Yesterday, I read a blog by Rachelle Gardner and commented, along with hundreds of other readers. My comments by far were in the minority.
Most of the commenters wanted to be published in the traditional method for--get this, this is what I have a problem with--VALIDATION. Oh, my personal validation was having an 11-year-old read and enjoy my story, plus I have a small group of under-priveledged after school kids who are fans of my work (my MIL is reading to them).
Validation is all fine and dandy, but they seem to be missing the bigger picture.
Does anyone have the answer? Do you know what I'm getting at? Well, if you've been reading my blog, and many others, you will know the answer. Okay, okay, I'll give it to you.
Publishing is a BUSINESS. What do businesses do? They make money.
They aren't here to validate the author's existence or pat your hand. They want to make money on a product, your story. You can have the best damn product in the world, but if it doesn't fit in their narrow view within their various imprints or what is currently selling, then it won't get a contract. It has NOTHING to do with the writer's ability to craft a good story. It has to do with the ability to sell the product and turn a profit.
It's all about making money. PERIOD.
Ditto for agents. Oh, I'm sure some agents pick up authors who they see as potential moneymakers, but if they can't sell your product--THEY DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY.
Another few commenters wanted the publishing house's publicity and marketing muscle.
Uh, again, if they had been reading any one of numerous blogs by agents and traditionally published authors, they would realize most of the monies reserved for publicity go to the big guns, NOT the debut authors. Oh, I'm sure it happens, but I'm also sure someone does win the lottery, too. Who is to say debut author A will get the said monies? The odds are against you.
Plus many of these commenters want to simply write, they don't want to do publicity, worry about contracts, money, promoting, etc.
Uh, again, they have managed to stick you head in the ground. A minuscule number of authors simply write. If they are smart, they will know the ins and outs of the business. Follow the money trail. Knowing your rights and legalities of the contracts is only smart business savvy.
Who do you think sets up blog tours? or bookmarks? or local book signings? YOU. So many authors spend their small advances on their own publicity. Unless you have a huge platform already built, like THE PIONEER WOMAN, then the publisher does the publicity BECAUSE IT'S A GUARANTEED SALE.
Some authors wanted an advance. Again, most advances are less than $10,000 and more of them hover around $1-2,000 dollars for the debut author. AND you don't get an advance in one lump sum. Publishing houses want to hold onto their money for as long as possible--they make more money on the interest it generate than giving it to you.
I have many traditionally published friends who have commented that their advances are now split into FOUR increments. Some are still three increments (1/3 on signing, 1/3 on acceptance of manuscript, 1/3 on publication), but look at your contract before you sign.
*REMEMBER--many times it takes two years for a book to go from contract to bookshelf*
1) signing of contract
2) ACCEPTANCE of manuscript
3) acceptance of edited manuscript
4) publication and distribution (many times this step hasn't been happening. And don't forget your book sits in limbo during this time)
And don't forget that the agent takes her cut before you even see the money. EVERYONE gets paid before the author does.
And many of the commenters put down self-publishing--and as I said before, I agree with them up to a point--but they all talked about how much money it costs to self-pub.
WHAT??
Are they still in the freakin' 90's?? The only reason it cost me any money to self pub is because I have zero artistic talent and wanted to have awesome book covers! Many commenters also mentioned that you can't tell the chaff from the wheat with self-published books. I think you can, if you take the time and trouble. But, yes, there is a problem with too many writers who aren't ready to SP and it does glut the market. All a potential reader has to do is read a blurb and they can sense the quality of the story.
Trust me, it's easier than you think.
Anyway, rant over, now I need to get back to my bocce ball dodge ball game that I'm editing in FAERIE.
Oh, bocce balls are the hard black balls used in lawn bowling--let the dodge ball frenzy begin!
Later, Peeps!
I'm not even going to read that post and the comments. I know I'll be too upset. Though I'm not making a living wage from my self-publishing yet, I can see it coming. And I've already made more money than some of my NY pubbed friends.
ReplyDeleteRachelle's post was simply a question, but it was the responses that had me scratching my head, Edie.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it was because the percentage of responders were Christian writers or what (FYI: Rachelle represents mainly Christian authors), but it made me wonder how they can see through their rose-colored glasses and tunnel-vision.
What I've learned in life is that one's personal worth or 'validity' comes from one's self, and that ANYONE who seeks it from an outside source is missing the whole point.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right, publishing is a business, it's not a validation service!
It DOES cost money if a person wants to self publish a PRINTED book, obviously. I do have a self-pubbed friend who put a lot of money into getting his book out in traditional print. But all it costs to e-publish something is your time - and the $$ for that kickass cover, which is well spent!
We here at Pen and Ink are tracking The Wooden Men by Lupe Fernandez. http://www.amazon.com/The-Wooden-Men-ebook/dp/B004T50IRW
ReplyDeleteIt is 99 cents on Kindle.
Wooden Men is a short story based on a Mayan myth. (please feel free to buy and enjoy.) We will be keeping our readers abreast of the sales statistics. Pen and Ink has read a lot about the joys of self publishing, but we shall remain on the fence till we see some results
Very true, Jods. And I had similar feelings as many of those authors (wanting the pat on my back), but when a really good story is passed up, then it's time to do something about it.
ReplyDeleteAnd I did.
And I understand where you are coming from, Pen and Ink. What boiled my crawdads about the comments was the narrow-mindedness on the part of the commenters. Putting blinders on doesn't make the problems with traditional publishing go away.
ReplyDeleteIt's a brave new world out there in publishing. Sometimes one has to forge ahead and become the pioneer. True, it's tough sloughing through the wilderness, but there is some satisfaction in that.
And the question asked by many publishers over the years is echoed by the self-publishing masses--what makes one book sell better than another one?
Why did Amanda Hocking's self-pubbed books sell like they did?
Even Amanda doesn't know.
This makes self-publishing very exciting
I'm wondering how new at writing those people commenting were. I know there are lots of attitudes from newbies.
ReplyDeleteMost of us get over that, though, don't we?
You've hit the nail on the head. Publishing is a business. However you can sell it and make money from it counts.
I'm pretty certain that most of the commenters were newbs, Susan.
ReplyDeleteThey just hadn't seen enough of the biz to think about the bigger picture.
Sometimes I think you have to see so many good authors having their work rejected before it sinks in that it doesn't matter how well you write. If you can't give NY a current salable product then you're out of luck.