The Sure Thing
“I’m sorry to say that I don’t feel we could represent this for you successfully because of the fluctuations in the publishing marketplace. The publishing business has been erratic since the latter part of 1995, when most publishers took a big fall in sales.
Sales since 1999 have been mixed, and specifically 2001 showed a tremendous drop in the sale of fiction.
Since then, book chain business has been soft, with yearly increases of two to four percent, but more from non-fiction than fiction–and with a rise in the sale of juvenile and young adult books.
Generally speaking, this means that bookstores are selling more copies of a limited number of books, often and not surprisingly by established best-selling authors.
The market for fiction has been smaller and smaller, and thus publishers and editors have been buying less novels that might be considered “mid-list”–and they’re buying darker material.
I wish I could say something more specific about what you’ve submitted, but we are receiving between forty to sixty queries a week these days–and it is just impossible to read and consider and comment in detail.”
Okay, possibly more information than you cared to know, but I wanted to start this entry off with a reality check, or in this case, an excerpt from one of my rejection letters. Remember how I’ve spent all that time harping on subjectivity, risk-taking, etc., etc.? Well, I thought I’d bring it all on home with an inside look into how some editors and agents actually view the publishing industry and authors trying to join the ranks. Dee Power and Brian Hill conducted a survey a few years back entitled: 2004 Outlook for Writers: New Research from Agents and Editors that could be quite the eye-opener. Don’t let the fact that it’s a bit dated deter you from checking it out- for those of you who’ve done your homework you’ll find that many of the opinions have and will transcend time.
I appreciate this forum post immensely because it illustrates in colorful detail the complete contradiction in professional opinion and outlook. My intention here is not to depress you with the bleakness of these predictions, but rather to give you an opportunity to disseminate some important information without the emotional investment that comes with rejection letters. Don’t internalize the information; just let it wash over you as you pass by. Let’s begin with a few examples.
“Publishers don’t know how to sell books. They’ve continued to lose money. Now they think the only way to be sure to sell books is by buying names that are known. This is not the correct way to think however. And perhaps within the next five years they will get it.”
Those bastards! The MAN’s always trying to keep us authors down. Or are they…?
“Because of the pressure of the chain buyers, publishers are increasingly locked into publishing only the brand new authors with no record, and bestselling authors.”
Hmmm… the plot thickens. So what does this mean to the struggling author?
You want my opinion? Probably nothing. As in life, people see what they want to see, agents and editors are no different. The reality most likely lies somewhere in the middle, say here:
“What does keep projects from being bought is the fact that lists are shrinking, and in a marketplace in which it’s terribly hard to win anyone’s attention – from buyers all the way to customers – everyone up the editorial chain is anxious about making the wrong bet … more often than not, ‘No’ is a safe answer.”
Not reassuring, but it’s better to know what you’re up against than not know, right? Let’s move on.
“I’ve been seeing some really great proposals from first time authors in the last several months and even when we can’t publish them here, they’re selling elsewhere, and they’re selling fast. Changing genres, the economy…these are all factors. It’s a good time for first time authors with good ideas to get out there.”
“It just seems like it’s getting harder and harder to get people to take a chance on an unknown.”
Wait… what? This is so confusing. Make it stop!
I know, I’m sorry, but I really wanted you all to see that when I say everything is subjective I’m not just blowing smoke. Not even seasoned professionals can agree on what we’re up against. This is why you need to get interested in the business of writing- self-preservation. You are going to be making a boatload of decisions concerning your career and going with the flow is a dumb way to do that. You need to approach these decisions from a position of strength and steer a career path that is yours alone. If you’re able to forge kick ass relationships with your agent and editor then great, use them because they want your book to succeed as much as you do, just don’t let that enthusiasm translate into you handing over control outright. Practice due diligence and stay in that loop. Trust is great, but knowledge is power. Take the power.
Now for any of you drama queens teetering on the verge of suicide, this last one’s for you.
“Our industry is constantly in search of the sure thing, and many believe that comes primarily through authors with a history of success. However, we’re also always seeking fresh voices, writers who wake us up to something new or who present something old in a way that speaks to our current cultural distinctives. I believe the opportunities are present for authors who truly have what it takes to succeed, but writers who aren’t willing to work at their craft— or who simply lack some elusive element of success—will continue to believe the industry is biased against newcomers.”
Ain’t it the truth? At the end of the day, it’s not about the trend d’jour or an author’s pedigree, what really turns people’s heads is the brilliance of the story, the soul of inspiration. There are so many curves and potholes on the road to publishing stardom that it’s impossible to navigate around them all. My advice: don’t even try. Your control is limited. You are the sure thing here; invest in yourself and make us care. Now stop lollygagging and get to work.
