--I didn't just work with editors, I was an editor for years--
Ah. I didn't know that. Makes sense, considering your blogs out there. Great stuff I might add. Anyone wanting a heads-up in the business needs to read it.
One can't do any of that simultaneously. It would be impossible: how could one write up a contract whilst talking on the phone and sorting through submissions? I think you're exaggerating.
Well, "simultaneously" in the sense of handling many different jobs in the course of business. Some people are blessed in their jobs of only having two or three different roles to play during the day. I mean that, as the company is only me, my partner and various temporary freelancers (when we can afford them), we have to fulfill all the roles of a business at the same time. It's the crux of what is essentially "self-employment".
Albeit some days, I think that a 9-to-5 job dedicated to one or two roles would be simply much better. I just wouldn't have the glorious feeling of being my own boss.
I used to work with sales and marketing departments, negotiate contracts, check out our monthly sales reports, read submissions, write jacket copy, oversee production and design, find experts and authors for books we wanted to commission, and edit the books in my care (I did most of my actual editing on evenings and weekends). I also had to manage staff, interview for new staff, and do all sorts of stuff. Editors are busy people. I know that.
Sounds like you had quite the roles to fulfill yourself. So you should know exactly what I'm talking about... and I think you do. Primarily, I believe that there are many authors who do not understand this aspect of publishing, that every publisher has several different departments run by many people, that every publisher can give them advances on royalties, that the books somehow sell themselves, that being a publisher automatically grants you safe and secure passage to the bookstores, and that all they have to do is submit, do a couple of final edits, sit back and watch the money just pour in through the front door.
I might have been exaggerating just then. I tend to get passionate about this business and want to tell (read "educate") people about what I do to get their book out there.
I had one submission once where someone actually wrote in the email that they would only settle for 15% royalty off RRP and an advance of no less than $50,000 for their manuscript. Not a joke, it was a serious request. I'd rather have authors submit who know that we as publishers have a shed-load of things to do, and if we can get the author to help us do it, then we ask them to help.
My bold. That seems to say that you expect your authors to help promote not just their own books, but the books you publish by other authors as well.
Please tell me I've misunderstood your point.
Well, I'll clarify.
I expect my authors to be active in their promotion of their own book. I expect them to go to author signings and book fairs, do blog tours, respond on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms for their book. I expect them to be active in their genre - on forums, Amazon, Goodreads, and anywhere else that they can make the book as visible as possible. I expect them to go to schools and libraries to promote the book, creative writing and literacy. Since Safkhet is not omnipresent, I
ask my authors to do what they can to make us (the company) more visible.
AND, yes, I expect my authors to support the other authors where possible to help them promote their own books. That's what our publishing family does. I don't expect them to
buy the other books, I expect hem to read the other author's blogs and respond to them, get other people maybe to Like the book's or the author's Facebook page, talk to them, give whatever advice they have to the other authors, help them with book signings - advice or even going to the book signing as support.
We are a family, we treat each other as friends, and none of our authors are allowed to sit back and not participate in this company. We create a support structure for our authors, and any of our authors can talk to the others for any reason. We are always there for our authors, they can call us day and night for any reason. Of course, we don't call them day and night for any reason - but we offer to them that they can do that. They usually don't.
It's what family does.
I've seen them fail, because they overestimate their own skills and knowledge, and underestimate how much time, money and expertise is required to make their businesses succeed.
True enough. I've seen small businesses fail too. But then, this is the risk you take when you strike out on your own. Every person has that choice: to work for someone established, make a set salary and work the job - maybe someday rising to the top to be the boss (or work directly for him); OR to carve out their own niche in the world, to make their own way and to work for themselves, whether that be as a freelancer or company owner - to
be the boss instead of
working for the boss. It's a real risk and is fraught with danger, angst, fear, insecurity and other wonderfully phrased emotions...
... and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I know what you meant, but you seem to have completely misunderstood me.
It's a term I find offensive.
The Nazis slaughtered around seven million people. And they didn't do it because those people weren't very good at punctuation. To use the term in the way that you did trivialises the horrors the Nazis carried out, and is disrespectful to their many victims. It's just not appropriate.
I apologize for offending you (and anyone else) and being inappropriate. I acknowledge that the National Socialist Party during the Second World War committed horrible atrocities, for which there can never be sufficient reparation paid for this.
Let's say "militant-grammar-fanatics" instead. We can coin the term MGF's for future reference. Let's also save our other opinions about the actions of other world powers in history for a different forum. Last thing I want to do is start a flame-war.
