I can definitely think of some “mediagenic” authors with 200K+ followers whose books did not sell well. The book is more important than the author, at least for fiction.
Well, I knew it was a mess. I guess we get the popcorn ready for the next installment to see just how big of a mess it is. Thanks for taking the time to do a deep dive, Michelle.
This is a fascinating and informational video, but can I just say that the editing skills of your videos have been going through some sort of magical exponential growth? Wow! The sound, background music, transitions, graphics and overall editing is amazing. Maybe only other CZcamsrs will recognize or appreciate how much time and effort goes into the videos, but know that it is not going unnoticed!
Aww thank you VERY much!!! :D I really appreciate that! I've been spending a lot of time watching video editing stuff - it's so fun and interesting, and I love playing with it. :)
I’m not sure if you specifically don’t want timestamp chapters, but in case you don’t know, if you change the timestamps in your description to start with timestamps first with the first entry being 0:00, they’ll appear in the progress bar of your video. LIke this: 0:00 Intro 02:20 Sales v marketing v publicity in traditional publishing 05:49 What REALLY goes on in acquisitions meetings 11:30 Why books lose support internally
Yesss the Heather seal of approval! :D Thanks for watching! I've got a somewhat more positive video coming Monday. I think I needed a break from all of this doom and gloom!
Thank you for such well developed, thought out and articulated videos. I deleted my Twitter/Instagram the other month (something I tried, even though I knew I wouldn't like it). This game is really unfortunate and condescending and affirms some of the notions I had why certain authors are published vs not. It's like author eugenics at a book publishing level: who's good looking, charismatic and checks all our hidden boxes? I'm glad it's changing, but understand it will take some time. Take care. Edit: Also, looking forward to future installments. The honesty is honestly refreshing. :-)
@@MichelleSchustermanAuthor I agree. I'm so sorry if that was crossing a line, but sometimes I really wonder how this all eeks out into everyday life. I'm actually writing about the idea of the "game" in my current WIP. It's a central theme. Hmm.
Background music is perfect - even the volume is perfection - fabulous insights - we're so focused on getting our book right - we forgot about our stylist, hairstylist, make-up artist, cosmetic surgeon, cosmetic dentistry and so on - you're world class.
As always, this is so informational. I would have never thought that marketing, publicity and sales are different. I just lumped them together 😅 and it’s so sad that they overwork staff. I think a lot of these companies do it, which is what kind of deterred me from wanting to work in publishing. Looking forward to the next installment.
Thanks so much, Daja! Yup, I really didn't understand the difference either. And I'm sure that whole "hey look, your dept doesn't need that position after all!" thing happens in so many industries. It's so depressing.
Even with the reasons behind it, it sucks. It sucks for the book community, for authors, readers, agents, and the hard-working people at the publishing house. This interview was very insightful, looking forward to future parts!
Just as insightful and thought provoking as always. I can't wait for the next video in this series! Also, on a side note, I'm starting to notice a lot of really cool new editing techniques that you've been using. Just wanted to say that they look awesome. You deserve so many more subs!
Another invaluable video from you. I have multiple of your videos bookmarked for reference later on, and this one definitely lands on the same list. Thank you (and Andrew) for your thorough research!
Thank you so much! So happy it was helpful. I really love doing these deep dives and I'm glad others find them informative because I sure learn a lot when I'm making them!
