A Conundrum (not a dirty word)

A recent comment I made in answer to Mary Jo's blog about weather, citing a book I wrote but never sold, set me to thinking.

I've published a whole lot of books. 32 and counting. But I've written far many more. And often, the ones I remember most are the ones I couldn't sell. Why weren't they pubished? Well, maybe sometimes, they just weren't good enough. (A bitter thought, but possible.)

I love to write historical romance. At times, though, I tried for a change of pace. In some of those cases the book may have been acknowledged as good, but the subject wasn't what I'm known for: Historical Romance. More often, I was told my timing was off. The subject matter I wrote about wasn't "hot." "Straight" Historicals weren't "in." Historical mysteries were "over." "Nobody wants to read about the Civil War now."

Sometimes the fault lay in the fact that the book didn't easily fit into category. Any category. Where your book is placed in the bookstore is of prime importance, so you must have a category. These days, the publishing world is codified. It's right there on the book jacket in the ISBN - the code it is given. That shows the bookseller where to place it in the store. Even "new literature" has its codes and labels, from "Coming of Age" novels to "Mid-life angst sagas." And if it isn't easy to place, it's often the kiss of death.

There are trends and if you don't fit into them, you don't fit anywhere. How would "Moby Dick" be published today? Not that I am for a moment comparing anything I ever wrote to what I think is the Great American Novel! But where would a code place a novel about an obsessed sea captain and a rogue whale? Nature studies? Crime fiction? Criminal Psychology? Or maybe: Sea Mammals? I dunno. It's a classic now and that makes it simple: "Classic Literature."

The truth is that with modern book outlets as they are, it's difficult to get a novel out that doesn't fit into a slot. I think that's the American public's loss. The same thing holds true for movies and TV shows. Write something new and utterly different and then you might as well sit with a cup selling pencils, because it's going to take a miracle to make money. Sometimes miracles happen.

Once there is a splash, however, everyone jumps in. And pretty soon there's a redundancy. The problem for the writer is how to make that first splash. We know that you, Gentle Reader, are ready to read anything good, and see any film or TV show that is well done and interesting. But how do we convince the publishing, marketing, film-making, TV producing world to know that?

Any ideas?

(And I don't mean just: MOBY DICK, THE MUSICAL, with a singing whale and a tap dancing Captain Ahab... though that IS a thought.....)

Note: Yes Virginia, there is a MOBY DICK THE MUSICAL. We wenches are as shocked as you are.

Tap dancing Ahab, rollerskating Ahab...same difference.

Comments

[Jane George]

Dear Edith,
Thanks for the smile. (The teddy bear hanging on to Ahab's washtub for dear life is... priceless.)

Speaking of splashes, my dh and I just finished viewing Running With Scissors. Cut a bit close to the bone, that one did.

I've just sent in my order for pencils, only I AM going to make a big splash, I've ordered erasers, too. In funny shapes.

How about a separate bar code for anything that falls under the category of, "WTF, mates?" Within two years, it'll be THE barcode to be in.

And for readers' sake, don't give up on the unpublished work!

PS any tips for dealing with rainy day felines? It's been raining for three days, they're slept out, and they're interrupting me more than than my offspring!

[Cathy]

I should be laughing at the roller-skating Ahab, but I'm not. I'm shocked. I'm speechless. I hope this isn't on a stage near me.

E-publishers are publishing some very fun stuff by excellent debut authors, and previously published authors as well. I like a good deal of what I'm reading from there now, and many of the authors are telling me there's less editorial invasion of their manuscripts. I guess if an e-publisher wants to add a category, it's as easy as a click...kinda. Certainly it would be easier than marketing a shelf change in every bookstore across the country.

I am still in agent search mode, but if that should not prove fruitful, I will start querying publishing houses, including e-publishers. It's the future, and it's getting harder to deny.

