Very big week for links, so let’s get started!
First of all, I hope everyone remembers that This Week in Publishing is but a pale imitation of author Cynthia Leitich Smith’s comprehensive weekly Cynsational News and Giveaways, which rounds up all of the best news and promos all in one place. It’s a weekly must-read.
Andrew Sullivan recently summarized two different anguished posts about the effect piracy is going to have one the future books. In order to enjoy my weekend I will stop thinking about piracy now. Okay now. Now.
Over at Bookpage comes word about Stephen King’s new book UNDER THE DOME, a 1,136 page epic novel about a town that is suddenly surrounded by an invisible force field and things start to go crazy. Anyone who has spent a day in 100+ degree weather in New York City probably knows what this feels like.
The Guardian recently featured the opposite of the “end of publishing as we know it” article: the less common but still enjoyable “things have always been this crappy” take on the book business. And actually, they have the audacity to suggest that some things might be less crappy now than before.
Janet Reid ponders what I’ve been pondering, which is that we agent bloggers may have terrified the wrong group of writers. It’s the age-old blogging agent conundrum: we want to reach the truly clueless, but the truly clueless don’t read agent blogs. If an agent screams in a forest about rhetorical questions, does he make a sound?
Kristin Nelson has some really terrific advice if you’re going to name-drop someone in a query: remind us who that person is. Our brains are full.
In agent pushback news, Jennifer Jackson took up one of my personal sticking points, and reminds authors to remember the difference between what is wanted and what is owed.
Via reader Tomas Mournian comes a really great post by author Joshua Mohr about his path to publication with big agents and a small press. He gets at some of the essential truths about the business: luck is huge, and rather than knowing everything, agents and editors are just making the best guesses they can.
Neil Vogler pointed me to an article in the Bookseller that provides the very interesting news that in 2008 the number of self-published books exceeded the number of traditionally published books for the first time. Wow.
And finally, I’m sure that I’m the absolute last person to know about this in the universe since even the New York Times wrote about it a couple years ago, but reader John Ochwat took pity on me and pointed me to the review page of a gallon of Tuscan Whole Milk, which has the best and most hilarious review thread on the Internet. Enjoy. If you haven’t already.
Have a great (long) weekend!
csmith says
Thanks Nathan, enjoy your weekend too.
Kristin Tubb says
*rushes off to stockpile Tuscan Whole Milk, one gallon, 128 fl oz*
Barb says
Assuming that you have seen the Three Wolf T-shirt? But for those that haven’t:
https://www.amazon.com/Three-T-Shirt-Available-Various-Sizes/dp/B000NZW3IY/ref=pd_sbs_gro_3
Justus M. Bowman says
Many links, you make me click. Curse your telekinesis.
Tales From A Small Island says
The Amazon review links have made my week – thanks for posting and have a great weekend!
Stephen Elliott says
Hey Curtis,
I’d love to talk to you about running some of your stuff on The Rumpus.
Thanks!
Stephen Elliott
stephen@therumpus.net
Loren Eaton says
Yes, Nathan, Tuscan Whole Milk (one gallon, 128 fl oz) is great, but what about Amazon’s nifty uranium ore?
Kimber An says
The article about terrifying the wrong group of writers is especially true. Almost all the blog readers are here to learn and are in the midst of growing as writers. They might not know everything, but if you come after them with a hammer you may never get a query on what might be a bestseller which could make your career. I suggest putting away the hammers and put the clueless out of your minds. Focus on those of us who really want to learn and please remember we’re all at different stages and doing our bestest.
RW says
I’m glad you included that J. Mohr essay. I saw that yesterday and was hoping to have a chance to ask you about it.
It’s not like I would want my agent steering me to a deal that would mean fewer sales and fewer readers, but as Mohr points out, a small press doesn’t necessarily mean “settling.” And a deal with a big publisher can still result in low sales and no second book, etc.
So I’m very intrigued by the possibility of a small press–Soft Skull is another one I keep an eye on. And I wonder how much agents are interested in considering those options for their clients. Are agents disinclined to look there because it’s not cost-effective for them?
I wonder about this because of all the horror stories I hear about agents who sign a client, pitch the book to ten big publishers, get 10 attaboy-rejections and then fire the client, apparently without ever considering smaller presses like Mohr’s second agent did. Are these agents just churning through clients playing the percentages to land a deal with a larger press? Do they not have contacts with smaller presses? Do they not really know of all the options that would be best for their clients? Or do they not bother because it wouldn’t be a profitable use of their limited time?
Scott says
Cheers, Nathan. Lots of stuff and just when I needed a distraction.
