B&N Announces PubIt! self-publishing platform

Steven Lyle Jordan · 05-19-2010, 10:54 AM

Barnes & Noble announces PubIt!, essentially a self-publishing platform on their own servers, ala Amazon's Digital Text Platform. It seems accepting ebooks from the likes of Smashwords doesn't satisfy them, they want to be a direct supplier. (It could also cause those who use the service to possibly bypass services like Smashwords, thereby possibly cutting down the amount of material processed by Smashwords and sent to competitors like Sony and Kobo... but I'm sure that's an accidental result of the move.

)

L.J. Sellers · 05-19-2010, 12:16 PM

This is an interesting development. I wonder if B&N will have a process in place to watch for self-pubbed books that rise to the top. If so, what kind of support will they offer those authors? I'm still trying to see how B&N will benefit from this.
L.J.
[Promotional link deleted - MODERATOR]

WT Sharpe · 05-19-2010, 12:24 PM

It appears to be a good time to be an indie author.

AnemicOak · 05-19-2010, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.J. Sellers

This is an interesting development. I wonder if B&N will have a process in place to watch for self-pubbed books that rise to the top. If so, what kind of support will they offer those authors? I'm still trying to see how B&N will benefit from this.

B&N already has a publishing arm. Perhaps they're thinking of doing something along the lines of Amazon Encore.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 05-19-2010, 12:36 PM

I noted the likely result that some content will end up being exclusively B&N, if their service convinces them to leave Smashwords and such... exclusivity will be a benefit to them. But really, I expect they are mainly doing it to maintain a tighter control over what gets published, and how.

As far as authors and self-publishers are concerned, the situation will likely be much the same as it is on Amazon: For those who cannot publish or sell their own work, for instance, on their own website (the way I do), the service gives them an outlet for their work. But unless you can effectively advertise yourself, most authors will see limited exposure and small sales, as they'll find it difficult to rise to the top in a digital market that is still dominated by Big Pubs.

Finally, the press release mentions output in DRM'd ePub, but does not specify if it will be mandatory for self-publishers to use DRM. Along with other details of pricing and other options, it will be interesting to see what they finally offer.

K-Thom · 05-19-2010, 12:55 PM

Best of all, it seems to be intended for international publishers as well.

BooksForABuck · 05-19-2010, 02:09 PM

I suspect they are trying to match Amazon's capabilities. What it does (or doesn't do) for Smashwords is unlikely to be a primary concern. BN is running scared--and they should be. I think they're making some brilliant moves to stay relevant as the world moves to digital. Whether they'll be enough is hard to tell.

For what it's worth, deal with BN directly (and Amazon directly, of course) but still use Smashwords for incremental coverage, including coverage of the iPad platform.

Rob Preece
Publisher, www.BooksForABuck.com

Steven Lyle Jordan · 05-19-2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BooksForABuck

What it does (or doesn't do) for Smashwords is unlikely to be a primary concern.

To B&N, of course. I'm sure Smashwords isn't doing handsprings about it. But the announcement doesn't say Smashwords won't be able to continue uploading their content to the B&N servers after PubIt! kicks in... so it may not have the adverse impact on Smashwords that it could have.

nomesque · 05-19-2010, 07:21 PM

One thing I'm almost sure on - I won't be signing up with B&N any time soon. Aussie author typically = long wait for implementation of international capacity.

*twiddles thumbs*

I'm glad, mostly, though. I've been unimpressed by B&N's infrastructure and planning since they brought out the nook :/ and I'm in no hurry to deal with them directly.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 06-14-2010, 08:36 PM

B&N has sent out emails to anyone who requested to be updated about PubIt!'s development. A fairly basic FAQ page is now up, for anyone who's interested.

Of note:

PubIt! Will accept pre-formatted ePub files for sale... you can use their conversion SW, but you won't have to if you're particular about your formatting.
PubIt! Specifies that it uses DRM: "Barnes & Noble's best-in-class digital rights management technology." It does not say whether the use is optional.
Non U.S. citizens can use the service... if they have registered U.S. rights to their material.
No word on what controls you will have on price (nor, therefore, whether you can post books for free).

BenLee · 06-15-2010, 12:01 AM

This may need to have some of the kinks worked out, but it is definitely a big step forward in the same direction all other forms of art have gone...more independently generated. Seem natural that the book publishing industry will finally catch up. Opens up a lot of doors for authors when you can access a large distribution channel like BN.

Blue Tyson · 06-15-2010, 12:13 AM

Also says this, Steve, which might cut out most people :-

What do I need to create an account?
A BN.com login, which you can create on the spot if you do not already have one
Contact information for the account holder
A U.S. Credit Card & U.S. Bank Account and all related information
Your SSN/TIN/EIN

Blue Tyson · 06-15-2010, 12:17 AM

Which again shows Barnes and Noble has no interest in being anything but a local company, whereas Amazon wants to be an international operator.

nomesque · 06-15-2010, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Tyson

Which again shows Barnes and Noble has no interest in being anything but a local company, whereas Amazon wants to be an international operator.

To be fair... it wasn't THAT long ago that Amazon required US bank account and address. A year ago, I think it was still that way.

I don't really mind that companies do this to start off with... I mean, it's annoying as hell, but understandable - international payments OUT must get nastily complicated, and setting up as an ebook vendor must be complicated as it is.

Know what really irritates me about B&N? They organised to get ebooks distributed by Smashwords, with no geographic restrictions - and marked them all as 'US only'. Considering that they have some 'US and Canada only' ebooks, they seem to have something bodgy in their conversion/stocking routine, and that bothers me.

Blue Tyson · 06-15-2010, 04:07 AM

Complicated? Hardly. Cheques? Decades old technology. Money orders, similarly. Bank drafts, same. EFT, a bit newer, but definitely not difficult.

