Blogger: Rachelle Gardner
Every once in a while I have to stop my work, look up from my computer, and take a good long look around me. What does the publishing landscape look like from one agent’s perspective? Here are a few things I see:
♦ I see a higher level of stress surrounding publishing than I’ve ever seen in this business.
♦ I see authors pulled in too many different directions, no longer having the “luxury” of focusing on just writing the best book they can, but needing to be experts at marketing and social media too.
♦ I see many authors doing an amazing job at both writing and marketing, and I’m in awe of this.
♦ I see amazing opportunities for authors that they’ve never had before: opportunities to reach more readers through digital publishing; opportunities to connect with their readers through social media.
♦ I see an unnecessary “us vs. them” mentality when it comes to traditional publishing vs. indie or self-publishing. I see tremendous potential for many authors to take advantage of both avenues.
♦ I see people trying to demonize agents and other “middlemen” or gatekeepers whose role has been to facilitate the connection between writer and reader, claiming all the middlemen will be extinct.
♦ Meanwhile, I see agents staying on top of the changes in our industry, being the eyes and ears of publishing for their clients, and remaining confident that their unique knowledge and skills will remain valuable regardless of how things change.
♦ I see some publishers being astonishingly creative and proactive when it comes to marketing in today’s new environment, and other publishers that aren’t quite rising to the challenge.
♦ I see publishers constantly revising their contracts to protect their own interests as the publishing landscape continues to make it more difficult for them to profit (keeping agents on their toes).
♦ I see technology companies and certain giant online retailers profiting much more than publishers or authors in the new economy of publishing.
♦ I see books and reading continuing to be as popular as ever, regardless of form or format.
♦ I see a stunning amount of disagreement over where publishing is headed and where we’ll all be in five years; the only thing anyone agrees on is that things are changing too fast to keep up with.
Those are a few of my thoughts for today.
What do YOU see as you look around the publishing landscape?
TWEET THIS
What do YOU see as you look around today’s publishing landscape? Agent @RachelleGardner shares her view. Click to Tweet.
I see hope, and opportunity, and the reassuring message that reading will never fade away.
I see decent people who are influencing our society…twenty years ago, a movie like “Godzilla” would not have introduced two attractive marriages in the first twenty minutes, and had a Christian prayer just before the climax. That’s US, guys. That’s what we do.
I see friends I have made but will probably never meet, through the magic of this technology.
I see Love.
Andrew, I see friends also, and many unique ways to connect through social media. Even so, I hope to meet you in person someday.
Get in line behind me, Jenni! 🙂 Hee hee! While I’m grabbing my hug from you in the line to meet Andrew! 🙂
I hope to meet you too, one day, Jenni.
Aw, Shelli…thanks.
Reminds me of my home:
We had the opportunity to buy a foreclosed house (an old post and beam barn made into a home) that was neglected and ugly. Our question: do it ourselves versus hire the work. Our answer: a combination of the two. Our experience: Moments of sheer terror and great joy playing out in the midst of hard labor, perseverance and compromise. The result: a comfortable, unique and quirky home that never fails to amaze visitors.
High stress, great reward.
Would I do it again? With a book–yes! But I’m done with houses.
Shirlee, I love your “post-and-beam barn” story, and the last line made me laugh. Wishing you the best.
Rachelle,
Demonize agents? There are probably some bad ones out there, but. . .
For us, your faithful blog readers, you ARE our agent. We check in daily for information and encouragement. You keep us up to date on the industry and provide a forum we trust to share our thoughts and connect with other writers.
We are all better able to tackle the world of publishing because of the “been there, done that” sharing from you and the other bloggers.
I am sending in submissions this week for my Middle Grade novel, and I know your input has made me more confident in my manuscript and my query. Thanks!
Rachelle, I see roughly the same things…and they frighten me. When I began trying to write, just a few years ago, it seemed simple: write a book, get representation, get a contract, write another book.
Now the author must market more than ever, be visible and entertaining in social media, decide whether to direct his/her energy toward traditional publishers or self-publication, keep up with all the other changes in publishing, and still try to write. The list goes on, and if I didn’t have an agent I’d probably be tempted to pull out what hair I have left.
I agree with your assessment–I just wish I had more answers. Thanks for sharing.
Entertaining? Yikes!
I try to be creative in the ways I interact with prospective readers, and as you stated, entertainment is part of that. But then we’re supposed to be unique and authentic while we’re at it. If only I could put the rest of life on hold for a bit, maybe it wouldn’t be so exhausting.
