Technology
Stephen Elliott reacts to BEA
Stephen Elliott just got back from BEA (BookExpo America, the “largest publishing event in North America”), and he wrote an essay about it.
I couldn’t agree with this more:
But here’s the thing, I don’t care about those books. I don’t care about the publishing industry that’s concerned with cookbooks and celebrity memoirs. And I don’t believe the people that say they’re publishing celebrity memoirs so they can publish great literature…
…McSweeney’s seems to be doing fine, along with Graywolf and Two Dollar Radio. People buy books from these publishers written by authors they’ve never heard of. Just because. When was the last time someone bought a Random House book because it was published by Random House?When all of that collapses the small presses will still exist. There’s too many people writing good books. If you write a good book it’s easy to get published, it’s just hard to get paid…
I’ll go a little further. McSweeney’s is fine now. Graywolf and Two Dollar Radio, too. But they may not always be fine. They may end. And, frankly, I think that that is fine, too. Sure, it’ll be sad when they go away. But the people who made them what they are will move on, will adapt, and will come back with a new and interesting project. Because they do what they love.
The majors can’t seem to do that because they can’t react to change quickly enough. They plod slowly forward because they have no other choice. It is the nature of their institutions.
We will survive.
Follow the block quotes link to read the rest of the essay by Stephen Elliott.
Tags: The Rumpus
Even though I got confused at the part where he starts talking about getting slapped by a girl at a party, I liked his essay. I liked the concept that small presses have a healthy readership and buy books JUST because it’s McSweeney’s or whomever.Interesting. That said, if Harper’s or Random House wanted to give me a ton of money and publish my books, I would say yes. But I’m not holding my breath and I love the liveliness of the indy scene.
Even though I got confused at the part where he starts talking about getting slapped by a girl at a party, I liked his essay. I liked the concept that small presses have a healthy readership and buy books JUST because it’s McSweeney’s or whomever.Interesting. That said, if Harper’s or Random House wanted to give me a ton of money and publish my books, I would say yes. But I’m not holding my breath and I love the liveliness of the indy scene.
i don’t even think the big publishers are going anywhere. they’re just going to take stock of the “climate” and be forced into doing some things differently. independent book stores, on the other hand, are in trouble especially in non-metro areas.
i don’t even think the big publishers are going anywhere. they’re just going to take stock of the “climate” and be forced into doing some things differently. independent book stores, on the other hand, are in trouble especially in non-metro areas.
Re Indie booksellers, even in metro areas we aren’t doing so well. I’m less confident about that.
Re Indie booksellers, even in metro areas we aren’t doing so well. I’m less confident about that.
i didn’t mean to imply that they were doing well. i think we’re all in trouble, but i think stores in metro areas have a chance to achieve a cult status or something (does that make any sense? i can’t articulate today). i guess i mean there is maybe more chance to find a niche.
maybe i’m just jaded working for a store in a small town that’s been around 31 years and is now sinking.
i didn’t mean to imply that they were doing well. i think we’re all in trouble, but i think stores in metro areas have a chance to achieve a cult status or something (does that make any sense? i can’t articulate today). i guess i mean there is maybe more chance to find a niche.
maybe i’m just jaded working for a store in a small town that’s been around 31 years and is now sinking.
I know what you mean. And some stores do find a way.
But, then , Stacy’s goes under and you begin to think no one will ever go to a bookstore again.
I know what you mean. And some stores do find a way.
But, then , Stacy’s goes under and you begin to think no one will ever go to a bookstore again.
while i respect stephen and mcsweeneys and the other presses he mentioned i think he may be forgetting a larger point:
“McSweeney’s seems to be doing fine, along with Graywolf and Two Dollar Radio. People buy books from these publishers written by authors they’ve never heard of. Just because. When was the last time someone bought a Random House book because it was published by Random House?”
while i resepct what he says, lets no forget, people publish books because they want as many people to read them as possible, yes? maybe not the only reason but that’s the bottom line. we write a book, go through the trouble of getting it published. WE WANT READERS.
if mcsweeneys is firing on all cylinders. and i mean firing well. they may manage to sell 10,000 – 20,000 copies of a particular title. excellent by my standards…
however… if random house is firing on all cyclinders they can sell 2,000,000.
so while i respect the viewpoint. im not sure what he’s saying. does he mean to say that anyone, if offered a contract by TWO DOLLAR RADIO and RANDOM HOUSE simultaneously. is there anyone who can honestly say they’d go with two dollar radio?
i guess i get it, but i hate when big houses, big corporations, get pissed on because they’re successful.
while i respect stephen and mcsweeneys and the other presses he mentioned i think he may be forgetting a larger point:
“McSweeney’s seems to be doing fine, along with Graywolf and Two Dollar Radio. People buy books from these publishers written by authors they’ve never heard of. Just because. When was the last time someone bought a Random House book because it was published by Random House?”
while i resepct what he says, lets no forget, people publish books because they want as many people to read them as possible, yes? maybe not the only reason but that’s the bottom line. we write a book, go through the trouble of getting it published. WE WANT READERS.
if mcsweeneys is firing on all cylinders. and i mean firing well. they may manage to sell 10,000 – 20,000 copies of a particular title. excellent by my standards…
however… if random house is firing on all cyclinders they can sell 2,000,000.
so while i respect the viewpoint. im not sure what he’s saying. does he mean to say that anyone, if offered a contract by TWO DOLLAR RADIO and RANDOM HOUSE simultaneously. is there anyone who can honestly say they’d go with two dollar radio?
i guess i get it, but i hate when big houses, big corporations, get pissed on because they’re successful.
matthew,
i hear ya. i feel the same way every time a legendary indie record store or live venue goes under, too.
matthew,
i hear ya. i feel the same way every time a legendary indie record store or live venue goes under, too.