Not gonna lie, Michelle... This made me sad :-( As a black, female, international aspiring author who was told by her family when she said she wanted to be a traditionally published author (self publishing is not a feasible option for my pocket); I was told that "everybody & their mother writing books. And you think you're good enough to surpass the hundreds of mediocre American writers?" Now I learn that trad pub is a numbers game & even if I write the best novel I can, everything else is outside my scope of control. Its the luck of the draw & Ive never been lucky. It saddens me because a lot of crappy books are being churned out daily & readers are suffering. I understand the publishers gotta do what they gotta do & they dare not mess with it but what does that mean for unknowns like me from a dot on the Caribbean map in a 3rd world country? I saw a Kdrama earlier this year ("Love is a Romance Book") & it was a publishing company so much of what you said here I saw in that show but I thought it was just a fictionalised drama. The reality, it seems, is much worse. Well, Im gonna keep writing. Im gonna keep submitting to trad & indie pubs. Im gonna keep getting rejections (with editor rewrite suggestions or not). Im gonna work hard & never give up. If I make it, great. If not, they'll find my work after I die & I'll get my legions of fans posthumously. Writing is what I was born to do. Thanks for this eye-opening & reality-jerking kick in the pants! Great video, Michelle 🤗
It sucks. :/ And it's really unfair, and such a disservice to both authors and readers. I'm glad you're going to keep writing and submitting because the worst thing that could happen would be for authors to give up, you know? This system stinks but there are things we can do both to try and be successful within it, but more importantly, to change it, even if those changes seem tiny and insignificant at first. Thank you for watching, Sio!!
@@MichelleSchustermanAuthor I appreciate you, Michelle! You always put out relevant & fresh content that fosters progression & change in trad pub (even if its only tiny & seemingly insignificant). Thanks for using your platform & privilege to educate others 🤗❤😎
The info you got just blows my mind. I'll wait to see all parts (and probably have to rewatch this series a few times to be sure I get it) before being sure if I'd ever have a chance of being traditionally published. But holy crap, I hear so much about "self publishing is killing the traditional publishing industry because the market is becoming oversaturated with books" or other like things that blame self publishing for their downfall. But am I wrong? Aren't they doing this to themselves? Buying up companies, not getting half as much staff as they need, overworking their employees, all to make more money for themselves with less payout to their staff and authors they've published (beyond those top tier authors that get the big bucks). Or am I understanding this horribly wrong? (May have to go for an extensive rewatch; there is just so much there that my brain is sputtering to keep up and process it all. 😅😵) Oy....thank you for compiling all this info and doing all this research and finding people who are willing to talk to you. Even if I'm questioning my understanding of half of it right now (😅) I'm grateful you're going to these lengths to keep us informed. 💜
Ooh good questions, K...I definitely wouldn't say self-pubbing is to blame here. It's more about Amazon, and self-pubbed authors are victims just as much as trad pubbed. You aren't understanding it wrong, it's just...UGH. SO COMPLICATED. Honestly, making this series is helping me work out and better understand so much. Thank you for watching!!! :)
My hope, if I go traditionally published is for a 40-50k advance. I don’t want a massive one. I will self market and promote. But for me at least 40-50k would be allow me to leave my full time job for something part time instead so I can write more and get books out faster.
Could someone or group use this method to pay someone without there being a direct connection to that someone or group. Then purchase copies of that book to put it on the best seller list?
You forgot ageism on your list of things that don't make us mediagenic, Michelle. An ordinary looking 58-year-old woman isn't mediagenic. Period. Thankfully, that doesn't matter anymore. Each of us has the freedom and the power to find our own audience through lots of different avenues. There are so many helpful people, like yourself, who can teach us what we need to know to improve our craft, and there are others who can teach us how to get our work into the hands of people who want it. I'm so excited about the future. I've been writing professionally since the 80's, and I promise you things are getting better and better for mid-list writers. Really! The big publishers are running scared. Lots of traditionally published mid-list authors are going indie, because they have greater control over their work, and they make more money. Why not give it a go everyone? Just dip your toes into the self-publishing pool with a little project. You might like it. Someday, you might find yourself thumbing your nose at the Big 5 and laughing all the way to the bank. Happy writing! :)
Heather! I'm so frustrated with myself because ageism was on my list but somehow I didn't c/p it into the graphic! GRR. But yeah. It is absolutely true and I could share some horror stories about ageism in publishing. Your excitement is contagious! And you're very right - there are successful trad pubbed authors going indie, and the houses are noticing. I'm so happy you've found the right path for your work!!
What a great video even though it's such a bummer! This is something we talked about a lot in grad school, but I feel like it's only getting worse. I wonder when the scale will tip towards publishing staff unionizing, hopefully soon. It sounds like such a toxic mindset to burn out employees rather than hire more staff.
