I do have some complaints against the publishing industry. The complaints are based on my perceptions from what I’ve gleaned in reading some of the professionals’ blogs, from listening to some of the professionals speak, and from personal conversations via emails and in person with professionals. I’ve come a long way, baby, in the evaluating process, and a few things still stink. Having said that, I only partially care.
I care because I tend to like reasonable explanations, justice for all, and the like. Outside of that, hey, I firmly believe a business is entitled to operate the way they feel will best suit their bottom line, providing they don’t forfeit their integrity in the process.
Yesterday I referred you to a valid piece from Mary E. DeMuth, and today I’m going to send you to an interesting post from Mike Duran: http://mikeduran.com/?p=3328.
Sometimes as writers we marvel at different facets of the writing community. We all have our favorite authors, books, genres. We’re amazed when some novels sell great numbers and become disappointed when others don’t. We work at our craft, construct our novels, we play by the rules or attempt to, we suck up our emotions at rejections, and we trudge on to our varied goals. We watch in surprise, admiration, bafflement, maybe nausea as our compatriots in the field rise to “stardom” or dive into obscurity.
What will it take to rock the industry? Another Shack? Another niche novel which breaks out from the mold and turns readers into marketers?
This s l o w moving machine known as royalty publishing most likely isn’t going to make any decision(s) quickly. They lumber along in a steady plod overloading CBA shelves with prairie and Amish romance novels and celebrate because precisely who they’re being written for purchased them. But what about the readers who are combing the shelves or internet outlets for adult fantasy from a Christian worldview? What the industry managed to do is to alienate that market and send them into secular stores for their “fixes” because “Adult Christian fantasy doesn’t sell well.” Okay, so it’s a niche market, and money is tight, and we don’t want to waste production time and money on something that only a few thousand readers will buy or like.
When is it time to bring the legitimate complaints to the forefront of the writing community? When do these complaints sound like whining?
There’s a lot of “bluffing” out there. “Great writing always gets published.” Guess what: Lousy writing gets published, too. “We have a great marketing team.” Guess what: “Except for new authors.” And the list goes on. But no matter: It is what it is.
I think the main thing I wanted to say is this: There are legitimate complaints being made against the publishing industry. Whether or not they’re ever noticed, acknowledged as having merit, taken to the board rooms or pub boards: Who knows?
Sometimes they just need to be brought up again. Just in case anyone who cares is listening. Or just in case anyone who can actually make changes is tuned into another point of view . . .
Father, you always hear your people—their prayers, tears, sorrows, joys, needs, praises, frustrations. All of it. Thank you for caring. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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