Getting a reputable agent is not easy either. Nor is having an agent a sure-fire garuntee...It is tough getting a manuscript accepted.
Well, yes, it is tough. No one ever said that getting published was easy. If that were the case, everyone would be writing. Competition and the publisher's belief they can sell it in large enough numbers to make money is what rules our decisions to publish someone's work.
However, with the advent of PODs, there are many books being pubbed that probably should have sat in a desk drawer a few more years. PODs have created the exact mindset you describe - "The big guys wouldn't publish me, so I decided to go with a POD." They created an air of entitlement that feeds very well into the public's impatience. They want everyting five minutes ago, and POD publishers are making some serous coin off that viewpoint. Okay, whatever. As long as the author knows exactly what kind of uphill battles they face, then go for it. My bias comes from those writers whose hearts have been broken by PODs' empty promises. If someone really believes in their work, why settle for something that will guarantee their books will never see the light of day? It doesn't make sense.
Thoroughly disheartened over the years of waiting, I decided to go in another direction and submitted to Mundania. The reasons I did so was because they had a 'highly recommended' rating by P & E, they had the backing of a NY Times best-selling author (Piers Anthony), and I had actually heard of them.
Um, I'm still scratching my head over that one. It's probably just me, but I would never recommend a POD company because they simply can't work to the author's best interests - regardless of how noble their intents may be. The business plan simply won't allow for it. Rather, I would recommend self pubbing a book. At least you can obtain an indie distributor, store placement, reviews, and real sales. Of course, that route is extremely expensive and time consuming. But at least the author's work is given the very best care.
I wasn't afraid that 'small press' equaled 'out to get the author'.
You're confusing small presses with PODs, and they're nothing alike. That's exactly why so many authors suffer so much disappointment. They don't understand there's a difference between the two. Small presses are in the business to sell books. Lots of them. POD companies have very little money and what little they have invariably fails to flow toward the author. Instead, authors are encouraged to buy their books at silly discounts so they can become unpaid sales forces for their own publisher. What a freaking great gig.
I am so glad that I put in the query to Mundania. My book will be coming out in October.
Ah, so your book isn't out yet. Yes, you're in the honeymoon phase. I wish you all the luck in the world, and I hope your book sells well. However, I'd love to hear from you six months after your book is out. I've had numerous discussions with Mundania authors and authors from other POD companies at the writers seminars I speak at, and the complaints and bouts with serious depression are all the same.
Self promotion is not the exclusive domain of small presses...web site, interviews and booksignings, and attending conventions are a part of every author's life because these things boost sales. And this is nothing more than what Mundania expects of its authors.
Don't be mistaken; Mundania and other PODs expect far more than this. What they really need you to do is buy your book because they already know they can't get them into the stores and actually set it up so shelf space is highly unlikely. Don't believe me? Try not buying your book and see how many sales you garner. I've seen many cases where PODs' titles aren't even listed in the store chains' databases. Without this, books can't be ordered - even for a book signing. It takes very little effort to get into a chains' database, but selling to the stores is costly - especially if authors are willing to buy their books. The profit margin is much higher and, yipee, no royalties go out the door either.
Also, I'm not talking about promotion. Our authors are very active in promoting their books. Most of them hire publicists, and we work very closely together, oftentimes sending out hundreds of books to TV and radio stations, newspapers, magazines. PODs don't have the money to send out hundreds of free books and incur the mailing costs.
I'm talking about marketing, which is vastly different. POD authors are forced to beg store managers for shelf space and beg for signings, forcing themselves into the position of being their own sales people. It's exhausting work and that's why POD books, on average, sell about 50 copies. Like I said, come back after your book has been out for six months.
Probably it is the inundation of unsolicted subs that have made the large houses put up so many obstacles and barriers to new writers. But what really makes me grit my teeth is the idea that the big houses are waiting with open arms to greet new authors. They aren't. So can we please erase that fallacy from our brains?
Sorry, but you're wrong here. I'm friends with several editors at the large houses, and I know of many first time authors who have signed contracts with them. They did a very fascinating thing; they wrote great books. All publishers - little and big - have their arms wide open for
great writing.
What you call obstacles and barriers is, in reality, called competition. I'm not saying the system is perfect and shit doesn't happen. It most certainly does. But anyone who insists that "they're against me because I'm new" is uninformed as to how the industry works. Publishing is an extremely tough business, and it's easy to sit back and whine about how no one's "giving me a chance." It could be that you've been overlooked and need to keep persevering, or it could be that your writing needs a lot of work and it isn't ready for prime time.
I know many authors who sucked it up and kept on submitting for years. While submitting, they wrote another book. And another. They never gave up, and they certainly didn't sell themselves short by signing with a POD because they knew it was a death knell for their work. They also were involved in writing groups who could give them honest feedback as in, "am I kidding myself, or do I have something here?" Many of them worked with indie editors to hone their developmental skills.
Maybe your journey to fame and fortune will be much smoother and quicker than mine has been
Writing and publication isn't a speed contest or easy. It's about signing with a reputable publisher who has the ability to get books on the shelves. And, yes, this takes time. Lots of it.
You don't need to pick a small press like Mundania for your publisher, but I would hope that you at least consider it.
Clarification: Mundania is a POD press. There's a mountain of difference between "small press" and POD. Never confuse the two. I would hope and pray that authors honor their hard work by insuring they sign with a publisher who will get their book into the marketplace and not turn them into sales people.