Margaret Atwood on the Ridiculous Book Business
“When people say publishing is a business–actually it’s not quite a business. It’s part gambling and part arts and crafts, with a business component. It’s not like any other business, and that’s why when standard businessmen go into publishing and think, ‘Right, I’m going to clean this up, rationalize it and make it work like a real business,’ two years later you find they’re bald because they’ve torn out all their hair. And then you say to them, ‘It’s not like selling beer. It’s not like selling a case of this and a case of that and doing a campaign that works for all of the beer.’ You’re selling one book–not even one author any more. Those days are gone, when you sold, let’s say, ‘Graham Greene’ almost like a brand. You’re selling one book, and each copy of that book has to be bought by one reader and each reading of that book is by one unique individual. It’s very specific.”
March 28, 2011 @ 3:42 am
Today’s publishing business is going through such a sea change I almost liken it to the Oklahoma land rush. All us authors are here in our buggies and we’re waiting for the gun shot to race to stake out our claim. Some of us have a full carriage, some a horse, and some are just running like mad. But, we’re all going to get a piece of the action!
March 29, 2011 @ 3:07 pm
Love this description, Cherie. It’s right on!