Opinion: Nation's big publishing houses are broken; read on Substack
I was at a Barnes & Noble signing books. A man came up. "You wouldn't believe my life. I'm going to write a bestseller someday," he said.
"Go home, sit down, and start writing," I told him. I knew he wouldn't, but some do, and some craft excellent works that die at the hands of dream killers. Big publishing turns away fresh voices, the talented and veteran writers. Kudos to Elle Griffin for her exposé, "No One Buys Books." It reveals the brokenness of the big publishing industry.
In 2022, Penguin Random House wanted to buy Simon & Schuster. The two would have made up 48 percent of the market share. Sensing a monopoly, the Justice Department's Anti Trust Division brought a case against Penguin. A 13-day trial resulted, during which the head of every major publishing house and literary agency testified. Their disclosures painted a landscape of hopelessness. U.S. District Court Judge Florence Y. Pan blocked the $2.2 billion purchase, elating Stephen King, who objected to the merger.
NPR reported, "For Penguin Random House and the New York-based publishing world, the trial in August proved an often uncomfortable airing of business practices, internal disagreements and missed opportunities. Executives on the stand spoke of bestselling works they failed to acquire and acknowledged that most books don't make money."
Information from the trial gave Griffin a mother lode of data. Her takeaway: The Big Five spend most of their money on advances for celebrities like Britney Spears and franchise authors like James Patterson. They also sell a lot of Bibles, repeat bestsellers like Lord of the Rings and children's books. These books fund hopefuls' books, which make no money, typically selling fewer than 1,000 copies.
Other authors criticize Griffin's conclusions, but she hits the nail on the head. If you're an unknown author hoping to land an agent and "big" publishing contract, forget it. Yes, a breakout book comes along now and then like Delia Owens' "Where The Crawdads Sing," but that's rare.
Years ago I wrote a novel. I had an agent in NYC for a few months, but her CPA advised her to focus on her published authors. She cut me loose. I searched anew, an exhausting process. Some agents insist you send your work to them only. Then they tell you it may take six months before they respond (if they do at all). Several back-to-back agents can kill two years as you wait and wait. No requirements exist for being a literary agent - no licensing, no training - and it shows.
The tired, old, big publishing model just doesn't cut it in the internet era. The agent-big publishers vise-like grip is loosening, for the old is new again. Hemingway serialized "Farewell To Arms." Frank Herbert serialized "Dune." Hunter S. Thompson serialized "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."
Substack, an online presence, gives journalists, writers and authors a way to publish their work for a subscription-based audience. Substack cuts through the complexities of traditional publishing, letting writers share their work and earn some income. Authors put their books in front of readers simply by emailing them, but first, readers have to subscribe.
I'm on Substack. If you want to read work of mine, subscribe to me. Google Substack and see the "Search" field on its home page. Look for me. Get my stories from the back roads, features, photo stories of nature, my forthcoming work of fiction and unpublished, new material. You can comment and discuss the work with me. Subscriptions range from free to various payment levels for those wanting a better and more complete reading experience.
It's a strange name, Substack, but it's innovative and reader-writer friendly. No user name-password needed. Join me to experience other worlds and other times, all delivered to you at your favorite place to read - home. It's time to keep intermediaries from deciding who and what we read. It's time to keep intermediaries from denying you fresh voices.
Tom Poland's website is www.tompoland.net. Email Tom about most anything at tompol@earthlink.net.