Comments on: Troubles in publishing? It’s not just the Web’s fault

By: The State of the Industry « Ann Marie Gamble

The State of the Industry « Ann Marie Gamble — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:00:25 +0000

[...] idea: the problem is quality control. As an editor, this appeals–job security if the rest of the world buys in at [...]

By: Shack’s Comings and Goings » Sunday Wash-Up 14th June

Shack’s Comings and Goings » Sunday Wash-Up 14th June — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:13:46 +0000

[...] Troubles in publishing? It’s not just the Web’s fault Gary Poole debates the changes he has recently seen in the publishing industry. Are people no longer reading or are they reading alternatives to novels? [...]

By: iskid2astop

iskid2astop — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:28:53 +0000

As a young person, I can say, books are a dying breed. Textbooks? Heavy, breakable, expensive. Novels=TV without the pretty pictures. Non-fiction? Just listen to the interview, and read what someone else has to say about it, and you got the best parts, without the boring.

I’m an old-schooler, and I get labeled for that, and heckled. I dunno where they get the creative language though, cause it sure isn’t coming out of a book.

By: Gary Andrew Poole

Gary Andrew Poole — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:15:46 +0000

That is a shame. I worry about other publishing houses reaching a similar fate.

By: brianposnanski

brianposnanski — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:19:31 +0000

I think we can all agree on the backwardness and insularity of the publishing industry. The more interesting point for discussion is whether or not 40 percent of the country is indeed functionally illiterate. It may well be – if anyone knows of any recent research on this point from Pew or whoever, please do tell – but my feeling is that it has long been that way. Some 20 years ago, at my college’s literary festival, it was argued that perhaps as few as 100,000 of us are regular readers of serious literature. And this was well before Mosaic and Netscape.

I would disagree with your contention that book fairs are headed for the ash heap of history. The hoary lot of us who dig into bookshelves, thumb through used hardbacks and revel in finding a diamond in the rough may not hold up against the legion of empty-headed gamers, but there are enough of us to keep the flame alive.

By: Ken Ramsley

Ken Ramsley — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:20:35 +0000

Change is both hard and inevitable – though it rarely affects what we value and hold most dear. Art won’t end. Literature will remain. News will continue to spread. Jokes will still be told. Words will remain important.

Only -how- these words are transmitted from writer to audience has fallen between the stones, pulverizing everything -except- what matters most to us – our human spirit, our creative nature, our desire to be heard and known.

As writers, the only road ahead is to search out new avenues for ‘publication’ – matter how these are labeled and formed.

Ken Ramsley

By: Coates Bateman

Coates Bateman — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:52:24 +0000

I just learned that an independent house where I was an editor years ago just entered chapter 11

http://blogs.wsj.com/bankruptcy/2009/06/08/prominent-publishing-house-enters-chapter-11/

By: ssterns

ssterns — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:29:50 +0000

Unfortunately, you are quite correct about the publishing industry, but this is not a new phenomenon. I’ve worked in publishing for nearly 25 years, about half of that in commercial book publishing with one of the major houses. Editing of books and nurturing of authors started being phased out in the mid-90s, by quite specific design. Editors were essentially told not to edit, but to acquire the next bestseller. I actually had one manager ask me why I needed to edit a manuscript: if the author were any good we should just be able to print it. (This same person also questioned the need to proofread, since the compositors should know what they’re doing.) Not coincidentally, this head-of-imprint came not from an editorial background, but a marketing background.

When I first started out in the business, it was common for editors to actively work with authors over several books to build an audience, with the expectation that the author’s sales would gradually increase until a breakout point (mostly this was for novelists). But the business mentality changed over the years to pump out more books and see what worked. If an author didn’t breakout with the first or second book, too bad, on to the next author.

The one thing going for book publishers is that, no matter what advances in technology, printed books aren’t going to go out of style anytime soon. The number of “readers” in this country has stayed pretty stable and frankly has never been all that big. While this may change in the future, printed books will still endure.

But you’re correct that the likely solution to a failing publishing business is not to continue to pump out volume, but to cut back and publish quality. Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening any time soon.

By: Gary Andrew Poole

Gary Andrew Poole — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:55:56 +0000

Hi Ken,

Yes, you’re probably correct when it comes to my comment about mediocrity in books. I am making a conclusion over books that I read and from other anecdotal evidence. Over the last year, I have had the quality discussion with author friends. While my book publishing experience has been quite good, I am the exception among author friends. In some cases, books were never really edited, and authors ask friends, their agent, and sometimes even hire their own editor to help make the book better. You make some other great points. Thanks for reading.

By: Gary Andrew Poole

Gary Andrew Poole — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:44:27 +0000

Nick, I agree. I hate to hope for a knight on a white horse, but it would be interesting to see if someone outside of publishing could come up with a plan that makes books more viable. Just imagine what would have happened in the music industry if Apple hadn’t come along with the iPod. The music biz isn’t exactly healthy but it could be worse.