I woke up this morning, looked at my diary, and it clearly said “write blog.” I knew exactly what I was going to write about, but as I read my friends’ blogs over my morning coffee, I saw this scare-mongering article alluded to over and over: How Waterstones Killed Publishing. Okay. Deep breaths everyone.
Now, I have been called a pollyanna before (mostly by me). And I know that despite (or maybe because of) my propensity to go towards the bleak I try to look on “the bright side” as much as possible. But I can’t keep quiet about this. Here are my thoughts. Be forewarned, my blood is boiling:
1. I have always told myself and all my students, if you don’t need to write, then don’t do it. Go work in an office. Sell ice cream. Be a fireman, whatever. Despite what it says all over the Writers’ Guild literature, you can not write for money. If it comes to you, great. But don’t expect it and don’t rely on it. Especially not now.
2. Book shops and publishers and, yes, even agencies, are businesses, first and foremost. That, by definition, means that most will be risk averse, especially in a time of economic upheaval. It is not a surprise that the big booksellers only want to sell what they know will be bought. Nor is it a surprise that the publishers only want to publish what they know they can sell to the book stores. And it goes down the “food chain” from there. The fact that the writer is at the bottom of the food chain should also not be a surprise. It has ever been thus.
3. The more interesting question is not why, but why now? Yes, it’s the economy which is making everyone suffer. But I believe it is about more than that. It is about technnology, and this, dear writers, is the good news. We are witnessing an industry running for its life. Every day, just like in the music business, models are developing whereby writers can produce their own work, market it, distribute it, reach a wide audience and make money from it. And all without the middle man. Today’s technology makes this possible. The trick is to see this as an opportunity, not a death knell.
So to sum up: I love Waterstones. My own books have been on sale in their shops and it has always given me a huge thrill to see them on those shelves. I dearly hope and believe that my future books will be seen there as well. The people who work at Waterstones could be selling automotive parts, but they have chosen to put their considerable abilities towards selling books, and to me books are important and so kudos to them. But I REFUSE to be held hostage to their business plans. I have already given up writing out of fear once in my life. I, for one, am not going to do it again. Yes, I go to bed every night praying that some wonderful agent will recognize me and scoop me up and present me and my works to some huge international publishing house which will give me a 4 book deal, amazing advances and worldwide recognition. I already own the dress I will wear to the Oscars. BUT, even if that does not happen, I will still get my latest novel out to the public, not to mention my nearly completed poetry collection. There are people already waiting to read the new book — maybe not 100,000’s but enough to use the word “countless.” If someone won’t do it for me, I now know there are ways to do it myself. And it will be the publishers’ loss, not mine. The list of writers I know personally for whom this is all also true is already quite long. And I’m just one lone blogger here in the sunny terraces of central London.
I guess I’ll write about what I had planned to blog about today later this week. For now, I’m putting on my little red beret, picking up my pen and daring to do what I love and what I do best. Write. I suggest that you all do the same. After all, if we don’t do it, who will?
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image courtesy of nativenotes.net
In fact I read this post with optimism. There is currently a bloodbath taking place in USA with Walmart slashing book prices in some strange war only they know the meaning of. But you’re right- the guys that are going to collapse are bookshops and publishers ( and their evil sidekicks- agents). We writers can walk away with our talent and sell on our own. Let’s face it- they weren’t our friends from day one. We can attend their funerals- etiquette says we must- but then shrug it off and get on with things. A seriously open window is appearing on the horizon….
As for accepting the fact that we will not make money from writing- NEVER! I will not.
Surprisingly with all of my ‘money making writing’ , next year I’m getting two big fat (of course that’s relative as I don’t use a lot of money) royalty cheques from my fiction! Whodathunkit?
Let’s all say it together- “Writers should be paid their worth”. Feel free to repeat it like a mantra during your spare time. I’m starting a revolution.
