(no subject)

[alg]

Good morning! I have been awake since six am, and wow! It is a beautiful day. I have the windows open, and there is a wonderful cold breeze blowing in. My bedroom window faces Manhattan, which means it faces the water, even though I can't see the water, and I get wonderful breezes -- although when it's freezing outside and the wind chill is, like, negative seventy-million, it's not so much fun.

(All I want this morning is a cup of coffee and a Danish. Wow, how bad do I want a Danish? Pretty badly. Instead I had a crescent roll. Not quite as good, but what's a girl to do?)

I want to thank again everyone who provided me with links and stories on Monday -- that was awfully nice of you guys and I really appreciate it! I am well on my way to recovering (especially now that my dentist has called in a new prescription for me, and I have much stronger painkillers, phew).

Now that I can focus for longer than 500 words, I am ready to write more about demystifying publishing.

I am really glad that these entries are helping y'all. And I am flattered that so many people are reading them -- I know I tend to be pedantic and long-winded, so it's amazing to me that you guys can get through these entries. *g*

I do want to remind you that these answers are by no means universal. Remember the first rule: Don't be an idiot.


Publishing is Hard!

Writing is an art, but publishing is a business -- and here are a few basic suggestions on how to navigate that business. Complete with explanations of various departments within a publishing company, and how they all work together to make your book. And, of course, my witty and charming commentary!




Thanks for reading; I hope this has helped at least some of you!

Comments

[authorm.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to say thanks for this -- your information is invaluable, as always.

M

[casacorona.livejournal.com]

You forgot the Art Department. The people who have the most difficult job of all.

Why, you ask?

Because the workings of editing a book, or marketing a book, or selling a book, are mysterious to most people. No one knows what an editor does. But art? Everyone has an opinion. Everyone can say "I don't like that". But they can't say what they do like, for the most part. Most people in a publishing company are happy to tell the art director that they don't like a cover. Few can say what they don't like, or what they would like better. And mostly, what they think they'd like better isn't actually what they want.

It's a hard job. It's a crazy-making job. Be nice to your art director.

[cornfields.livejournal.com]

From one art director to another: WORD!

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

*applause*

Hmm.

That is a good point, about the production department and cookies. The question is, of course, would they eat cookies from an author? *g*

[deannahoak.livejournal.com]

I've sent homemade cookies to editors who were really nice to me at cons, and I've sent them to production departments, too. I heard they were gobbled up pretty quickly. :-)

[cornfields.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this, and for your previous posts on the subject of publishing. Your advice and your insight is invaluable, as always. :)

[alg.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! Thanks for reading!

[safirasilv.livejournal.com]

So true about the assistants.

Back in the Middle Ages, I was a publicity assistant at Ballantine/Del Rey. There are authors whose books I will still not read--not just not buy, won't even take out of the library--because, as much younger authors, they made the mistake of being rude to a much younger me and/or to my boss. Being a published writer myself now, I understand they were probably as overstressed and underslept as I was, but you bet that if I were still in publishing, I'd be putting a lot less energy into books by the person who swore at me when I was a powerless 22-year-old living on ramen because I loved books so damn much I was willing to do so to get his/her damn book out to the masses!

[deviantauthor.livejournal.com]

Like I tell my orclings often, there's no excuse for rudeness. No wonder you don't want to read what the rude people wrote.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

When do you send the chocolates?

When the book comes out? Or when they're working on it?

[misia.livejournal.com]

I usually try to send a thank-you card when it comes out, but I keep in touch with them and thank them a lot when they're working on it, too. They seem to appreciate both. And the back-and-forth means that I am more likely to be consulted if there's a judgment call that they think will matter to me, which is a nice side effect.

[deannahoak.livejournal.com]

This is a fantastic article--I linked it in my own blog.

It always pays to be polite to everyone. The assistant you choose to yell at today may very well be making decisions on whether to buy or how to market your book a few years from now.

[alg.livejournal.com]

YES. It's very true.

(Thanks for the link!)

[alg.livejournal.com]

We don't tend to put the authors into direct contact with production -- or with anyone. Most of the time, everything is run through the editors. But I do encourage my authors to send thank you notes to production, that I then circulate.

But it seems to me that a lot of folks overlook the poor hardworking souls in production, a shame when they're such important allies.

This is very very true.

[misia.livejournal.com]

I got here via [info]matociquala and wanted to say thanks for writing such a swell, concise guide... and one that so resonates with my own perspective on how publishing works.

You're so right about the production folks! I have to say that one thing that really has helped me make the publication of my books go faster and better and has made the books on the other end look tighter and prettier has been to make friends with your production/managing editor. It's not always possible, I'm told, and apparently some publishers don't like to have authors in direct contact with production, but I've always been put in touch with them if I ask.

