I can’t get this expression out of my head. If you’re a child of the eighties, you’ll appreciate the reference. If you hate blog posts that are overly optimistic or preachy, you might want to move along.
It’s been a tough year to be in epublishing. It’s been an even tougher year to be an advocate for epublishing, to remain fair, to comment on the “issues” without being inflammatory or mortally offending one person or a whole group of people. Balancing the line between informative and non-judgmental, maintaining a positive outlook while understanding that every industry has growing pains.
Unfortunately, our growing pains have taken place in a rather public and sometimes spectacular way, resulting in once-passionate advocates becoming disenchanted and increasingly cynical readers drifting away from their once staunch position of epublishing support.
To say the least, it’s discouraging. But over the past few weeks, as more epublishers fold or are embroiled in author dissent and unhappiness, this phrase keeps circling in my head. Goonies never say die.
Why that particular phrase? Because some days I have no doubt there are authors, editors and publishers who probably think it would be easier to give up. Some days I think that. But then I remember all the reasons I love epublishing. The diversity, the authors, the permissiveness in what we can publish, the enthusiasm of the readers for the stories, the characters, the authors. I love the convenience of ebooks, being able to go to the doctor’s office with one hundred reading choices in my purse. Truly, I love epublishing, warts and all.
I’m reminded there’s a lot to love about epublishing, a lot of reasons not to give up. But that doesn’t mean that, as a whole, we don’t need to be self-aware. Aware of how we represent ourselves both within the publishing community and in the reading community. And just maybe we need to start raising our expectations.
For their money, readers should expect that publishers and authors produce quality work, websites that are professional and easy to navigate, books offered at reasonable prices, blurbs and excerpts (relatively typo free) available for all the books, and good customer service that is helpful and responds in a reasonable and timely manner (i.e., within 24-48 business hours).
From their publishers, authors should be able to expect advance notice of release dates, professional editing—and time to look over each round of edits, marketable covers, royalties paid as promised and in a timely manner, an effective marketing plan, courteous communications within the company and company representatives who can conduct themselves professionally outside the company.
But authors should also expect more from themselves. This may be an unpopular thing to say, but first realizing that maybe not every book is meant to be published. Some books are a learning experience and will eventually be shoved under the metaphorical bed. That’s okay. It means you keep working to learn your craft, write the next book, and keep submitting. Choose your publishers carefully, read your contracts even more carefully. Authors should also expect professional behavior of themselves—online, in public and with their publisher and editor, treating epublishing obligations exactly the same as they would obligations to a NY publisher. Representing themselves and the industry they’re helping grow in a way that shows pride in themselves, their work and their company.
To make those outside the epublishing industry believe we deserve respect, we must first believe it—and represent it—not just demand it. We have had enough dirty laundry aired before readers and epublishing naysayers. It’s time for us to raise our expectations of ourselves, and each other, and move the industry forward. I’m not ready to give up on epublishing, I will never be ready to give up on epublishing. Instead, I will raise my expectations and forge the path forward. Because Goonies never say die.
WELL said!
by Bernita March 26th, 2008 at 7:03 amAnd let me add that you always conduct yourself in a professional manner.
Excellent post — I think (hope) that as more people are exposed to electronic versions of ‘traditional’ books via the upswing in reading devices, the e-publishers will have to compete, and if that means fewer books of higher quality, so much the better for all. As an author of mainstream romantic suspense rather than erotica, the e-book market is tough. But I was proud to see my book hanging with the “big names” as a finalist in a contest. My reaction was that it was a win for e-publishing more than my book.
e-books are an alternative, not a substitute for print, and I hope they continue to grow and improve.
by Terry Odell March 26th, 2008 at 7:27 amI read across all genres and genre crossovers, so it’s frustrating when I keep turning up the same kinds of stories and the same kinds of characters over and over and over again, just because they sell.
I swear if I meet another Cookie Cutter Kick-Butt Heroine, I’m going to dump frosting over her head and feed her to my children for a snack!
So, you ePubs feel free to send eARCs to Enduring Romance. I’m booked solid through 2008, but I just recruited a bunch of new reviewers to help me out.
No Horror or Erotica.
by Kimber An March 26th, 2008 at 7:31 amYou make a good point…Just because a book has been written, doesn’t mean it should be published. We all have stories we love that just don’t make the cut. They remain on our computers (or under the bed) in the hope that, someday, they can be pulled out and worked into shape. Often an author’s first work is his/her most beloved and yet most unpublishable (yes, I have a fantasy I’d love to actually whip into shape someday, but it’s going to take a LOT of time). We learn, we grow, we cuddle those stories only the author could love…and we move on. Because, as you so aptly put it…Goonies never die (LOVED that movie, btw. And I was already well into adulthood when it came out. Don’t care. Made my own kids watch it when they were old enough. Loved it all over again).
