Oh, How The Publishing Industry Hurts

Have you ever bought a book and been so disappointed that you wondered how the author got published?  Ever wondered why that can’t be you getting published by that big guy? Don’t feel alone.  Most struggling writers have felt much the same way.  In fact, there is some wonderful talent out there that is still being ignored by the big publishers.  And technology is actually making that scenario worse.

For those of you who are writers, you will understand.  Readers, on the other hand, may be completely blind to how the publishing industry really works.  Within the darkest recesses of the pit of despair that most writers flounder in, is a big secret that is not so darn secret anymore.  Publishers are not waiting for the next great novel.  Well, okay, maybe they are, but they certainly aren’t looking for the next great novel, with the emphasis on the word looking.  Most of the time, they are relying on an agent to bring them the next new thing, or they are relying on the old guard to present them with the next great thing.  Hmmm…I wonder, though. Do they even care about the next great thing at all?  I’ve read some pretty crappy stuff that somehow got published by the biggies. So, why does the really good talent out there go unnoticed?

Because.  The publishing industry is set up a** backwards.  Oops!!! Did I use a curse word on my own blog?  There, I corrected it with some of those asterisk thingies.  Ah, that’s better.  Now then…where was I?

Imagine this.  A young woman sits in a tiny office with a pile of manuscripts surrounding her.  Ordinarily, this young woman might be filing her nails.  But she has no time to file her nails.  She has to get through that gargantuan pile of manuscripts by the end of the day, and quickly, because come morning another gargantuan pile of manuscripts will appear.  Is she an editor?  Nope.  Is she some big wig in the publishing house?  Nope.  Does she know anything about writing?  Most likely not.  She’s just a gopher, maybe an assistant, or possibly the receptionist.  And her job is to open those manuscript pouches and boxes, find the self-addressed stamped envelope inside, insert the publishing house’s form rejection letter into the SASE, and get it in the mail ASAP.

“What!” you screech.  “But…but…she’s not even reading the first line of the book.”

That is correct.  She’s not even reading the first line.  I think you know what this means. By and large, you are wasting good money on those nice, clean, crisp manuscript boxes, all that expensive ink, and miles of postage just so that someone can…do nothing with it.

Sound odd?  It is. 

If you just finished your first novel, this blog will make your heart fall into your toenails, because it only gets worse from here.

How can a publisher find new talent if no one is reading anything?  Because they are relying on the agent.  So, let’s get back to the agent, shall we?  Who is the agent anyway?   I call them the Keepers of the Gate. The agent is the person who takes part of your money.  I call them the Keepers of the Gate for two reasons.  One: you ain’t gettin’ in unless you got one of ‘em.  Two: when I say they keep part of your money, I mean they get your money before you do, extract their cut, and then send you your cut.  Sound a** backwards to you?  Well…I did warn you, didn’t I?

Sorry, friend.  It gets even worse.  The agent doesn’t want you either.  The agent wants the guy who is going to line their pockets with loads of money.  You know, the guy who is a bestseller every time he writes something.  That guy.  The agent doesn’t know you.  Soooo…you gotta get the agent to know you.  “Well,” you might say, “that sounds easy enough.” Yup, it’s easy alright.  About as easy as being struck by lightning. Hurts real bad. You wanna know how the publishing industry suggests that the agent get to know you?  Through a recommendation from the editor, that’s how.

“What?!”

Sound a** backwards?

It is. 

See the going theme here?

Just in case anybody got lost in that vicious circle, let’s recap.  The publisher doesn’t read what you send them.  They don’t know you from Adam.  So, you need to get an agent.  The agent doesn’t read what you send them.  They don’t know you from Adam’s housecat.  So, you need to get the agent to know you.  Back to the publishing house.  The agent wants a recommendation from an editor.  Then the agent will get to know you.  But you can’t get a recommendation from the editor, because the editor doesn’t know you.

Sit down, chap.  Maybe have a wee nip of wine for comfort.  Not much of a comfort?  Not feeling better?  I hear ya.

It gets worse.  Since we’ve been gripped, and gripped hard, around the neck by the age of technology, this has allowed writers some perks.  We don’t have to spend a bunch of money on paper, ink, and those nice envelopes.  Nope.  Now we can email the agents.  Maybe even the editor.

There’s just one problem with that.  They have their emails set up to auto-reply with a form rejection. That also saves them a ton of money.  Now the girl in the office has a little time to file her fingernails.  Seems that technology has helped them out quite a bit, too.

Is there an answer?  I think not.  Not unless the publishing industry starts operating the way it did in the dark ages, or…the nearly dark ages.  You know, when editors actually, dare I say, edited.  The days of yesteryore when editors read their mail, and…gasp…looked for new talent. Sorry to say, this may not be doable.  Not with the deluge of mail they receive.  It would take lots of money to accomplish that.

This is why some writers end up jumping off a bridge. 

Don’t do it.  Keep a day job, preferably one you love, and write on the side.  Learn your craft, hone your craft, believe in yourself, and never give up.  But…learn and hone, learn and hone.  Be the best in the pile, even if you aren’t getting read.  Get noticed by being fabulous in every other way, in every other medium you can possibly find.  And keep trying to get an agent.  If you are any good, eventually, you will get noticed.

I think.

I know, this blog is not helpful in any way.  It’s a**backwards.  But…we write because we have to. 

Before I close…there is one other thing to keep in mind.  Only about…oh…one percent of writers actually make loads of money.  The rest of us are flat broke, but…for some weird reason…still writing.

More on writing in a later post…I promise.  There are some possibilities out there.  Ya just gotta look for them.

Copyright 2008 C. D. Blizzard    Go To www.cdblizzard.com