Blogger: Wendy Lawton
I was recently talking to a client about traditionally published books vs. self published books. She worried that with so many under-edited and half-baked books* making their way to the market, readers might get frustrated by the lack of excellence and ultimately give up on books. “How does a reader identify professionally written and professionally edited books so they know what they are getting when they order a book?”
Good question, right?
I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that the publisher’s name on a book is going to become more and more important as a sign of a certain level of quality. I believe it could become as recognizable as Louis Vuitton to handbags, JimmyChoo to shoes, and Harley Davidson to motorcycles. I’m saying that publishers need to start thinking about branding their books more prominently. The way it stands now, I’m guessing the average reader couldn’t tell you who published the last book they read.
I think that needs to change.
In the past, editors who proved to be style setters were given their own imprint. For instance, if you love author-driven, literary children’s books you probably recognize books published under the legendary Margaret K. McElderry boutique imprint. Yes, the book was published by Simon & Schuster but it bore the imprimatur of McElderry’s sensibility.
In that same way, I think publishers need to start thinking of their brand as an identifier– a mark of distinction. When you see the Bethany logo on the front of an inspirational novel, for instance, you can be sure you’re in for a satisfying read that’s been edited, copyedited and professionally designed. And yes, I said front cover. With all the books sold online, the front cover is often the only cover shown.
Wouldn’t it be fun to begin to recognize the distinctives of each publisher? To know that if you want edge-of-seat romantic suspense you wouldn’t go wrong with a Tyndale book. Or if you’d like a thought-provoking, sometimes risky, cutting-edge nonfiction read, Jericho Books might fit the bill.
I’m looking forward to the day that the publisher’s brand becomes a mark of distinction.
How about you? Does that idea make sense? Or do you feel it encroaches on the author’s brand? If you don’t think this would work, what would you suggest to separate the dreck from the divine?
*Please hear me on this: We’re not saying that all self-published books and eBooks are substandard. We know that some are quality, through and through. Its just as frustrating for professional authors of fine self-published titles to have their books lumped in with the cringeworthy ones.
I must confess, I have converted to almost all digital reading. The only exception being gifts or signed books from conferences. That being said, I have discovered the need to be wary about cheep or “free” books. Too often I found myself scrolling back to see who published it a few chapters in because I’m so disappointed.
Because of this, I have found myself wary of trying new authors. Which is sad.
I love your idea. I have often thought that you be able to search Amazon or B&N by publisher. That company is giving credibility to that new author so I say let it be noticeable.
I don’t think it would interfere with the author brand. As the name becomes recognizable the publisher’s prominence would shrink. That’s how it is currently with the title. The biggest words on a Steven King cover are his name.
They need to highlight whatever with instill trust in the reader. And for a beginning author, the only thing they have to offer is that this publisher, who has proven their standard for quality, believes in them.
Discoverability is the word on everyone’s mind thes days. It’s become harder and harder with fewer stores where we can physically browse.
Note to our blogging community: I’m flying today so my responses may be spotty for a while. I’ll jump in to the conversation as I’m able. I look forward to your input and ideas.
Indeed. As Wendy said:
“Its just as frustrating for professional authors of fine self-published titles to have their books lumped in with the cringeworthy ones.”
I would add that what is also frustrating are the current methods to try to distinguish the wheat from the chaff. I have heard that Amazon has some sort of process which ranks more expensive books higher than cheaper ones: so, for example, to get on their best-sellers list, a book at a dollar will have to sell much more books than a higher-cost book.
The “popularity” ranking is also terrible: people seem to either just rank books one star or five stars, and hardly give much reasoning, if any, behind why .
Promoting their “Listmania” service might be helpful: giving a bigger platform to notable authors in a particular genre for the books they enjoy in the genre or books they enjoy in general, making it part of the front-page of the Kindle store, like a column that says “Listmania! Authors Choose Their Favorite Books”, and then one can click on that, and scroll down by genre or search by author for their favorite books.
Two thoughts: One, Amazon usually gives free samples for any ebook. Take advantage. You can usually get a good sense of the writing style of an author from those. No it won’t tell you if it ends well, but sometimes a publisher doesn’t guarantee this either. Two, you may just go to the publisher’s website if you want to search “by publisher.” Some are even selling from their websites.
That’s an interesting idea. “I’m looking for something in a nice Waterbrook, please.”
I do check to see whether an e-book is published by a traditional publisher before I plunk down money. It’s just a matter of time before we make further distinctions among publishers. For me it seems to matter more in fiction, where poor editing can ruin the story. In nonfiction, if I really want the information the author’s sharing, I’m more willing to put up with some clumsy editing. Not too much though, or the whole book loses credibility.
Too funny, Jenny.
Brilliant post, Wendy. I now look for the publisher’s name while searching for books on Amazon. Twice I’ve ordered pricey novels that were obviously self-published, poorly written and not properly edited.
Imprints work well for different genres, but large publishing houses now have so many imprints that it’s hard to keep track of them. I also agree that the publisher’s name will become a key point when buying books. A logo on the front cover, as you say, a mark of distinction, will become more and more important to writers and book buyers.
