This is incredible blame shifting. It’s not us, it’s the market! Well, maybe I don’t reflect the market, but I’ll tell you this: I have plenty of disposable cash for books, and I consistently spend it on books that were not written in the last decade because 90% of the time when I buy a new book it’s garbage. The advice of “write what you want,” is terrible advice. How about, “write something good?” That’s much better advice and will defeat market trends any day.
“…everyone, and I mean everyone from the writer to the agent to the editor to the reader is just so damn TIRED. We’re tired and distracted and worn out and just do not have any extra ooomph left in us to focus on long-from tasks. We’re burned out. All of us.”
I’m really hoping that the book I’m writing now (my first one, non-fiction) will help folks with this. I’d like to get it written, published and on bookstore shelves this year, too. 😉 Good luck, right? Thanks again.
Very good essay. Would you be interested in writing an article for our WriterCon Magazine (also on Substack) discussing the current book market? (You can use this essay in part if you like.) Maybe then we can do a mailing list swap. Articles are only 1000-2000 words. Let me know what you think.
I always appreciate your straight talk on the publishing world, Kate! A realist without making me want to quit as a novelist, either. "Write the book you want to write." The best advice. In the end, the only lasting advice in this topsy-turvy publishing industry, perhaps followed by "Write the book you want to read."
Reading your post from the query trenches, all I can say is, "I feel it." My first book is based on my own life. It is a hidden autobiography and an attempt to communicate with my teenage daughter. It is the reflection of someone who could be much worse in life or maybe much better (still trying to sort that out). Changing my work to full-time writer seems some days a self-destructive decision, while others give me the energy I thought I had lost a long time ago. The agents' responses (when received) have been pro forma, all negatives, but I still continue writing and sending my queries. I am not the only one to believe in my story. I am the girl who studied to be an independent woman and became a full-time working mum trying to change the world. I am the person who thought it would be something and turned into something else. I don't say "If I publish..."; I can only say "When."
This is great insight, but what I'm dying to know is: When WASN'T it a tough market? I've been writing books since 2005 (3 of the 5 I've written have been published) and it has ALWAYS been "such a tough market right now!" according to my agents and others in the industry. Over the years, I've heard it chalked up to post-9/11 uncertainty, to the financial crisis, to the recession, to the consolidation of the publishing industry, to the rise of social media, to Trump, to the pandemic, to inflation. So, I'm wondering if maybe in the 80s and 90s, editors and agents were just doling out contracts left and right? (Probably while wearing brightly colored blazers with very large shoulder pads, and smoking?)
I have this conversation with myself often. I write historical fiction because I love history and have read historical fiction and non-fiction history. All my life. I'm getting nothing so far on my current HF. So I'm writing a cozy mystery but I feel I'm writing with my left hand. It's not a comfortable fit. I'm still pitching the HF and struggling through the cozy. Who knows. Maybe the cozy will work and maybe by then my HF will be bankable again. I hope so. I'm glad I'm not the only one with these questions. Thanks!
As someone writing from the querying trenches exactly at this moment, your newsletter resonates so perfectly. It feels like so much else in life: we can do only what we can do, and adjust ourselves accordingly. Some very successful genre writers I know (mostly romantasy) are sure that paranormal is coming back, but maybe not with vampires, so weregophers might be *just* thing, tbh. <runs to google gopher tiktok>
Thanks for this, Kate. I'm in the query trenches now. Rapping my helmet with the manuscript ammo clip. Advancing with eyes and ears open. Making ground wherever the opportunity arises.
I self-published because I like being read. If you're in it for the money your expectations need to be adjusted. I also self-published because I got stupid feedback from editors. Maybe if I followed their advice, I would have a hit but none of their track records showed that. They seemed like real estate agents who list a bunhc of houses knowing some are going to sell not matter how little they work.
So I work my day job and I write and have fun and love to hear from my few regular readers and the occasional new ones. And the $$$s I make take me out to dinner every once in a while and that's nice.
This is incredible blame shifting. It’s not us, it’s the market! Well, maybe I don’t reflect the market, but I’ll tell you this: I have plenty of disposable cash for books, and I consistently spend it on books that were not written in the last decade because 90% of the time when I buy a new book it’s garbage. The advice of “write what you want,” is terrible advice. How about, “write something good?” That’s much better advice and will defeat market trends any day.
