POD's Big Jump

PW is noting that while there was a 1% increase in traditional book publishing in 2007, there was a 39% increase in POD, short run, and other titles. I suspect that trend will continue in 2008.

I'm not sure, though, that traditional publishers really "get" what's going on here. Here's a quote from an associate publisher for editorial at a traditional Christian publisher, InterVarsity Press:

"On the one hand, obviously, it makes it easier for authors to get their books in print on their own or through a publisher that specializes in print-on-demand books. On the other hand, it increases the competition and makes it more difficult for any particular book to get noticed and have significant sales."

This may be true for generic titles or perhaps fiction, but it's not that difficult for a specialty title in a well-defined niche to be marketed effectively. "Significant" sales for a POD book is different from a traditionally published book. My first cryptozoology title, for example, has done better for me than it would ever have done with a traditional publisher, even if it sold there in greater numbers. There are so many niches where competition is lacking, that a publisher just needs to find an author who can produce quality work in that area. (Of course, that's a problem for both traditionals and PODs.)