Most in this industry would be surprised to hear that you are already paying attention to who publishes the book. I don’t think you’re alone.
I agree with Cynthia. I’ve become somewhat of a label snob when sorting through e-books. If the publisher is one I know, I’m much more likely to see what the book is about. However, I will add one caveat: unlike print books, for me great cover art is often the first thing that attracts me. That extra polish on the outside generally translates to extra polish on the inside.
I agree, Kathleen. A polished cover is often an indication of a professional book. I once found a great read just because of the evocative cover. (The Nature of Monsters by Clare Clark.)
I often look for the publisher, too. And that information isn’t always easy to find on Amazon. (Maybe I just don’t know where to look, but I sometimes find it under “Product Details.”) My time and money are both valuable to me. I don’t want to waste time reading a book that is poorly written. I’m a little more open to reading a poorly copyedited book if the story is a good one, but I probably won’t be quick to pick up another book from the same author.
I have read self-published books of friends and associates (from writers groups)–some of them were great and some of them really needed a lot more work. And you can’t always tust the reviews. Lots of folks give their friends good reviews (or their perceived competition poor reviews). Having the publisher’d name stand out on the front cover would be very helpful. Even if it’s the publising name of the self-published author’s own company.
There was one self-published Christian book I ordered because it was supposed to have such a redemptive aspect to it. But the language was so foul (EXTREMELY foul) and some of the actions the main character participated in before he hit bottom were too much for me–and I’m not easily offended. I gave up on the book. I KNOW no Christian publishing house would have printed that book the way it was. I felt deceived that it called itself a Christian book.
I agree, Donna. I think there is a way for self-publishing professional authors to stand out, and that is to create their own “publishing house.” In fact, my mother and I are releasing a book we co-wrote years ago that was supposed to be part of Focus on the Family’s fiction launch, pre-budget cuts. We hired a professional cover designer and it will be a professional product in all ways. (We hope!) But I’ve been burned by too many self-published, cheap, poorly written books, so I check to see if the publisher name is the author name now. If so, I’m less likely to buy it on my Kindle.
Mom and I have always branded ourselves as Ashberry Lane. We’ve own the website for years and years and our newsletter is based on that name. Yesterday we registered our Assumed Business Name with the state of Oregon and are now our own publisher. So excited! Traditional publishing is wonderful, but I’m anxious to try this new opportunity!
“Cringeworthy”
I’m adding this to my vocabulary.
Dear Lord, may my writing always be worthy of you, and never cringeworthy. Amen.
And amen.
I know. Isn’t it a great word? I wish I could say I coined it but I borrowed it a few years ago. It’s one of those words that describes the emotion precisely.
Lee, I thought the same thing the moment I saw that word. Since I can’t display it on a shelf for all to admire, I’ll simply have to slip it into conversations.
Love this idea! Not only do I think it wouldn’t detract from the author brand, I think it could make authors and publishers more valuable to each other. If there were a Bethany logo next to my name (to use your example), there would be a degree of co-branding. It ups the investment on both sides–solidifies the marriage so to speak.
There might even come a day when there are degrees of branding–publishers might have levels the way wine companies have different labels for the under $10 bottle, the $20 bottle and the don’t-tell-your-spouse-how-much-you-paid bottle. All essentially “endorsed” by the brand, but valued differently.
Man–this is an exciting idea!
Wouldn’t that cause consternation. How’d you like to be the writer comparable to two-buck chuck?
Maybe books should come with bottles of wine. That might save the publishing industry.;)
If it gets me the market draw that Two-Buck Chuck does, sign me right the heck up.
I think that this is a fantastic idea, Wendy! Although I know there are some great self-published books, it would take familiarity with the author to coax me to try one. But, if an author I’ve never heard of debuted under the “brand” of a publisher I trusted, I would be far more likely to check out her book because of the company she kept. It just makes sense. In all of life, aren’t we far more likely to trust a new acquaintance if she is a friend of one of our good friends than if she is a total stranger?
Great parallel Leia.
Trusting the reliable, publisher friend.
Right. It is almost like a referral.
Wendy: Do you see any indication that trade publishers are embracing this approach? Everything I read says they are going in the opposite direction, cutting back on editing which will lead to lower quality.
Exactly. In the Christian realm, the publisher has for a long time indicated the theological slant of the book.
A book from Moody Press would be predictably conservative, evangelical, and dispensational. A book from Abingdon, a touch more pan-evangelical and Methodist. Banner of Truth publishes Calvinist puritans and their heirs. Jossey-Bass likes to tweak the nose of evangelicalism (e.g., Brian MacLaren). Charisma House publishes… well…
Not criticizing anyone. Just observing.
When I don’t know the author, I check the publisher, and I know where the book is coming from. As a pastor, this comes in handy when I’m asked about different books I’ve never heard of.
All of which is to say I love your idea and think it’s long overdue.
Perfect example, Bill. Fiction publishers have the same kind of recognizability– perhaps not as clear cut but we know when we see a manuscript if it is perfect for Thomas Nelson, say, or for Tyndale. Once readers started noting the publisher (or even the editor via acknowledgements) they’d begin to get a sense of who publishes the type of books they love.