And I may be the only one in the universe, but I really think Steven King has worn out the “town in Maine” thing. As contrary as it might first appear considering what a large book it is, he’s been coming off really lazy and indulgent in the last decade or so.
Oh, and he kinda stole an idea of mine. I’ll sue!
Laura Martone says
Thanks for the links, Nathan. The query-related ones were especially helpful… and yet my brain feels even more swollen than yesterday. 😉
Nathan Bransford says
RW-
Interesting questions, and it’s something that varies from agent to agent and author to author. As THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE (MacAdam/Cage) and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES (Quirk) have shown, among many others, a motivated small press can not only publish a book well, they can get major attention for the right project.
I personally am willing to submit to as many places as the author is willing to submit to and will go the distance. But especially for agents who already have a huge roster of clients, the economics can be tough to square. Keep in mind that a $1,000 deal usually takes longer to complete than a $500,000 deal. So you’re spending more time for far less return. Some agents don’t feel it’s productive for them to then spend the hours and hours it takes to sell a book to a small press when there’s a $150 return.
But I try and take the long view.
Dawn says
Loved the article by Joshua Mohr. Very entertaining and informative. Thanks for these great links, as always.
Rick Daley says
More cool links to keep me from legitimate work. Thanks. I think.
RW says
It sounds like at best an agent would have to hope for with submitting to small presses is ROI in the very long-term. At worst, they would have to martyr themselves. If it’s truly not cost effective to swim in that pool, I wouldn’t blame agents–in my business I don’t sign agreements that aren’t cost effective for me either.
But I think I would want an agent who is serious about exploring all the options that could work for both of us, possibly to include submitting to small presses. It gives me something to think about when it comes time to hunt for an agent. (Still a ways to go in my case.) How to find one who can successfully pitch to traditional/big publishers but who is ready to think outside the box in ways that make sense for both parties in the relationship.
abc says
Here is my addition. Please join me in reading Infinite Jest this summer:
https://www.infinitesummer.org/
Patrick Rodgers says
RW you bring up great points but the problem is how do you know going in which agents will submit to small presses if the big ones don’t pan out.
Nathan said he would submit to small presses and do whatever it takes to get the book published but we get to see Nathan’s thoughts because of this great blog.
So once again Nathan endeared me to make himself the first agent I query.
Another way to do it is to find the agents of popular books that went to small presses and then query them next,
Nathan mentions two THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE (MacAdam/Cage) and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES (Quirk) so now to just find out who their agents were.
Bunny Hills says
How do you do it? How?? And you do it every day? My eyes melt just looking at all these links (all very interesting), and you actually read them (and so much more! Just the tip of the iceberg!).
Kudos times a billion! I sincerely have the highest admiration for you.
Me? I’m going to go drink a beer.
Shakier Anthem says
Re: reaching the wrong group of writers…
For what it’s worth, I try to use what I’ve learned on this blog and others to help friends from my writer’s group (who don’t read any agents’ blogs) improve their query letters. While writers who seek out feedback from their peers may still be a step up from those who crank out a 300,000-word manuscript in their basement and then blindly mass query agents the next day, perhaps it’s at least a step in the right direction.
Patrick Rodgers says
Well I can cross of The Time Traveler’s Wife literary agent as Audrey Niffenegger sent her novel to over 25 agents and go rejected by them all. She ended up sending it unsolicited to MacAdam/Cage and got published by the press itself.
That’s a great idea for perseverance if all else fails and you can’t sell the book to an agent see if you can actually sell it yourself to a small press. If you believe in your novel then never stop believing as The Time Traveler’s Wife has sold 2.5 million copies as of March.
Nathan do you ever see novels like that that you passed up on and have to kick yourself for it. I mean those 25 agents had to hate themselves for just a little bit for passing up on the book.
TC Laverdure says
Thanks for taking the Long View Nathan. Are you really as nice as you seem?
Every industry needs more Nathan Bransfords. I have been following this blog for awhile, lurking mostly and think this is the best blog for wanna be writers like myself.
This blog keeps me writing, when I feel down about the process, I come here to see that there is still hope for my writing future.
One of these days I will query you with the book I am working on, when its finished.
Have a great weekend and if you are ever in Calgary, Canada I will buy you lunch for all this effort on your part.
tclaverdure@live.com
Muchas Gracias
PSGifford says
Now I am going to gete even less writing done today.
PurpleClover says
Thanks for the links. Have a good weekend!
Mira says
Cool – wonderful links, Nathan. Very interesting, thanks.
The Tuscan Whole Milk thread is absolutely hilarious.
Nathan Bransford says
If you do want to go the distance with your novel and consider small presses that’s an important conversation to have with your agent before you sign, so you’re all on the same page.