I appreciate your honesty, Richard.
I see a whole lot of awesome books! My family is just entering the stare where all 3 of my boys can read chapter books (they are 6,9, &10) and there are a lot of awesome books out there. As a mom and reader, I don’t care how they get there, just keep them coming. As a writer, I am encouraged to see all the great stories finding their way into the world.
Love that, Kristen … “keep them coming.” Yeah, Christmas is around the corner, and we need more Warrior cat books! 🙂
I read mostly in CBA, and what I see are more well-crafted stories coming out.
I see some people rushing into self-publishing because they want their dream NOW. They may or may not be ready to actually put their words out there. I also see people thinking through this option and going about it purposefully.
I see writers working hard to be published. But, I also see publishers still taking some chances on unpublished writers. I see reasons for hope. And I see authors who are willing to look behind them and give a hand to those walking the path behind them. Maybe this has always happened, I’m not sure. But this is highly encouraging as one of those coming behind. 🙂
Jeanne … authors giving “a hand to those walking behind them” … I love this. I have been a freelance writer for years now, but I had no writer friends. Since finding this blog, I’ve been amazed at the love shown, like Andrew said. I didn’t have to reach out … hands reached out to me … emails, FB messages, Skype … I would never have expected that. Like you said, I don’t know if that is something new, but I see it. And I appreciate it.
I also appreciate the kinship and camaraderie you mentioned.
Thoughtful posting subject, one that evokes thought. So much blogging and tweeting today for literature, either hard copy or e-publishing, to be as popular as it once was. People just don’t read; they wait for the movie! So literature or what there is of it, is created by members of our author-marketing profession that’s emerged as a result of the morphing of yesteryear’s publishing houses into modern publishers. These publishers seem to thrive on tell-all exposition by “spies and others who’ve come in out of the cold,” and write for fame and fortune, but these authors never delude themselves that they’re rendering literary works. “Killing Lincoln” may be an enlightening read, but it’s hardly literature. There’s an old analogy that claims “A camel is a horse that’s been designed by a committee,” and an old description of a “jack of all trades, master of none,” that seem appropriate to this discussion. Storytelling is an art, a mastered skill that’s part entertainer with a whole lot of experience as an evolving wordsmith. In short, you have to do a lot of living in order to have something to “say” (write about), but you still have to be a wordsmith. And this, my friends, leaves little time to develop marketing skills. My opinion: Let the authors write, and let the marketing guys market. Sorry, bloggers, but Jane Austin was a lousy marketer! ‘Nuff—maybe too much—said! Oh, well, onward into the fog.
With all of the changes and ups and downs…I still see an industry that I very much believe in. I see people that truly want to make a difference and will do whatever it takes to navigate these changing times. I see many reasons to hope and many reasons to continue to work harder than ever. At the end of the day I hope we can remember why we love the written word so much and know that it’s worth it. I’m praying that God would increase our creativity and passion to keep going and to view certain limitations right now as really good opportunities for growth.
Maybe the best way to look at the constrictions and limitations we see is in the analogy of a rocket nozzle; it has to narrow down to be able to produce thrust.
One could say something similar about the gatekeeping role of agents and acquisition editors; without constant attention to quality of craft and marketability, the publishing industry could make a lot of noise, and not go anywhere.
Self-publishing can be a wonderful opportunity, but the traditional line is necessary as a point of comparison, and as a standard to which to aspire.
What a insightful post! Every day writers have more burdens to shoulder in addition to writing the best book possible.
Along with that, I see great avenues of possibilities for writers, agents and publishers working together to get those ‘great’ books out to the public, no matter what form available. I think that right now, there’s no more of a greater and more difficult time to be a writer.
When I look out upon the publishing landscape, I see trees of green, red roses too. I see them bloom, for you and me.
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world it is, to be able to read and write about things that could be – that never were.”
Regardless of how the world is changing remarkably, thanks to technology. Self publishing vs traditional publishing, author must now think outside the box and learn a couple of things about the importance of social media–hoping to reach more audience … I, however, am glad that you can still see books and reading continuing to be as popular as ever, regardless of form or format; authors, for that reason, are still writing away …
Thank you for sharing this post, defiantly an eye opener.
I am glad for the interplay between traditional publishing and less traditional publishing. We stand on a cliff side. Looking out into the abyss. I, for one, can say that there I see bright light, not darkness. The promise of the future. The promise of things to come.