Publish This!

The Mad Genius Club blogs about problems in the publishing industry. This struck us about the head: 

But there’s another problem with the statement. It completely ignores the fact that trad publishing isn’t the only arm of the industry. Mind you, that’s not uncommon. Many of those involved in what we now look at as trad publishing turn a blind eye to indie publishing and would really like it if we’d all go away. After all, we haven’t paid our dues. We write too fast. We write dreck instead of meaningful works that will bring “enlightened understanding” and unity to our nation. And–gasp–we don’t charge nearly enough for our work.

Hahahahahah....The big five publishing houses can't stop publishing vampire and chick lit. Enlightened understanding and meaning indeed.

This blog remains baffled as to why anyone would want to go the trad publishing route. Lemme tell you young, aspiring authors how your Manhattan editor will see you. Let's say one of the big publishing house imprints accepts your book. Great. Now you'll spend the next year in editing hell doing rewrites. You see, they're not publishing your book, they're taking your book and using you to re-write it into their book. See the difference? We'll try another way just in case we're not getting through to you young fellaa: 

Editor: We have accepted your book for publication.

Young Sap: Great! Oh my god I just wish granny were here to see this. She gave me her love of books and...

Editor: Now rewrite it exactly the way we say. I'm thinking your protagonist should be trans...

You're just a tool. In return for publishing the work you re-wrote into something they wanted, the publisher will print a thousand copies and maybe get it on the shelf at B&N next to the JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer* and pay you maybe a 15% royalty.

Young Sap: But...but...Think of all the publisher can do for you, editing....

Will: I just finished Mamelukes and found typos. I've found typos in big fancy history books. So don't try that 'sefl' publishing crap with me. There is no such thing as a perfect book.

Young Sap: But they can market and...

Will: Is your name James Patterson? No? Ok. They're not going to market your book. That costs money. That means risk. The publisher who just made you re-write the book you lost sleep over isn't taking a risk for you. Sorry.

Young Sap: Book signings....

Will: Like sitting alone at a table in a bookstore, do you? Again, is your name James Patterson?

Young Sap: But I really just wanna see my book on the shelf and...

Will: I've seen my books on the shelf, the thrill lasts about five seconds. I have a pic somewhere that I can't be bothered to find.

So eschew the big publishing houses, young fella. Just do it yourself. It's not that big a deal. There are all kinds of ways to do it. Oh look, we just put two previously unpublished articles about the Cambodian War up on Substack....

*Spent a whole summer writing Twilight! Took us two years to write A Line Through the Desert. [You bitter knobhead-Ed]