Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Location: Books & Such Central Valley Office, CA
I don’t know about you but I’m sick of hearing bad news. Yes, the publishing industry is changing but it’s an exciting time to be a writer. This week I’m going to ignore the doom and gloom. I’m going to talk about the opportunities and the expanded horizons. Any wise investor knows that when the markets are down it presents a unique opportunity for the innovative, the brave. The same technique works for publishing.
Many of you know that I came to agenting from the collectibles segment of the toy industry. I was a sculptor and dollmaker. Our company, The Lawton Doll Company, was the last porcelain doll manufacturer in the United States. When we started in business thirty-two years ago, we chose as our trademark slogan “In a World of Change, Quality Endures.®” It was a perfect slogan for us because our industry and our business changed many times over our tenure, but our handmade dolls continued to win awards and sell out year after year. Before I moved into the publishing community I received one of only five (at that time) lifetime achievement awards. Why? Because quality was the most important thing to us and we found that people were always willing to pay for quality. (Hold on to your hats: the average price for a Lawton doll was $895.00. Our top price for a one-of-a-kind doll at a Walt Disney World auction? $11,000.00.)
What does this have to do with publishing? This is the good news: In a world of change, quality still endures!
For the writer, this means no matter how many times you hear that publishers are not taking risks on new authors, quality trumps cold, hard facts. When a writer comes along who takes our breath away, the sky’s the limit. Just think how different publishing would be if J.K. Rowling quit because the market for fantasy was atrocious. Think of the debut authors like Kathryn Stockett (The Help) or even brand new author Josephine Angelini who, according to Publishers Weekly, just signed a seven-figure deal with HarperTeen. What was it that allowed them to be published in a risk-averse market? A great concept and superb writing– quality.
Why is this good news for the writer? This is the part you control– the writing, the concept. It doesn’t matter how tight the market, if you write a book that knocks our socks off, it’ll get noticed.
Just recently I signed a new novelist, Sandra Aldrich. She’d written several nonfiction books over the years but she showed me a first novel. I wasn’t actively looking to add anyone to my client list but when I read her novel I just knew I wanted to be part of that book.
Last week I met with a writer whose day job consists of helping connect Christians and Muslims. It’s about friendship and understanding. As he described it, a Cornelius-type model. As we talked I could see that his book concept, which grows out of his experience, is unique. A fresh message for a changing world. Yes, the market is tight for nonfiction at this time when so many are getting their information on the web, but I can’t stop thinking about the potential.
So here’s the good news: It doesn’t matter how stagnant the market. An exciting book is going to find its champions.
So please chime in. Do you think this sounds too simplistic? Got any success stories to share?
I don’t believe it’s too simplistic. Quality has always endured, in all disciplines. Many factors can earn rejection in writing, but quality is the most important one an author can control. And no author wants to be rejected because their writing isn’t viewed as being quality.
What’s a little disheartening is the subjectivity of what quality is. There are great books, there are horrendous books, and there are a good many average books–all published by experts. One can only hope to connect with the right people.
I agree with you, it’s an exciting time to be a writer. Yes, there are challenges, but what worth obtaining comes easy?
Like Lance, I think the subjectivity surrounding quality can be discouraging, but I think of all the books I’ve reviewed in the past 5 years, and how varied the opinions on them are. Some I’ve loved and others thought they were dreadful, and vice versa. It comes down to getting your idea into the hands of the person who sees a great vision for your book. That requires a quality product first and tons of market research later.
Thank you for an upbeat post on a Monday! Rachelle Gardner has one about staying positive on her blog and ya’ll have me feeling so peppy I may write a one-page synopsis of book two just for fun!
Seriously, I agree that excellence is excellence. And given time the economy will improve, people will heal and good stories will find their readers.
This makes me excited. All you hear all the time is the doom and gloom so it’s nice to hear a change for once. Of course, it also makes me question whether or not my novel is “quality” enough but it gives hope to keep trying! Never give up, never back down!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Since I tend to be a positive person, I do try to always look on the bright side. (That means, from time to time, I must put the newspaper aside, turn off the television, immerse myself in the POSITIVE God has to offer–His word which is unchanging, my family, nature, etc.)
We can’t hide from the harsh truths of life, but we can know that there is One who desires the best for us. There is also one who is the “great deceiver”–the master of deception and negativity.
