Kate, this was powerful and soulful. Once you work to get anything well-published, you can see how true all this is. What a great insider’s look you’ve written. It’s an oddball, fascinating business we work in. Some days I wish I didn’t love it so much. Alas, I do. Here’s where I’d paste Mr. Shruggy!
I didn't know you couldn't pay for reviews! I work in PR and my understanding was that you can pretty much pay for publications to say anything haha. Good to know most of Times's book reviews are trustworthy!
I am finding the side tidbits in the trial fascinating, too. Here's another nice take from another Substack author, Anne Trubek of Notes from a Small Press: https://notesfromasmallpress.substack.com/p/doj-vs-prh — Your post reminded me of a John Maher tweet embedded in her post, quoting Viking President Brian Tart, "I don't think marketing money can create a success." Meaning marketing can help amplify momentum but can't form it out of nothing. I found that reassuring!
For my humble perspective, when you really work and push your full energy towards something and finally all what you have been through got its work, and people out there are seeing that , it is really a huge thing.
Someone in agentland said on a blog they are looking for the top 2% of ms. That was sobering. Now you add the circus of publishing to it and the odds are much smaller. How can you "write for a living" in the teeth of those probabilities?
Great post. I think this is fundamental to the challenge of selling art as a "product." Before becoming a full-time writer I had an unsatisfying career in pharmaceuticals and on Wall Street. Those products are well-defined, with mass markets, and in some instances (e.g., cancer medicines) people literally can't live without them. There's also innumerable other nefarious factors at play (e.g., regulatory capture, lobbying, etc.).
Unfortunately, art is kind of "vibes," and it doesn't matter how smart or savvy a businessperson you may be, the zeitgeist doesn't always cooperate.
Thanks for this thought-provoking, well-written post. What you're saying about the publishing industry reminds me of what William Goldman said about the film industry: "Nobody knows anything." I take this to mean that even seasoned professionals are spinning the wheel when they take on a new project, and it's a mistake to underestimate the role that dumb luck plays in achieving success.
This was brilliant, as always, Kate! I have experienced feeling both so entirely invested in by one publisher, and extremely let down (not even 'bare minimum') by another. It is frustrating when you can visibly see the collective team effort vs the lack of effort side by side in different publishing experiences. But, I really respect this piece on how fundamentally it *is* luck and chance and all the elements coming together for a successful or not-so-successful book. LIFE is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and maybe that makes it all the more magic.
This trial is absolute chaos and I cannot look away! It’s like the CEOs are truly trying to convince everyone it is totally ~~~*VIBES~~* and not six-figure budgets?!
Kate, this was powerful and soulful. Once you work to get anything well-published, you can see how true all this is. What a great insider’s look you’ve written. It’s an oddball, fascinating business we work in. Some days I wish I didn’t love it so much. Alas, I do. Here’s where I’d paste Mr. Shruggy!
Great newsletter!
I didn't know you couldn't pay for reviews! I work in PR and my understanding was that you can pretty much pay for publications to say anything haha. Good to know most of Times's book reviews are trustworthy!
This is pretty much what I though/knew/hope/feared. I’m always relieved when people acknowledge the unknowns, it’s uncomfortable but honest
I am finding the side tidbits in the trial fascinating, too. Here's another nice take from another Substack author, Anne Trubek of Notes from a Small Press: https://notesfromasmallpress.substack.com/p/doj-vs-prh — Your post reminded me of a John Maher tweet embedded in her post, quoting Viking President Brian Tart, "I don't think marketing money can create a success." Meaning marketing can help amplify momentum but can't form it out of nothing. I found that reassuring!
In academics people should be blind to trends but people follow them until something else is hot.
This was very helpful Kate.
Interesting! Great article, Kate. Cheers from Rio de Janeiro
For my humble perspective, when you really work and push your full energy towards something and finally all what you have been through got its work, and people out there are seeing that , it is really a huge thing.
Someone in agentland said on a blog they are looking for the top 2% of ms. That was sobering. Now you add the circus of publishing to it and the odds are much smaller. How can you "write for a living" in the teeth of those probabilities?
Great post. I think this is fundamental to the challenge of selling art as a "product." Before becoming a full-time writer I had an unsatisfying career in pharmaceuticals and on Wall Street. Those products are well-defined, with mass markets, and in some instances (e.g., cancer medicines) people literally can't live without them. There's also innumerable other nefarious factors at play (e.g., regulatory capture, lobbying, etc.).
Unfortunately, art is kind of "vibes," and it doesn't matter how smart or savvy a businessperson you may be, the zeitgeist doesn't always cooperate.
Excellent
Thanks for this thought-provoking, well-written post. What you're saying about the publishing industry reminds me of what William Goldman said about the film industry: "Nobody knows anything." I take this to mean that even seasoned professionals are spinning the wheel when they take on a new project, and it's a mistake to underestimate the role that dumb luck plays in achieving success.
This was brilliant, as always, Kate! I have experienced feeling both so entirely invested in by one publisher, and extremely let down (not even 'bare minimum') by another. It is frustrating when you can visibly see the collective team effort vs the lack of effort side by side in different publishing experiences. But, I really respect this piece on how fundamentally it *is* luck and chance and all the elements coming together for a successful or not-so-successful book. LIFE is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and maybe that makes it all the more magic.
This trial is absolute chaos and I cannot look away! It’s like the CEOs are truly trying to convince everyone it is totally ~~~*VIBES~~* and not six-figure budgets?!