As an aspiring author, this has been a concern of mine as well, Wendy. I like your idea. Even if it’s not publisher branding, I think there will eventually be some manner of more obvious distinction–at least I hope so.
I think there’s going to have to be. Reviews are no longer enough because some authors can weight reviews with friend reviews. Or, conversely, some wonderful authors get slammed because their book landed in the wrong hands. (Many Christian authors who’ve been involved in free Kindle promotions have experienced this because those who downloaded the book didn’t take time to read that it was inspirational fiction.)
This actually happened to one of my clients. A blogger requested a book from a Christian author, began reading it, and refused to review it because it was a Christian book and she didn’t realize that.
Wendy, the Jewish have a saying, “From your mouth to God’s ears.” In this case, I hope it’s “From your blog to the publisher’s ears.” I suspect that you and other agents have kicked this around already, and I truly hope that you can float it by some of the major publishers (including mine). I’ll probably try to slide in the idea in my next conversation with the imprint’s publisher as well.
Thanks.
I mentioned this idea on a panel with a group of fiction editors and sensed that they were intrigued by the idea. I haven’t heard much talk about it yet but hopefully. . .
Excellent idea, Wendy! Another reason to have an agent “in the know.”
I don’t know if I’m “in the know” or just thinking wishfully, but thanks.
Wow! Your post has suddenly struck a light-bulb.
I would never thought about putting my publishing logo on the front of my eBooks – but it makes sense. Additionally, I also been pondering on how to have Pink Noire – my publishing brand – with its own identity. Although it’s small – I mean very, very small publishing company – I’m preparing to take it a new level.
I appreciate your refreshing post. You’ve helped me make a decision that I’ve been pondering for months.
xoxo,
Imani Wisdom
It doesn’t hurt the publisher’s identity, either, if that house puts out one outstanding book after another.
I think you have a double-edged sword with this one, Wendy. On one blade, branding by publisher offers the budding and/or known author the credibility that comes with an established, professional name. However, I see risk. For example, BOOK XYZ, a zombie romance published by PDQ House hits the NYT bestsellers list. PDQ House experiences similar successes with multiple zombie romances, forms the UNDEAD imprint, and begins an all-out marketing push as the go-to brand for all things zombie. If UNDEAD imprint puts out a bad or even so-so book, will readers toss out the baby with the bathwater so to speak and ditch ZOMBIE imprint from the to-be-read shelf entirely? On the other side of the sword, if the publisher brands solely per author, and said author puts out the so-so/bad book, is the reader (i.e. – person with the $) more likely to avoid the author, or the UNDEAD imprint? Yes, this is a ludicrous example; blame my marketing roots and overactive imagination. Just my two cents.
I don’t know–I think if the brand is established, it could weather a bad book. It’s like if Nabisco put out Oreos with nacho cheese filling for the Super Bowl. Even if they flopped (I would hope!) buyers would still love regular Oreos, Chips Ahoy cookies and Triscuits.
But it MIGHT make the publisher less willing to take a risk on a book that seems like it could go either way. More skin in the game.
Food for thought. ;-0
Interesting observation. As Sarah said, it might make a publisher less apt to take a chance on something a little experimental if their name or imprint were prominently emblazoned on the cover.
Would this make it harder for an author to move to a different publisher? I remember back in the day when Karen Kingsbury was published by more than one house. If the house were to tie itself tightly to an author … could go either way, maybe? Author gets more stability because the house is investing and strongly identifying their brand with the author. Publisher gets more stability because the author is doing the same.
I’m going to go against the general consensus, here, and say that while publishers certainly hope to package themselves as the last bastion of reliable quality, it hasn’t made a dent in the burgeoning ebook market. They aren’t controlling the market precisely because consumers DON’T care whose name is on the spine; they care about content.
Since most sellers offer a sample of the book on their site, it’s not difficult to gauge a book’s quality before investing in its purchase. Anyone who buys a “pig in a poke” is taking a risk with the purchase.
As a voracious reader, I never checked the publisher name, on ebook or printed book. What mattered to me was the story. Now, in the ebook market, it’s the same. I’ll read a sample of the story and if it hooks me, I’ll buy it. The only name on the cover that ever influences my decision is the name of the author.
It sometimes feels like those in the publishing industry are desperate to throw up walls, to encourage the definition that only their books are “real” books. It strikes me as sad, because those who buy into this notion of exclusivity are going to miss out on some great stories.
You have a valid point about the ability to sample books but with millions available how do we filter to come up with a handful to sample? Word of mouth, of course, but if you knew there was a “brand” you liked–either an author or a publisher– wouldn’t it help you sort through an impossible mountain of books?
And I’m not about trying to set up walls against bright new contenders any more than any branding exercise does. (You know what happens in the world of business when a brand notices an impressive outlier? They buy them.)
Interesting topic today Wendy! Though I must wonder, is there a sub-group of the e-book market that actively seeks to avoid books by traditional publishers?