And I will say, the small press route isn’t for everyone. Sometimes authors follow up their first novel with one that’s far better, and possibly could have sold at a major publisher. But if the sales with the small press aren’t good, it can tough to make “the leap.” Other times a small press can really understand and push a title, and can do wonders for the book.
So really I think it should be considered on a case by case basis, but if you do want your agent to consider that option it’s an important conversation to have right from the outset.
Jarucia says
The link about piracy is more pertinent than I think most writers (okay, aspiring writers) probably give it credit for, especially with the rise of e-publishing and use of the internet to workshop, etc.
There is SO much going on the e-publication front, it’s ridiculous. And it’s scary because it could go so many ways. It’s that unknown factor.
I’m glad to see the level of confidence the publishing pros have in not only the survivability of the ‘old fashioned’ book, but in its ability to thrive as well.
But as we branch into the cyber ether, we do need to be aware of where and to whom we make our work available.
I think of Stephanie Meyer and her issue with the in-Edwards-POV of Twilight book. Sounded like a soul crushing experience.
Bane of Anubis says
I don’t mind agents scaring me about dos and don’ts – but then again, I was a Navy brat, so dos and don’ts were a part of me wondrous childhood 🙂
As for Neil Gaiman’s comment about GRRM: “George R. R. Martin is not working for you.”
Ummm… who the hell is he working for then?
JJ’s comparison between agenting and an author’s responsibilities is a bit casuistic – an agent, rightfully, has no responsibility to a querier (essentially a cold-calling telemarketer), whereas an author should feel some toward his/her readers (though this could be the Navy upbringing in me believing in responsibility, accountability, etc.)
Thanks for the links!
Yamile says
Tuscan whole milk for that much? And I thought I was crazy for driving 90 minutes (roundtrip) for raw milk! And uranium ore? Sometimes when I’m looking for a special product or even struggling with a home project, my mom would say, “It’s the United States. You can find it; you can do it. Anything is possible here!” After visiting those amazon oddities I have to agree.
Have a great weekend!
Marilynn Byerly says
The Bowker figures don’t say that the number of self-published novels outnumbers traditionally published books. It says that print on demand numbers have surpassed traditionally published numbers.
As a number of us had to remind GalleyCat, print on demand and self-published books aren’t the same thing. Print on demand is used by the big publishers for backlist, by small publishers for front list, and by the self-published, among others.
Marilyn Peake says
I agree with Joshua Mohr in his article about having a big agent and a small publishing house when he says, “… since they’ve corroborated that the publishing business is run on chance, I need only concern myself with one thing: the quality of my writing. That isn’t chance at all. I can’t control marketing trends or debutantes, but I can control the amount of energy I put into my revision process. I can take my time and make sure to write the best book I can.” That really is the only thing a writer can control. Small publishing houses, taken as a whole, aren’t better than the large publishing houses. A good small press is a wonderful thing, but there are a LOT of small presses out there so corrupt, they make the big publishing houses look like the work of Mother Theresa. Many of those small publishing houses eventually disappear into the night, taking authors’ royalties and book rights along with them. No matter what, though, writers can always control the quality of their writing.
The First Carol says
Mr. Bransford: I have the answer to “does he make a sound?” It’s a small, yet unique cartoon I’ve saved for many moons in my desk. I found it recently while cleaning. Really. I was cleaning. I will send it to you surreptitiously, which means ack! I don’t want to fill your inbox so will have to find some clever way to share. Me? Clever? Sure. It happens.
Have a great weekend and don’t worry about publishing–and thanks for the extra thoughts on small press.
Margaret Yang says
I’m sold. I just ordered Joshua Mohr’s book.
Chuck H. says
I’d love to stay and play with the links but I must go out to the shed and roll out my bike. It’s warm and dry and I don’t have anything to do til tuesday. Ya’ll watch out for bearded old men on black motorcycles this weekend, okay? Later!
Laura Martone says
Patrick –
I’m confused. According to my research (i.e., the Acknowledgments in Niffenegger’s novel), I thought that she did in fact have an agent – one Joseph Regal (who prefers referrals, by the way). Does that mean she secured him AFTER getting signed by the small press? Hmm, I wonder.
Vacuum Queen says
Regarding scaring off the wrong half of writers…I can attest that I was one of the truly clueless, but because I came across YOU and Janet Reid, and Kristin Nelson, and Miss Snark, and and and…I figured out how to take my time (gee…it’s been since last summer since I began researching how to find an agent for my manuscript) and do it right. I hopefully had a much better query this week when I actually queried 6 agents! Obviously I’ll query more, but that was a lot of work this week (I do have another life). I feel like having a party and I feel like such a smartypants for having come across you all. Yay me! and Yay you too!!! So keep it up, you’re doing well.
