Author: Cosmokid
Date:   12-29-03 18:21

Hi again,

I read Joanie's posts below with interest.

She and I both appear to have been blind-sided by the major publishers' current definition of "platform."

Has the publishing industry become the new "TV nation?" I guess it has. If you haven't already been on Oprah, forget about getting a non-fiction book deal.

I've done national TV and lots of national radio, have 2 million readers for a current column, and have over 3000 professionally published credits in the exact subject my book proposal was about. And it amounted to basically zip in the eyes of the major houses, who threw these credits and media experiences aside like they were nothing.

I don't believe authors are being told about this. All we see are tons of advice, books, and articles on crafting a great non-fiction proposal, working on your writing craft, finding an agent, etc.

I think writers need to be told that NONE OF IT MATTERS. It really doesn't.

The definition of "platform" seems to have changed drastically in recent years. You either have your own TV show or are a frequent guest on one, or you don't get a book contract of any note. Period.

And, in my case, I have a good chance of having a TV show created about my life, which would be a perfect tie-in to the book, with the project optioned by a well-known producer....and even THAT didn't push the project into the zone where editors felt confident enough to take it on.

It's very interesting. I think, unfortunately, that more authors need to know about this. I've attended far too many writers' groups, been a part of far too many discussions on forums, contributed at writer's unions and professional associations, and nobody seems to be addressing this issue. So people wastes months, years of their lives without understanding the basics:

Get thyself on a TV show now. Repeatedly. Or get your own show. Then you can get a decent book contract. Maybe.

Sad stuff, eh?

Best of luck to you, Joanie, with your current path, and best wishes that you'll prove those short-sighted editorial types wrong and sell a gazillion copies of your book.

Cosmokid

Author: Gary Kessler
Date:   12-29-03 18:33

I think this is probably generalizing too much--about both the content and fact of a monolithic "major publisher" definition of anything and quite possibly about focusing on why specific publishers didn't "fall in love" with the two book offers referenced.

Author: The Late Mitchell Warren
Date:   12-29-03 21:40

Yes it is a problem that the publishing industry--of course--doesn't acknowledge. Actually, it's not a problem for them, just for we the people who are not on TV every week. (COPS doesn't count, right?)

To make a long post short (I have a way of going on and on and on about this) the great majority of first time novelists will never be published, ever, no matter how talented they are. It's basically a matter of vegas odds. A thousand authors all writing a book and pitching to the same places--come on! Much like breaking into Hollywood, a lot of it has to do with who you know, being at the right place at the right time, and a lot of luck (or karma or something!).

Although I admit, I was surprised that you didn't break through the barrier, given your resume. I always thought getting a book published was about how impressive your resume was. Nice to know that even that doesn't matter, as in your case, and it's more to do with actual numbers--as in how many novels have you already sold?

Oh well. World War III will be here before we know it.
lol Sorry sick joke, couldn't resist.

Author: The Late Mitchell Warren
Date:   12-29-03 21:42

Yes it is a problem that the publishing industry--of course--doesn't acknowledge. Actually, it's not a problem for them, just for we the people who are not on TV every week. (COPS doesn't count, right?)

To make a long post short (I have a way of going on and on and on about this) the great majority of first time novelists will never be published, ever, no matter how talented they are. It's basically a matter of vegas odds. A thousand authors all writing a book and pitching to the same places--come on! Much like breaking into Hollywood, a lot of it has to do with who you know, being at the right place at the right time, and a lot of luck (or karma or something!).

Although I admit, I was surprised that you didn't break through the barrier, given your resume. I always thought getting a book published was about how impressive your resume was. Nice to know that even that doesn't matter, as in your case, and it's more to do with actual numbers--as in how many novels have you already sold?

Oh well. World War III will be here before we know it.
lol Sorry sick joke, couldn't resist.

Author: JoanieB
Date:   12-29-03 22:08

Thanks for your kind commiseration, cosmokid.

My background is strong. Fifteen years' successful client experience. A Ph.D. (a real one). An MBA. An M.Ed. Speak 3 languages (besides English). A thousand radio appearances/ A column, for years. A number one google-ranked website. TV too, though not national. Professional credentials, including National Speakers Association. Yes, done the circuit several times (including Learning Annex sort of thing). International connections.

Clients, including the rich and famous, which of course I can't mention, given my professional ethics and basic aversion to such practices. If I could/would, gee, I'd probably have a BIG BOOK DEAL as opposed to a paltry sum I'm trying to become enamored of. ("My rock star client...The fellow who later became a daily presence on talk TV...A woman you knew and loved, and saw on primetime TV for years..." Etc.) But I won't name names, and that's a concern--of theirs, not mine. I sleep quite well thank you!

Bottom line: I'm not an MTV phenom or current-event-critical thus, sadly, substance, insight and perspective become also-rans in the publishing business. It's about the money, honey--theirs, not ours.

And yet, I'll write. Think. Ponder. Teach. Create. Theorize. Evolve. It's in my nature.

Too bad it's not a respected way of life in our modern times. Ahhh...would it were.

Enough whining.
A contract awaits...paltry but promising.

Thanks again,
JoaniB.

Author: industry insider
Date:   01-01-04 16:15

"To make a long post short (I have a way of going on and on and on about this) the great majority of first time novelists will never be published, ever, no matter how talented they are. It's basically a matter of vegas odds. A thousand authors all writing a book and pitching to the same places--come on!"

Nonsense. Of those thousand writers, ten or fewer will have a manuscript that's even close to worth publishing. The world is full of writers, but it's not full of talented writers.

Author: The Late Mitchell Warren
Date:   01-01-04 22:08

That's gotta be the most absurd comment I've read in my entire stay on writers.net--or even my entire career writing.


It is safe to say that since we all as human beings have access to the same books, the same educational opportunities, the same life choices and the same imaginative thought process, we all have the opportunity to be "talented." Therefore, you would imply that there are simply some people who are just superior beings and on a higher plane of existence than the rest of humanity.

The odds--just the sheer number of people in the world--
suggest that there are thousands upon thousands of talented writers who simply are not being published because of various circumstances. Not a lack of talent.
Every objective person should be able to acknowledge that greatness is all relative.

And if you're an industry insider, and the industry actually shares your viewpoint, then God help us all.

Author: Gary Kessler
Date:   01-01-04 23:54

Gotta say you've lost me too, TLMW. By definition, talent involves innate endowments--a different dimension than access to books or education (which is training/experience, not talent). And, well, yes, there are some people who have more innate ability to write good books than others--that's what talent is all about.

Author: The Late Mitchell Warren
Date:   01-02-04 19:52

Well the talent conversation is debatable. But Gary, even you have to admit that the notion that out of 1000 writers only 10 of them have ANY talent can't be true.

I admit that there are some writers who are too over-eager and begin their career too soon. And yes, there are plenty of writers who are unpublishable by mainstream industry standards. But does that mean they are without talent?

A writing friend of mine recently told me of another writing contest for new authors. However, they received so many submissions that they literally began eliminating manuscripts based on just the first several pages. Yes, that makes sense if you're talking about publishable work. But to say they're not talented, numerically speaking, that just doesn't add up.

Author: Gary Kessler
Date:   01-02-04 21:34

Who knows how close to the truth it is?--there's no way to come up a number. But, more important, who cares? Just working on your own field should take enough of anyone's time--no use dreaming what folks are growing in their own fields that you aren't growing in yours.

Author: The Late Mitchell Warren
Date:   01-02-04 22:07

lol good point. who cares?