[Maggie Robinson]

You've got me to thinking about all the books written that have never sold (I've got two of them myself, and working on a third which will definitely fit in Jane's WTF? category). It's kind of like a book orphanage, where no one wants to adopt the poor things. And there might be an Einstein or, better yet, a Clooney in the bunch, but we'll never know.

Blogs and bulletin boards are great for word-of-mouth praise for books, but they have to be published first for people to notice. The entertainment field seems to find comfort in the familiar; hence, knock-off reality shows and sitcoms and vampire books! It must be excruciating for creative people who feel they must pigeon-hole themselves into a genre that is not their first choice.

I have no answer to you question, but I thank you for asking it. And it is somewhat comforting to know that the inimitable Edith Leighton has a few dusty tomes stuck under her bed!

[AgTigress]

The problem of classification affects non-fiction writers in the same way. If a book does not quite fit into the simple, broad categories that already contain countless volumes, if it takes a new slant on a subject, or crosses two, or several, classifications, bookshops often metaphorically throw up their hands in despair.

This is one of the reasons, no doubt, why publishers are so lily-livered about publishing anything that hasn't been done several thousand times before.

[Maggie Robinson]

Aargh. Layton...I'm trying to Anglicize your name way too much. The fact that I have a Lord Leighton in one of my books has no doubt influenced my spelling. Deepest apologies, Lady Layton!

[Maggie Robinson]

Aargh. Layton...I'm trying to Anglicize your name way too much. The fact that I have a Lord Leighton in one of my books has no doubt influenced my spelling. Deepest apologies, Lady Layton!

And this site has been wonky all morning, so if you get my apology twice, you deserve it!

[Edith]

Kudos to the amazing Susie - she who illustrates my blogs when her brand new son, Hugo, allows. I didn't even know there was a musical MOBY DICK! Trust my cutting edge of entertainment daughter to know that.

And Maggie - how interesting. You spelled my pseudonym the way I wanted it Lo! those many years ago. But my then editor and her sales department thought it looked "too puritanical". Hence: Edith Layton. ah... but that's another blog....

[Val Jones]

Edith,

I've noted that sometimes an author gets to be "leading author" on a trend and then it appears to be "student body right" for other authors to the topic. Never for a minute do I believe that authors are sitting around waiting for someone to get an idea and then think "wow, what a great topic to cover in my next book".

I read all over the place, all I ask for is an interesting, well told story. But if there ever is an ISBN category for "WTF", I'd probably shop it often!

[Edith]

And Jane, I love the "WTF" category. I'll bet it would sell otherwise unsaleable books, movies and TV shows like crazy!

[RevMelinda]

Hi Edith,

I'm going to jump in with some random-ish thoughts, and in the interest of full disclosure, I'll reiterate that I'm not a writer, just a reader, so I'm sure there are some things about writing that I don't understand (and that you'll help me with!). . .(and if I sound cranky and longwinded, please excuse me, I just had surgery this week. . .)

I guess my first thought is: why do you (all of you writers) write in the first place? I know that there's definitely a financial imperative involved for those who need to support themselves with their writing, and therefore "the market" is important.

But surely there are some for whom the market is completely irrelevant--who write primarily for self-expression or personal development (or to silence those garrulous muses that keep you up all night, LOL), or for enjoyment, or fun, or whatever. Don't even veteran writers like the Wenches and wenchlings have "fun notebooks" where you write your poems, or your horror screenplays, or whatever, that will never see the light of day but that are simply for the fun of it?--and isn't that important, too?

Here's another question--isn't "self-publishing" an option these days? Even in the old days of photocopying, I bought and read many a Kinko's-bound book (mainly Star Trek fan fiction, LOL)--these were published and sold via mail, and newsletter, and at sci-fi conventions, etc.

It seems to me that these days, with the electronic and web resources we have, self-publishing would be even easier. Maybe someone would set up a store on Ebay to sell "self-published" books? (Maybe someone already has?)--or self-published books could be offered for sale or download directly from a person's blog?

