a novel anyway? =-.

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By: Kristan

Kristan — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:12:38 +0000

Kaylynn and Kathleen-
Definitely valid points. Although I don’t know that I’d say it’s “destroyed” the music industry… It has changed it, and I think you’re right: it will do the same to the publishing industry. For better or worse.
.-= Kristan´s last blog ..Happiness is… =-.

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By: Cassi

Cassi — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:14:30 +0000

I know I don’t read 5 hours a week (unfortunately) except on a really good week. It’s not because of lack of desire. But at 24 I’m on the upper end of the lower range (that only probably made sense to me) and work full time. I have little responsibilities but its a huge adjustment to full-time work after college (and work then unemployment). Job + trying to write daily + trying to exercise 3 times a week + occasionally knitting/crafting + boyfriend = severly and sadly limiting my reading time.

That said I think I purchase more than 10 books a year. Last year being an exception. Of course I got so many for Christmas this year we’ll see when I run out.

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By: Kathleen Bolton

Kathleen Bolton — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:52:51 +0000

Illegal downloads have destroyed the music industry. Labels are currently trying to find ways to make profit from other sources, which is why the prevalence of 360 deals for their artists, which give the label a cut of revenue from non-music sources like touring and merchandising.

Authors don’t have alternative methods of income outside the sale of the book. Maybe there are a few superstar authors like Rowling who can merchandise their product with alternative sources, but for the rest of us, no such luck.

Ironically, what is happening in music is that even though there are more choices available to consumers, fewer artists break through to mass awareness, and the ones that do sell less product. I predict that the same thing will happen to books when electronic books become a greater part of the landscape.

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By: Kaylynn

Kaylynn — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:19:22 +0000

First, I think people who get used to pirating then create a higher bar for what they will or won’t buy. Second, if they’ve pirated something and like it, they may not buy it later because they already have a copy, albeit an illegal one. Third, if they get it from a library, that increases the library’s circulation and makes it more likely that the library will either buy more copies of the book or buy more copies of the writer’s future work because they can see there is an interest in it. Fourth, even when borrowing from a friend there is a matter of scale. Someone may lend their book to a few friends but pirated books can go out to millions of people.

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By: Kristan

Kristan — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:54:19 +0000

So… I know pirating is wrong, and I’m not condoning it, but I will say this: Most people understand that it’s stealing, so if they really like an artist, they won’t steal from them. They want to support them, in fact. They only steal music/movies that they were only somewhat interested in. And that probably means they wouldn’t have paid for that movie/album anyway. So it’s not really lost money… I think the same is true of books. If you like an author enough, you will pay to have their book right away (in whatever format you desire). But if you were only sort of interested, you might borrow it from a friend or the library anyway. So it’s not lost money…

Of course, that’s just my perspective from my (admittedly limited) experience of piracy. Perhaps it’s naive. Or perhaps we’re all worried for no reason…

As for the rest of the stats, YAY for reading & readers!
.-= Kristan´s last blog ..The wordy nerdy halfie chameleon =-.

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