True enough. But I have never sold as many copies of a self-published book as my published books and never made as much money, never been as widely- or as well-reviewed, etc. etc. etc. That's behind me now anyway. Glad to be getting royalties, glad to be out of the book publishing rat race, happy to be finding so many lit mad editors who like me essays and short stories.
But think back when you first had a manuscript accepted by a publisher. What do you think your chances would be to find a publisher today with that first nook if you were just starting out? I know several published authors who say they doubt if they'd be so lucky today. Another says, she's never been able to even find a decent agent--even when she first submitted to countless publishers.
As a very late bloomer, even though I worked for years as an academic editor before retiring, I tired quickly of sending pitch letters and sample chapters to small indie publishers. Instead, I decided I'd self-publish before I croaked while searching for a sympathetic publisher.
Time is crucial. I don't submit to lit mags that can take six-nine months. What's the point? And I hear you about pitch letters: agents and editors want you to do their jobs for them--on top of demonstrating a strong social media presence/following.
The cover is the author's problem when they tour, when it's in book stores If it's off-putting, then it undercuts sales potential. And trust me, touring with a book whose cover you don't like is not fun. Bad press doesn't affect people who don't understand that bad press can harm a book's trajectory.
Yes I was being funny. Covers can be unbelievably bad. I've seen this with small presses. What I meant was it's hard to believe a larger publisher would do that. Doubtless the author must step in. Otherwise yes, it would be misery.
As for bad press, I hear you, but wouldn't you take a bad review over no review at all? What about getting savaged by the The New York Times, or London Review? I'd kiss the reviewer on the mouth : )
You have my sympathy, Lev. Regarding queries, except for matters of house style and verifiable fact, my editorial stance was always "Asked and answered," with the understanding that the author has agreed to sell his copyright but not his voice or his soul.
Remember, those are things that *can* happen. I've heard worse, like the writer whose partner was celebrated and whose publicist at the major press actually told someone asking for an interview, "Do you really want him? We have better authors."
I'm always glad to hear that. Publishing is the world we love to hate. I've had some excellent editors, and learned a lot from them. Each house has been different, and I've benefited from their attention. Now, when I self-pub, I appreciate all they did for me and try to cover the same ground. It's good to know what the standards are and to strive for them.
I can't say I hate it. I've been shafted by only one press and one editor out of a dozen. I can say that I love publishing essays and short stories again and not feeling chained to a book.
Getting that manuscript back from an editor with all the track changes on the right feels like elementary school. You know, the homework with stuff marked in red? Makes you feel inadequate... for a moment!
Those are the potential perils, but the majority of my books have been traditionally published and without hassles. I've always done my own PR but having a publisher help push a book makes a difference, or it has for me anyway. I could never have gotten one of my books to 300,000+ copies sold and over a dozen translations. Re/covers: I always had great luck with smaller presses and a university press. My worst cover was with Doubleday.
Yes, it all depends. I don't have the energy to go it alone now--or the inclination . I do have the energy to write and submit essays and short stories and have had surprising success: 85 publications in three years. Even long-form essays are more fun to work on for me now than a book. I feel free of the pressure to publish another book legacy or indie. Been there, done that enough.
Yikes!!!!😱
These things *can* happen. They don't necessarily *do* happen.
Or you can work with two trusted editors and proofreaderd, and publish the book yourself.
True enough. But I have never sold as many copies of a self-published book as my published books and never made as much money, never been as widely- or as well-reviewed, etc. etc. etc. That's behind me now anyway. Glad to be getting royalties, glad to be out of the book publishing rat race, happy to be finding so many lit mad editors who like me essays and short stories.
But think back when you first had a manuscript accepted by a publisher. What do you think your chances would be to find a publisher today with that first nook if you were just starting out? I know several published authors who say they doubt if they'd be so lucky today. Another says, she's never been able to even find a decent agent--even when she first submitted to countless publishers.
I don't disagree, but for me, I wouldn't risk self-publishing now because of the competition: three million books published every year in the US. https://ideas.bkconnection.com/10-awful-truths-about-publishing
As a very late bloomer, even though I worked for years as an academic editor before retiring, I tired quickly of sending pitch letters and sample chapters to small indie publishers. Instead, I decided I'd self-publish before I croaked while searching for a sympathetic publisher.
Time is crucial. I don't submit to lit mags that can take six-nine months. What's the point? And I hear you about pitch letters: agents and editors want you to do their jobs for them--on top of demonstrating a strong social media presence/following.
You might hate the book cover the publisher comes up with-- The cover's their problem
There's the possibility of bad reviews-- All press is good press
Really bad reviews-- What do they know?
The kind that lodge like a splinter in your brain-- Take 'em on one at a time in your 'stack Lev : )
The cover is the author's problem when they tour, when it's in book stores If it's off-putting, then it undercuts sales potential. And trust me, touring with a book whose cover you don't like is not fun. Bad press doesn't affect people who don't understand that bad press can harm a book's trajectory.
Yes I was being funny. Covers can be unbelievably bad. I've seen this with small presses. What I meant was it's hard to believe a larger publisher would do that. Doubtless the author must step in. Otherwise yes, it would be misery.
As for bad press, I hear you, but wouldn't you take a bad review over no review at all? What about getting savaged by the The New York Times, or London Review? I'd kiss the reviewer on the mouth : )
Authors get "cover approval" which means zip if you're not a best seller.
Bad reviews are only worth something if you can carve out a pull quote. And that's a hoot when your editor, agent, or you do it.
thanks Lev
😱
You have my sympathy, Lev. Regarding queries, except for matters of house style and verifiable fact, my editorial stance was always "Asked and answered," with the understanding that the author has agreed to sell his copyright but not his voice or his soul.
Remember, those are things that *can* happen. I've heard worse, like the writer whose partner was celebrated and whose publicist at the major press actually told someone asking for an interview, "Do you really want him? We have better authors."
This is my shocked face.
Ah, yes, the dream of being published, the nightmare of reality. Good post.
Thanks. Sometime it can be awful, but I have to say for me it's mostly been a delight.
I'm always glad to hear that. Publishing is the world we love to hate. I've had some excellent editors, and learned a lot from them. Each house has been different, and I've benefited from their attention. Now, when I self-pub, I appreciate all they did for me and try to cover the same ground. It's good to know what the standards are and to strive for them.
I can't say I hate it. I've been shafted by only one press and one editor out of a dozen. I can say that I love publishing essays and short stories again and not feeling chained to a book.
I've been thinking a lot about essays, which was my first love, when I was a teenager.
Helpful, but scary!
Well, be prepared is a good motto.
Getting that manuscript back from an editor with all the track changes on the right feels like elementary school. You know, the homework with stuff marked in red? Makes you feel inadequate... for a moment!
I like Track Changes better than old school written notes. :-)
Those are the potential perils, but the majority of my books have been traditionally published and without hassles. I've always done my own PR but having a publisher help push a book makes a difference, or it has for me anyway. I could never have gotten one of my books to 300,000+ copies sold and over a dozen translations. Re/covers: I always had great luck with smaller presses and a university press. My worst cover was with Doubleday.
Yes, it all depends. I don't have the energy to go it alone now--or the inclination . I do have the energy to write and submit essays and short stories and have had surprising success: 85 publications in three years. Even long-form essays are more fun to work on for me now than a book. I feel free of the pressure to publish another book legacy or indie. Been there, done that enough.