It seems to me that this could be especially fun for "established" authors like the Wenches. If you want to get your "under the bed" mss out there to readers, you could self-publish and offer them to the public through your web sites--readers who love your writing are going to want to buy your Civil War saga, or your vampire chronicles, or whatever--and the fact that they're "not available in bookstores" would, I'm sure, just make them all that more desirable for a fan!

(Now that I think about how wonderful that would be, though, I am sure there are some legal/contractual problems that I am ignorant about. )

Edith, Wenches, wenchlings--what do you think?

Melinda

[Joelle]

Hi,

That's true... It's seems to be difficult to find different books or original ideas nowadays. I don't want to talk like an old one but editors are very "shy" theses days. You need to be "in the move" to be publish... Write things with vampires, blood, magic and sex to be a fashionable author or something like "DaVinci Code"... No need to write an excellent story just use cliché and what people wants...
I always ask myself if it's really what people want or just what publicists try to impose and some follow...
All the books have the same number of pages ; everything seems so standardize !!!! Where are theses old good stories with 800 pages ; stories or movies where the bad win at the end...
Ebook publishers try some new things and it' quite interesting... Not very popular yet but it's just the beginning.

Well, guess what : I decide to make a paranormal romance story and the whole thing like a manga (is it the same word in english ??? A japanese comics) with slang language and very hot scenes ! I'll be famous very soon, don't you think so ??? ---- JOKE ----

Love from JOELLE - France

[Patricia Rice]

I'm for that WTF category, too!

As for self publishing, etc, that's great if you have all the time and the money in the world. I'd put as much work and effort into a self published or ebook as I would in one that pays my bills. And have. Repeatedly. Except I hang onto them hoping to actually make money off them someday, since who knows which way the cycle will go? I'm as fond of eating and keeping a roof over my head as anyone, and I would really love for these "love children" of mine to be seen by the largest possible audience.

But if ebooks ever start reaching that mass audience, I'm ready!

[Lois]

You know, it really is sad what becomes a play or musical anymore. . . geez.

Anyway, I think I pondered sometime in the past if what we consider classics would have been published nowadays. You have to wonder if people would have looked at Shakespeare and thought, gee, that looks good. . . or if she was around now, would anyone have heard of Jane Austen. You get the feeling that maybe not. LOL :)

Lois

[Susan Sarah]

Fun discussion!
And I love the dancing Ahab with the teddy bear!!! Jiut the laugh I needed in my frenzied deadline state! Good one, Edith and Susie!!

I don't have any extra manuscripts laying about--I live hand to mouth with the writing...it gets written, it goes out the door. **g**
So I've nothing extra -- oh for enough lovely spare time to come up with something, though!

I just have to say bonjour, Joelle, and welcome to Word Wenches! I'm so glad you found our blog, and it's wonderful to hear your opinions. Come back and visit us often (Joelle lives in France, and is a fabulous romance fan).

back to my work-in-progress,

Susan Sarah

[Joelle]

THANKS Susan/Sarah for the kind words !!! How could I resist to talk here... MJP/P.Rice/E.Layton/M.Jarrett/J.Beverley/L. Chase and YOU... all in one, if I can say this !!!! You're my fav authors, I've got all your books (from each of you)... It's so great to read your point of view on such different subjects... Sometimes, it's difficult for me to give my opinion 'cause my english isn't good enough and also 'cause I'm not a natural born writer to express my feelings ;)

Lots of love to all of you... You are my "oxygen bubble" !

[Edith]

Ah, Joelle, c'est bien parce que you are here! Welcome. Beinvenue!
And that exhausts six years of French dans l'ecole et l'universite pous mois.

whew. Now that the great linguist has greeted Joelle dans pigeon Francais, elle wonders why anyone made a second language mandatory for an English Major.
le sigh.

[Joelle]

WOW Edith... Your french is astonish ! ;)