2023 / 07 - THE FEEDBACK TRIAGE SERIES - THE ROLE OF THE TRADITIONAL PUBLISHER

“Everything can be done easily today - why do we even need publishers? Is it not better to just skip all the BS and have your book out on the shelves ASAP?”

With such a high rejection rate from literary agents and publishers alike, it is easy to see them or the system as antagonistic towards creators. While I would admit that the publishing industry needs a shift in mindset itself, it will only do us creators good to better understand the role of the traditional publisher in the creation and publishing process.

(This is the 3rd issue in the feedback triage mini-series.)

First - writing is a craft, but publishing is a business

One of the beauties of the publishing industry is that your ‘competitors’ are also your ‘collaborators’. It’s not like buying a house, a car, or even a washing machine - supporting multiple authors and genres at the same time is common.

Publishing is in the business of buying and selling Intellectual Property (IP), which not only moves very slowly, but is highly risky. This means trend chasers are often too late (if they want to ride a content wave) and what’s ‘hot’ is often difficult to predict.

And unlike trends with daily goods, creative works take a lot of time. Let’s break that down in the best case scenario…

• An average novel goes for around 70,000 to 90,000 words. If we go with Nanowrimo timing, a raw manuscript would take about 2 months.

• Average revision and beta reading pre-query, if we go with a 30 chapter book, revising two chapters a month, would be 15 months.

• Querying an agent or submitting to a publisher is tricky. So let’s go with the best case scenario here - 6 months.

• Acceptance, signing of the contract, negotiations. Note that usually, a traditional publisher will start taking a risk (and its expenses) here - 1 month.

• Editing and revisions with the publisher. Even with a perfect manuscript, the fastest I’ve seen revisions and edits done before publication takes a while - 6 months.

• Designing, formatting, planning for Marketing - 3-6 months (some of it done concurrently during revision)

• Printing & Distribution - 1 month.

Adding that altogether, the best case scenario of a book from creation to publication would be about 3 years or so. Even when publishers come in, the average wait time for them to even see an inkling of a return-on-investment (ROI) can take up to a year (imagine all the salaries and utility bills!). So publishers worth their salt cannot afford to chase trends for long.

And how many books and rights need to be sold for the publishing industry to recoup the costs of taking on a single title?

Again, it’s a business, so every story is a risk.

Second - it does no good for the legitimate agents to harm creators

Let’s get this out of the way first - there are red-flag organisations, and the industry has channels flagging out unacceptable behaviour and practices. And yes, the industry needs change to grow better.

For now, the system is here as it is. Publishers are supposed to produce the best work possible for sale through different author voices. Literary agents are supposed to bring a diversity of voices into the world through the written word.

And hence, it does no good for any publisher or agent to ‘bully’ authors into submission.

Ultimately, if it gets so bad that “the contract is torn”, who truly loses out? You still have your manuscript but the publisher would have lost that amount of resources to keep your book team going until then. And the staff are definitely not getting paid in passion.

Finally - main sections to look out for in publishing contracts

So after all that, you’ve decided that traditional publishing is for you and you managed to snag a publishing deal. Here’s the next challenge - contracts.

Publishing contracts are often quite standard, but there are three main things I would advise authors to look out for -

Indemnity - simply put, this is where publishers are supposed to help you stand by your work if someone complains about your work. Not in a “i hate this writing” sense, but more of the people who get offended by your work. Check the clauses on indemnity so that publishers are not leaving you out in the dirt should someone have an issue with the subject of your work. You might be the author behind the manuscripts, but the publisher is supposed to do their due diligence with the content and stand by you as well.

Copyright - you don’t want to be signing everything away, especially with rights for other mediums and merchandise. This is particularly tricky, especially to practitioners who are allergic to paperwork. In this case, it might be a good idea to get a lawyer or someone who has gone through the process to look through your copyright clauses with you. This is where an agent comes in to help as well - you do not want to be getting nothing because you signed away merchandise rights in your excitement of publication!

Deliverables - your deadlines and what happens when either party does not comply. This is VERY important! It gives you a view of what’s expected of you, what’s expected of your collaborators, and a benchmark for your and the publisher’s needs when you communicate next.

Mindset Considerations

Going to keep this straightforward and quick - how do you even know if traditional publishing is for you? Here are some questions to consider -

• Do you recognise that you need help getting your manuscript out because you cannot manage all aspects of publishing and marketing, and are willing to trust the process and collaboration?

• Are you open to communication and conversation on your manuscript without viewing the publisher, editor, or agent as an opponent or worst, “rival who is trying to ruin your work”?

• Does your passion and belief in your work override your impatience or hunger for fame and riches?

If you can answer a “HECK YES!” to at least two of the above questions, perhaps you can give traditional publishing a try. I know that I’m challenging myself to go through the traditional route again this year, so I hope to see you on the other side!

Definitions:

• Publisher: An organisation that works to make your manuscript public, usually through print or digital book form. The process usually involves editing (see previous issue), formatting, designing, and printing books, on top of other administration that goes into turning your manuscript into a novel / product.

• Traditional Publisher: A publisher that publishes books through traditional, business means - through agents, editors, printers, etc… The author is often the creative and consultant, but does not have full control over this process.

What Can I Do as a Writer?:

To “break” the rules, we need to first understand the current rules and their intentions. The publishing landscape, particularly traditional publishing, can stand to improve. But until then, here are some steps we can take as writers:

1. Work on your craft - Understand that while publishing is a business that moves at a glacial pace, writing is still a craft. Patience can be a little difficult, but it gives us the opportunity to work on our craft - concentrate on what gives you the most joy - the process, the story at the end, or just expressing your thoughts.

2. If you are already working with a publisher, be clear with your communication and needs - Being clear does not mean being aggressive, demanding, or seeing your publisher as an opponent. It means that you know your preferences and communicate them clearly. At the same time, being open enough to understand that the publisher is here to help you release the best book you can.

3. Ultimately, know what you want - Everyone wants to be “rich and famous”. Everyone wants to be “successful”. But do you want to be the above like everyone else? This is an exercise in process and habit, so it’s always good to practise reflection - in our craft, our intentions, our lives - regularly.

I hope you will be able to glean something helpful from my reflections moving forward as well!

Thank You!

And that’s it from me this round! If you like what you’re seeing, have any questions about publishing that you would like me to look at, or just want to say hi, do drop me a comment or send me a message. I would definitely like to hear from you.

Keep the pages turning!