I think I get it. Comments show up via EMAIL and aren't on the site, right? Maybe? Kate, again http://katerothwell.blogspot.com
Comments made
Hmmmmm
newthe business
newThere are a gazillion writers for every spot on a publisher or agent's list. It's that simple. As long as there are always new writers willing to do what publishers want, then the writers won't have much say. That's why organizations like Romance Writers of American really can't have a huge impact on bizarre clauses in contracts etc--though there are some big names there and I guess what Nora Roberts says will make a difference with publishers (and the nice thing about Nora Roberts is that she really does care about the industry) What the publishers want, usually, is to make money. With production and editing costs, that makes perfect sense. For a single typical NYC book, at the minimum a publisher have to pay an advance to a writer, time/salaries of the editor, a designer or two, a publicity person and the commission of an outside proofer--and those are the costs BEFORE a word is printed (on expensive paper with more expensive card stock covers). Oh, and then you have to give Ingrams their chunk of the sales dough. 20 years ago there were hundreds of book distributors. Now there are two. And maybe? I think Taylor and Baker have gone under. Maybe? Been bought out? That leaves Ingrams with five, maybe six warehouses and therefore rising distribution costs because of the cost of gas...anyway, you get the picture. And the fact is, most books don't make sell-through. Huge risk is not part of the package for a mainstream publisher. They're scared for good reason. The big change has been epublishing and that's really opened up EVERYTHING. In the last five years or so, it's even touched the dinosaur world of regular publishing. Sure, publishers still want to make money, but they can follow newer trends take bigger chances. They're starting to put books up on Fictionwise and other places. So it may feel like there are fewer possibilities in the world, but to me it feels like it's opening up and turning into something pretty exciting. For once. Oh, the bogus thing about the mainstream publishers and epublishing? They pay piddly advances. Not as bad (5-10%) as it has to be for regular books, but come on. TWELVE percent for an ebook? Which costs them nothing to produce or ship? Pfah. http://katerothwell.blogspot.com
are non-indie rioters ok?
newI joined this site because I like it so much. But my past work and my future goals are not with independents--I've been NYC published and that's where I want to be again. (It's all about the money, I'm afraid, which might be a disqualifier.)
That okay-- or do you feel like it's not the focus of the site? I'm entirely unconcerned with pecking order, status (unless it sells books) etc. I try to ignore the fact that bookselling is a zero sum game.
I wouldn't feel at all bad if you tell me POLITELY to go away. I've been doing this long enough that polite rejection of any sort really doesn't bother me.
Hmmmmm
newI think I get it.
Comments show up via EMAIL and aren't on the site, right? Maybe?
Kate, again
http://katerothwell.blogspot.com
the business
newThere are a gazillion writers for every spot on a publisher or agent's list. It's that simple. As long as there are always new writers willing to do what publishers want, then the writers won't have much say. That's why organizations like Romance Writers of American really can't have a huge impact on bizarre clauses in contracts etc--though there are some big names there and I guess what Nora Roberts says will make a difference with publishers (and the nice thing about Nora Roberts is that she really does care about the industry)
What the publishers want, usually, is to make money. With production and editing costs, that makes perfect sense.
For a single typical NYC book, at the minimum a publisher have to pay an advance to a writer, time/salaries of the editor, a designer or two, a publicity person and the commission of an outside proofer--and those are the costs BEFORE a word is printed (on expensive paper with more expensive card stock covers). Oh, and then you have to give Ingrams their chunk of the sales dough. 20 years ago there were hundreds of book distributors. Now there are two. And maybe? I think Taylor and Baker have gone under. Maybe? Been bought out? That leaves Ingrams with five, maybe six warehouses and therefore rising distribution costs because of the cost of gas...anyway, you get the picture. And the fact is, most books don't make sell-through. Huge risk is not part of the package for a mainstream publisher. They're scared for good reason.
The big change has been epublishing and that's really opened up EVERYTHING. In the last five years or so, it's even touched the dinosaur world of regular publishing. Sure, publishers still want to make money, but they can follow newer trends take bigger chances. They're starting to put books up on Fictionwise and other places. So it may feel like there are fewer possibilities in the world, but to me it feels like it's opening up and turning into something pretty exciting. For once.
Oh, the bogus thing about the mainstream publishers and epublishing? They pay piddly advances. Not as bad (5-10%) as it has to be for regular books, but come on. TWELVE percent for an ebook? Which costs them nothing to produce or ship? Pfah.
http://katerothwell.blogspot.com
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are non-indie rioters ok?
newI joined this site because I like it so much. But my past work and my future goals are not with independents--I've been NYC published and that's where I want to be again. (It's all about the money, I'm afraid, which might be a disqualifier.) That okay-- or do you feel like it's not the focus of the site? I'm entirely unconcerned with pecking order, status (unless it sells books) etc. I try to ignore the fact that bookselling is a zero sum game. I wouldn't feel at all bad if you tell me POLITELY to go away. I've been doing this long enough that polite rejection of any sort really doesn't bother me.