by Brian Knight
This happens to me all the time, so I should be well prepared for it by now, but it still catches me off guard every time. It’s the question everyone seems to pose to me after finding out I’m a writer (that is if they don’t head for the hills when they find out what I write).
This last time it came from an unexpected source, an extremely religious co-worker who couldn’t make it past page 1 of Hacks (I told him it wouldn’t be his cup of tea!), and though I don’t think he meant it that way, it was possibly the most obnoxious way anyone has ever asked The Question.
“So, Brian, when you publish those books of yours, do you have to take out a loan to pay for it?”
For a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. I searched his face for any sign of a smile. I hoped he was only pulling my leg.
He wasn’t. He was dead serious.
My other co-worker (it’s a small office, only three people) must have sensed the tension, because he dropped what he was doing immediately and turned to see what was up.
He was smiling. He knew he was about to get a good show.
When I regained the power of speech, I launched into a five-minute rant about how publishing works. I’m talking real publishing, as opposed to the do-it-yourself-publishers, most of whom don’t want to be bothered with such real world concerns as originality and quality (rant alert – most of the so-called envelope-pushers who self publish their work via Publish America and Lulu like to call their abuse of the rules of grammar Experimental, but leaving the “Speech Tags” out of the dialog in your novel isn’t innovative, it’s just dumb).
By the time I was finished, co-worker #1 looked thoroughly chastised and much more knowledgeable about the weird world of publishing than he ever wanted to be, and co-worker #2 was snickering over his paperwork.
I’ll admit he hit a nerve. Perhaps my reaction was a bit over the top, but it seems like everyone in my life, from family to casual acquaintances, assumes that because I’m not as famous as Dean Koontz, or because I still work a regular day job, I’m something less than professional in my aspirations. They hear Small Press and equate it with Self Publishing. I feel like I’m always having to explain myself to people.
It gets old after a while.
I’m beginning to realize how very few people are actually aware of the small press, and find myself brainstorming ways to fix that problem.
This is what I’ve come up with…
Jeff Strand appears on Oprah to promote his upcoming collection, Thunder from My Backside and Other Stinky Stories.
America’s Funniest Home Videos airs a fan submitted tape of Brian Keene reading rants from Hail Saten, crazy drunk and swigging from a bottle of Knob Creek.
Weston Ochse and Yvonne Navarro make a special appearance on Punk’d and beat the crap out of Ashton Kutcher.
Brian Knight appears on The Howard Stern Show and gets a Brazilian Bikini Wax while reading from his upcoming novella, 1200 AM Live.
Shane Staley appears on a special Delirium edition of The Apprentice, where he cuts random authors from the Delirium Stable.
Sean Wallace appears on a special Wildside Press edition of The Batchelor, where he finally gets some hot action.
These are all great angles, in my opinion, and would certainty turn a few eyes toward the small press. Execution might be a problem though.
Perhaps something a little lower key, and a little easier to execute.
How about a mass donation of small press titles from publishers to university libraries, maybe an effort to book appearances by small press authors to meet with students interested in breaking into publishing.
How about more aggressive marketing campaigns by the authors themselves, with an emphasis on local radio, local cable shows, local papers. The key word here is local. Every small press author should make a greater effort to educate those around them, and to expose their communities to the wider literary world the small press presents.
This is not meant to take anything away from the mass market, but to expose smaller authors to greater audiences, priming them for ascent to the mass market.
Just brainstorming here.
If you can come up with something better, please share. If we can educate potential readers en mass, maybe small press authors and publishers won’t have to explain themselves quite so often.
Brian Knight
14 Comments, Comment or Ping
David Niall Wilson
Heh…and I’ll go onto that Tattoo show where they show off tattoos from all over and talk the entire time about books until they pound me.
Seriously, though, I often see the call to authors to agressively promote, and it’s a good idea when feasible, but if a: it costs money, then probably you didn’t make enough on your book to break even and b: if it takes time, well, you have to be able to make it. I for one would LOVE to do more signings, radio shows, etc, but with a full time job, full time writing career, part time eBay business, three kids at home and two on alternating weekends and a very slim vestige of a life…it just doesn’t happen much.
Still, we do what we can do. What we really need is a rich sugar daddy for the small press who could PURCHASE huge lots for University libraries - OR - Universities teaching publishing and marketing, etc. to involve themselves…maybe give their students projects to promote, advertise, and market small press titles…see what they come up with.
Who knows…Maybe Trump is a closet horror fan…with that hair he frightens children!
D
Jul 23rd, 2007
Janet Berliner
Publishing, large or small, is ridiculous. –Janet
P.S. “…very slim vestige of a life…” Sounds like a very full life to me, Dave.
Jul 23rd, 2007
Maryanne Stahl
it’s possible your co-worker just had no clue. people ask me all the time, “How do I get my book published? How much does it cost? Where do you send it?”
