I mentioned in passing the different stories being put about in the publishing industry about ebook sales. Some reports say digital sales have leveled out or stagnated. The other side of the tales explains that this is actually only true when it comes to ebooks sales by the 5 big publishers and selected small presses. When you looks at ebooks sales taking in all the small presses and the indie authors, ebook sales are not stagnant at all. L. Diane Wolfe shared the truth that the Big 5 are trying to hide.
When I first started writing, there were few options to the Big 5. And there were rules to be followed if you wanted those entities to even look at your work. Everything was snail mail. They sneered at the idea of email queries. Not only did you have to send you submission in the mail, but you had to include a SASE so they can return it to you after a form rejection. An editor or agent might even scribble, No thanks, on your query letter. All that postage and trips to the post office and then waiting weeks and months for a reply. Some guidelines said they might take up to a year or more to get back to you.
Lots of agents and editors didn't even post their guidelines online, leaving you to search them out elsewhere. And those guidelines were sometimes very strict, especially for romance. Twenty pages per chapter and twenty chapters was an accepted length for a book. Some romance lines expected the hero and heroine meet in the first chapter, kiss by a certain page and other exacting plot points to made when directed. The number of words per page was also explained in detail.
This was if you could get an editor to read your manuscript. Many of the Big 5 won't accept a submission directly from a writer and will only look at something from an agent. If you happened to meet an agent or editor at a conference, you would hear tales of the six foot tall slush piles filling their offices. And horrors, what if your manuscript ended up in the slush pile!
Should you receive a contract, the standard time between signing and publication was around two years. If you were lucky, you might get more contracts during that time, but if that first book didn't earn back its miniature advance, the publisher probably wouldn't want that second book.
I signed on early with a digital publisher, years before the Big 5 were jumping into the ebook market. There were actually successful writers I knew who advised me I was ruining a chance at a writing career by doing that. It was the smartest career move I made. I've been with them for nearly eight years.
"Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent." Marilyn Von Savant
Now the latest news from the publishing industry is that many writers are finding success outside the New York overlords of publishing. Many are throwing the rules out the window and making their own way.
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do." Steve Jobs
Do you remember some of those old, strict rules? Have you been following the publishing news about ebook sales? How long have you been with your publisher? Any missteps along your career you would do differently?
21 comments:
I have had my three books self published so have not had any problems you have written about, but it's was interesting to know what do go on in the publishing world. Great to read,
Yvonne.
I remember those snail mail days! I hadn't realized the guidelines for romance submissions were so crazy-strict, though, (Yikes!) Glad the digital publisher route ended up being such a blessing for you, Susan!
I entered into the market about the time things were changing. For which I'm grateful. I've been very happy with my small publisher and know it was the best choice for me.
Thank you so much for mentioning my post.
I do remember sending off large packets and SASE to publishers and agents. I don't miss those days at all. I also remember when ebooks had to be read on the computer because there were no other options.
I remember those SASEs. I also remember going to the library to use Literary Market Place Guide (or whatever it was called) to look up agents and magazine guidelines. And every Christmas, I asked for the Writer's Market book for that year. Wow, times have changed!
I LOVE this post. What you said is exactly what I found, which is why my husband and I decided to create our own publishing company to publish my books. I couldn't imagine attempting to be creative in that stifling atmosphere.
Thankfully I never started until things changed. Going through all of that would have annoyed me to no end, especially the stupid rules like kiss by such a page, etc.
Hi Susan - yes .. we may rue the passing of the old days - but there are more options now and ways of finding those niche markets. I feel like Pat above ... I'm glad I'm where I am now - cheers Hilary
I remember the old days. I love we have so many options now. If I could change one thing, I would have been braver earlier. Yet my skin was too thin. I couldn't handle rejection, and so I didn't publish anything no matter that I was always writing.
I love this because I remember doing all of that. I hated doing snail mail. I'm actually still submitting to agents (luckily most accept e-queries now) for a series I would like a big house to snatch up but I love the small press that accepted me when no one else would.
You mean the days when we were at the mercy of the gatekeepers? Yeah, I'm so glad those are over. I sent out one query back in the day with the SASE, and I didn't even get it returned. Nothing. Ugh. I'm so glad for the publishing revolution.
Being an agented author, I pretty much adopted a new way of doing things. Write for the traditional market; if the big houses don't pick it up, then self publish it. It'll get published either way. :)
It's not a surprise that the Big 5 are so obdurate when it comes to digital. And with those prices, it's no surprise that their e-sales have "stagnated".
The prices for new release ebooks by the Big 5 have been insane lately. If I'm going to pay more for an ebook than for a paperback, I'll...well, I won't do that. I'll get the paperback. :D However, most of my ebooks are from indie authors, and I've got plenty of those!
I remember those days. I still have a couple of guides to literary agents which were invaluable then. Now all that info is free on line. And thank God for email queries!
Following publishing news is like following regular news: all bad, depressing, devastating. I do like reading posts on the trends though. Thanks for sharing all this.
It does pay to make your own choices. The recommended choice is not always the best.
I remember SASEs.
Oh the good old days weren't that good except for the privileged writers who were able to crack through. Now many authors can get their stuff out there and find readers.
Yes, there are still strict guidelines re romance, as readers are said to have certain expectations, which is probably true. Thank goodness that the publishing world is less rigid, but self-publishing is no picnic either. Self-published authors don't have access to a whole plethora of editors, marketing departments etc. How can they expect to produce a book anywhere near the quality of the Big 5? You read up to a page of acknowledgement from those who've helped bring a book into the world. We need such a team to bring a self-published book into the world. We shouldn't expect to do it all by ourselves. :-)
You were a clever pioneer! I like that the market has changed to let readers themselves decide what they want rather than editors at stodgy big pubs dictating what makes it to market.
Thanks for the link to Diane's post - heading right over.
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