It’s crazy out there in the querying world, isn’t it, folks?
Just a few days ago, I watched an interesting video by Alexa Donne, who I respect very much, on the rise of publishing scams right now. It got me wondering why we are seeing such a burst in these problems in the industry, and the reality is that it’s a solution someone’s trying to sell for a serious problem in the querying experience right now. Here’s how:
The Squeeze of the Publishing Industry
One of the largest, most complex, and frustrating parts of what has caused the slowdown in querying is the effect of our economic system on publishing. A constant need for growth and profit has slowly squeezed editors out of the picture over the course of more than a century.
At the time that The Great Gatsby was published, it was commonplace for a book to go through years of developmental edits, mailing the manuscript back and forth between author and editor, thereby coining the term “editorial letter,” until the draft was ready to be sent to print. This gave authors the ability to incorporate feedback while disagreeing and taking risks.
Today, however, authors are expected to develop a novel all on their own and begin cold querying with what they believe is a finished work. Then editors basically demand a list of changes to which an author more or less must acquiesce. This is because editors have slowly been pressured to turnaround books as quickly as possible to maximize profit.
The answer the market came up with at the time was to outsource development to agents who then receive a kickback when they sell the book to an editor. But now agents are experiencing the same pressures. Now, in order to get that same level of feedback, authors are expected to either provide free labor without industry knowledge or pay an indie editor out of pocket.
The Rising Tide of Competition
Everyone wants to write the great next novel. There’s a reason why it is a bonus in The Game of Life. But it wasn’t always possible for everyone to try. In the past 50 years, literacy rates have risen through the roof. This creates more opportunities for writers purely on the basis that more people can read. But three other big barriers to entry have slowly disappeared: tools, time, and access.
With the democratization of word processing technology, it’s often an automatic expectation that everyone has the capability to write a book. The same goes for access, as anyone with an internet connection now has the ability to contact an agent whereas before a prospective author needed connections or the availability to travel in order to seek an agent for their work. Time, however, has been a unique opportunity no one saw coming. Amid a global pandemic, all of us were ushered into our homes full of these technologies, and many suddenly found themselves with fewer commitments impeding on their writing time. Writers wrote more, and newbies finally could take a stab at it.
The Burnout of Agents and Editors
As we’ve already discussed, agents and editors have been experiencing slowly increased pressure to perform. Slowly, they have been expected to produce more with their time as their compensation has grown less desirable and the pressures to provide free labor in reading off the clock have grown. Not only that, the growth in sophistication of the average reader has also created pressures to produce work to a higher standard than ever before. (And we’re grateful for it!)
As the pandemic created even more pressure, confusion, and uncertainty, more experienced editors and agents chose to retire earlier than previously anticipated. And instead of replacing these positions, many publishers have chosen to reduce headcount instead and redistribute the workload to their other existing teams. With each agent and editor with an extra heavy workload, there have been fewer opportunities to extend offers to debut authors.
Okay, But What Now?
If you’re an author who is committed to publishing traditionally, you’re probably reading this and thinking So uh, what am I supposed to do now to get published?
This is where Alexa and I differ somewhat. She is a believer that sticking to the tried-and-true method of working with critique partners. She suggests that, if you absolutely feel like you must have an independent editor, she suggests the only qualified professionals are those with experience at a publisher or agency.
In my opinion, that is survivor’s bias after being a debut author in the before times. This is a situation that won't be resolved quickly, and there are many things an indie editor can do to help you tip the scale your direction. The industry is different now, and you should be considering different tactics to find publishing success. That said, not all editors are going to be the right fit. Here are our tips for finding a good one:
Avoid Scams
With the rise of more competition and the likelihood of authors paying for editorial work comes the rise of the scam artist. Who is surprised, really? To protect yourself, make sure you don’t hand your money over to an editor until you’re certain the level of service you’ll receive. One of the best ways to do this is to request an editing sample. We do it for our clients all the time.
Be Clear with Your Goals from the Beginning
If you’re wanting to traditionally publish, make sure you say that right away. If you’re wanting help with word choice and flow and not plot and characters, make sure the level of editing you’re asking for is commensurate with those plans. And please always feel free to ask questions! Anyone who discourages them is hiding.
Ask Prospective Editors for Their Opinions
One of the best questions I’ve ever been asked during an initial meeting is “What can you do that will make this piece better than what I’ve put already into it?” While I was surprised by it at the time, the truth is the author deserves to know before they make financial investment with an editor. For me at the time, the answer was to do a low-cost beta read before digging into a larger editorial project. For others, the answer is based on those goals mentioned previously.
Find an Editor who Respects Your Time and Money
We’ve heard it a million times. Authors will go for a low-cost editor and then come back with an inferior edit with little insight. You pay for what you get. But there’s a limit to that as well. Well-qualified editors will have a best-case-scenario suggestion of editorial project for how to improve your narrative, but great ones will understand your budget and have tips for how to cut costs too.
Querying has always sucked, but it really does seem to suck more than usual right now. If you’re still wanting to work toward traditional publishing, hiring an indie editor can be one way to make it suck less. At least for us, we’re here to be a sounding board and cheerleader as you move forward editing and querying. We’ve got your back, and we’re here to help when you get strange feedback or are considering a new direction.
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