So, I don’t know if you’ve heard the news, but we’re in a bit of a recession. I know. I’ll let that sink in. I was floored when I heard yesterday too.
And the recession is coinciding with the rise of digital media and the Internet as a (mostly free) competition for eyeballs and leisure time. Fewer people have the disposable income to buy books, and if they had more money people would be spending more time on the Internet anyway. These two forces are currently squeezing the publishing industry for all it’s worth (and all its worth without an apostrophe too).
One of the big current questions I’ve been receiving is whether this is affecting what I consider representing. Here’s my answer: YES.
Publishers right now want the surest of sure things that are so sure it beats surety over its sure head. And agents have to adjust what they take on accordingly.
I don’t know if you’ve heard this news either, but there are very few sure bets in this business. So editors have to be really really really really really really convinced that they want to invest in a project in order to take it on, particularly for debuts, and particularly particularly for previously published authors with a mixed track record.
This means that editors are looking closely at fewer projects. It means that books that editors may want to acquire may not be cleared for acquisition or it may mean that the editor wants a revision and a perfect manuscript before making an offer. It means that authors whose sales have been respectable but not eye-popping may not have their contracts renewed, or if they are renewed the bookstores may only order half as many copies as they ordered for their last book.
No. Don’t… Don’t jump off the ledge! Come back! YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR!!
In the midst of my travels last week I became completely addicted to the TV show Friday Night Lights. I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but it’s about a small town in Texas that is completely obsessed with football and in particular its very good high school team. It focuses in part on the coach, the inestimable, talented, and at times beleaguered Coach Taylor.
Now, Coach Taylor is a really good guy. He has a heart and he cares about his players. But he also doesn’t tolerate any dissent and is fond of ending meetings with players with benedictions like, “Now get the hell out of my office,” which makes me giddy every time. Oh, Coach Taylor.
I’m going to channel my inner Coach Taylor on you now and speak in declarative sentences.
“Listen up! We got a big submission Friday night, and the publishers out there are going through some hard times. They want to see your submissions sparkling! They want perfection, and as the literary agent of this here team I aim to give it to ’em! It’s time to look deep inside yourself and step up yer game! This means everything from revising to your queries to your submissions needs to be absolutely 110% perfect. And anyone who wants to cry about it can take off their shoulder pads and get off my field!”
That was fun.
But honestly, we’re all doing the best we can in tough times. There’s more competition at every single stage. I’m getting more queries. There are fewer editors at fewer publishing houses acquiring fewer projects. Bookstores are ordering fewer books. It’s tough out there, and it’s not the time to complain.
It’s time, basically, to look inside yourself and step up yer game.
anon, Matilda, Christine H, nona-
I agree with all of you (even if you said slightly different things), and I think it's a definite worry that publishers are going to overreact to the current marketplace and only snatch up books like what is already popular which, as we all know, is not how you find the Next Big Thing.
I do think this is happening to a certain extent and it's worrisome, but if you watch what sells on Pub Lunch, there is a little bit of everything. Ultimately, everyone is making their best guesses. They just happen to be making fewer of them at the moment.
I've actually been encouraged by what I've seen on Publisher's Lunch – sure you have your celebrity memoirs but I've also seen debut authors on the list.
Also, as far as complaints about people like Octomom getting book deals, I don't fault the publishers – they just print what they think people will buy. Unfortunately, there are plenty of consumers out there who will shell out money for a trainwreck story like that rather than a literary work. Sad but true.
Well I suppose it all goes back to what was posted a few days ago about having a good concept to begin with. If other people seem interested in it, then chances are you have a chance of a readership.
Mostly, I think, people read for entertainment. They don't want anything too deep or disturbing. At least, I know I don't. Real life is disturbing enough!
Tracy, where can I get one of those bubbles?
You know Nathan, when I first read your post, it brought up alot of thoughts for me about the politics of writing; writing as a business; the frustrating lot of the writer. Very old, familiar thoughts.
But over the night, what stuck with me was a feeling of: Dig deep! Go higher! Do it! I love that feeling of inspiration.
