The Growing Edge Closes its Doors

**"* G* <d*@gmail.com>**

I'm a bit of a contrarian on this subject I'm afraid.  While I hate to see
the personal costs on good folks such as Tom (who I count as a friend) and
the Meredith people (indeed all in this situation) - the overall direction
publishing is taking is pretty predictable imho given the history we have on
new technology change.   It is simply not much fun if you're on the wrong
end of that change - as I was back in 2002 - and there is indeed a personal
cost.  So don't think I don't understand that cost nor that I don't have
sympathy for the individuals caught in those situations.
I wrote about this on a website I'm messing about with but the short version
is that no publishing media ever really dies.  It simply morphs and adapts
from a mass distribution model to an artistic model.  From stained glass
windows to moveable type to morse code - it moves from mass distribution
(where there's money to be made) to the realm of the artistic and hobbyist
(again where there's money to be made).  It's the transition times that are
the problems.   And that's where we are now - in transition.

So magazines and newspapers (as a category) won't disappear - nor will
books.  But the publishing models, the economics of production will change
drastically.   Heck, given the nature of web 2.0 and user-produced content -
we don't even need writers anymore - you can get all the info you want from
home-gardener blogs and websites.  :-)  It's all out there.    Short term,
we don't need all the writers, editors, photographers, etc in the gardening
publishing industry because it's changing - it's in transition.

Long term is another story entirely.  And the fun of this is that there will
be as many options as there are people to support them.   There will be a
role for good writers, photographers, and believe it or not - good editors.
 In fact, I think that the editorial function is something that has a lot of
room to grow in future-publishing. :-)

But the distribution models and the financial models will be changing on
Internet time - at that rapid rate.

The interesting decision-points are how allied companies handle this new
media - how those of us who produce content respond to the challenges - and
what technologies are developing to help us both in this effort.

What is crystal clear to me - and frankly intrigues me - is the new model of
publishing (evolving not static) and the new way that companies and writer
are going to have to deal with a population that has their bs-snifters
always pointed to "high".  When your reader controls the distribution
channel (one click and you're dead) then your message changes.

So this isn't a sad time for me  - for me this is an exciting time.  A time
of transition and of personal challenge to figure out what's happening and
what's coming.  Of being better at what I do and discovering effective
distribution channels to accomplish those goals.  You can get bogged down
with what's wrong - with what's not-the-same-anymore or you can lighten up
and take it as the opportunity it is.

It is entirely possible to make a decent living as a garden writer - but it
ain't your grandma's publishing world anymore. :-)

With all best intentions

Doug

Doug Green
Editor-in-Chief
SGF Publishing  www.simplegiftsfarm.com
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