Comments on Nathan Bransford - Literary Agent: Moving the Needle

Interesting post and very insightful. So the worl...

2009-11-17T00:27:30.867-08:00

Interesting post and very insightful. So the world of publishing is shaking because it's no longer in the position of power to dictate what information is shared with the masses...

Now, to rebuild their bottom line profit margins they may had to actually have contact with the masses? Or maybe reassess why their midlist or those pesky novels where what funded the structure of an industry determined to enlighten the masses...

How delightful!

anon- I understand. Blogging about books and the ...

2009-11-15T21:03:36.595-08:00

anon-

I understand. Blogging about books and the publishing industry (and not politics) is a sure way to offend anyone.

Thanks for the warning. I will now delete you from...

2009-11-15T20:59:54.636-08:00

Thanks for the warning. I will now delete you from my list of blogs to visit. Anyone who writes for the Huffington Post is nobody I care to read after. Ugh.

Hi Nathan, I just wanted to say thanks for providi...

2009-11-13T15:23:02.239-08:00

Hi Nathan,
I just wanted to say thanks for providing so much insight about the publishing industry. Thanks.

what's a "green book"? Is it a book with environme...

2009-11-13T14:03:08.489-08:00

what's a "green book"? Is it a book with environmental themes or any book that was produced in an environmentally sensitive manner?

Here's an amazing story: a 28-year-old guy who got...

2009-11-13T11:19:18.711-08:00

Here's an amazing story: a 28-year-old guy who got a book deal AND a TV deal based solely on his Twitter tweets: here.

And the only thing worse than failing to push the ...

2009-11-13T10:51:58.098-08:00

And the only thing worse than failing to push the needle is accidentally sitting on it.

AHAHAHAH! That and the kitten video.
:-)

I agree--Amazon very user-friendly and lots there ...

2009-11-13T10:41:05.430-08:00

I agree--Amazon very user-friendly and lots there for book-oriented people. Sites like Library Thing are also good--you can sign up to become a reviewer and if you're lucky, you'll receive an ARC of a soon-to-be released book. It's a very popular feature. I also participated in a 100-bloggers green book event for Eco-Libris, where we all released our reviews of newly published green books on the same day at the same time. There are ways to get "smaller" books noticed.

Reading this morning's posts, I'll check in as ano...

2009-11-13T09:56:36.327-08:00

Reading this morning's posts, I'll check in as another Mira admirer (easier written than said). I think you've got the seed of the right idea.

It might be much more productive for a publisher to drop a staid blockbuster bet and invest those funds in a well run blog that gins interest in many more niche authors and subjects. Variety! The blog could also search for interest and trends from those following the blog-- much the way Nathan does for his followers here.

Thank you for the succinct guidance in your reply ...

2009-11-13T09:17:13.118-08:00

Thank you for the succinct guidance in your reply to Dawn Maria's comment. I found it inspiring.

Thanks SS@S. "Conversation is the new genre." N...

2009-11-13T09:11:47.684-08:00

Thanks SS@S.

"Conversation is the new genre." Nicely said. :)

Nathan, if your bosses wouldn't mind, you might consider offering consultation services to publishers. Help them start up (and more importantly, learn to RUN) a blog, linked to their website.

Mira, you're spot on. I just read the most intrigu...

2009-11-13T09:02:40.617-08:00

Mira, you're spot on. I just read the most intriguing blog from a website hosting company, though of course I've now lost the link. It was on CNN.

Yawn, right? Or it could be, but it's just FUN. Pix of employees at their halloween party. Contests. Ideas. Lots of interaction.

I'll keep saying it over and over: Conversation is the new genre.

Blogs, online books, and all the media available now is going to change what many books look like. Blogs are a great start for that.

I read Jen Jackson's blog as well and occasionally...

2009-11-13T06:42:22.338-08:00

I read Jen Jackson's blog as well and occasionally I hop over to the Maas website to see what's up.

They have a section called 'What we're looking for this month'. Great idea for prospective submitters. (OMG that's a word???)

Anyway, makes me wonder why every major PUBLISHER doesn't have a 'What YOU'RE looking for this month' blog/forum/whatever.

I oversimplify, but it too often seems like the industry does market research by counting harry potter and twilight sales and deciding that means we need 500 clones of each to satisfy the masses.