It showed me that I could – there were depths and heights I wasn't tapping.
What a gift. Thank you.
As I said before, writers are often writing in isolation, and it's really nice to feel believed in – that you not only CAN do it, but you WILL do it.
Maybe you're pointing out the gift of challenging times like these is to make us dig deeper and reach higher.
And then, when your book is published, whether it's now or later, it will be the very best.
Scott,
I really love your ideas.
word verification: solut!
That was a very cool posting Nathan, you took a negative and turned into a very effective pitch to turn up the quality level of our writing.
Gracias
Nathan,
Honestly, that was very helpful advice. Maybe we rejected ones can think our work isn't THAT bad, just not a hit for this economy.
And then we can roll up our sleeves and try to write the 110% next novel.
Two amazing –really amazing– writers I know (the kind that blow my socks off) quit writing after their first novel was rejected.
Now, I understand why. It can be soooo depressing out there.
So it dawns on me that the feedback, the responses and critiques from my writing group may be the ONLY response I will ever hear. It may only be a handful of people, but it is VERY nice.
What a weird world.
I think it means, as a writer, go with what you want to write, what you really really want to write.
Make that writing 110%.
…And damn the torpedoes.
Sounds very similar to the movie business, too – hence why they're doing all these remakes/reboots of classics (and even not so classics – like "Cliffhanger")… It's easier all around. Less innovation required, less legwork to get the story out, and an already built in fan base.
I don't begrudge clones/imitations b/c the familiar is almost always easier to identify/enjoy (and not just in books/movies).
Wait a minute… something struck me here as I was doing housework and my mind was (naturally) wandering.
Isn't this admonishment a bit unneccessary? Aren't writers by nature an extremely fastidious bunch? Who *wouldn't* make their manuscript the absolute best they possibly could before sending it?
Or am I missing something?
Hi, Christine H.
Ugh. That reminds me – I should be doing housework, too.
Anyhoo, I just wanted to address your last question… while I'm sure that most of the writers who frequent this blog are already trying to give 100% when it comes to their manuscripts, queries, etc., I have no doubt that plenty of others do not give the process their all – and end up wondering why they keep getting rejected. And even for those of us who are trying hard to make our work "sparkle" (incidentally, I despise that term – blame it on Stephenie Meyer) – a pep talk can only help motivate us that much more!
—
wv: blogerso – an obsession with reading blogs, to the point that all else gets swept aside (including, er, writing).
Hi Nathan, I have a random question about etiquette.
If you were lucky enough to be picked up by an agent and that agent were amazing enough to get you a very good deal, how should you respond in terms of thanks?
I mean, of course acknowledging them in your book is a must and Christmas and birthdays are a given, but do you celebrate with a nice dinner? Buy them tickets to their favorite game? Send them flowers for the rest of their life?
What’s the norm?
Kristi said:
"I've actually been encouraged by what I've seen on Publisher's Lunch – sure you have your celebrity memoirs but I've also seen debut authors on the list."
I also feel encouraged. I belong to online writers’ groups in which, day after day throughout this entire recession, announcements have been made by debut authors that they signed with an agent, then signed with a big publishing house, sometimes for two-book deals, and then had the deal posted on publishing sites. They write mostly literary fiction, rarely popular type books. Some have had books rejected because it was felt they wouldn’t sell in today’s marketplace, but they buckled down and wrote another book. This past week, there were quite a few happy announcements.
I feel like I am jumping in here a bit late, but your words were provoking.
My game is so slow moving that by the time I get all the threads woven and tied, things may have changed in the market. And I am so enjoying the writing, and the reading I am doing to understand the shape of what I am writing. I actually think this is my A game, a real detailed, in depth work, and we'll see what happens.
I like my quickies, too, and was toying with the idea of tossing some of these out there, but my first two efforts got form letter rejections, including one which was clearly a cheap copier copy of a form letter, when I had sent a personalized query, even following all of your recommendations. It seemed to be telling me to keep focused on the big kahuna. Well, we'll see about that also. May try getting a smaller work out there again once school ends.
I like your A game attitude though.