Jul 23rd, 2007
David Niall Wilson
I had almost that same conversation, by the way, at my last signing. The guy was a professor who’d done his Sci-Fi book at Publish America…he actually asked me (sitting there with a dozen different books from Daw, Five Star, Pocket, and White Wolf lined up in front of me, and asked if I’d ever actually gotten paid for any of my books…he was SERIOUS…
DNW
Jul 23rd, 2007
Brian Hodge
You’ve hit on something here that I think is one of the major obstacles that nearly all writers face, regardless of whether they’re publishing in the small press, with a major house, or split the difference and have it both ways: our isolation from one another. We’re a legion of lone wolves, without any type of major vehicle that promotes our interests or simply provides a higher level of visibility.
It’s such an under-the-radar kind of existence … which is certainly what you want when you just need to observe human nature, but then, there is the flipside: Despite a few groups that provide certain professional benefits — and some function equally as self-contained social clubs and awards factories — it is, in the main, each of us, on our own, out for whatever we can wrangle for ourselves.
Still, I think there is a genuine curiosity out there about the entire world of publishing. I’ve been intrigued by a recent bit of conversation with Tom Piccirilli, with whom I plan, since we live fairly close, to coordinate a series of area appearances when my next novel is out. He mentioned that, in his experience, readings/signings draw better when they’re promoted in part as how-to-get-published sessions, with a portion of the time devoted to explaining the nuts-and-bolts of the process, and answering people’s questions.
Jul 23rd, 2007
Wayne Allen Sallee
Brian, I can’t get past the “everything I write is horror” line from family and friends. Most people have no clue. I have been on two local cable shows, do readings at various places in Chicago, and whore myself at the various conventions near O’Hare, be it Wizard World or Flashback Weekend. The best part of what I do is explain to new writers that they needn’t get discouraged because most of us are working day jobs of some sort, and its ok if they get rejected the first year out. Its amazing how many times I still have people asking me “did you just publish that?” with the assumption that the process is as simple as me cranking up a mimeograph and becoming the town crier.
Jul 24th, 2007
John B. Rosenman
Yes, it’s frustrating, especially since many folks think that if you’re not J. K. Rowling, you’re not really a serious writer. And writers are so very insular and isolated. Storytellers Unplugged breaks down the barriers a bit, but we’re still pretty much shouting in the wilderness.
How-to-get-published sessions and workshops would help a little. I also like the idea of a Sugar Daddy bankrolling the small press.
A good, heartfelt piece. I admire you for being restrained, and not giving your co-worker a fast knee where it would wake him up. Really, such stupidity should not be permitted to continue unchecked.
Jul 24th, 2007
Brian
Hey all!
With my co-worker, it really was a case of ignorance rather than stupidity. He just didn’t know.
So I educated him
Mainstream writers have very few avenues available to promote themselves, and small press writers fewer still. I think we could open up a few more if we thought creativly, but I have to be honest and admit I’m horrible at it.
I would like to try to find a few other published (not self-published) writers and approach the local colleges to see if they would like to use us in a workshop. Things like that would expose me to new readers, who in turn might recomend my work, if they like it.
It’s tough to get yourself out there when you work full time and write in your spare time, but it’s one of those things we have to learn to do.
Sorry. I’m all over the place here. Too much coffee.
Brian
Jul 24th, 2007
Brian
In an interesting turn of events, I am now considering an offer to appear in a production by the local civic theatre, since it’s a horror production set in Dracula’s Castle.
I’m trying to decide now if I’m man enough to take my own advice, or too chicken
Brian
Jul 25th, 2007
Jen
I love this post and the responses. I don’t know if this is done already, but maybe, if they have a theater that shows horror movies (or independent movies, including horror), you could ask if you could promote your books outside the theater on those nights (or days)? If you write horror, and people are in the mood to see a horror movie, maybe they’ll be in the mood to pick up a book, too. And they might be more open to small presses if they’re open to independent movies? Just a thought.
Jul 26th, 2007
Chris Perridas
Not only humorous, but an eye opener.
Jul 27th, 2007
Brian
Jen, excelent idea!
Chris, thanks
Jul 28th, 2007
Elizabeth Massie
I prefer to use the term “Specialty Press” now instead of small press. Same thing but it seems to lift the concept up a little in the minds of those who initially have no clue.
Beth
Jul 28th, 2007
Cinder
I have had plenty on my mind about this and imagine my enthusiasm when I came across this today. I am an unpublished writer developing my skills and researching the writing world as I should be. I have often contemplated my choices in this area of publishing and have been brain-storming future marketing strategies. (I am a die-hard optimist)
I am most impressed with the idea of local college involvement. If each of us spread our wings with this marketing freedom and coupled our efforts with persistence, we might find higher ground to cover.
Another idea lingering on my mind has been the neverending supply of mail order in our lives. Imagine the territory that can be covered when a band of writers pull together to mail the local community a unique “special offer” that is more than eye-catching, but eerily irresistible in overpowering appeal. The investment could be shared, or even a possibility through the Small Press. The chances of success in mail order featuring horror novels could be given its best start during the spooky month of October, then into the holiday months when spending spirit is at its fullest.
Just some thoughts. But what do I know?
Aug 9th, 2007
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