Such a great video! It's like a big engine that makes no sense, but this totally breaks it down in a reasonable way--thank you, Michelle, for doing the careful work 😍And also Bestsellers, please don't. 😓😑
@@MichelleSchustermanAuthor I was wondering maybe it already fit into "probably sexist" because Hollywood aesthetics cuts only elderly ladies out of the pic, elderly gentlemen are fine. P.S. Looking forward to the video about deleting social media and still thriving.
If you missed the midlist series, check it out here!
Part 1: czcams.com/video/XRJAKXjRjbc/video.html
Part 2: czcams.com/video/V09Wu4OC6E0/video.html
I can definitely think of some “mediagenic” authors with 200K+ followers whose books did not sell well. The book is more important than the author, at least for fiction.
Right?? Or at least, it should be. And yet pubs don't always seem to see it that way.
Well, I knew it was a mess. I guess we get the popcorn ready for the next installment to see just how big of a mess it is. Thanks for taking the time to do a deep dive, Michelle.
Thank you for watching, JS! Yup, it's popcorn worthy for sure. o.O
This is a fascinating and informational video, but can I just say that the editing skills of your videos have been going through some sort of magical exponential growth? Wow! The sound, background music, transitions, graphics and overall editing is amazing. Maybe only other CZcamsrs will recognize or appreciate how much time and effort goes into the videos, but know that it is not going unnoticed!
Aww thank you VERY much!!! :D I really appreciate that! I've been spending a lot of time watching video editing stuff - it's so fun and interesting, and I love playing with it. :)
I’m not sure if you specifically don’t want timestamp chapters, but in case you don’t know, if you change the timestamps in your description to start with timestamps first with the first entry being 0:00, they’ll appear in the progress bar of your video. LIke this:
0:00 Intro
02:20 Sales v marketing v publicity in traditional publishing
05:49 What REALLY goes on in acquisitions meetings
11:30 Why books lose support internally
As a former editor at one of the big ten, yep. It's all true.
Yesss the Heather seal of approval! :D Thanks for watching! I've got a somewhat more positive video coming Monday. I think I needed a break from all of this doom and gloom!
This is the best series ever on the publishing industry. Wow. Can't wait for the next one! (And you are fantastic at this!) Love and hugs!
Thank you so much, Regina!!! That's so kind of you. :) These are really fun (if devastating lol) to make!
These details make me start thinking publishing is a competitive sport... 🤓
LOL!!
I just...really love you and your content.
Awwwwww! Thank you so much, Lindsay!!! :D
Thank you for such well developed, thought out and articulated videos. I deleted my Twitter/Instagram the other month (something I tried, even though I knew I wouldn't like it). This game is really unfortunate and condescending and affirms some of the notions I had why certain authors are published vs not. It's like author eugenics at a book publishing level: who's good looking, charismatic and checks all our hidden boxes? I'm glad it's changing, but understand it will take some time. Take care.
Edit: Also, looking forward to future installments. The honesty is honestly refreshing. :-)
Thank you so much for watching! Oh god..."author eugenics." I don't know whether to laugh or cry. (Both? lol)
@@MichelleSchustermanAuthor I agree. I'm so sorry if that was crossing a line, but sometimes I really wonder how this all eeks out into everyday life. I'm actually writing about the idea of the "game" in my current WIP. It's a central theme. Hmm.
@Peregrine Arc: A Horror Author's Scratchwork You didn't at all! And wow, that's an interesting topic to explore for sure.
Background music is perfect - even the volume is perfection - fabulous insights - we're so focused on getting our book right - we forgot about our stylist, hairstylist, make-up artist, cosmetic surgeon, cosmetic dentistry and so on - you're world class.
Couldn't stop watching! Really excited to see the rest of the series.
Thank you so much for watching!! :)
As always, this is so informational. I would have never thought that marketing, publicity and sales are different. I just lumped them together 😅 and it’s so sad that they overwork staff. I think a lot of these companies do it, which is what kind of deterred me from wanting to work in publishing. Looking forward to the next installment.