For example, those who only read the ten dollar and under novels. Something that I think has been overlooked by the industry is how savvy readers are. If someone is more than just a casual reader [such as someone willing to invest in an e-reader], it is more likely that they have some awareness of some of the most common complaints and flaws of the industry. Maybe it’s a combination of the people in the industry [writers, agents, some editors] being more willing to discuss these things, and the ease to which one can find people discussing these issues, among other factors. Regardless, it appears that part of the e-book revolution isn’t just authors who are turning away from traditional publishers: it’s the readers who are following them, and the new markets opened up by new business models and new voices allowed to be part of the market place.
So would these readers, who either actively don’t view any value in a publishers’ brand, or are younger readers growing up in a world where the only publisher they are aware of is Amazon, or the reader who is finally reading more than a book once in a blue moon because they can finally afford reading as a hobby and lifestyle:
How big is this market, where is it going, and what are folks doing to meet the needs of it?
Side-note: As a reader, the only brand that would get me to look at a book was Penguin, but with their recent merger, not sure if that holds true anymore. I think that might also be something that is being wokred out as the industry goes forward: with so many changes, it’s hard to make either a choice to read or work with a publisher until one knows what they now represent.
Hmmmm, you think there is a group who is consciously anti-publisher? I’d be surprised if anyone outside of the writing community had this bent. I do know that many writers feel disenfranchised and those writers are probably avid readers but if their favorite author wrote under a branded publisher, would they really avoid it?
It’s something I’ve noticed in other industries which have also changed due to the rise of new technology: there are those who view their dollars as approvals of industry practices, and for example, instead of buying music from major labels will instead see the musicians in concert, or are willing to buy more music from independent musicians they haven’t heard of.
Recently saw a documentary on Netflix about people who make videogames, and that got me wondering about that industry: after a little bit of Googling found out that the videogames industry is one with a sizable market of people who have embraced the independent creator / publisher movement in that industry.
With books, I’d say it isn’t as much of percentage of the market as with music or other industries, but there certainly appears to be a segment of the e-reading market which has all but stopped reading books from traditional publishers: as I stated earlier, how much of that is due to factors such as cost, or being part of a generation where self-pubbed books aren’t looked down upon, or viewing their dollars as approval of industry practices and not wanting to support what they deem to be wrong, I do not know.
Though in regards to if a favorite author went with a traditional publisher, I’d say that their readers would be more pro-author than anti-publisher, and be willing to stay readers (unless, of course, factors like price come back into play).
I am a part of that sub-market ‘tho my price is 5.00 and under. I don’t actively avoid major publishers if the author, series, and price are right but I never seek them out since I personally despise them for their agency pricing antics and disgusting library ebook price gouging – if they bother selling to libraries at all. (Which my library doesn’t have to really worry about since our budget can’t run to an ebook collection even through the state consortium) I admit it also helps that I prefer midlist writers and not most of the highly marketed but badly written best seller names. I do get a lot of free books and buy a lot of backlist favorites or books I always meant to read through the years as authors get their rights back or are republished at exorbitant prices but are then put on sale or finally reduced to a more reasonable price. Full disclosure here – I have worked in libraries for close to 40 years and I can guarantee that I have never and will never buy or suggest the buying of a book based on who the publisher was. If the title is by an author that is proven to be popular by our readers yes, if it is say Amish but by a new author maybe because while, admittedly to me, they all sound alike, our patrons like Amish stories but buy it because it is published by Bethany – no.
I hope you had a productive trip on the East coast Wendy.
When I see DK Publishing’s logo on the spine or cover of a book I feel confident that the innards of the book, whether a travel guide or a children’s title, will be informative and beautifully illustrated. That repetitive label is a sign of quality.
Exactly! I can even picture the logo as you mentioned it and immediately recall many hours of enjoyable discovery in the pages of a DK book.
A few years ago when I received a Kindle for Christmas I was in book bliss over the free books. Many authors I’ve been wanting to read, but on a limited budget could not afford, popped up on that list. I spent hours looking for and finding gold. About a year later, the gold dried up. A book would have all the stars and good reviews. I’d give it a try and be horrified. Then baffled. Huh? How? At that point I decided to look at the publisher. Ah. Self pubbed. Friends and family spammed the review to create false impressions. I lost my enthusiasm and trust of the free list. Almost never look at it anymore b/c there is more junk than gem. But when I do hear by word of mouth that there is a good read on the list, I skip,reviews and look to see if it was from a legit publisher. Yes, I’ve read some good self pubbed novels, but they are rare. The poor quality stuff is so copious, it hurts the truly gifted story teller. Not sure what the solution is. But I must admit, I do look at publishers when I don’t know the author.
You’re confirming what I am sensing, Darcie.
I agree with you Wendy. For a long time now when I’m searching online sources for books I scroll down to see who published the book. It’s the first thing I look at after the blurb and maybe the “look inside” feature. As an author, I probably have a different insight into various publishers, but it does make a difference to me whether it’s “professionally” published versus self-published.
Case in point–we recently moved to a high altitude community. I know I have to adjust my baking techniques, so I looked for a couple of books on the subject. You can’t usually walk into a sea-level bookstore and find books on high altitude cooking, so I had to rely on what I found online. I chose the two that seemed the most thorough and helpful and put them on my Christmas list. When they arrived (thanks Mom!) I was disappointed in the self-published one. Although it was nicely produced and thoroughly researched, there are editorial annoyances throughout. It makes me want to edit it in the margins so I can use the book without tripping over those things.