Isn't this admonishment a bit unneccessary? Aren't writers by nature an extremely fastidious bunch? Who *wouldn't* make their manuscript the absolute best they possibly could before sending it?
I agree, Christine. Maybe some writers are trying to "skate by," or don't take their work seriously enough or push themselves hard enough. (Who are these people, anyway?) But for me, I don't send out ANYTHING that's not the absolute best I can make it.
Nathan, any thoughts to what this means for the long term? If the economy picks back up, do you think the pub industry will start to get more adventurous with what they'll take on? It's a depressing enough prospect to almost make me not even want to attempt the ms I've been batting around in my head. Almost.
You made a comment that we thought the industry was tough 5 years ago, and compared to today it was nothing. Does that mean 5 years from now it'll be even worse, or is right now just not the best time for the biz.
Just curious!
Stepping up your game, IMO, doesn't just entail perfect polishing of manuscript – writing/publishing nowadays also involves significant business sense/marketing savvy.
So, along w/ polishing your darling, you've got to go out of your comfort zones (speaking for myself) and do things like blogging (i.e., starting your own, trying to create visibility and bringing people in).
Also, picking up your game includes building your credentials – getting more short stories out there, etc.
Also, picking up your game means using existing resources (Rick Daley's query site, Query shark, etc.) to polish your marketing skills and to help you realize what (might) resonates with others and w/ agents.
So, normally, though I, too, deplore the 110% phraseology, I think it's appropriate in this case – in fact, it should be 200% – give 100% to your writing and 100% to marketing (visibility and ability).
I know that I'm working 100% on the writing, but I could definitely do more on the other side of the aisle.
Nathan,
I wonder what your (and editors/publishers) response would be to an author who approaches you with a story that exists across platforms (print and digital).
I'm a PhD student/writer, and my research is creating fiction that bridges the divide: readers can get the book in brick-and-mortar (or on Kindle, whatever), but can also experience the digital version.
Digital adaptations would include interactivity, visuals, audio, possibly nonlinear structure, even game and reader-collaboration aspects. So, not just an e-book version, but a story experience as different as film from novel.
What sort of response do you think you might have to an author who presented you with a) a well-written query and sample pages, and b) a web link where you can sample the digital version?
Nathan, quick question about the general consensus regarding novellas: can they be submitted like a novel, or do they need to be treated as a short story, seeing as they are inbetween the two?
ManiacScribbler =^..^=
I think now might be a good time for some writers to take matters into their own hands, if they want their book to ever reach an audience at all. (plus assuming you find any success, you're a sure thing) All the pep-talk and perfection in the world doesn't change the odds.
Independently producing (as in on your own), one or two novels (or even more) doesn't mean you can't shop others to larger houses.
But seriously, there comes a point where you have to decide "Do I want to be read, or do I want a publisher?"
It's not the "vanity" it once was to put out your own work, not sure it was ever really "that vain" to begin with.
Just saying. Independence is a good thing… even with books. It's really not all crap.
Your mileage may vary, if it does, carry on with what you're doing.
"It's tough out there, and it's not the time to complain."
I love that. I think it pretty much sums up everything about the current publishing situation. And your speech was good, Nathan! You should do more like that 🙂
-Mandy
Damn, coach! This is bullshit, I tell ya! Looks like my first book is going to need to sparkle with perfection before I send in my query to you. Hmmm… better get to cleanin'.
xo~Sadie
The newspaper industry is suffering the same crisis.
As a freelance features writer, I'm still swimming in work (not money, but it pays the bills), watching good, fellow writers get cut, knowing my time is probably around the corner.
I reinvent the wheel everyday; often I wish I could tweak a story one last time, but deadlines beckon.
Picked a bad time to seek represenation for my first young adult novel. But hey, with six kids, I'm used to hearing the word, "No."
No rejection, no troubled economy can remove the pleasure I gain from writing, even to an audience of one.
Love the sand idea!
YAY FOR FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS!!!!
It is what it is. Thanks for this important insight to the marketplace.
Wow!! Are there any cheerleaders out there???