Excellent post, and you've definitely nailed it. I...

2009-11-13T06:33:08.932-08:00

Excellent post, and you've definitely nailed it. I happen to enjoy social networking--Facebook, MySpace, blogging. I don't use Twitter--too time consuming--but I firmly believe that the time I invest in my readers online pays me back tenfold. I've seen sales on my ongoing series continue to do well since the first book released in 2006. Now, four years and sixteen trade paperbacks later, I'm eagerly awaiting the release of #17 next month--and already blogging and Fb'ing about it. I use those sites to build up a buzz because as susiej says, word of mouth sells books. The more mouths spreading the word, the better.

You're doing newspaper columns now? 0.0 Re the ki...

2009-11-13T04:59:44.503-08:00

You're doing newspaper columns now? 0.0

Re the kitteh vid, I've noticed that YouTube videos featuring kittens or cats have more hits than any other kind.

I've decided to self-publish.

sounds like too much management with too much time...

2009-11-13T04:24:40.155-08:00

sounds like too much management with too much time on it's hands trying to read too many crystal ball and frightened to fly into the future with it's eyes wide open and zipper undone

"How about a publisher that pays no advance, but p...

2009-11-13T00:40:50.980-08:00

"How about a publisher that pays no advance, but pays a portion of whatever the author makes from the book to the agent?"

Knight,

There are small publishers who do this.

Yes, the intent and expectations of a few has been...

2009-11-12T23:59:46.736-08:00

Yes, the intent and expectations of a few has been the norm for too long.

The times, they are a changing. I do not relish the roles agents and editors play as advocates of what the public masses deserve.

Keep up the good work! STORY is always the first answer... good writing can be fixed.

I think that some publisher should come up with an...

2009-11-12T22:44:23.264-08:00

I think that some publisher should come up with an option that helps authors like me. I don't need an advance. I just want my book published. But, agents make their money from advances, so they won't touch this idea. I think the idea of advances should be reexamined, at least to some degree. How about a publisher that pays no advance, but pays a portion of whatever the author makes from the book to the agent?

Why are the publishers paying such big $$$ for new...

2009-11-12T20:46:06.952-08:00

Why are the publishers paying such big $$$ for new authors.

Is it that the author is greedy or are the publishers hoping to knock out the competition.

Look at Stephenie Meyer. Now I don't know if she was a well known author before Twilight (from what I can see Twilight was her debut). And she was offered $750,000.00 for a three book deal (based on her submission of only one book). She still had to deliver the other two.

Then she was paid yet another $450,000.00 for the forth (which by then was a fair gamble).

Now I watched the kitten video and I want a kitten...

2009-11-12T20:21:54.833-08:00

Now I watched the kitten video and I want a kitten again because two teenagers, one cat, one female dog and a puppy who dug a hole in the carpet last week isn't enough.

Dude, I had to watch that kitten video five times!...

2009-11-12T19:47:14.947-08:00

Dude, I had to watch that kitten video five times!

Oh, now I'm talking too much. I'll just say this,...

2009-11-12T19:37:30.533-08:00

Oh, now I'm talking too much. I'll just say this, and then stop.

Amazon creates brand loyalty. It does this through wish lists, recommendations (I could mess with mine for hours), listmania, author's bios and blogs, discussions, reviews.

Just an example of a company doing it really well.

Nathan - thanks! Well, you've inspired me to sa...

2009-11-12T19:27:41.338-08:00

Nathan - thanks!

Well, you've inspired me to say more. :)

Something I've learned from frequenting blogs: if done well, they create a highly loyal community.

Direct reader participation would help readers feel invested in the publisher's books, and if they met authors on the blog, a fan base for authors as well. This would be a step up in terms of marketing, outreach, brand loyalty - but most important - feedback. What do readers really think and want? What type of books will they buy?

And all of this could be done for a very low cost.

The trick is the person(s) who run the blog. That's the key. You need someone charismatic, decisive and fair. Shame you're probably not available, Nathan. :)

dawn- I think all that authors can do is to write...

2009-11-12T18:09:57.494-08:00

dawn-

I think all that authors can do is to write the best book they can, find a great advocate for their work, and do whatever publicity they're able to do when the book comes out. Everything else is up to fate.