Paypal, newer still but pretty simple, too.

Sure, maybe a year ago - but why deliberately handicap yourself, unless you want to?

As you point out, these big American chain booksellers are hardly models of competence.

05-19-2010, 10:54 AM	#1
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	B&N Announces PubIt! self-publishing platform Barnes & Noble announces PubIt!, essentially a self-publishing platform on their own servers, ala Amazon's Digital Text Platform. It seems accepting ebooks from the likes of Smashwords doesn't satisfy them, they want to be a direct supplier. (It could also cause those who use the service to possibly bypass services like Smashwords, thereby possibly cutting down the amount of material processed by Smashwords and sent to competitors like Sony and Kobo... but I'm sure that's an accidental result of the move. ) Last edited by Alexander Turcic; 05-19-2010 at 11:25 AM. Reason: prepped for frontpage

05-19-2010, 12:16 PM	#2
L.J. Sellers Novelist Posts: 287 Karma: 387979 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eugene, Oregon Device: Kindle	This is an interesting development. I wonder if B&N will have a process in place to watch for self-pubbed books that rise to the top. If so, what kind of support will they offer those authors? I'm still trying to see how B&N will benefit from this. L.J. [Promotional link deleted - MODERATOR] Last edited by Dr. Drib; 02-26-2012 at 07:47 AM.

06-14-2010, 08:36 PM	#10
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	FAQ is up B&N has sent out emails to anyone who requested to be updated about PubIt!'s development. A fairly basic FAQ page is now up, for anyone who's interested. Of note: PubIt! Will accept pre-formatted ePub files for sale... you can use their conversion SW, but you won't have to if you're particular about your formatting. PubIt! Specifies that it uses DRM: "Barnes & Noble's best-in-class digital rights management technology." It does not say whether the use is optional. Non U.S. citizens can use the service... if they have registered U.S. rights to their material. No word on what controls you will have on price (nor, therefore, whether you can post books for free).

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05-19-2010, 12:24 PM	#3
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,072 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	It appears to be a good time to be an indie author.

05-19-2010, 12:36 PM	#5
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I noted the likely result that some content will end up being exclusively B&N, if their service convinces them to leave Smashwords and such... exclusivity will be a benefit to them. But really, I expect they are mainly doing it to maintain a tighter control over what gets published, and how. As far as authors and self-publishers are concerned, the situation will likely be much the same as it is on Amazon: For those who cannot publish or sell their own work, for instance, on their own website (the way I do), the service gives them an outlet for their work. But unless you can effectively advertise yourself, most authors will see limited exposure and small sales, as they'll find it difficult to rise to the top in a digital market that is still dominated by Big Pubs. Finally, the press release mentions output in DRM'd ePub, but does not specify if it will be mandatory for self-publishers to use DRM. Along with other details of pricing and other options, it will be interesting to see what they finally offer.

05-19-2010, 12:55 PM	#6
K-Thom The one and only Posts: 3,302 Karma: 535819 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: yup!	Best of all, it seems to be intended for international publishers as well.

05-19-2010, 02:09 PM	#7
BooksForABuck Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 150001 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Long Beach, CA Device: Color Nook, Kindle 2, Palm III, eBookWise, HP Jornada	I suspect they are trying to match Amazon's capabilities. What it does (or doesn't do) for Smashwords is unlikely to be a primary concern. BN is running scared--and they should be. I think they're making some brilliant moves to stay relevant as the world moves to digital. Whether they'll be enough is hard to tell. For what it's worth, deal with BN directly (and Amazon directly, of course) but still use Smashwords for incremental coverage, including coverage of the iPad platform. Rob Preece Publisher, www.BooksForABuck.com

05-19-2010, 07:21 PM	#9
nomesque Snooty Bestselling Author Posts: 1,485 Karma: 1000000 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ipswich, QLD, Australia Device: PRS-650	One thing I'm almost sure on - I won't be signing up with B&N any time soon. Aussie author typically = long wait for implementation of international capacity. twiddles thumbs I'm glad, mostly, though. I've been unimpressed by B&N's infrastructure and planning since they brought out the nook :/ and I'm in no hurry to deal with them directly.

06-15-2010, 12:01 AM	#11
BenLee eReader Junkie Posts: 304 Karma: 1220 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New York City, NY Device: Kindle + Sony	This may need to have some of the kinks worked out, but it is definitely a big step forward in the same direction all other forms of art have gone...more independently generated. Seem natural that the book publishing industry will finally catch up. Opens up a lot of doors for authors when you can access a large distribution channel like BN.

06-15-2010, 12:13 AM	#12
Blue Tyson Blue Captain Posts: 1,595 Karma: 5000236 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G,Huawei Ideos X3,Kobo Mini	Also says this, Steve, which might cut out most people :- What do I need to create an account? A BN.com login, which you can create on the spot if you do not already have one Contact information for the account holder A U.S. Credit Card & U.S. Bank Account and all related information Your SSN/TIN/EIN

06-15-2010, 12:17 AM	#13
Blue Tyson Blue Captain Posts: 1,595 Karma: 5000236 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G,Huawei Ideos X3,Kobo Mini	Which again shows Barnes and Noble has no interest in being anything but a local company, whereas Amazon wants to be an international operator.

06-15-2010, 04:07 AM	#15
Blue Tyson Blue Captain Posts: 1,595 Karma: 5000236 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G,Huawei Ideos X3,Kobo Mini	Complicated? Hardly. Cheques? Decades old technology. Money orders, similarly. Bank drafts, same. EFT, a bit newer, but definitely not difficult. Paypal, newer still but pretty simple, too. Sure, maybe a year ago - but why deliberately handicap yourself, unless you want to? As you point out, these big American chain booksellers are hardly models of competence.

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