Thanks so much, Daja! Yup, I really didn't understand the difference either. And I'm sure that whole "hey look, your dept doesn't need that position after all!" thing happens in so many industries. It's so depressing.
Fascinating and informative. Thank you so much for sharing this peek behind the curtain with us! Looking forward to the next installment :)
Why thank you, stranger! xD
Even with the reasons behind it, it sucks. It sucks for the book community, for authors, readers, agents, and the hard-working people at the publishing house. This interview was very insightful, looking forward to future parts!
1000% agreed, Jenna. And thank you so much for watching!!
WOW! Thank you for this information.
Thanks for watching, Camille! :)
Just as insightful and thought provoking as always. I can't wait for the next video in this series!
Also, on a side note, I'm starting to notice a lot of really cool new editing techniques that you've been using. Just wanted to say that they look awesome. You deserve so many more subs!
Thank you so much, Carynn! So happy you liked it - and thanks for the editing compliment. :) I'm having a lot of fun with Final Cut!
This is terrifying but good to know, and do love that you've broken it down for us. Look forward to next week's video!
Thanks so much, Joey! :D
Another amazing informative video. I love learning about the business side. Cant wait for the next in the series!
Thank you so much for watching! :)
Another invaluable video from you. I have multiple of your videos bookmarked for reference later on, and this one definitely lands on the same list. Thank you (and Andrew) for your thorough research!
Thank you so much! So happy it was helpful. I really love doing these deep dives and I'm glad others find them informative because I sure learn a lot when I'm making them!
Not gonna lie, Michelle... This made me sad :-(
As a black, female, international aspiring author who was told by her family when she said she wanted to be a traditionally published author (self publishing is not a feasible option for my pocket); I was told that "everybody & their mother writing books. And you think you're good enough to surpass the hundreds of mediocre American writers?"
Now I learn that trad pub is a numbers game & even if I write the best novel I can, everything else is outside my scope of control. Its the luck of the draw & Ive never been lucky.
It saddens me because a lot of crappy books are being churned out daily & readers are suffering. I understand the publishers gotta do what they gotta do & they dare not mess with it but what does that mean for unknowns like me from a dot on the Caribbean map in a 3rd world country?
I saw a Kdrama earlier this year ("Love is a Romance Book") & it was a publishing company so much of what you said here I saw in that show but I thought it was just a fictionalised drama. The reality, it seems, is much worse.
Well, Im gonna keep writing. Im gonna keep submitting to trad & indie pubs. Im gonna keep getting rejections (with editor rewrite suggestions or not). Im gonna work hard & never give up. If I make it, great. If not, they'll find my work after I die & I'll get my legions of fans posthumously.
Writing is what I was born to do. Thanks for this eye-opening & reality-jerking kick in the pants!
Great video, Michelle 🤗
Yes keep writing! We need your books! One day publishing will get it together 🤞
@@rouxellereads Thanks so much! I appreciate that. Hopefully publishing gets it together :-)
Best of luck from a fellow author also trying to figure this all out.
It sucks. :/ And it's really unfair, and such a disservice to both authors and readers. I'm glad you're going to keep writing and submitting because the worst thing that could happen would be for authors to give up, you know? This system stinks but there are things we can do both to try and be successful within it, but more importantly, to change it, even if those changes seem tiny and insignificant at first.
Thank you for watching, Sio!!
@@MichelleSchustermanAuthor I appreciate you, Michelle! You always put out relevant & fresh content that fosters progression & change in trad pub (even if its only tiny & seemingly insignificant).
Thanks for using your platform & privilege to educate others 🤗❤😎
The info you got just blows my mind. I'll wait to see all parts (and probably have to rewatch this series a few times to be sure I get it) before being sure if I'd ever have a chance of being traditionally published.