The First Carol says
Chuck H: since your hitting the road, may I sit in your 1959 Airstream trailer and type on the old Underwood? I wouldn’t mind a weekend of peace and any good reason to stop cleaning…
Ink says
Bane,
Writers don’t work for readers. Businesses don’t work for their customers. Now, it’s good to satisfy those customers, as they might go elsewhere with their money. But you aren’t required to satisfy them. For example, if I make a nice, juicy hamburger, and put it outside my shop, and someone comes along and buys it and loves it, that’s great. But what if they demand another burger? Am I required to give them one? Is there something about buying that first burger that requires the sale of a second? What happens if I don’t have another burger to sell?
Writers don’t owe readers, and they don’t work for them. They offer a product that the customer can choose to purchase or not. Now, it would be wise to offer a good product, and prudent to offer it in a timely fashion. But they don’t have to. Bad business? Perhaps. But that’s Martin’s problem, not the reader’s, and the consequences are his to live with. If they don’t like how he operates (or, rather, how long he takes to operate…) then they don’t have to buy his books.
Well, that’s my take, anyway. And now I want a burger.
Bryan
Rick Chesler says
Thanks for yet another interesting TWIP, Nathan!
Rick
Bane of Anubis says
Bryan – I understand they don’t work directly for readers, but it’s a simple logic ladder (to me):
An author, to get paid, has to please the publisher – the publisher, to get paid, has to please its clients – the consumers. The model is essentially the same in business (hence the slogan – “the customer is always right” – which I don’t wholly agree with, but I believe the gist). Now, I realize someone like GRRM can take his time and still be a bestseller, but that doesn’t make it right.
I agree that it’s not a requirement, but it’s good business practice.
Now, am I gonna go on his blog and ask “WTF?” or call him out – no… but I still think Gaiman’s off base b/c authors live off of readers and nothing else.
Ink says
Bane,
I agree with that, but I think Martin’s given readers a lot. And if he’s a bestseller, it’s because he’s giving enough of those readers just what they want – a great story. If someone doesn’t like waiting, well… don’t. Don’t buy the books. That’s the most effective message out there. I, like you, think it’s kind of silly to go on the man’s blog and yell at him, as if this were somehow constructive. Sort of sad, really, though not unsurprising.
And I still want a burger. Who’s gonna pony up for me? 🙂
Laura Martone says
I find myself agreeing with you a lot, Bane. It unnerves me a little. 😉
Bane of Anubis says
I want a burrito, myself 🙂 – yeah, he has given a lot, but we are a culture of “want and demand,” unfortunately. I’m just gonna need some cliff notes before his next book comes out
Bane of Anubis says
Laura, I’d definitely be unnerved – I tend to be an outlier (though my wife prefers the term megalomaniac 🙂
Ink says
Lol on the cliff notes. I hear you.
The other thing, with Martin, is that I really don’t think it’s lack of effort or laziness. I think the story’s gotten away from him, and he’s finding it hard as hell to make it work and keep all those juggling balls in the air. I think one of the reasons people love that story is its ambition… but that ambition, well, it gets you stuck in a hole, sometimes, too.
Bane of Anubis says
I agree, it’s definitely connecting all the dots that’s got him in the tar pit. Kind of an epiphany for me recently – of any spec genres, I’d say Epic fantasy is one of the easiest to write, but good EF could well be the most difficult.
He just needs to kill off a few more characters and the sky won’t appear so hazy.
Tricia J. O'Brien says
I have to say I thought Neil Gaiman’s response was hilarious. Whatever Martin’s creative block might or might not be, he is not a slave to the readers. Fans can get way too possessive of stories, films, celebrities, etc. And, if disappointed, they should move on to something else.
Angie says
Apologies if you’ve seen it before, but I just discovered this funny comic thing from Book Expo America, about things we’d all like to tell publishers 🙂
https://www.unshelved.com/publisherconfidential.pdf
AndrewDugas says
Gosh, Nathan, somehow you omitted the week’s biggest publishing news, namely the big splash Scribd.com made when Kemble Scott, author of the best-selling “SoMa”, published his second novel in e-book form. The NY Times covered it, SF Chron, and even NPR had a bit about it.
(Scott was part of a troika: Tamim Ansary and Joe Quirk did the same thing at the same time with their new titles.)
How does it sit with the agent community and the established publishing… er, establishment when authors bypass the whole system like this?
Patrick Rodgers says
Laura I do believe she acquired the agent after she had already gotten several publishers interested in the book. The book actually went in an auction. So she did it backwards acquiring an agent after pretty much already selling the book.
Weronika says
Fabulous stuff/links–makes my week every time.
Have a good one, Nathan!