I Divorced My Publisher--a cautionary tale
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I divorced my publisher.
I can hear your synapse's snapping, “Are you insane? You had a legitimate publisher in an economy writers would jump off the Verrazano Bridge onto a pile of alcohol soaked razor blades to even get noticed?”
Yes. I did. I yanked the plug and went solo. Not first without a great deal of miles on my pedometer and blisters on my typing fingers.
Once upon a time, I contacted a well-known publishing house specializing in my genre while in the midst of sailing along writing a manuscript. Upon seeing a sample of my work, the Editorial Director agreed to work very closely with me on the project.
A little too close.
The Editorial Director, at first glance, seemed genius. To be perfectly aligned with the type of book I aspired to produce.
As the relationship developed, I realized publishing house “X” built their success on one author. This particular author's book found its way accidentally into the hands of a famous celebrity, and well, the rest was history. Millions of copies later, the author was rich and the publisher much richer.
The rest of the publisher's books were languishing in the stable and it became apparent Mr. Editor's interest in my work was self-motivated. He saw a way to align his own books (all sold less than 1000 copies) with someone who he thought may end up on 'O' one day. You know the 'O' I mean, don't you.? The one before 'P' (please God, get me on 'O') and after 'N' (Nothing I won't do to get on 'O').
Mr. Spritually Enlightented Editor even had the chutzpah to demand a clause in my contract stating he sit next to me if I was ever on O, and wanted his editorial credit on the book cover!
Strange for a man of great integrity. Mr. Editor blogs daily on the topic of enlightenment with several published books on the subject to his credit.
To be continued...
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Linda Spear says:
Thank you for your honesty!
Leslie, I so appreciate the words and especially the meaning of your blog. That has been my impression of some of the most "competent" publishers for quite some time. A lot of lousy things have happened to friends of mine who had big expectations driven by their publisher's drivel, but in the end, it was just as you said: They concentrate on the "O" factor...or Dan Brown, if they happen to own him. I'm going through Book Surge, which is an Amazon ancillary unit and the work that they do for me is driven by me. Yes, I pay for it, but if I did it the conventional way, I'd pay in mournful disatisfaction over what could have been. I am nervous as one person can be as I watch the clock count down to the publication of my novel, "I Know You by Heart," but at least I know what I will get from the publisher and what I have to put in myself. Don't know if that's comforting to you, but it's a lot better than what happened to you and what you experienced is happening all over this country with publishers who only want to put bucks behind a sure winner. Makes me feel like we are horses in a race, and very few of us are "Rachel Alexandra," the biggest and best horse on the circuit this year. That three year old filly beats all the big stallions and is already a part of history. I'm no better, but I'm mentally betting on my team at Book Surge to do whatever they can, according to what I buy and they agree to do. I think it's more than what a publisher will do, as he or she promises me the world, and then, perhaps I'd end up in a sandbox in which to sift through the debris of my shredded novel... All best to you, Linda Spear
Leslie Bradford says:
Linda, Thanks for your
Linda,
Thanks for your comments. I wish you much success with your book, I know you by heart.
A new model of publishing is being forged and no one is quite sure what shape the final build will take. The days of stodgy publishing houses (editors with ascots, cigars and snobbish accents) who follow tediously slow time lines are disappearing as rapidly as the DVD movie rental. Heck, anyone remember Beta?
When you hold your finished book in your hands like a mother holds her newborn baby, gaze at it, caress the glossy cover, hold it to your cheek, and know this one thing; you are only half way there.
Marketing your book is the other fifty percent. It's just as much work, perhaps more, than writing the manuscript.
When I set out to invest in my manuscript, I looked at a few important factors. I thought of my book as a business, such as a franchise. Cash/sweat outgoing = potential loss vs potential gain x's emotional reward/drain= is it worth it?
As a business, am I a good investment? What facts do I have that make me a good risk?
1.My past works have won or placed finalist/semi-finalist in International competitions.
2.My current work attracted more than 140,000 readers in four months on an Internet discussion board before it was deleted by the moderator.
3.A publisher took me on as a client.
4.I had an agent.
Even with this evidence, I still knew 85% of authors sell less than 500 books. In the end, I decided the risk was worth it. After all, I'd never be satisfied unless I tried. Win, lose or draw, I'm prepared for any outcome. Really, I mean it.
I offer this for any person with a story to tell; Write it, write it, write it, as long as words keep falling from your pen like ripe bananas from trees. When it is complete, hire a good editor. If it sucks, get a better editor.
Plan on investing yourself fully into the marketing. If you know nothing about the subject either hire a publicist and marketing firm or become an expert. Google, Google, Google. Can you imagine trying to learn about the subject of marketing books 20 years ago? Geez, no wonder publishers cornered the market on authors back then. One would have to get a Masters in marketing to understand what you can now learn in a couple of weeks on the www.
Now the big question. What if your book stinks? Or what if it's great, but just doesn't sell?
The remaining money in your bank account will get a little lonely, you'll feel a bit depressed, but you will never have that low level smoldering running through your veins like a molten river wondering, “What if?' And hey, you just may have refined your writing and marketing skills to Masters or PhD level.
Or, what if it's a success? Call me, I need to borrow some money.
One thing is for sure, you'll pass the rocking chair test.
Yes, there are still the Tom Snobbery's of the literary scene. I don't like cigars, ascots or brandy, so who cares?