Bugger

You know what the problem is with writing these posts ahead of time whenever I happen to have a moment to spare? The documents end up on computers elsewhere, say, the school computer lab and are consequently not availible for me to copy paste from word to blogger when the time comes. Sigh. So I'll just have to do a different topic today, but it's an important one.

Namely- What is the value of a publisher? I can't tell you how often I've asked someone in the business if they think authors *really* need a publisher, and with a grand total of one exception to date the answer has always been "Have you ever read self published books? They're so bad! Of course authors need editors."

But that isn't what I asked. I asked if they needed publishers. It astonishes me that people, especially sales and production staffers are defending the entire industry model based on someone else's job. For starters, editing is far from the entirety of publishing. They also produce the physical product. Design the interior. Market it. After editing, marketing and publicity are the big ones. POD and e-books can get around the financial risks, and simple designs are acceptable, and since sales is only interested in selling into bookstores, if you aren't relying on brick and mortar outlets, who needs sales? And for a super niche product? You might be better off on your own. I've seen a few queries where some very knowledgable enthusiasts have sold say, 500 copies of some ultra niche hobby (model trains come to mind) to specialty stores. I wonder what an author like that expects big businesses to do for him. But there are still many functions that few authors are both willing and able to do for themselves beyond editing.

Secondly, editing is not the exclusive jurisdiction of book publishers. Agents edit to varying degrees. So do packagers. You could hire a freelance if you were so inclined, though that frequently amounts to freelance copy editing and not the comprehensive story/tone editing peformed by someone whose entire career and not merely next paycheck depends on the product ultimately produced.

Regardless, it feels to me like publishers are largely unaware, or possibly just refusing to acknowledge the danger of this assumption. Basically, if you listen to the more tech saavy people in the industry, like Michael Healy of the google rights registry, it's entirely possible that within the decade, if not far sooner, a tipping point will be reached and digital versions of the products become at least as important if not moreso than the physical. You can already see the ground work for this. Borders is basically bust and Barnes and Noble, rather than trying to fill the vacuum left behins is also contracting. Are indies expanding? Nope. How about other major chains? Nope. And this is at a time when still only 5% of total sales come from digital versions? What happens at 30? Or 40? You might be surprised to know that CD sales still rival MP3 sales. So many people think they're only 10 or 20 percent. Last I checked, I think they actually made up sixty percent still. However, that 40% that migrated absolutely obliterated the music retail business. What will production do with themselves when they only need half the initial print runs and then do all reprints through POD? What will sales do with themselves when there are only a handful of outlets to sell into? These departments are, in my mind, in grave danger which they refuse to acknowledge.

Now the fun question for you guys, since you're basically all authors is "how will this affect your working relationship with publishers and the payout you get for your book?" I have some thoughts. Maybe I'll even share 'em sometime.