And thanks for the gentle reminder concerning professionalism, Angela! With the Romantic Times Convention just around the corner and so many readers to meet…it’s a timely nudge.
Diana
by Diana Hunter March 26th, 2008 at 7:32 amActually, I think this is finally the time to dive into ePublishing (happily I’ll be doing that in May).
Being a product development babe, I see how ePublishing is moving along the innovation curve.
I see how the bigger publishers (like Harlequin) are embracing the format.
Having attended the Vegas Consumer Electronics Show in Jan, I see how multi-use eReaders are in the pipeline (i.e. eReaders/phones/pda’s////).
The big bump up in readership is still one or two years out but wouldn’t it be nice to have a healthy backlist when that happens?
by Kimber Chin March 26th, 2008 at 7:35 am*clapping and standing * Bravo!
by Sarah McCarty March 26th, 2008 at 7:36 amAngela, word on the street (where I hang with my peeps, yo
) is that your pub has always been highly regarded by both your authors and customers. You best serve the industry by sticking around and providing the example that brings up the curve.
by Kerry Allen March 26th, 2008 at 7:40 amExcellent post!
Where’s a clapping smilie when you need one?
by Jana J. Hanson March 26th, 2008 at 7:46 amHooray for raising the bar!
Things happen - this week, it happened to Dark Eden Press and, by extension, to me
- but even those events can be handled more professionally than they have in the past. (Thanks to Debra Durham at Dark Eden for raising the bar there.)
Readers deserve the best books for their money and, frankly, quality in writing and editing isn’t consistent across the epublishing world. Authors deserve a professional experience with their publisher. And publishers should, in turn, be able to count on their authors to be professional. If that’s not what’s happening right now, then we all should work to elevate standards - individually and collectively.
BTW, The Goonies holds a place of honor in our house. Great movie.
by Kristin Lawrence March 26th, 2008 at 8:37 amKimber Chin said, “The big bump up in readership is still one or two years out but wouldn’t it be nice to have a healthy backlist when that happens?”
Ooh, excellent observation, Kimber Twin, uh, I mean, Kimber Chin.
by Kimber An March 26th, 2008 at 9:07 amGreat post!
And let me add (for the record), I’m VERY happy with my e-publisher.
by Jennifer Shirk March 26th, 2008 at 9:33 amAngela, you’re smart and you’re classy–and always professional.
It’s interesting to me, as an outsider in e-publishing, that whenever there’s a clusterfuck, Samhain is given as an example of an e-pub that does it right. And you, as a representative of Samhain, always comment with clarity and sense.
by Nora Roberts March 26th, 2008 at 9:37 amWell said Angie. Samhain is and always will be a class act in the industry and I’m proud to be published by the company.
I’m also proud to be published by my other epublishers, Loose ID, Whispers and soon to be EC.
Despite all the hoopla and garbage that has been going on with a few epubs, there are still a handful or two that are really great companies to be pubbed with, that pay on time, that do some great edits, and treat their authors with respect.
by Vivi Anna March 26th, 2008 at 10:18 amAAAAAmen Ms. Angie.
by Lauren Dane March 26th, 2008 at 10:43 amExcellent post! I think you hit the nail on the head when you said some books are never meant to be published, and that authors need to hold themselves to a higher standard. Shopping around for a house that will publish your manuscript as is, with no editing, does everyone a disservice. Rejection sucks and revisions are difficult, but they are an essential part of growth.
I’ve read your blog and think you give invaluable advice. Writers need editors! Unless you’re Nora, I guess.
by Jill Sorenson March 26th, 2008 at 10:44 amAndy–I mean, Angela–you Goonie!!!
by clara bow March 26th, 2008 at 10:58 amGreat post, Angela! And your call for excellence is something that can apply across the board — not only e-publishing, but traditional publishing as well.
by Kim Lenox March 26th, 2008 at 2:03 pmAmen, Angie. And yes, even a good writer can come up with a dud idea or something that doesn’t quite come together.
by Charlene Teglia March 26th, 2008 at 2:43 pm~Writers need editors! Unless you’re Nora, I guess. ~
Oh no, I need one, too. Believe me.
by Nora Roberts March 26th, 2008 at 5:11 pmAngela - As always, you’re the voice of reason. Whenever people talk about unprofessional epublishers and editors I think of you and say “not all of them - Angie would never say that or write that sort of ridiculous comment on a blog.” Sorry the year has been a rough one, but keep your head up. You’re doing something very right.
by HelenKay Dimon March 26th, 2008 at 7:24 pmVery well said, Angela. Every book definitely does not need to be published. And, it’s so sad but I do think that professional behavior is way underrated these days!!
by Kathleen Oxley March 26th, 2008 at 7:34 pmI agree with what you said, Angie! You make me proud to be published by Samhain.
by Diane Craver March 26th, 2008 at 8:36 pmSo true. You and Samhain are definitely class acts.
by Kate Davies March 26th, 2008 at 11:33 pm