A few short, sweet conversations with the ME, either via e-mail or on the phone, go a long way. I usually try to talk to my ME as soon after the book has been assigned as I can, just to make it obvious that I'm accessible and available and want the best for all of us. Then I talk to him or her again at least once as the book goes to production. Just saying "thank you for all your hard work on my book" to the ME a couple of times has made a noticeable difference in the book I see at the other end of the production line. So has having the ME have my cell phone number -- that accessibility can sometimes really be to your benefit. It seems to me that a lot of production people are pleasantly shocked when a writer really does care about what they do, and I suppose the novelty has its value, too.

Of course I think a writer should *always* thank his/her editor(s), too! (And PR folks, etc., as they are involved.) But it seems to me that a lot of folks do overlook the poor hardworking souls in production, a shame when they're such important allies.

(I think I will cry if my new book ends up with an elephant in a tutu on the cover, though.)

[zingerella.livejournal.com]

Hi,

Came by way of matociquala. Glad I did.

Authors, if you want to put something good and kind into the universe? You will send the production department a thank you card for working so hard on your book. You will send them a box of chocolates or some popcorn or homemade cookies.

Also

It's a common human trait, to want to take your anger out on someone who is lower on the totem pole, someone who has to listen to you, whatever -- but don't do it.

OMG YES!

O.k., all of this is seriously good stuff. And you don't have to send cookies to production, although everyone will be thrilled if you do. A kind word every now and again, and maybe an acknowledgement that you know we don't deal with royalties, but you know that we'll get your query about whether you can have an advance on your advance to the right person, will get you a lot of gratitude.

Seriously -- last week an author thanked very nicely me for catching a small factual error in his book, and I glowed for the rest of the day. That author's e-mails get answered first.

See, we don't only remember the people who have yelled at us or pissed us off. We also remember the ones who have been nice to us, and have made it easy for us to want to help them.

[alg.livejournal.com]

We also remember the ones who have been nice to us, and have made it easy for us to want to help them.

Yup.

My point wasn't that people have to send cookies -- my point was that authors should acknowledge the hard work these guys do on their books, that too often goes unremarkedupon. Which I think you agree with! :)

Amen!

[the-lady-m.livejournal.com]

"I am generally of the opinion that if more people were just a little nicer to each other every day, the world would be a better place"

Isn't this the absolute truth? I think it is a truth higher than any religious statement possible from any religion or spiritual way.

Again - young lady you deliver exactly what the writers, agents and others want to hear. For your age (looking at your pictures) and listening to some of your comments, this makes you more wise than some of the 60 year olds.

Consider putting all of this together and adding a bit more --- and using the title:

Demystifying Publishing
The facts and truths authors should know

Perhaps you might surprise even yourself. :P

Lady M

[barbarienne.livejournal.com]

As a 12-year veteran of Production, I thank you. I try to educate as many writers as I can, but it's really nice to hear an editor do it, too. :-)

[alg.livejournal.com]

There was a really hideous Production Manager at Tor for a while, and even though I was pro-production before her, having to find workarounds in order to get things done gave me a bone-deep appreciation for the work everyone else in production was doing, and I hope I never forget it. You guys work hard and don't get appreciated enough.

Thank you!

[(Anonymous)]

This is really good information -- and I recognize the short hair/long hair comment [GRIN]. Seriously, thanks for putting this stuff down. It's important.

Cie

Re: Thank you!

[alg.livejournal.com]

Heeeeeeee. Yeah, I just didn't put down how sometimes they change their minds and don't tell anyone! It works better for emphasis this way. ;)

I only read part one...

[laast.livejournal.com]

I think I will hide under a rock with my MS (well all of them)... that was a TON of info. Thank you for it. It makes me want to sit on my MS's for a while longer for some reason. I have no idea what to do with it, but look at it at this point. The research is killing me. I am one of those morons you are talking about, for real. I keep asking myself, who wants a fanatical paranormal regency? 99% of my 1,000's of books are from Avon. But the only one I've read like mine (kind of.. I am totally NOT comparing myself with greatness here..) is After Midnight. I could keep this one, never send it out and just write MS # 3. ... no really I am freaking out. I hope I am just doing one of those Stephen King things where he says you have to write out all of the crap first. I think I'll take that angel. yeah. the crap angel.(see you can use me as a perfect example as one of those crazy morons multiplied by 3)... and there really is no question here. I'm off to read part 2.

Re: I only read part one...

[laast.livejournal.com]

fanatical? fantasy..I meant fantasy...fantastical? ha.

[jaylake.livejournal.com]

Damn, I knew there was a reason I liked you. I nominate this for best LJ post of 2006.

[alg.livejournal.com]

*wins*

Thanks. :)

[calene.livejournal.com]

Awesome advice as always. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

[alg.livejournal.com]

My pleasure. Thanks for taking the time to read it!

[annathepiper]

Lots of others have already said it, but I'll say it too--thank you very much for these posts, and especially this one. I think this is the first detailed explanation I've seen of how a publishing company works, and I feel 10 percent smarter just slurping this up. ;)

[alg.livejournal.com]

Hee. Well, it's not exactly how it works! But yes, kind of, sort of, a little bit. I'm glad it's helpful!!! :)

[whitemunin.livejournal.com]

Excellent insider information. Thanks!

