Comments on: The Publishing Crap-Shoot http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-publishing-crap-shoot/ Reflections of a working writer and reader Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:20:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Ann @ Zen of Writing http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-publishing-crap-shoot/#comment-83222 Ann @ Zen of Writing Fri, 18 May 2007 21:42:40 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-publishing-crap-shoot/#comment-83222 Interesting look at that in the New York Sun, as well: http://www.nysun.com/article/54492 I wish publishers would take Paul's suggestions to heart, especially promoting reading. Maybe the TV networks would follow, and replace the nauseating reality shows with intelligent programming. <strong>jb says</strong>: Thanks for the link, Ann. And, yes, it would be good to rebuild the world. Fun too. Interesting look at that in the New York Sun, as well: http://www.nysun.com/article/54492

I wish publishers would take Paul’s suggestions to heart, especially promoting reading. Maybe the TV networks would follow, and replace the nauseating reality shows with intelligent programming.

jb says: Thanks for the link, Ann. And, yes, it would be good to rebuild the world. Fun too.

]]> By: Paul http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-publishing-crap-shoot/#comment-81113 Paul Thu, 17 May 2007 09:59:17 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-publishing-crap-shoot/#comment-81113 I think the smaller indie publishers are trying new things and they seem more "in touch" with writers, readers and retailers. The big publishers have become remote from both readers and writers. They still publish a huge number and range of new fiction titles each year, but seem to regard them as market research. They invest comparatively little in their promotion and wait for word-of-mouth sales to point to the next "big thing." Yet the big publishers have the power and resources to shape the market. They could influence overall market size (e.g. men read much less fiction than women, it's not cool for teenagers to read) by using part of their marketing budget to promote reading as opposed to individual books. they could specialise more in particular genres (as could agents) to develop market sectors with a more recognisable identity. They could do some attitude testing, as opposed to sales analysis. Instead they pay huge advances to celebrities for "sure-fire" sellers and then seem to spend most of their marketing budgets on promoting those "sure-things." They could be lobbying government to look at problems in the industry from monopoly retailers and the discounting issue. Sorry - an ill-informed rant - but that's how the industry looks to me - profligate, complacent and out-of-touch. <strong>jb says</strong>: Some good ideas in there, Paul. Thanks for that. I wonder if the industry is listening? I think the smaller indie publishers are trying new things and they seem more “in touch” with writers, readers and retailers.
The big publishers have become remote from both readers and writers. They still publish a huge number and range of new fiction titles each year, but seem to regard them as market research. They invest comparatively little in their promotion and wait for word-of-mouth sales to point to the next “big thing.”
Yet the big publishers have the power and resources to shape the market. They could influence overall market size (e.g. men read much less fiction than women, it’s not cool for teenagers to read) by using part of their marketing budget to promote reading as opposed to individual books. they could specialise more in particular genres (as could agents) to develop market sectors with a more recognisable identity. They could do some attitude testing, as opposed to sales analysis.
Instead they pay huge advances to celebrities for “sure-fire” sellers and then seem to spend most of their marketing budgets on promoting those “sure-things.”
They could be lobbying government to look at problems in the industry from monopoly retailers and the discounting issue.
Sorry - an ill-informed rant - but that’s how the industry looks to me - profligate, complacent and out-of-touch.

jb says: Some good ideas in there, Paul. Thanks for that. I wonder if the industry is listening?

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