As you may know, I'm not jumping up and down because Trump won the nomination. But (A), let me reiterate a point I made in my tribute to Roy Thomas' historic WHAT IF? series of Marvel mags which you can still read at steveneisenpreis.blogspot.com : The people elected him president, and the people, ALL of the people, should put the vandalism, shouting, and signs aside and give him a chance, and (B) he DOES have a point.
The American publishing system is rigged.
THERE! I said it. In fact, it isn't even the American publishing system anymore. It's just an extension of the European publishing system, and not one of the editors or executives in charge of Hachette Book Group, Pearson Random House, or HarperCollins would know a great American book if it fell on top of their pointy little heads. If they're not rejecting books, they're ripping off the Melvilles, Wolfes, and Poes of the future by charging exorbitant rates JUST TO GET PUBLISHED!
With all that in mind, America, I give you...
STEVE'S PLAN TO MAKE AMERICA READ AGAIN (or, MAKE AMERICAN PUBLISHING GREAT AGAIN)
1. All European-based publishers will be forced to sell or spin off their American subsidiaries.
2. The term "self-publishing" as it currently exists will be replaced by "assisted publishing," and no author will have to pay more than $500 for the total cost of publishing
3. Any author who takes his manuscript to an establishment with a copier (i.e. a library, office superstore, or restaurant) and sells the finished product himself will now be considered a "self-publisher."
4. Authors will be required to guarantee satisfaction. Publishers will no longer send copies to reviewers, who will have to buy their own copies.
5.Rejected books will be treated the same as their published counterparts, including promotion as part of literacy campaigns.
6. Rejection itself would be eliminated, except when it comes to books advocating the violent overthrow of the United States of America.
7. Murder of iconic literary characters would be treated exactly the same as murder of actual people.
8. Editors will be stripped of their "life or death" power and serve as cheerleaders.
9. No book will be priced higher than five U,S, dollars.
Boy, it feels great to get THAT off my chest!
Happy Thanksgiving, and let's knock the stuffing out of those turkeys in charge of the book publishers!
Steve
After Agent Orange's totally idiotic comments at the UN on September 19,2017, I hereby disclaim any responsibility for the gibberish you have just read, because it sounds too Trumpish. I apologize to all publishers, self-publishers, and fellow authors for even THINKING the system needed to be overhauled. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteStay tuned for a newer Book Blog!