It’s an exciting time to be a writer. Yes, in many ways it may be a little more challenging now, but I’ve always loved a good challenge, (or a God-challenge!) I believe that’s what “grows” us and makes us aspire to higher things!
Thank you, Wendy, for the spoonful of sugar this morning!
This blog took my breath away. ‘Nuff said! I’m motivated to get to cracking on my WIP.
Thanks for lifting my vision today!
Blessings,
Voni
Cheryl, you are right about getting your book in the hands of those that appreciate it. I have read some books lately that were very well written but maybe not my cup of tea. BUT for someone it was spectacular. I hope someday someone will think the same of my books. But everyone is different. Getting your books in the hands of the readers who will appreciate it is key.
Quality does endure over time. It seems to change or our perspective changes but without quality what is there to sell?
Thanks for sharing the good news about your new client! Knowing others are succeeding gives hope to all of us waiting in the wings for representation.
Quality is part of any business, but as evidenced by the books or products produced, it’s certainly not the whole story. Working in an antique shop has given me a new perspective on why people collect. I am often surprised by what is purchased. Emotions, whether driven by nostalgia, pure delight or the need for a “treasure,” rule the antique business, even more than investment potential.
It sounds like “emotions” are a huge part of why an agent accepts a client. Wendy, you “wanted to be a part of that book.” Something inside you was stirred.
I think for us, who are beginning, we need to do our very best, attend conferences, seek help, and trust the Lord will bring the connections we need in His time.
Great post! I have always believed that if you’re going to do something, give it 110%. Excellence so important, I strive for it in all areas… . I just wish I could apply that philosophy better in my housekeeping skills. 🙂
Although I’ve been writing articles for 30 years, it wasn’t until recently that I seriously contemplated publishing a book. As I’ve been getting up to speed on the industry, I’ve not come across much good news.
Thanks for reminding me that the class is not half empty, but half full!
Wow, I love Mondays, fresh starts, and gung-ho outlooks like this one. Although I’m totally biased about my current suspense novel, but your post charges me up to finish the revision. “Full steam ahead!”
First, let me say, Wow! to your business! Congratulations for the many years of producing excellence.
The timing is excellent for the Cornelius effect in book form. How fascinating to come across the writer who might be in your radar ‘for such a time as this’.
Well, this isn’t my success story but your post reminded me of a talk Arthur Levine gave a few years ago at SCBWI LA. His contention was that the sky wasn’t falling and that quality picture books would continue to be made and all the nay-sayers should quit being so negative.
He told about how several years earlier he’d gotten a hold of a book published in England, and he wanted to publish it. He had it under his arm as he was riding in an elevator and a colleague asked what the book was. He said it was a middle-grade fantasy and he was going to publish it in the US. The lady laughed and said, “Good luck with that. There is no market for MG.”
Because Levine didn’t care about that lady’s opinion, he went ahead and published Harry Potter, and the MG and YA markets did quite well in the following years (and are still hopping). Today the bookstores are full of MG fantasy.
His point was the same as yours: There is always a market for quality work. It doesn’t matter what sold yesterday, anything might sell tomorrow.
What a positive way to look at things! I love your post! I agree with you about how people will jump for quality over mediocre. This gives every writer hope and conviction to write the best possible story he can ever write. Thanks for sharing!
This was great to hear. Too many times we focus on the bad in life, instead of the good. It really is in our hands. We can chose to make our books/writing the best possible, or we can whine about all the bad things or that an agent/editor just doesn’t know good writing.
Here’s to honing our craft and to great stories.
I am a hopeless romantic, I love happy endings, so thanks for this post!
I am so ready for good news. Thanks for taking a positive tack this week!
Yes to the question of quality. It’s empowering because like you said, this is the part we control. So how to write quality? Study. Read. Learn. Practice.
Indeed! While there is much gloom regarding the publishing world every time I visit the local library or bookstore I see new books on the shelves, so that should just give more drive to writers to work harder to see their name on the racks the next time they look 🙂
Your post, Wendy, was what I needed to hear. This and the success of a first time novelist that I know inspires me to do my very best in writing my own novel. This writer went on to win two Christy Awards. She had no agent and knew no one in publishing, but her Ms came across the desk of an editor who became excited about it. The work spoke for itself.