I’m not too into rants, but a few things bother me. Maybe I’m cranky from lack of sleep, but…
My husband told me about an interview he heard recently on some program…I don’t know, radio, TV, internet…about a man who published his first novel at the tender age of 17. Apparently, this fellow made the following preposterous claim: the fact that both his parents are novelists and among the mucky mucks in the New York publishing world had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with his ability to get a literary agent, admittedly after his parents called around to a few friends of theirs, and again, nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that his first novel was published when he was so young. Um…uh…speechless here. This is kind of like saying that Rumer Willis getting to be Miss Oscar had nothing whatsoever to do with who her parents are.
Don’t misunderstand. I don’t begrudge anyone their success. I’m just saying that a foot in the door is definitely worth two in the mouth, and if someone cares enough to give you that, you are one lucky SOB. I guess we all like to think we earn our way. Sometimes we do indeed, after the path has been smoothed by someone else. Just be careful. To quote Elvis Costello - The same people you misuse on the way up, you might meet up, on your way down.
So what else is bothering me? Why You (Still) Want An Agent - by Eric over at Pimp My Novel. No quotes, but I will provide the link. http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2010/08/why-you-still-want-agent.html
Eric makes it sound so easy! Like these literary agents are falling out of trees and playing leapfrog to get to you, because man, they all wanna pimp your books! I won’t even go there. I got off that wagon years ago.
Thanks to the internet and the blogosphere, pretty much everyone knows about the Dorchester move to e-publishing and Barnes and Noble’s demise - well, we knew that was coming, but it’s still too damn bad. I wonder how small, local bookstores view the situation. I recently read a question on one of my writer’s loops…an author asked if we think the traditional New York pubs are going to move into the e-pub business big-time, pushing out the current e-publishers.
My response? No. The internet levels the playing field. E-publishing allows those of us who’ve been ignored by the traditional pubs to play the game. It’s a good thing, capitalism at its best. The cream will still rise to the top. Books will become more affordable, readers will continue to have easy access their favorite authors and genres, and book bloggers - who have themselves revolutionized the book review/promotion industry - will continue to thrive. I swear, fifteen years ago I worried about increasing rates of illiteracy. No more - the internet has increased literacy, spreading the desire to read all around the globe. ***I recently ran into someone who quite literally believes the internet to be the work of the devil. My mouth dropped open. No sound came out. How can you argue with such an irrational thought process?
One other rant - this comes from an author on one of my loops who read a comment on another loop - an unpublished author said she was saddened by Dorchester’s announcement because she doesn’t want to be e-published…she wants to be a real author. What does that make the rest of us, chopped liver? Well, maybe if we’re my gramma’s chopped liver because hers was really really exceptional…
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Hmmm, 17 with an agent and book contract. It must be the next Harry Potter. You’re right his parents had nothing to do with it.
The writer who wants to be a REAL writer - well she can bite…okay I’ll play nice in the sandbox.
Amber - I’m a little cranky, but I’m not mad and I’m not in a get even mode - just a disclaimer!
I think some of the writing/reading world doesn’t yet understand or can’t believe or even appreciate the rapidity of change the publishing world is facing.
It’s true that not everyone who fancies himself or herself a writer, is a good writer.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a N.Y. publishing house or an e-publishing house, you still want the best writers and storytellers you can find, because you want to sell books. E-pubs are not quite as saddled with the problems of nepotism as N.Y. pubs.
After working with editors, I am a better writer now than I was four years ago. I’m a better writer now than I was after college where I majored in Creative Writing. I have been very pleased with every editor I’ve had with Siren, Resplendence and Cobblestone.
I’m still not sure how I feel about the Dorchester thing. Mostly because I’m confused.. they asked me to do some reviews for them, so they occasionally send me free books. Does this mean they will stop that? Or are they going to send me ecopies? I’m okay with that, really. But it probably means I need a better eReader. I love mine to death but we have arguments while uploading.
The part about ebook authors not being real authors just upsets me. I’d say more on the subject… but all I want to say is that particularly unpublished author needs to get her head out of her a…. ahem. Bum.
Morning Glow - I assume ARCs in e-book format? It’s very cost-effective! I know some book bloggers have received Kindles and other readers from pubs so who knows? It’s probably more cost-effective to send out a few e-readers than it is to continue doing business the old-fashioned way. I bet they’ll still have great covers and put out quality POD books.