Comments on: Four Things I Would Change in Publishing

By: janetgrant

janetgrant — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:28:09 +0000

Jason, greed might be the cause of stress in publishing, but I think the cause is more amorphous than that. I think it’s trying to figure out which books are going to succeed and then hedging bets by over-publishing. That way, if the title everyone thinks will hit it big, misses; then maybe the debut novel will surprise everyone by taking off. Many titles must be produced when a business is structured this way. If only a few titles are published, the risk is much higher if they miss the target. So each publisher is caught in a cycle of over-production, which means all employees are working on too many titles to keep up with it all. And we haven’t even talked about the mountain of potential projects that have to be considered but will ultimately be rejected.

By: Jason Black

Jason Black — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:45:55 +0000

The question is, what’s the root cause of that stressful, harried pace within publishing?

You’ll never get rid of the stress until that root cause is addressed.

Off the cuff? My guess would be that the root cause = systemic greed.

By: Julie Surface Johnson

Julie Surface Johnson — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:17:33 +0000

Yes, encourage each other to dream . . . and to go back to what drove us to writing in the first place. I’ve dedicated the past six months to doing all the things suggested by many “in the know.” Blogging, social networking, building a platform, and getting my website redone (or trying to). Now, I’m breathing a sigh of relief and heading back to my books. They need me (editing and polishing) and I need them. I need to write and create stories. I need to dream again.

By: janetgrant

janetgrant — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:04:59 +0000

Obviously stress exists for both the writer and for those at publishing houses and in agencies. We need to remind each other why we got in this biz to begin with, and to encourage each other to dream. It’s hard to dream when you feel stressed, but it’s also a great stress reliever.

By: Janet Ann Collins

Janet Ann Collins — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:59:25 +0000

Janet, your post is something I needed to read. I thought finally becoming a book author instead of just writing for periodicals would reduce the stress. I always knew marketing would take a lot of work, but had no idea I’d need to get involved in social networking and how much time that would require. I’m with a small press so most of the marketing falls on my shoulders at a time when Christian schools and bookstores are closing and people have less money to spend. I think I’ll follow your lead and schedule some time to focus on what really matters.

By: LeAnne Hardy

LeAnne Hardy — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:30:24 +0000

Thank you to all of you with words of encouragement. I have to keep my eyes on the God who called me to write, not the pressures of the industry. (While still holding my end up responsibly! It sure is hard to find balance.)

By: Crystal Laine Miller

Crystal Laine Miller — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:11:26 +0000

I understand the word “stress.” This has been a very stressful year for us (my family) in an already stressful lifestyle (medical family.) My husband’s partner, an ER doc, perfectly healthy and seemingly at his peak of happiness, dropped dead on the job–which caused a chain of events and high stress. I wondered if stress would fell more of us in the crossfire. (And it really messed up what I had been writing–real life crossing the beams with imaginary life.)

Add to it that I continue to work under deadlines and with authors. One in particular was painful this summer–but turned out beautifully in the end. Afterward I felt a peace.

This year I did take a moment to dream for myself–things I had set aside and it refreshed me. I think that your advice to dream each MONTH is valuable advice and I’m going to adopt it. I also needed to step back and see the big picture. I was stunned that in doing so gave me a measure of confidence and excitement. I needed that!

I look forward to seeing your other 3 wishes!

By: Carla Gade

Carla Gade — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 04:47:23 +0000

Nice to “see” you again, Janet. I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and found joy and refreshment!

As an aspiring novelist I experience some of these stressors from the other side of the book. Being a creative writer, or even a talented writing (which I’m diligently trying to become), is not enough in today’s market. I’m dedicated to going the long haul and doing everything that is expected to develop my “whole” self as a writer and prove my professionalism (platform, marketing, networking, industry knowledge, remaining pliable, all of it). This does create a certain amount of stress and in the beginning years was overwhelming. As a recovering perfectionist this isn’t easy, but now I’m rather striving for excellence and learning to keep pace.

I’m trying to be mindful of all that happens on your side of the book – one of the reasons I enjoy this blog. Although you share some of your stressors, helping me to understand what they are actually helps me to also understand the big picture. That is a stess reliever for me.

Thanks! I do hope things level out a bit for you as the industry adjusts to the many changes from 2009.

By: KC Frantzen

KC Frantzen — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:14:57 +0000

Thank you Janet and all for your time to post here. As one who is also yet to be published, one who is overwhelmed with the steep learning curve, I too look to the Book for wisdom and direction.
Thanks Lenore for saying it just that way – that your “writing matters somehow, some way”. Mine does as well – now how to get it “out there”? Prayerfully, 2010 will reveal the answer!
I keep thinking I’m ready, but apparently, not quite yet!

By: Lucy

Lucy — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:11:59 +0000

Lenore, you just reminded me of one of my favorite messages from the Book you mentioned.

“Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow can take care of itself. Today’s challenges are all you need to face.” and “Your Father already knows everything you need.”