But holy crap, I hear so much about "self publishing is killing the traditional publishing industry because the market is becoming oversaturated with books" or other like things that blame self publishing for their downfall. But am I wrong? Aren't they doing this to themselves? Buying up companies, not getting half as much staff as they need, overworking their employees, all to make more money for themselves with less payout to their staff and authors they've published (beyond those top tier authors that get the big bucks). Or am I understanding this horribly wrong? (May have to go for an extensive rewatch; there is just so much there that my brain is sputtering to keep up and process it all. 😅😵)
Oy....thank you for compiling all this info and doing all this research and finding people who are willing to talk to you. Even if I'm questioning my understanding of half of it right now (😅) I'm grateful you're going to these lengths to keep us informed. 💜
Ooh good questions, K...I definitely wouldn't say self-pubbing is to blame here. It's more about Amazon, and self-pubbed authors are victims just as much as trad pubbed. You aren't understanding it wrong, it's just...UGH. SO COMPLICATED. Honestly, making this series is helping me work out and better understand so much.
Thank you for watching!!! :)
I have never understood why editors are generally the primary champions for acquiring a book.
Great video.
My hope, if I go traditionally published is for a 40-50k advance. I don’t want a massive one. I will self market and promote. But for me at least 40-50k would be allow me to leave my full time job for something part time instead so I can write more and get books out faster.
Things can change.... ROCK ON!!! Oh, the industry.......
Could someone or group use this method to pay someone without there being a direct connection to that someone or group. Then purchase copies of that book to put it on the best seller list?
You forgot ageism on your list of things that don't make us mediagenic, Michelle. An ordinary looking 58-year-old woman isn't mediagenic. Period. Thankfully, that doesn't matter anymore. Each of us has the freedom and the power to find our own audience through lots of different avenues. There are so many helpful people, like yourself, who can teach us what we need to know to improve our craft, and there are others who can teach us how to get our work into the hands of people who want it.
I'm so excited about the future. I've been writing professionally since the 80's, and I promise you things are getting better and better for mid-list writers. Really! The big publishers are running scared. Lots of traditionally published mid-list authors are going indie, because they have greater control over their work, and they make more money.
Why not give it a go everyone? Just dip your toes into the self-publishing pool with a little project. You might like it. Someday, you might find yourself thumbing your nose at the Big 5 and laughing all the way to the bank. Happy writing! :)
Heather! I'm so frustrated with myself because ageism was on my list but somehow I didn't c/p it into the graphic! GRR. But yeah. It is absolutely true and I could share some horror stories about ageism in publishing.
Your excitement is contagious! And you're very right - there are successful trad pubbed authors going indie, and the houses are noticing. I'm so happy you've found the right path for your work!!
@@MichelleSchustermanAuthor You can't think of everything, Michelle! You're busy!! :D
'Explaining a gut feeling' --> I'm sure this leads to Much Eloquence 😂
SO MUCH
What a great video even though it's such a bummer! This is something we talked about a lot in grad school, but I feel like it's only getting worse. I wonder when the scale will tip towards publishing staff unionizing, hopefully soon. It sounds like such a toxic mindset to burn out employees rather than hire more staff.
Thanks so much, Jane! There are unions, but...yeah. There needs to be more of a movement. It's really tough. :/
Such a great video! It's like a big engine that makes no sense, but this totally breaks it down in a reasonable way--thank you, Michelle, for doing the careful work 😍And also Bestsellers, please don't. 😓😑
Thank you so much for watching, Margaret!! :)
I haven't gotten your notification so I'm gonna do a mini marathon so don't nind me if you see me in your comment section
LOL thanks Sky! :)
'would rather burn out people than hire more' 😥😓😱#notjustpublishing
Girl, I know. It's monstrous how many industries/companies go this route.
I'm also curious about book covers & how that goes down. Why are so many so bad? Or maybe it's just me?
Why do authors get money from publishers? I'm pretty sure it's so that the publishers can sell the authors books.
I really like videos like this! There's so much mis-information out there . . .
8:32 You also forgot to mention "probably ageist"...
and the frustrating thing is that it was on my list!! But I didn't c/p it into the graphic! D:
@@MichelleSchustermanAuthor I was wondering maybe it already fit into "probably sexist" because Hollywood aesthetics cuts only elderly ladies out of the pic, elderly gentlemen are fine.
P.S. Looking forward to the video about deleting social media and still thriving.