A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: Why are publishers reluctant to take on first-time authors?
It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.
This week follows an email conversation with a young lady who had a mildly interesting book, but it needed some work and she had no platform. When I suggested that she might want to get some help first from a developmental editor, she balked. When I stated that without a platform and with no name recognition, she would not be a candidate for traditional publication (i.e. with us), she turned hostile stated in a huff something along the lines like, "Well, something just has to change!" No, sweetie, it is not going to change (I did not really say that to her; in fact, I did not respond at all.) Many publishers are reluctant to take on new (first-time) authors. The reasons are many, but any one of them is sufficient to throw an author out of consideration and a combination of them is a death knell to publishing plans. Some are based on the reality of any first-time author. Others are based on the reality of particular first-time authors.
Book proposal
First-time authors are generally evident from the structure and first few paragraphs of a book proposal. They omit information that a publisher would expect and overhype their book and, sometimes, themselves. Publishers do not have a lot of time, and they need to know all the important things about the book in succinct fashion. They cannot spend time in ferreting out and researching information or digging through your proposal to read between the lines, and they cannot simply guess (that would not be a good business model). Run your proposal past someone who can help before sending it in. That could be another author, a teacher, a publishing mentor -- anyone who has knowledge of how to write a book proposal that sells.
Over-expectations
It is amazing the expectations that first-time authors have. One thought she and I would be flying all over the country, introducing her book to bookstore after bookstore and scads of adoring fans -- yet she had no platform and no contacts. (And clearly her idea of book launches was based off TV stories of the rich and famous.) Sometimes, it is not activities that are over-expected but money. One would-be author thought she would have enough money from her royalties to buy a house within a few months of publication. Another author, when offered 50% net, said too low -- even when offered the equivalent on list (list being a really good deal, but she was too naive to know and full of over-expectations). Trying to bring author down to earth is something that, again, publishers do not have time to do -- even those, like MSI Press, who are committed to helping first-time-authors make it into print. In the end, publishers are in business to make money. Greedy authors, especially first-time ones (whose book sales are typically low), are not healthy acquisitions for a traditional (or hybrid) publisher. Before having any kind of financial discussion with a publisher, know what you are talking about. Invest time into learning what are considered royalties and what are not. Learn more about the book publishing process and what the expectations for authors are and what the expectations for publishers -- and results of publication -- are so that you can talk sensibly with a publisher.
Anticipated Under-participation
If a publisher believes that an author will not be contributing a fair share of effort at book promotion, then a publisher is going to back off that book. Many first-time authors do not realize that readers want to interact with authors before purchasing, not with publishers. Authors need to be able and willing to pull their share of the weight. Those who are not can create financial difficulties for a publisher. Generally, if an author does not have a platform, a publisher will not be interested because there is no evidence that an author is going to assist with book promotion (financially or time-wise). We once had an author, post-publication, announce that she was done. She had only wanted a book for legacy purposes for her family and to show to her friends; she had no intention of investing any effort in book marketing/promotion -- and after all, she was way too old to be exerting any kind of effort in any kind of work. We learned our lesson with that one (it was early in our publishing history), and we carefully consider author book promotion plans and whether they seem to have the means to carry out their plans.
Ego
Our young lady who said something must change certainly was tripped up -- and would continue to be tripped up -- by her own ego. She had nothing to offer, but she thought she was serving dessert for a king. I imagine ultimately she either did not publish that book or ended up self-publishing because it is unlikely she would attract any publisher with her attitude. Another author had self-published his book and boasted about how well it had done, hoping that we would jump at the chance of re-publishing it. (We almost never re-published a self-published book, but that is a different topic.) He stated that he had an amazing number of sales (we checked; he did not) and just needed a traditional publisher to take it to the next level. He also boasted that Kirkus Reviews had judged the book to be outstanding (we checked; KR did not, but he was unable to understand the implications of the review, being naive about how reviews are structured and what a good review looks like, not having received one). He argued that we just did not understand how great his book really was. I see that since that time, he has self-published that book again, in a second edition. Clearly, we were not the only publisher unwilling to work with a first-time author with a big ego. Those who have little to offer need to offer it humbly and be grateful for any assistance provided. The trouble with most first books is that they do need editing, sometimes major editing, and contracts for a first-time author are never likely to be similar to those of a Steven King level of writer. An author with a big ego, who cannot take input, is a turn-off for a publisher -- actually, a turnoff for any relationship. If a publisher senses that it will be difficult to work with an author, no matter how good the book, the publisher will turn it down. Wouldn't you?
Naivete, hand-holding, and time
This is the biggest reason that publishers are reluctant to take on first-time authors. They do not know what they do not know, and it takes a lot of time to teach them. MSI Press is committed to investing the time to educate our authors. Most publishers do not want to or do not have the resources, especially time, to do so. If you are a first-time author, you can help by educating yourself about the publication process before approaching a publisher. Read...everything you need to know you can find on the Internet. Seriously. Seek out other authors (especially those in your field) and learn from them first. Then, approach a publisher.
No mailing list
Having a mailing list can mean the difference between selling a lot of books (big mailing list of truly interested people), some books, or no books. Hardly any first-time authors have a mailing list, but those who do are more likely to impress a publisher.
Lack of a big mouth
This means of book promotion has never gone away, and it remains, as always, the most effective means of garnering sales. Whether potential readers hear about the book through re-postings, your workshops and webinars, local presentations, book clubs or other social groups, or from casual conversation with your or with their friends, word of mouth has always been and continues to be a very reliable way to promote books (though it is hard to get and keep the ball rolling). Having a big mouth can sometimes make up for not having a mailing list -- if you have access to a lot of potential readers through various other kinds of sources.
See more Publisher Conversations with Authors HERE.
Learn more about publishing from an acquisitions editor -- how to get your book proposal accepted, why proposals are turned down/accepted, and how to find the right publisher for your book. On special sale for $5 while inventory lasts at MSI Press webstore. Also available as an e-book and an audiobook.
The Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors who come through our doors but don't make the cut--yet. If you have a topic that you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 18 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.
Follow MSI Press on Twitter, Face Book, and Instagram.
Comments
Post a Comment