Happy Birthday to me…Happy Birthday to me…
61st to be precise. Time flies, whether you’re having fun or not, so make the most of it!
Here’s an interesting gem from the NY Times Sunday Book Review, You’re an Author? Me Too! (you need to sign up to read it, but it’s free). Here’s a snippet from the article:
In short, everyone has a story — and everyone wants to tell it. Fewer people may be reading, but everywhere you turn, Americans are sounding their barbaric yawps over the roofs of the world, as good old Walt Whitman, himself a self-published author, once put it.
The article notes R. R. Bowker’s latest release that says about 400,000 new titles were published last year, up from just under 300,000 the year before and 200,000 two years ago. Of course, the author falls into the oxymoronic trap of calling subsidy publishers “self-publishing companies,” but I’ve ranted on that fallacy before and will refrain from doing so again today.
According to the old saw, there’s a book inside everyone. The question is whether there’s a good book inside everyone. From the submissions and samples (and self-published results) I’ve seen over the past few years, I’d have to say the answer is no.
Although our subsidiary, Five Rainbows Services for Authors & Publishers, offers a full range of editing, typesetting, design, and coaching services, we will never suggest that self-publishing is the best route for every writer or book. Some should work on getting a traditional book contract. Some should spend money on professional editing before doing anything. Some should just print out what they write on their desktop printer, and let friends and relatives have copies—anything else is just throwing money away.
And with the price of gas these days, how many of us can afford to burn money in anything but our gas tanks?
I think we’re rapidly approaching the 80/20 rule — 80% of the population will publish at least one book, but only 20% of them will ever read any book at all.
As always, comments are welcome (whether you agree or disagree).
Happy belated birthday Walt! I love your analysis of the 80/20 rule as it relates to publishing!
I think most people have a burning desire to be known and to be heard and many believe that translates into “there’s a book inside me that must be told.”
Truly, though, many people’s stories are best told only to those who love them, and that can be done through face-to-face conversation, phone calls, emails, blogs, greeting cards, etc. To produce a book one must have evidence that there is a group of people eager for the information.
Yet just as there are many who fail to realize that others don’t want to hear what they have to say (e.g. I would prefer not to hear details about my elderly neighbor’s surgery), there are many who fail to realize that others do not wish to read their thoughts or stories.
I think a key flaw with many people who want to write books is that they truly do not understand the human condition. For example, if the would-be writers have had a tragedy in life, they assume that’s worthy of writing about. What they fail to realize is that EVERY family has some form of tragedy. What makes the story worth telling is how it is conveyed by the writer.
Precisely. And that’s why, during our free initial consultation for publishing coaching services, I always take time to understand what the potential client’s goals are and to make sure they get a basic understanding of the realities of publishing.
As much as I like increasing sales, I won’t take on a client with totally unrealistic expectations. Their eventual dissatisfaction can too easily translate into negative impressions of our services.
Besides, I have sort of made it a personal crusade to help people avoid the pitfalls of self-publishing with its all-too-likely financial disaster. That’s why I am a member of the board of the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association and conduct free publishing seminars in our area.
And thanks for the birthday wish!