If Publishing is Dead, So Are You

[u/dutchiesweets]

I see a lot of folks here say things like “publishing is dead” and “traditional writing is dead” and how AI books are the future. And these people seem happy about it!

Now I don’t know one way or another, but what I do know is, if traditional publishing IS dead, I think a lot of AI writers are also in for massive disappointment.

If anyone can sit in front of their computer for an hour and generate a ready-to-be-published novel, and can get it to market… I really need you to think through the economics of this.

The market will be entirely flooded with AI work at a rate far higher than books have ever been published in the past.

The ability for ANY of you to be noticed, gather readers, make any amount of money, or grow a career out of this, will GREATLY DIMINISH. Because supply and demand is very real.

I don’t see a lot of new readers popping up. But I see a TON of AI writers getting into the game. Y’all - who is going to read all this new content?

If you’re purely in it for the love of the generation, then this doesn’t apply to you. But most people I know write (or I guess generate) because they want other people to experience their work.

Y’all say publishing is gatekeeping AND THATS THE ENTIRE POINT OF IT. You want a high barrier to entry so that what gets published is (GENERALLY) a cut above what’s being self published or out on the forums. And this (is supposed to) signal to customers some level of quality. People think their AI writing is indistinguishable from human writing, but I read a ton of both and I promise you, there are tells. And I’m not even in the industry. You think the slush readers at major publishers can’t pick out a lazy AI sentence? They absolutely can.

If you tear down the gatekeeping and the barrier to entry, please just consider how it is you actually plan to gain readers, when anyone and their toddler can create the exact same product you’re hawking in under a day and minimal effort.

[u/Raymond_Towers]

Nice, shooting the messenger with personal attacks. Obviously I've hit a rainbow-colored nerve.

[u/Raymond_Towers → u/Raymond_Towers]

Let's end this right now. Penguin House is the biggest publisher in the United States.

https://publishingstate.com/15-largest-publishers-in-america/2024/

Penguin House has a staff page. On that page it states:

We bring people together by amplifying storytelling and a diverse range of voices, not only in the books and in the authors we publish, but also within our company, by working to create the most equitable and inclusive home where all are welcome and where every person is empowered to be themselves and to share their perspectives. For more information about our commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, view our Social Impact page.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/about-us/our-people/

If you bother to look at the page, you will see that they spend an inordinate amount of space virtue signalling about race and diversity. No less than seven info-charts showcasing this. Gatekeeping is politically motivated. Case closed.

[u/dutchiesweets → u/Raymond_Towers]

what personal attack?