I’m researching another topic now and will always choose a professionally published book over a self-published book unless I can hold the self-published one in my hands first and see that it is a quality product.
I know authors tend to look at the publisher because we know who tends to publish the books we love. But your example confirms what I’ve experienced. I once bought a print book online that was very costly but I had hoped it was just what I needed for research I was doing. When it came it was a thin, poorly printed paperback with sloppy and erroneous information. (In the art world we used to call those “loving hands at home” products.) I learned to dig deeper than the descriptions and reviews.
Excellent post, Wendy! I completely agree. I tend to stay away from self-pubbed books because so many “authors” slap something up without even running spell check on it. I’m exploring and writing a new-to-me genre and I have to be very, very careful because a lot of the books in it are self-pubbed.
I have standards for what I expect in a book. I’m not going to give them up to support a writer trying to make a living. That doesn’t help anyone and contributes to the insane amount of self-pubbed books out there that aren’t worth paying a plugged nickel.
I’ve even been burned with samples of self-pubbed books. A lot of times they aren’t long enough to truly gauge the quality of the writing. I’m thinking of one in particular that I spent $7 on that I really wish I could get back. It’s the only bad review I’ve ever left on a book, but I couldn’t help it! All the other reviews were the glowing spam from friends and family and their praise of this author’s skill with words was grossly overstated. And this was all on Goodreads, the only place I read book reviews. They tend to be more honest over there, and I don’t shop at Amazon anyway.
“I have standards for what I expect in a book. I’m not going to give them up to support a writer trying to make a living.”
Standards. That’s what this is about. Great insight, Rachel.
I love this idea! I don’t think it takes from the author’s brand at all. It’s simply co-branding, which is done all the time.
I read ebooks almost exclusively. And I indeed look at the publisher before buying anything. I immediately look at that “label” for credibility. I know it represents a certain standard, and right now that is what I’m willing to spend money on. I buy an ebook almost every week! I think the more frequently you purchase, the more you are attuned to this variability of quality that exists.
I’m also a voracious eBook reader. Perhaps that’s what made me start thinking about this.
Wendy, love this post. Noting the name on the spine is incredibly helpful for me. We all rely on brand, to some degree, for at least some things we purchase,for example vehicles, health insurance, even groceries. We also learn which generics we can trust. While I wouldn’t necessarily consider a self-pub writer a generic, there is something to be said for the clarity and confidence that goes with buying the product we need/want from a ‘known’ entity.
Unfortunately the spine doesn’t show online. That’s why I see the need for a logo or banner on the front cover. Or even a recognizable trade dress like Penguin has for their trade paper classics.
Wendy, I agree with you. One of the first things I look at now, when I am trying to decide whether to buy a book, is the publisher. While a lot of readers don’t have a clue about publishers and don’t look at that, I think the proliferation of e-readers will cause readers to start to be more informed. And I’ve been hearing about writers using pen names like Nora R. Roberts just to trick people into buying their books, and this will also contribute to readers becoming more informed and paying more attention to the publisher. Reputable publishers would be wise, as you say, to start putting their logo on the front cover, making it more obvious whose reputation is being staked on this book.
On the other hand, if you already know and love an author and have read everything they have ever written, you won’t care who published their book, or if they self-published it. You trust that author to give you what you want. So that is the exception, I think.
Exactly. If the writer is already a known brand discoverability is not an issue.
Very interesting topic…. something I have never thought about before… at all.. I have no idea who publishes the books I read… I have a Kindle now, and I confess if the book costs more than $2.99 I don’t buy it unless I really, really feel that I need to, and then that book is non-fiction. I mostly read classic novels… like right now, I am reading two books right now: Anne of Green Gables and Les Miserables on Kindle. I’m a homeschool mom, so I focus more on classic stories than on newer fiction. However, one thing I have loved about having my Kindle is being able to try new fiction for free…. and yes, I am one of those who catches every little mistake the editors have made…. but, if the story is good, I get over it. I have to admit, the only thing that influences my decision to read a book is the description of the plot… the name of the author might influence me if I have read that author’s work before… I never look at publisher, and I doubt I would. Mainly, I guess this is because if my curiosity is piqued, it is piqued… no matter who published it. But, I will say, it does make me think a bit more of the problem of self-publishing… why is it that self-publishers don’t have good editing? If I were to write a book, I’d want to edit it to death… I can’t even send a letter without editing it over and over… LOL…
So you wouldn’t start looking for a publisher’s imprimatur even if you ended up buying several terrible books in a row?
Of course you can’t go wrong with classics. I’m finding however that many of those offering out-of-copyright books or classics are doing a sloppy job of converting. Frustrating.
“[W]hy is it that self-publishers don’t have good editing?”
Because most of them do not retain external editors, and the Western educational system is a gutted ruin. There’s no margin in indiepub for hiring an editor unless you are selling a reasonably priced book which can be expected to sell well, and if you can do that, you probably don’t need that much editing in the first place. Those who can, do. Those who can’t… don’t know they can’t and try anyway. (See: “Dunning-Kruger Effect.”)
