The New York Times ran two annoying articles yesterday. The first, on the front page below the fold, was titled, “On Kindle’s List, the Best Sellers Don’t Necessarily Need to Sell.” It seems one way publishers are dealing with the panic about ebook pricing is to give away books — yes, for free — as a way to introduce (read entice) readers to the works of lesser known authors. It has occasionally worked. By giving books away, a buzz is created which makes readers more comfortable about spending money on otherwise unknown authors. New sales are generated, new readers amassed. Not a bad idea if it works. But for most writers, that’s a big “if”.
The second, even more annoying article (at least to me) was “Celebrities Sell Books in Britain (Talent is Optional).” All of us who live here and have walked anywhere near a bookstore lately — or even watched a bus drive past — knows that the British publishing industry has been having a love affair with celebrity memoirs. As Sarah Lyall wrote in her article,
Unlike such (bestseller) lists in the United States, which tend to be mixed bags heavy on political polemic, popular sociology and inspirational memoir, the British lists are dominated by one kind of book alone, the celebrity autobiography.
Okay, some are interesting. Some have even been written by people who have lived more than 25 years and have experienced more than just the Big Brother house. And yes, these books, even the awful ones, have sold in the 100,000’s. So whose fault is it? The question, though, isn’t really whose fault it is. After all, publishing is a business and it is in the nature of businesses to make money where they can. But the question, perhaps, is what are they doing with this money? As Philip Stone, the charts editor of The Bookseller, is quoted as saying,
I can’t blame them for wanting to sign up celebrities to sell books or blame retailers for stocking them…Publishers always say that the success of a celebrity memoir will bankroll books by debut authors. Whether that is true, I don’t know, but that’s what they say.
Ugh. So I ask, what’s the point?
This morning I sent Number 2 Son back to University after his 6-week Christmas break. To my surprise, waving goodbye was just as difficult this time as it was the first. So I went up to my room, turned out the lights, got back into bed and had a good old-fashioned weep. But then I was nagged by this short story character whose been living in my head for the past few weeks, and I got up and began to finally write his story. Two hours later, I left my room, had some lunch and moved on, feeling better, alive, and purposeful. My conclusion for the day, then? Writing…it may not be a living, but it’s still a life.
I wonder, is it just in our struggling island that celebrity culture has taken root? Why single us out in particular?!
My take on it is this. I dont want to line my walls with celeb bios, ghost-written extended versions of what has already appeared in ‘OK’, ‘Hello’, ‘Wowzer’ or ‘Bye Bye’, whatever these mags are called. Im just not interested.
But I am in a minority. I am a nerd, irrelevant, a dinosaur. The vast majority of the reading public (or photo-scanning public – there arent many words, and that in itself may have something to do with it) ARE interested.
So, its a solid business decision, giving them what they want.
Now – whether they ARE using the profits to fund the unknowns, I dont know, in general. But in the last year, just to take an example, Faber has published Gappah’s anthology of short stories. Her first book, I think. Shortlisted for Frank O’Connor, and winner of Guardian First book award.
That gives hope that actually, for all the articles like this, these things still happen, as they always did.
We’ve just got to be original, different, and very very good. What a challenge!
I will, however, worry when Jordan wins the Nobel prize for literature.
Well done. I’m the same. I despair when I see this stuff and wonder what the point is. But I can’t stop writing. I know I will not make in a lifetime a fraction of what some of these people make on these books but I will not let my craft and my art (such as they are) wither because some celeb has their name on the front of a book that will be bought as a Christmas present and end up in a charity shop before the snow has melted.
I don’t make my living by writing, unfortunately, but it’s certainly a way of life for me.
My son recently went off for his second term at uni and although I know he’s made many friends and is having a wonderful time, it still feels strangely quiet without him here.
I can’t seem to find the right thing to say… but I’m sorry you’ve felt sad. And glad that you’re feeling better now.
Big hugs to you, JJx
Writing – we do it because we must, because for us it’s akin to breathing.
I think it will be interesting to see what happens after the Great Publishing Shake Up which is currently taking place, and I think we have to be prepared to think laterally and openly about how we get published and get our stories out there – and, hopefully, make a livig from doing so.
I felt sort of the same when the vile Sarah Palin’s book got all the publicity. I went into a bit of a frump and wrote a few angry bitter blog posts I never allowed to see the light of day.
Sue -let them do what they must and you must do what you must do. I think there is room for everyone. Yes, a writing life is a nice thing in and of itself. Enjoy it.Of course making a living from writing is another very nice thing and if that’s what you want- never look away from that goal. Celebrity ghosties or not.
Despite all the gloomy talk I feel as if these new changes may work in writers’ favours. I see the power shifting back to us. Why do you think agents are writing blog posts titled-“Why agents are still important?” and publishers are wondering how they can quickly get a grip on the slippery slidey issues without losing their place in the queue.
As for your son- eish- these transitions! Not so nice, but change is change is change.
Vanessa:What an idea….Jordan getting the Nobel. Hysterical. Or is it….:-)
Graeme: I’m with you all the way with this one. We’ll just keep going as best we can, and chuckle when we pass those charity shop windows full of unread books.
Debs: Yes we all go through this, I know. And it’s all good news really. It’s amazing how much we miss them, though, isn’t it?
JJ: Thanks, and don’t worry. I’m fine.
Nicki and Laurie: I do think that we writers will reap the benefits of this big shake up, as long as we keep our nerve and keep writing the best stuff we can. Do need to occasionally wring my hands in frustration though…part of the mind came, I guess. At least for me.
It is depressing, but I try to rationalise it by thinking that it’s a totally different market. People who buy Jordan’s ‘autobiography’ aren’t book buyers, they are celebrity spotters. Real writers have to keep going so that real readers will have something to read.
I thought the same thing, Helen,those people probably don’t normally buy books at all.
Read a ‘celebrity’ biography? I would rather poke my own eyes out with a blunt spoon!!
As Helen said, real writers write so that real readers have something to read!!
Don’t let the buggers get you down
C x
‘We’ll just keep going as best we can, and chuckle when we pass those charity shop windows full of unread books.’ The problem with your comment Sue is that the books have already been bought. The celebs don’t care whether they are read or not. The money’s in the bank.
Culture is dumbed down though. Its not a new phenomenon. Books, films, music and TV.
People say with pride, ‘What me, I never read!’
‘Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen never heard of them.’
I had this in the last week.
when I worked at WH Smith and was asked to restock the book shelves I NEVER put out celeb books. When I sold a book I told the purchaser, making the manager angry in the process, whether a book was good or not.
‘This Dan Brown,’ I’d say, ‘wait 3 moths and you’ll buy it for £1.99 in the charity shop.’