I read the Guardian article about Waterstone’s on my train last night as it stood for half an hour at Swindon… good chance to catch up on cheerful reading. I want to say, Hear Hear! to you, it struck me as another of those whining articles blaming everyone else. If you read through the comments, they are actually more enlightening – people talking about what they want from bookshops, talking about new models for getting books, etc.. Things are changing and, as you say, to blame Waterstone’s, or Borders, or Amazon, is like short story writers, as we so often do, blaming publishers for not wanting to publish short stories or literary fiction – they are in the money-making business, they are not charities. We need to do what we do, and find other ways to get our work out there. Exactly as you say, after I read the article last night I thought of all the exciting opportunities and avenues there are for writers to do it themselves… no, not ideal, a 4-book deal with massive advance is a lovely dream, but there are ways. Doom and gloom journalism doesn’t help anybody.
PS Great article in this month’s The Author magazine on a group of local authors who banded together to put on events and to get themselves a presence at fairs etc.., and finding that they were welcomed with open arms. Writers unite!
Lauri: Yes, to make it clear. I absolutely believe writers should get paid for their work! I just don’t think it’s realistic to go into this business EXPECTING to be paid an honest wage for hours put in, the way you would if you went to law school or became a tv repairman. It’s much more of a crap shoot. I’m thrilled you’re getting paid, though! It should happen to all of us! I just don’t think you can expect it; it will never be a job in that way.
Tania: I’m buying you a red beret!!
Superb blog. Three cheers. Hats off and in the air. I’m on the verge of giving up the chase for an agent/publishing deal for my fiction (my non-fiction does very well, thank you). Instead, I’m going to do it for myself and keep whatever cash comes my way. I have never written for the money, but the current state of publishing is not good, and if there is money to be made (and I too have enough fans to make the venture worth while), I would like it to go into my pocket so that it can fund the next thing I write.
Excellent post, Sue – thanks.
I was on a train at Swindon station yesterday, too, Tania. Spooky.
Yay, yay and thrice yay! Thanks for speaking good sense once again, Sue. And for sticking up for Waterstones! I’m convinced the old-fashioned publishing model is about to go the way of all flesh… or the vinyl LP, betamax cassettes and Sony Walkman. As a writer I’ve learnt so much this year about publicity, marketing, printing, selling and all the other things a publisher or agent should be doing, I’m thinking of starting out in publishing myself. The only trouble is… would I still have time for writing?
Thanks, Graeme.
Thanks, Brian.
And Dot: I’d tread carefully if I were you. But having said that, I’m also thinking of putting together a “co-op” where writers can help each other publish, market, distribute their work etc. Not exactly a publisher – more of a collective (I do have my red beret). I’m in a bit of a wait and see holding pattern right now, but it’s definitely on my mind.
Well done for providing the balance, Sue. I confess I found the article depressing reading and I can’t say I rejoice over Waterstone’s domination of the market. (Big up to the indie bookshops, say I.)
But it’s always good to turn things round and see opportunities instead of obstacles.
My writers’ group is in the process of publishing an anthology under our own imprint and most of the contributors are delighted they will see their work in print.
I couldn’t agree with you more Sue!! I love the co-op idea….Writers doing it for themselves…getting more choice out there for readers…I’m all for it!!
Ok, very spooky…I was also on a train at Swindon yesterday!!
C x
Interesting post. There are so many things out there we can’t control aren’t there? Good to have such a thoughtful take on it.
I seem to have missed the Swindon train party, sadly.
Debi: Thanks for saying I’ve provided some sort of balance. “Balance” – something I do strive for succeed in very rarely, I fear.
Carol: I do find myself thinking like my mother’s age old adage: “if you want something done, do it yourself.” Well, ok. But boy would I prefer to have someone big and powerful do it for me. But at least I do know there’s an alternative these days.
Helen: I do wonder if many of these thoughts come out of a desperate desire to gain some control where control is impossible. And yes, what’s with Swindon 🙂