The Crapshoot
Did you all see this aticle in the NY TIMES this Sunday?
I know an author who, by virtue of a huge promotional push--one of the biggest I have ever seen among authors I know--and some luck, a great cover, and a healthy dash of talent (because I never fail to recognize other people--jealousy is a no-no)--had a good seller. Not a best-seller. Didn't make any lists. But did well enough for her to earn out and get a pretty fat royalty check. And, like the author of PREP in this article, her subsequent books--without the publisher's huge promotional investment, and most definitely the timing of the chick lit market--have done modestly at best.
The thing is . . . when I would talk to her, she would not talk TO me, but AT me. Because by virtue of her sales, she had a LOT to say about the book biz, about being a success, about what a talent SHE is (but not, I was amazed to find out, the talent of ANYONE else out there in her genre), about many, many things--including knocking other authors (in front of editors, no less). She was, to all around her, a diva. One person in the biz called her "psychotic." And I had a tendency to be bemused. Because, I have been at this long enough to know that a lot of this is a crapshoot. You write the best book you know how, you promote yourself as much as possible within the confines of your budget, you have your agent push for promotion, you send out your press kits, do all that . . . . and then roll the dice.
Anyone who tells you they have the secret of publishing success has loaded dice. Talent is a component. But so is timing. And be careful who you knock on the way up . . . because the mighty can fall far.
It's a strange biz. That's the other really wonderful aspect of the article. It's unlike any other--even Hollywood.
So what do you think?
I know an author who, by virtue of a huge promotional push--one of the biggest I have ever seen among authors I know--and some luck, a great cover, and a healthy dash of talent (because I never fail to recognize other people--jealousy is a no-no)--had a good seller. Not a best-seller. Didn't make any lists. But did well enough for her to earn out and get a pretty fat royalty check. And, like the author of PREP in this article, her subsequent books--without the publisher's huge promotional investment, and most definitely the timing of the chick lit market--have done modestly at best.
The thing is . . . when I would talk to her, she would not talk TO me, but AT me. Because by virtue of her sales, she had a LOT to say about the book biz, about being a success, about what a talent SHE is (but not, I was amazed to find out, the talent of ANYONE else out there in her genre), about many, many things--including knocking other authors (in front of editors, no less). She was, to all around her, a diva. One person in the biz called her "psychotic." And I had a tendency to be bemused. Because, I have been at this long enough to know that a lot of this is a crapshoot. You write the best book you know how, you promote yourself as much as possible within the confines of your budget, you have your agent push for promotion, you send out your press kits, do all that . . . . and then roll the dice.
Anyone who tells you they have the secret of publishing success has loaded dice. Talent is a component. But so is timing. And be careful who you knock on the way up . . . because the mighty can fall far.
It's a strange biz. That's the other really wonderful aspect of the article. It's unlike any other--even Hollywood.
So what do you think?
Labels: best sellers, NY Times
posted by Erica Orloff at 8:50 AM
10 Comments:
I especially liked the paragraph on the last page giving kudos to RWA's marketing and research efforts. :)
And thanks for this post. Glad to hear a published writer/previous editor tell it like it is.
Hi Heather:
I forgot to add that in my post! Yes, it was great to see the RWA mentioned in such a positive light.
E
so... kinda like life... you do your best, but it is still not a guarantee that you will actually make it.
which kinda makes me question your 'unnamed' author's sanity. How can that person be that sure of themselves in an industry that is so fickle?
Every time I read/hear these things I just step further away from the dream of being published. A couple more of them and I'll be ready to just write for myself, my friends and family.
Erica, great blog. This is so true. Writing is a great job, but secure it's not.
And I've seen lots of authors who were lucking enough to have the 'lightning strike', look down on everyone who wasn't at the right place at the right time. Yes, without talent, you won't get far. But luck plays a huge factor, too. And dissing the working writers around you is a fast way to make a bad name for yourself.
Oh, Ewoh--never give up. There's a publisher out there, just waiting to read your stuff. It's just up to you to find them!
ewoh:
Well, the flip side is this . . . it's a strange fickle biz, and you COULD be the one who gets struck by the lightning of huge success.
As for the author in question . . . I wish I could say she was the only one--but she isn't, and I've seen some nutty takes on the "diva" in publishing (or the male version of that). But I look at it as some people are simply that way--if it wasn't about being a successful writer, that aspect of their personality would come out in arrogance over the kind of car they drive, or their job or their children's brilliance or the PTA, for God's sake. Divas are already divas in the making. Jerks are already jerks in the making . . . success just gives them an audience.
Maureen:
Definitely . . . I have twice in the last year seen an author who has sold ONE book (a huge and wonderful achievement, but . . . also not many, many years in the biz) set up a side biz telling people the "secrets" of making it in publishing--PAYING businesses. And I have been so appalled. No one knows the "secrets." I still will do paid critiques sometimes for old clients . . . but I firmly believe no one has all the answers and I am really up front about that. Some of it is just blind luck. Some of it talent. Some of it timing. I can't teach someone any of those things. Talent can be developed--but not taught from scratch so to speak. Luck and timing . . . well, they're up to the Fates.
E
Well, there are some really great writers out there. It's amazing.
But I'm not convinced being a good writer is everything. I only have experience in the small-time market (so I'm going to be like her and be an idiot, LOL), but it seems that the more that's out there, the more readers seem to grow a "relationship" with my writing.
Is that true with the NY market, too?
spy:
I don't know. The way I am as a person--writer aside--I make a point to answer every single email/fan letter personally. In the last three days, I got three handwritten letter sent to my agent (how often does THAT happen anymore?!) and about two dozen emails . . . it's time-consuming, but I just feel like if I put a book out there and people feel compelled to write, I owe it to them to be gracious and answer. Over time, I have noticed that sometimes people write back a few times--or seek me out in myspace, or write back to let me know they have all my books on order. So I do feel little by little, yes, real relationships are built. At what point would that become burdensome? I can't imagine that John Grisham writes everyone back--LOL. But I would LOVE to have that problem and to see if I could try. :-)
E
When W.H. Auden was a student at Oxford, one of his tutors asked him what he intended to do with his life.
Auden said, "I want to write poetry."
"That's fine," the tutor said, "but--"
"No," Auden said. "I mean I'm GOING to be a great writer."
Some great artists, it seems, are aware of their greatness. But for the most part, anyone who thinks s/he is great actually isn't. Hype and attutude will only take you so far. If you don't have the chops to back it up...
Even if you do have the chops, attitude can be a killer. Like when John Lennon said The Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ. Oh, boy...
I think humility and maturity often go hand in hand. Unfortunately, some people never grow up. Lennon did. Auden did.
Maybe some day the diva you speak of will. Maybe not.
Here's the thing: regardless of talent, if you intend to make it in any business (and especially one as fickle as publishing), you have to maintain a certain degree of confidence. But there's a line, and crossing over to arrogance just makes you look like a fool.
Or a psycho. ;)
jude:
Well said.
E
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