To all my writer friends who call me looking for answers, please let me share with you this post.
I get about 148 Substack newsletters but this is the first one I want to read in my Inbox. Thanks, Kate.
Thank you very much for this dose of reality!
Re:
“…everyone, and I mean everyone from the writer to the agent to the editor to the reader is just so damn TIRED. We’re tired and distracted and worn out and just do not have any extra ooomph left in us to focus on long-from tasks. We’re burned out. All of us.”
I’m really hoping that the book I’m writing now (my first one, non-fiction) will help folks with this. I’d like to get it written, published and on bookstore shelves this year, too. 😉 Good luck, right? Thanks again.
Very good essay. Would you be interested in writing an article for our WriterCon Magazine (also on Substack) discussing the current book market? (You can use this essay in part if you like.) Maybe then we can do a mailing list swap. Articles are only 1000-2000 words. Let me know what you think.
This is spot-on. Thank you.
Perfect suggestion and since I can only control my input to the writing process, I will do that.
Thanks
Bob Rohan
Love the comment you made-“Write the book you want”.
I always appreciate your straight talk on the publishing world, Kate! A realist without making me want to quit as a novelist, either. "Write the book you want to write." The best advice. In the end, the only lasting advice in this topsy-turvy publishing industry, perhaps followed by "Write the book you want to read."
Reading your post from the query trenches, all I can say is, "I feel it." My first book is based on my own life. It is a hidden autobiography and an attempt to communicate with my teenage daughter. It is the reflection of someone who could be much worse in life or maybe much better (still trying to sort that out). Changing my work to full-time writer seems some days a self-destructive decision, while others give me the energy I thought I had lost a long time ago. The agents' responses (when received) have been pro forma, all negatives, but I still continue writing and sending my queries. I am not the only one to believe in my story. I am the girl who studied to be an independent woman and became a full-time working mum trying to change the world. I am the person who thought it would be something and turned into something else. I don't say "If I publish..."; I can only say "When."
This is great insight, but what I'm dying to know is: When WASN'T it a tough market? I've been writing books since 2005 (3 of the 5 I've written have been published) and it has ALWAYS been "such a tough market right now!" according to my agents and others in the industry. Over the years, I've heard it chalked up to post-9/11 uncertainty, to the financial crisis, to the recession, to the consolidation of the publishing industry, to the rise of social media, to Trump, to the pandemic, to inflation. So, I'm wondering if maybe in the 80s and 90s, editors and agents were just doling out contracts left and right? (Probably while wearing brightly colored blazers with very large shoulder pads, and smoking?)
I have this conversation with myself often. I write historical fiction because I love history and have read historical fiction and non-fiction history. All my life. I'm getting nothing so far on my current HF. So I'm writing a cozy mystery but I feel I'm writing with my left hand. It's not a comfortable fit. I'm still pitching the HF and struggling through the cozy. Who knows. Maybe the cozy will work and maybe by then my HF will be bankable again. I hope so. I'm glad I'm not the only one with these questions. Thanks!
thanks for being willing to answer the hard questions honestly for us. I’m still feeling mostly discouraged… but also a little encouraged? ;)
Thank you for your inspiration to continue to write the books we are inspired and guided to write now matter what the publishing obstacles.
As someone writing from the querying trenches exactly at this moment, your newsletter resonates so perfectly. It feels like so much else in life: we can do only what we can do, and adjust ourselves accordingly. Some very successful genre writers I know (mostly romantasy) are sure that paranormal is coming back, but maybe not with vampires, so weregophers might be *just* thing, tbh. <runs to google gopher tiktok>
Thanks for this, Kate. I'm in the query trenches now. Rapping my helmet with the manuscript ammo clip. Advancing with eyes and ears open. Making ground wherever the opportunity arises.
Good luck! I still clearly remember what that feels like.
I self-published because I like being read. If you're in it for the money your expectations need to be adjusted. I also self-published because I got stupid feedback from editors. Maybe if I followed their advice, I would have a hit but none of their track records showed that. They seemed like real estate agents who list a bunhc of houses knowing some are going to sell not matter how little they work.
So I work my day job and I write and have fun and love to hear from my few regular readers and the occasional new ones. And the $$$s I make take me out to dinner every once in a while and that's nice.