Well, I can only answer from my own perspective.
There’s a lot of talk about a crisis in literature—especially “literary fiction and nonficton”—in America. I don’t think that crisis exists. I think the majors think the crisis exists, and they have informed the reading public that a crisis exists, but the only crisis is that THEY are the ones seem to sell books. I’m not pissing on their success. I’m pointing out that their lack of success does not equal the end of books.
And, sure, the majors have a certain advantage. But that advantage is evaporating:
1) They controlled distribution because they had the resources. But, because of internet-based sales, distribution is now easier for publishers at all levels.
2) Major news outlets publish book reviews of the books from big houses because the big houses have an established reputations. But now, the big news outlets are gutting their book reviews, so that advantage isn’t what it was. And small review blogs, medium review blogs, etc, all evolved with the small presses and are more likely to look at small press books.
I’m not pissing on them. I’m saying the world is passing them by and they don’t know what to do, and they are panicking, and they are trying to make the rest of us panic. But we don’t need to panic.
Well, I can only answer from my own perspective.
There’s a lot of talk about a crisis in literature—especially “literary fiction and nonficton”—in America. I don’t think that crisis exists. I think the majors think the crisis exists, and they have informed the reading public that a crisis exists, but the only crisis is that THEY are the ones seem to sell books. I’m not pissing on their success. I’m pointing out that their lack of success does not equal the end of books.
And, sure, the majors have a certain advantage. But that advantage is evaporating:
1) They controlled distribution because they had the resources. But, because of internet-based sales, distribution is now easier for publishers at all levels.
2) Major news outlets publish book reviews of the books from big houses because the big houses have an established reputations. But now, the big news outlets are gutting their book reviews, so that advantage isn’t what it was. And small review blogs, medium review blogs, etc, all evolved with the small presses and are more likely to look at small press books.
I’m not pissing on them. I’m saying the world is passing them by and they don’t know what to do, and they are panicking, and they are trying to make the rest of us panic. But we don’t need to panic.
And for the record, I respect you and your opinion, too, Barry.
And for the record, I respect you and your opinion, too, Barry.
no, im not saying you’re pissing on them matt, im saying people in general.
and i do hear ya man, but i think your 1 and 2 points are happening a lot lot lot slowwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr than your enthusiasm is portaying.
no, im not saying you’re pissing on them matt, im saying people in general.
and i do hear ya man, but i think your 1 and 2 points are happening a lot lot lot slowwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr than your enthusiasm is portaying.
Yeah, I suppose it’s been a slowish process.
But, heck, man. I got the pom pons. I got the short skirt. I got the megaphone.
I got spirit, yes I do. I got spirit, how ’bout you?
Ready? Okay.
Yeah, I suppose it’s been a slowish process.
But, heck, man. I got the pom pons. I got the short skirt. I got the megaphone.
I got spirit, yes I do. I got spirit, how ’bout you?
Ready? Okay.
Yes, this is the kind of thing I always wonder about whenever I hear of fiction or books being in horrible trouble.
Does a decline in book sales mean Barry Hannah sells less books or that John Grisham does (or that neither lose much, but random coffee table books and such plummet in sales)?
I imagine the reading public for the kind of fiction this board prefers stays more or less the same and isn’t that affected by larger market trends.
That said, I do think Barry is correct we are still at a stagte where the large publishers do something (sell a ton of copies of a literary book) that the smaller presses can’t, even if they don’t do it consistently.
Yes, this is the kind of thing I always wonder about whenever I hear of fiction or books being in horrible trouble.
Does a decline in book sales mean Barry Hannah sells less books or that John Grisham does (or that neither lose much, but random coffee table books and such plummet in sales)?
I imagine the reading public for the kind of fiction this board prefers stays more or less the same and isn’t that affected by larger market trends.
That said, I do think Barry is correct we are still at a stagte where the large publishers do something (sell a ton of copies of a literary book) that the smaller presses can’t, even if they don’t do it consistently.
hey dudes,
check out our new (and first time ever) pdf. version of the Small Press Dist. catalog
http://www.spdbooks.org/pages/events/PDF-Catalog.aspx
and don’t worry, we’re still hard copy printing the catalog…this is just a little tech icing on this season’s indie press cake…
xoxo,
john
hey dudes,
check out our new (and first time ever) pdf. version of the Small Press Dist. catalog
http://www.spdbooks.org/pages/events/PDF-Catalog.aspx
and don’t worry, we’re still hard copy printing the catalog…this is just a little tech icing on this season’s indie press cake…
xoxo,
john
insightful and provocative post matthew. did it, and stephen’s a smart, sassy, talent man — liked his essay enormously.
insightful and provocative post matthew. did it, and stephen’s a smart, sassy, talent man — liked his essay enormously.