When I first started blogging, I was very open to almost any book, meaning self-published or traditionally published. But now that e-book publishing has taken off like a rocket, I focus on the synopsis first and then the publisher. There are too many options and the only way I don’t fill my device with poorly written, poorly edited books is by being familiar with the publishing house who released a book.
And that’s the key–“too many options.” We need filters.
Wendy, your thought is a good one if the publisher decides to make this their goal. I’ve been reading by publisher for years. I know the publishers that publish what I like and ones I feel let too much slide. However, I worry that many publishing houses are cutting back too much to save money in order to compete with the self-pubs. If they do this, they will make themselves less-distinguishable from the self-pub, and at a still higher cost. In the end, it could lead to lesser quality all around. I hope they take your suggestion!!!
I also agree that there are many really great self-pubbed books out there, which could compete with those at the big “houses.” However, one does need to wade through some muck to find them sometimes. Then, again, that’s what those free sample ebook chapters are for. Love those!!!
Connie, I haven’t noticed any publishers cutting back on quality and cutting prices to compete with self-pub bed books so far. I still see the same tough selection process, editing and marketing for the most part.
I know many writers think publishers are spending a lot of time thinking about self-pubbed books but I don’t think that’s the case. Last fall when we visited many of our best publishers one of the issues we raised was that publishers are not terribly aware of what’s going on outside traditional publishing. Or at least they haven’t made much of an attempt yet to join the conversation. Some of that has changed a little and we see blogs like the one by Chad Allen joining the discussion but, by and large, traditional publishing doesn’t yet consider self-publishing a serious competitor.
Thank you for adding this: “We know that some [self-published books] are quality, through and through. Its just as frustrating for professional authors of fine self-published titles to have their books lumped in with the cringeworthy ones.”
I’m glad of that because I have to say I’ve read a lot of books by recognized publishers that were more cringeworthy than self-published books I’ve read. (I’ve read more traditionally published books than self-published books, but frankly, that is changing.) The problems were not just grammar, punctuation, and such. The more I learn about writing, the more things I recognize as “bad writing.” (Not necessarily a good thing for a reader IMHO.) One thing that has really “gotten my goat” (no cliches please) is this one series by an author that I really like, by a traditional publishing house, that uses the same word repeatedly in all of his/her books(avoid repetition please)–and incorrectly! I’m thinking to myself, “Who edited these books?”
Another book I read that was touted as this great first book was poorly constructed and not that well written. I could have gotten past that if the story had been good or redeeming or whatever. But it was so full of such horrific acts of violence that I did something I’ve NEVER done before: I destroyed the book so I would not be the cause of someone else reading it.
Before I self-published my first book (there was a reason to get it published quickly which has no bearing on this discussion), I asked folks on my FB page if they considered the publisher when they bought a book. They all said in essence that while a well-known publisher might be a plus, an unknown or self publisher was not a minus. They did say they considered recommendations from personal friends as much as anything.
My point is that while you might know the subject matter based on the publishing house, you can still get a lemon.
And as far as the price goes, CreateSpace (print), for example, sets a price below which the author cannot go.
I would love to know that by having a certain publisher, the book I purchase would be of a certain quality and subject, etc. I would never presume that without a certain publisher, a book would not have those things.
Finally, I daresay that many, though not all, self-published authors would love to have an agent and a well-known publishing house (with all the editing provided). The fact is that there are not enough of either to go around. So we either let our books languish on our personal shelves, or we publish them ourselves. Hopefully, there will still be readers with discriminating tastes who judge a book by its contents and not its publisher.
(If our goals and such matched, would I turn down an agent or a publisher? Not on your life!)
There are always exceptions to every rule of course. And we are human. Many a fine, fine book had a typo or something overlooked in the first edition, no matter how many people worked on the book. I think those are to keep us humble.
Many older books have been rushed back into ebooks and suffered in the process. I’m reading one now– an older beloved novel– that has double indents and a blank line between paragraphs. Grrrrr.
But I’m generalizing to make a point.
The main flaw with your suggestion is that the likes of Louis Vuitton, JimmyChoo and Harley Davidson are the designer/creator; not only the manufacturer.
Publishers are not the creative force or design team but rather the production and marketing team. And yes Louis Vuitton etc. are also production & manufacture focused, however, everyone knows a JimmChoo shoe — it is a style icon — publishers do not limit to one ‘style’ or genre; they do not have a team of writers creating new stories but a team of editors filtering other peoples creativity.
Neither do they add significant layers to a work of art nor do they pretend to do so.
They are the machine which sharpens the edges of a manuscript to make it marketable and then push their new product.
I understand the need for the compassion but the facts are its isn’t comparing apples to oranges but apples to accountants; it simply makes no sense.
I don’t agree. The publishing team adds to the excellence we are addressing here. Just read author’s acknowledgements. You’ll see how much they value the team behind the book.
And Louis Vuitton is a brand now long after the designer is gone as is Harley Davidson. Despite the cost of the shoe, Jimmy Choo does not handcraft each shoe– he has a team committed to making him look as good as possible.
Fantastic idea. Only a few publishers in the Christian market are doing this now–Love Inspired and Summerside (Love Finds You) come to mind. It reminds me of when I was a child. If I could spot the tiny Cat on the Hat symbol on the spine, I knew the book would be entertaining, even if it was not written by Seuss.
