A perspective on POD/self publishing

Some of my thoughts on a recent bummer might be of interest to writers here.

I've been in the process of getting a book published with one of the larger small presses for a couple of months now. Working on the MS with an editor, etc. Now it's come down to three passages that he says have to go. One is because he doesn't get a joke. One is his lack of understanding of attitudes in this hemisphere, as opposed to his own. One of them I can see as being something one argues about, but it's a matter of style. (I gave in on two other points of style, not my favorite thing to do, but I very much want this to happen)

Now they are saying, the editor's word is final. Make the changes or we don't publish the book, that's our policy.

Obviously I REALLY hate to just write of months and start shopping this thing again.

On the other hand, I very strongly feel that the "tie should go to the writer" whose name is on the work. It's a principle I've sacrificed opportunity and much-needed money for in my career as a free-lancer.

Furthermore, I had planned to launch a series of SF books through them...books which move around some fairly controversial scientific stuff, much of which is not resolved in the first book. And who knows I will draw next time? Some idiot or fundamentalist or something who could really wreck the trajectory of the entire series?

So it's apparently like, shut up and bend over or go flog your book elsewhere. I hate this sort of thing, but here it is again.



Now, as to how this affects other writers: it came to me that the old problem has been, "You need them, but they don't need you."

But isn't that changing? If I can publish myself, or go to smaller POD outfits that can't afford to pay editors to kill their projects for them, maybe I don't need them,either.

And some of the things discussed in other threads here, such as the new "no advance" thing at Collins and the big houses' increasing reliance on writers to publicize their midlist books, seem to point to a possible future in which writers have alternatives to liking it or lumping it...and since they are the ones doing the selling, they are more valuable properties to the house than the opinion of an editor, who they are having to pay.

Just a thought.

Eew Lin, tought spot that you are in. Do you stick to your guns and not get any of them published, or relent a little and start from scratch and hopefully publish elsewhere...

The phrase I have oft' used in the past would be "is this the hill to die on"? Are you sure that the piece you are hanging on to is the one you must hang on to, or are there others in the book that do an equally strong job of showcasing what you have to say?

It's crappy to compromise values, and I would never recommend it. But sometimes principals can be a negotiating point; your readers won't know about what you had to gave in to get published, they just get to experience your finished work. As you say, the next one could be bloody awful to deal with...then again they could be much better, more flexible and more willing to take a risk.

Tough call. You may find that chocolate helps a little...

Lin. I understand your dilemma.

But look what you're weighing up. You have a chance to be published, even if it is a small press, ( I'd give me right arm for that chance.) or go P.O.D, seems an easy decision to me.

Would the book collapse without these passage ( probably not) I understand you wanting to stand up and fight, but is it worth it.

I'd listen to my editor if he/she asked me to remove or get rid of a character. I wouldn't like it, but I'd try to see their way of thinking.
If I had to make the choice though, I'd do what the editor said... Unless they wanted me to change the title of my novel. ( I'm a very stubborn woman.) lol

Good luck with your decision, Lin.

Why argue with them when, by having their say, they take the blame for low sales? If the book does well, you're both laughing. If it does badly, it won't be entirely your fault ... but it will if you insist on keeping passages that the editor thinks might put off readers.

It's your call. I know what I would do.

Actually, this wasn't about my decision so much as the general idea that the new gamut of pub possibilities and reliance on writer/promoter shift the weight of "who needs who" more towards the writer.

I already have my "decision tree" in place for this, but there are so many wrinkles in it it's kind of hilarious.

Here's one: I've sunk time into this but have also gotten my MS professionally edited for free. So if the deal dies, I walk out with time lost, but ahead.
They, on the other hand. have paid a freelance editor considerable bucks. If he nixes the book, he walks away with the money and everybody else loses. They actually have more invested in this than I have.
It's tempting to use that to insist they amend the contract before I sign it.

My guess is the editor will cave in.

Here's another wrinkle here that might be of general interest.'

The sample contract says, essentially, that they work for mutual satisfaction with the writer on edit/rewrite but bottom line "the publisher" will prevail

BUt the publisher won't get involved, says whatever the editor says is the way it sticks. So basically ONE PERSON can derail the project.

This is so different from what I am used to around publications. There's something at loggerheads (particularly this where the objecections are purely subjective...the editor doesn't get the joke) anybody NEAR the thing will say, 'Here. let me have a look" and you get a concensus.

But anyway, what I'm saying is...what the contract says might not be what you end up getting served with.


But seriously, I put this here mostly for discussion of the concept of shift in the powerplay balance.

Thanks for your comments and support, though.

Actually, Karina. I'd welcome suggestions for another title.

And like I said, my concerns here go beyond the passages in question to the overall idea of how they make those decisions and how would affect books I had wanted to place with them in the future.

Thanks for the follow up Lin. What an interesting situation--and let us know what happens!

Interesting, indeed. You’re the author, so you should do what your gut feelings tell you, but since you wanted opinions, mine is that if it’s a reputable publisher, I'd swallow my ego and go with the editor.

BTW, congratulations for getting that far!

Oh, I would have aceded to the changes, all right. But the publishers pulled the plug on the whole thing without waiting 24 hours for my answer.

See my thread on this: The Latest Twist

Oh no! I'll go to your other thread to catch up. So sorry, lin. It must feel horrible.

It feels like I probably dodged a bullet.