Also, speaking as an accountant, I have to applaud this:

And they want to fix them! The accounting/royalties department wants to make sure everyone gets the right amount of money (at least, on the author's end!) because at the end of the year, our books have to properly balance!

This could be written in blood. Whenever numbers mistakes happen, no one sweats over it so much as the accountant. We do our best to avoid them by putting in fail-safes and mulitple quality reviews because when something screws up, we pay for it with angry clients, angry departments and loads of overtime. We're VERY motivated to be as accurate and responsive as possible.

[alg.livejournal.com]

YES. I have two aunts who are corporate accountants. Their lives get really really crazy when there are number mistakes made. And human beings always make mistakes, there's just no getting around it. ;)

[marlowe1.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Having started a small press and learned everything from the beginning and doing all the work myself, I like reading this to understand how a larger company works. The fact that there's actually a sales team to sell to Target, B & N, etc. surprises me and gives me the same feeling of "oh I really should have known that. I'm an idiot" that I got when I realized that most companies send review copies out BEFORE the book is officially published.

[alg.livejournal.com]

started a small press and learned everything from the beginning and doing all the work myself

Wow! Congratulations -- you must be really motivated. *g*

Sales -- at Tor, at least -- is a very complicated thing, and I'm not entirely sure exactly how it works still (and I am also not sure what's proprietary information and what's not), so I am going to play it safe and not say much. But I will say that there are a whole lot of people on our sales team and they are separated not just by account, but also by regions of the country.

[alg.livejournal.com]

Hey, Paul! You're welcome, I'm happy to do this. And, hey, bookseller! I am gonna write a post about you guys soon! *g*

Good luck with your novel, man!

[jacob-day.livejournal.com]

You've no idea who I am, but I'm here to offer thanks as well - as a retail bookselling grunt with the Chapters/Indigo chain (and general sf/fantasy fan), I've always really loved the TOR imprint, and you're doing nothing but raising my level of respect for it.

In a year or so I'll be ready to send out my own first fantasy novel, and you can bet that 1) TOR will be the first place that it gets sent for consideration, and 2) If and when someone does take it, I will remember this post.

Thank you.

-Paul

[the-girl-sleuth.livejournal.com]

As an acquisitions editor at the other end of the publishing spectrum--scholarly publishing in the house!--I'd like to say everything I have read so far has been right on. I particularly think your comments about production were right on. When a book's a priority, and been catalogued by a certain date, and the author's late, and editorial spends some time prepping the ms, suddenly its up to production to get the book out so that the sales department doesn't get pissed. And they do! I think I'm going to go give a production editor a hug right now.

Also, regarding assistants, not only do they remember, but their bosses remember, too. I would never sabotage a book--that's my bottom line you are talking about--but I will blacklist an author for being nasty to the assistants. I've never once regretted it, either.

[alg.livejournal.com]

Woo, scholarly publishing! Give your production editors a hug from me, too -- that's gotta be a tough job. Man, I cannot imagine how hard it must be to run production on stuff like that. (You do textbooks? Or... what?)

I have never sabotaged a book (no matter how tempted I've been) -- it's my line too. But I am not worried about being polite when someone is nasty to assistants. Or me. I am very public (within my company) about it, and people are always surprised -- they say, "You too? S/he did that to me!"

Sharing information is never a bad thing, IMO.

[bridget-coila.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this post...it really helped give me an idea of what the whole publishing industry is like. I'm going to send my whole writers group here to read it. Every writer should read this!

B

[alg.livejournal.com]

My pleasure! I'm so glad people are finding it helpful. :)

[tharain.livejournal.com]

Holy viggo.

Don't say things like that when I have a mouthful off coffee. ::wipes up:: Or perhaps I should use common sense, and not read your posts when I'm drinking coffee.

You want to be polite to those assistants.

One thing I've learned in Corporate Land: be nice to the admins. They get the work done. And they catch crap from everyone.

Again, a wonderful post, linked in my memories thing. Thank you for taking the time.

And now, I'm off to NOT use my common sense, and post a stupid question in your questions post.

[alg.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, you've never seen me say Holy Viggo before? It's all the fault of k_sims, one of my authors.

I am absolutely happy to take the time! (And there are no stupid questions. Only stupid people. ;) No, I'm kidding. I was raised by the editors at Tor to believe that sincere questions should be answered sincerely, so don't worry about it.)

[anonymisty.livejournal.com]

act like an adult

Gee...sounds like Annie Proulx (http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/15/film.proulx.ap/index.html) could've used this advice.

She has every right to feel disappointed about the loss, but pitching a hissy for the whole world to see? I guess nobody ever taught her the beauty of grace in defeat.

[alg.livejournal.com]

You know, I thought Crash was a terrible movie, but I also really didn't like Brokeback Mountain at all, so I am not the right person to ask! I think Proulx is way overrated; her writing is pretty good, but I don't get what all the fuss is about.

You're right, though -- that's pretty classless.