Posted January 1, 2009; 7:07a.m. PST Rochelle Writes
Have you asked yourself lately … ?
Publishing’s Death Knell Premature “Big Houses” should beware of Redheaded stepchild
I have read three articles in the past 48 hours that really have my redheaded ire in a fury. Each word was another punishing blow to the future of books. To borrow a phrase from the Reba TV show, “Wait just a minute there, you mor-rons!
According to some self-proclaimed wizards of publishing, the industry is doomed, printed books will be banned from life, and once again, they’ve described self-published authors as a molecule above—or was that below?—pond-scum water.
Good timing, you mor-rons. It’s the end of one really tough year for most folks. So let’s play some more doom-n-gloom records and sink everyone further into depression. Oh, wait! Can’t play the records—they’re obsolete too! Sigh. (And no, I’m not going to name the article authors; I have brass and class. You know how to use the Internet …)
It looks like I have to explain that if the glass in front of you is half empty—listen carefully now—you need to pick it up, pull your arm slowly behind your head, aim carefully, and throw it with deadly aim at the mor-rons who keep telling you there is no future in publishing!!
And have you noticed that it is only the authors and publishers of the major publishing houses—and the media / “publishing experts” in bed with them—who are trashing independent authors and their author-originated publishing companies?
Do you hear readers crying foul about their reading options and accessible, wider range of genres? Are readers waxing ominously about “vanity” books and calling the amazing authors they’ve discovered online and in independent bookstores, wannabes?
Tell me, what do people do when they’re backed up against a wall? They lash out at whatever’s in front of them. See the similarity? Traditional publishers and their authors are scared. Of course they’re saying the publishing world is coming to an end. Theirs just might be. Cutbacks and downsizing plague the big houses because they’re big business; but that won’t stop an author from finding a suitable substitute—which is what many of us have been doing for years. If one method doesn’t work, you find another method. DIY is simple, alternative logic.
Traditional publishing’s brass ring is tarnished. Their once coveted advantages simply don’t exist any longer. Gone are the large advances, which are a direct result of little-to-no marketing and promotion; for new authors, especially. Half the reason for signing your rights away to a Big Daddy publisher was so you’d “see your name in lights” (figuratively). That doesn’t happen without hype—there is no hype for new authors. Oh, and you’ve lost the rights to that book for at least a certain period of time, if not for infinity. Nice, vicious circle they’ve created.
And let’s face it, competition is stiff no matter how you publish—store shelves only hold so much, and exactly how big will Amazon get? The pressure is palpable to make significant sales instantly and sell consistently. Creative and online marketing will drive the “new publishing platform,” but I won’t lie to you … only the most tenacious and—best writers—will profit.
Author-originated publishing has suffered long enough as the industry’s redheaded stepchild! It was shunned in its infancy, kicked around in its adolescence, and is finally ready—with the help of the economic crisis—to experience its final growth into adulthood and stand proud as publishing hope for authors who have real talent.
Notice I said “real” talent. As major traditional publishers drop like flies, or wield the employee axe with grim precision, even authors with measurable success are finding themselves without a home. And before the recession hit hard, many mainstream authors were disillusioned with the wham-bam-thank you-ma’am traditional publishing support. A sizeable number of established and emerging, talented authors have been seen marching toward independent publishing, and bringing their readers with them.
About talent—the major complaint about author-originated publishing, and where the “vanity” stigma pokes up its ugly head—is anyone with a couple of dollars can publish and declare themselves an “author.” I concede. It’s true. And as an editor for author-originated publishers, small press, and freelance clients, I know there are some folks whose stories or nonfiction books are not in the least compelling, or their technical writing skills kill the interest
Are you seriously going to nod your head in agreement and not confess that you’ve read some pretty damn bad traditionally published books?! Have you actually read any books lately? Or are you just jumping on the new-author-bashing bandwagon?
Author-originated publishing has an opportunity in the coming New Year to make significant strides and rise to its full potential to establish itself as the “new publishing platform” of the era. But it needs to also rise above the stigma of vanity press and eschew the naysayers of publishing’s future. Better structure and programs to boost its authors’ talent and technical skills are necessary. And …
Three things need to happen. Right up front, aspiring authors MUST consider professional editing as mandatory to publishing their book for market. If it’s going to be a family history only, then by all means, write with reckless abandon and cracked grammar (not grandma). But if you truly feel your story has merit—prove it. If you don’t have enough dollars in the cookie jar for editing, you’re not ready to publish and sell your manuscript.
Coming in second, author-originated publishers need to recognize their true potential, shun their low self esteem, and most importantly, produce quality books. Devise a way to recognize and reward your best, talented authors. Yes this means dumping your “take the money and run” attitude. Want to win this game? Play nice.
As the author-originated publishing industry grows, those even thinking about publishing independently are becoming more savvy and sophisticated in discerning where and how to spend their money. Want to win this game? Play smart.
You would also do well to provide a free or very low cost program for manuscript evaluations. Why? Because as an author advocate I hear it every day from newbie writers … “I wish I knew if my book is really good enough” (for retail selling). It’s true—they want to know; and yes, there’s a strong possibility that if you tell them the truth, they may not spend their money with you to publish. But they might also spend the money to “fix it.” And by telling the truth, you instantly raise your author standards, to recognize those who offer true revenue potential.
And third, though no less important—to the media and the rest of the world I say, “WAKE UP!!” Author-originated publishing is here to stay—and it’s going to grow, even as the economy sinks lower. Have you not figured it out? People will find the money for something they truly want in life … and if that’s to publish a book, you can call it vanity press, POD, self-publishing, or author-originated—they don’t care.
Rather than trashing an independently produced book that you chose to review because you could easily point to it as a poster child for poor vanity press, why don’t you report on some of the truly wonderful author-originated books that rank in quality and storytelling right up there with a Simon & Schuster book? Oh, in fact, wasn’t that author one of theirs last year???
Before you industry pros write me off as pond-scum amoeba, I do realize there is much more to it than I’ve outlined here—again, I work in the industry. There are many more factors to consider and obstacles to overcome. That’s life. Don’t whine about it … do something.
However, I firmly believe that the author-originated publishers who offer warehousing, royalties, and retail book returns, are going to lead the independent publishing revolution. Oh, you didn’t know we were in a revolution? Honey, we’re smack dab in the middle of the recycled “three Rs”: Recession produces Revolution (Restructuring, if you’re not the warring type), which surrenders to Regeneration. And this time there’s a fourth “R”—may the Redheaded stepchild win!