Great examples, Karen.
Great idea, Wendy! And I love Sarah Thomas’ idea to have levels of publishers similar to the distinctions among levels of quality in wines. I think this would help not only the readers but the writers. While self-publishing has become more of a trend among authors than it used to be (I’m old enough to remember the ignominy of using a “vanity publisher”), the poorly written and edited books that exist side by side with self-published books of excellent quality continue to give self-publishing a bad name. At the same time, I have read books produced by some “traditional” publishers and still found a lack of proofreading. I, like many others who have commented today, look at who has published the books I read and there are a few that I favor and trust (e.g. as an educator, I like Pearson / Longman; as a Sci-Fi fan, I read a great deal from Del Rey). It would be wonderful to have publisher quality labels marked on each book. Additionally, (perhaps I’m getting ridiculous here), maybe each publisher could have quality levels for its books (maybe 1-5 with 5 being the highest quality). Of course, price points would align with the quality, so readers could decide whether to pay $25 for a high quality product or $1.00 for a bargain basement book. In my fantasy world, someone who self-published and refused to work with an editor would be prohibited from selling a book as anything other than a bargain basement brand. I suppose that last sentence will brand me as a snob, but I actually don’t care. Anyone who has the money to self-publish should be free to do so, but the truth-in-advertising laws should prohibit a person who refuses to produce a professional book to market it as if it were.
On that preachy note, I’ll stop.
Blessings!
I don’t know many publishers who would waste their resources publishing bargain basement books. Besides, a good read is one of the most subjective things of all. Some people are downright snobbish about their choices, whether we are talking literary or sci fi. I don’t think anyone could rate books. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
As rebuttal, the defense wishes to enter:
“A Shore Thing by Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi
Permalink: http://amzn.com/B0062GLWZS
Published by Gallery Books
A Division of Simon and Schuster”
Into the record.
Max Tucker: “I hope they serve beer in hell.”
Published by Gallery Books
A Division of Simon and Schuster
Out of respect for the blog, I will not list the other Max Tucker titles.
Wow. Some of my friends initially found the word “branding” a scary word but then I read them your entire article and now they all agree with you. (Especially all my cow friends).
Quite a loaded topic, this.
IMO there would be fewer self-published novels out there if there were more traditionally published novels.
The irony is that not all traditionally published novels are worth reading, even if they’re from big name Christian publishers that I respect. Not just rehashed plots, but also dialogues/mannerisms that are not period-authentic, and unlikeable MCs.
However, truth be told, the onus probandi is on the author. It’s the author who needs to produce a good book, not just to make sales, but to maintain the reputation of the industry she is in, whether traditional publishing or self.
Which is why I keep a shortlist of authors that I know write well — Laura Frantz, Joanne Bischoff, Julie Klassen, Michael Connelly, Brad Meltzer, Joel Rosenberg, just to name a few — and the other authors just have to measure up to their writing LOL. My favorite authors are all traditionally published.
I’ve found that sometimes authors change publishers, but regardless of where they go, I still buy their books… because they write well.
Having said that, as a writer, while I am open to both forms of publishing, I prefer to have a traditional publisher back up my work, to put a stamp of approval on all these years of research I’ve done, the hundreds of hours of writing and rewriting I’ve put in. Some days I think I’ve done my dissertation, and I want a panel of professors to tell me that I have earned my PhD (“Phinally Done”) — or not. Validation is what I think the traditional publishers can give to me as a writer.
Then again, to each her own 🙂
“The irony is that not all traditionally published novels are worth reading, even if they’re from big name Christian publishers that I respect.”
This .
It’s the one thing that I always consider when the issue of self-pubbed books comes up: if traditional publishing didn’t have books that were simply uninspired, if all the books that were, to be frank, signed and published just to catch onto a trend, if all those books didn’t get published, then it’d be a very lopsided argument.
I can be quite a literary snob, both as a reader and a writer. So when the topic of the quality of self-pubbed books comes up, I always wonder, “Yes, and when was the last time a book was traditionally published that deserved to sit on the same bookshelf as Faulkner, Twain, …..?”
There are plenty of books that I feel are not worth the pulp they are published on, but I try not to deride those books or genres too much: they serve the needs of those who read them. For me, the problem that some folks have of wading through e-books looking for something worth reading is what I go through when going through the library or bookstore.
So when the nature of quality control comes up in traditionally published books versus self-pubbed books, for me it’s like watching people betting on a horse race arguing that their horse was better…….
……even though both came far, far from winning.
Yes, as Wendy just reminded me and I concurred — it’s a matter of taste.
Sorry I should have said “in my opinion” when I said “worth reading.” But I did say “to each her own” in the end.
Even for racehorses, a “winner” is also in the eyes of the beholder. Seabiscuit would’ve been a winner regardless. But then that’s just my opinion…
Good input, Jan. and we share some of our author faves so I have to applaud your taste as well.
Your criticisms of books– rehashed plots, unlikeable main characters are matters of taste and the fact that you are a writer yourself. It’s hard to turn the editor off., isn’t it?