I think its a deliberate campaign against books.
Out in Long Beach last year the RDA (redevelopment agency) bought out and bulldozed Acres of Books used and new bookstore. They’ve been around since 1926 or whatever. I met Ray Bradbury there, among other famous novelists of love that joint. It’s stupid. The city wanted to close down its main library branch for crying out loud! Main! With the closest one like 20/30 miles from the center of the city. I think bigger publishers and bookchains and paying cities money to fuck with independent business. I really do.
I think its a deliberate campaign against books.
Out in Long Beach last year the RDA (redevelopment agency) bought out and bulldozed Acres of Books used and new bookstore. They’ve been around since 1926 or whatever. I met Ray Bradbury there, among other famous novelists of love that joint. It’s stupid. The city wanted to close down its main library branch for crying out loud! Main! With the closest one like 20/30 miles from the center of the city. I think bigger publishers and bookchains and paying cities money to fuck with independent business. I really do.
That people on here and elsewhere care so much gives me hope. Small presses will always go under, but the spirit people have will see them re-emerge in different forms. Change is good.
That people on here and elsewhere care so much gives me hope. Small presses will always go under, but the spirit people have will see them re-emerge in different forms. Change is good.
Without naming names, I can state that at least one of our authors had an offer from at least one major publisher, and opted to go with Dzanc instead for a myriad of reasons.
And while I agree up above, Barry, that Matthew’s #1 is a glacier of speed, #2 is here. There are not that many major outlets reviewing books anymore and those that do aren’t always looking at big houses. The smaller places, those that were created to look at smaller houses – Rain Taxi, American Book Review, etc.- the smaller houses not only have better relationships with them, but also with many of their freelance reviewers like Blake, or Justin, who post here as well.
And places like Publishers Weekly, Library Journal – once you figure out the system (apologies to our past authors as we’ve finally figured it out) are really pretty fair to indie publishers.
But some authors, while wanting to get their work out to as many people as possible, and I agree, Random House is probably going to move more copies than anybody we rave about here and at our own blogs, some still consider many other things about their books and careers to be just as important – relationship to the publisher, voice in the cover creation, what other titles your book will be in a catalog with, etc.
Without naming names, I can state that at least one of our authors had an offer from at least one major publisher, and opted to go with Dzanc instead for a myriad of reasons.
And while I agree up above, Barry, that Matthew’s #1 is a glacier of speed, #2 is here. There are not that many major outlets reviewing books anymore and those that do aren’t always looking at big houses. The smaller places, those that were created to look at smaller houses – Rain Taxi, American Book Review, etc.- the smaller houses not only have better relationships with them, but also with many of their freelance reviewers like Blake, or Justin, who post here as well.
And places like Publishers Weekly, Library Journal – once you figure out the system (apologies to our past authors as we’ve finally figured it out) are really pretty fair to indie publishers.
But some authors, while wanting to get their work out to as many people as possible, and I agree, Random House is probably going to move more copies than anybody we rave about here and at our own blogs, some still consider many other things about their books and careers to be just as important – relationship to the publisher, voice in the cover creation, what other titles your book will be in a catalog with, etc.
aliens might be involved
aliens might be involved
I get what you’re saying, I really do. But, as the editor of a small press, I’ve found that most, if not all of our authors, couldn’t care less about having as many people read them as possible. They want readers, of course. We all do. But they would rather publish through us because they like the idea of 500 or 1000 people buying and reading their books because they really truly care about it.
My first novel was published in an edition of 500 which has pretty much sold out. Would I like more people to read it? Of course. But I realize, too, that selling 2,000,000 copies of my book won’t really, you know, do anything. What’s that mean?
And I do know what you mean about stuff getting pissed on just because it’s successful. But the thing about the big publishing houses is that they aren’t successful. They put out a crap product, screw any author that isn’t going to be a blockbuster, pin all of their hopes on teeny vampire and are all on the verge of bankruptcy. Just because they print lots of books and they’ve got a few ceo’s making bank doesn’t mean they are a success.
I get what you’re saying, I really do. But, as the editor of a small press, I’ve found that most, if not all of our authors, couldn’t care less about having as many people read them as possible. They want readers, of course. We all do. But they would rather publish through us because they like the idea of 500 or 1000 people buying and reading their books because they really truly care about it.
My first novel was published in an edition of 500 which has pretty much sold out. Would I like more people to read it? Of course. But I realize, too, that selling 2,000,000 copies of my book won’t really, you know, do anything. What’s that mean?
And I do know what you mean about stuff getting pissed on just because it’s successful. But the thing about the big publishing houses is that they aren’t successful. They put out a crap product, screw any author that isn’t going to be a blockbuster, pin all of their hopes on teeny vampire and are all on the verge of bankruptcy. Just because they print lots of books and they’ve got a few ceo’s making bank doesn’t mean they are a success.