Publishers Aren’t Your BFF
Thanks to long-time visitor Julia Rachel Barrett for the tip on a group chat with five female authors who were published in New York and now have gone indie.
The original post introduces each author and has the author’s name prior to her comment. In the interest of brevity here, PG will omit the names and just post excerpts from the comments. He bets you’ll want to read the whole thing.
Excerpts:
For me, self publishing is a lot easier, and more lucrative, than traditional publishing. I’m thrilled so many of my earlier books are getting readers (over 38,000 people have downloaded AFTER THE FIRE, which just went free on Amazon). And in some ways, writing is more enjoyable for me because I get to write about what I want and write the way I want to. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed working with editors in many respects. But I’d rather have control of the content and style of my work.
. . . .
I’ve had much more success self-publishing than I did as a traditionally published author. I’ve sold many more books, earned ten times as much money, and I’m able to write what I want instead of what an agent or editor thinks will sell.
. . . .
I think my name recognition from my print career helped a little, but no, I don’t think that’s why I’m succeeding so well self-publishing my backlist (with new stories on the way). Fans of my print books already own them, so they’re not the ones buying those same titles as ebooks. The ebooks are bringing me a whole new audience. From the fan mail I’m getting, these readers never heard my name before they tried one of my e-titles. Then they went out and bought the rest. It’s the writing, not the name, that helps an author win with ebooks.
. . . .
I definitely see self-publishing as a viable option for me. In fact, I can’t imagine signing with a traditional print publisher at this time. Not unless they change the “industry standard” they are currently offering (25% of net). I’m making more money while enjoying more freedom, more control, and less stress. That, however, is the choice that’s right for me. For some authors, a traditional publisher is still the better choice, but the issue is too complex for any easy answer.
. . . .
[P]ublishers are not your friends. Your editor may or may not become your friend, but publishers are about business, and they’ll make unemotional decisions that are in their best interests, regardless of what it means for you. In the big picture, that might be obvious, but it’s a pervasive attitude that insinuates itself through the process. They’ll also do whatever they can get away with–meaning undesirable contract terms, late payments, late editing, and production chores that go undone until suddenly your next step lands on your desk with a blithe request for an emergency turn-around–regardless of what’s going on in your life. And intensely overworked editors, no matter how you adore them, can’t always insulate you from these things. So, yeah. Publishers aren’t your BFF–and they shouldn’t be. But right now it feels like there’s also a certain amount of necessary respect missing.
Link to the rest at The How to Write Shop
PG will add that these are authors who treat their writing like their business. That doesn’t mean they don’t love what they do, but they talk like pragmatists seeking success.
Thanks, Julia and PG. A very interesting post. Of course, I always like things that validate my world-view. *grin*
Suzan – We all like it when people agree with us. There’s also a danger of being blind-sided if we don’t listen to contrary views as well, which is the reason for some of the opinions I link to.
And I profusely thank you for the wide range of views you present.
Suzan – Thanks for your kind words.
The interview is interesting. I know one of the authors had limited success with self-publishing. Since I have one foot in both worlds, or at least since I’m about to step into the world of self-publishing, I am quite nervous. I’ll listen to both sides – there are problems with Amazon as well as with the big pubs.
Julia – The only perfect world an author encounters is one she builds in her books.
Julia, don’t be nervous, but be aware. The part I think we all forget in the brouhaha is the reader. Unfortunately, that’s the side left out of the equation.
And in some ways, writing is more enjoyable for me because I get to write about what I want and write the way I want to. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed working with editors in many respects. But I’d rather have control of the content and style of my work.
Though I have a more positive view of self publishing than a negative one, comments like this make shake my head. Every writer needs an editor. It doesn’t matter if you’re going with one of the big six or self publishing a book on Kindle you still need an experienced editor to go over your work. I’ve read too many self published book that had TONS of potential but were ultimately disappointing because the author didn’t think he/she needed an editor.
There’s different kinds of editing, though. There’s editing to point out obvious errors in spelling and grammar. There’s editing which points out lags in pace and problems with plot consistency. And there’s editing that says: “You can’t do that. It doesn’t match our formula/current trends/the market.”
I doubt any of those authors are saying: “I’m fine with putting out books with typos or consistency errors.”
Andrea, you’re probably correct. However, if I was a newbie writer thinking about going at it on my own, that’s not how I’d read it. I’d think “Oh Ms. Shay doesn’t need an editor, I don’t either” and end up killing my career before it had a chance to start.
Most of the editing I’ve encountered with my Big 6 publishers wasn’t about making the book better in general. It was about making the book better for what that editor/house saw as their market. This is completely valid as a business choice, but is drastically different than what I think most people think of when they think of editing.
Examples would be “add more romance.” This is completely valid if you are trying to reach a romance market, but if you are going for more of a women’s fiction feel then it isn’t.
I believe that kind of thing is what Kathryn was talking about, and I agree with her.
And this is completely separate from copy editing where they will read for grammatical mistakes, time line mistakes, etc.
Very interesting and right on point, Lori.
The publisher is always focused on profit (not necessarily a bad thing), but the author is often focused on a terrific book. Sometimes, those two goals are congruent, but not always.