That is true. It’s a matter of taste. Also, those authors are published. So the MCs and rehashed plots must be OK.
Unfortunately for me, I am even more critical of my own writing, which doesn’t bode well for me as I try to get to the finish line LOL.
🙂
I absolutely agree. I already check books for a publisher that I am familiar with. If I don’t recognize the publisher or author, especially for ebooks, then I’m wary, and, in some cases, less likely to purchase without a free sample to check the quality first.
That’s what we’re hearing from many of you. Interesting.
Good point. I’ve checked a few books to see who published them. One used a self-publishing company that has a horrible reputation, and I ran away screaming.
Having spent many years as a Christian retailer, what I find interesting about this discussion is the fact that what you’re suggesting is the way retailers have dealt with product selection for years. Sure, your sales rep helped a lot, especially when you had one who knew your store well, but when choosing books from many, many publishers, you’re often forced to consider how well the publisher does in your store in making your decisions.
Of course, a publisher with many imprints makes this kind of approach more difficult.
When it comes to self-published books, retailers have different polices, but the most common seems to be not to carry self-published books because of the various challenges associated with doing so. Quality is one of the main concerns, and bookstore managers are as time challenged as editors; we don’t have time to read every self-published book someone wants us to carry.
No need to get too far off into the retail side. I primarily wanted to call attention to the fact that what you’re proposing on a wider level has been active within the Christian industry for some time.
In Canada, the Kobo e-reader lets you preview almost every book they sell. I don’t know if Kindle does that. You get from 4 – 40 pages of the book, enough to get the gist of it and a feel for the writing. It lets you sample cheap and free self-pub’d books, and books by fellow writers without going broke. Kobo also links up to our library system.
But I do think publishers, and agents, are becoming the gatekeepers of the industry and a fairly reputable recommendation for good writing.
I agree with you Wendy. A publisher is VERY important. From a browsing in bookshop point of view I would have to say that cover art should also be highlighted! New to your blog but loving it.
I totally agree with you on having reputable book publishers. I think with the industry changing so quickly there needs to be a greater sense of “partnership” between the writer and publisher. If you hear of a Spielburg film you know it will not be the same as a Hallmark film and that is totally okay. I don’t think it overshadows an authors brand, but rather endorses it.
A few years ago I asked Patsy Clairmont what she wished she had known early on in her career. Her response was that she wished she had developed a better relationship with the publisher.
I think the days of writing the project and waiting for a fruit basket are over. It is going to have to be a team effort which will be a benefit to the reader as well as the writer.
The publisher information is currently on the back cover, where we traditionally looked for the blurb, and on the spine, where we traditionally could see it on the library or shop shelf.
It seems entirely logical for the ebook versions to put it on the front cover. I know I always check the publisher now, to ensure I don’t accidentally download anything objectionable (note to self: avoid Samhain in future).
I guess I’m wondering why it’s so hard for people to discern a decent book–at least on Amazon. Between the ‘Look Inside’, description, sample feature and reviews, it’s never been easier to find a good book. I can’t tell you how much money I wasted over the years buying paperbacks that had a good blurb and cover, and maybe even a good first paragraph (when shopping with kids in tow, that’s often all I had time to read in store) but then I’d get home, and the book would be boring and I’d give up half-way through.
Yes, I’m a self-published author, and yes, there are some bad books out there, but in the last year, I’m probably reading a 50/50 mix of self-pubbed vs. traditional pubbed. Oddly, my thinking has changed from, ‘the self-pubbed is probably going to suck,’ to ‘the trade-pubbed better be outstanding right off the bat if they want me to pay over ten bucks for it because chances are, I’ll find a self-pubbed book that is just as well-written for half the cost.’
I don’t agree. The vast majority of readers have no clue who a book publisher is. They care who the author is. I keep seeing publishers trying to justify themselves as a brand and frankly, no one walks into a bookstore and goes: “Give me the next Random House.” They do with Harlequin lines, because they know what they’re getting.
I listen to agents and editors at conferences tell these wonderful stories of how lovingly they treat their authors and their books and I wonder what publishing universe they live in after having worked with 4 of the Big 6. Other than the “elite 5%” at a publishing house, books are shoved into a gristmill of production. Editors are underpaid and over-worked.
Actually, studies have shown the eBooks with the worst metadata are those put out by the Big 6. Because few spend the time to understand what they’re doing. Check out what Kristin Nelson had to say about Hugh Howey’s metadata.
Authors create product which is story (NOT book). Readers consume product. Everyone else is in between. Those in between need to add value. I say that as an author and a publisher. I have to prove to my authors that I provide value or else they have no need for me.
Way to go, Wendy. Starting new trends but most assuredly based on deep thought and experience. I did not really pay attention to publishers until I started writing and needing to learn more about them.
Now I check often, but with limited reading time, read more by author or recommendations from friends and often good salespeople in bookstores when I have some browsing time.
The more I write, the more I realize that we all need a partnership with publishing houses and ALL their staff. I read self pubbed when a book is recommended. But I think putting the house logo on the front of the book for epublishing is a great idea, and not even an expensive one. I am proud to work with the publishing houses I write for and sharing this one more little thing is a great idea.