Selective Ignorance

For some of us, it's true that ignorance is bliss. In this day and age, when you can't avoid information if you try, that statement seems like heresy. After reading Donna's and Dana's blogs, I've been thinking hard about the business side of the book industry, and I've been thinking about how stupid I sometimes feel when I talk to other writers.

These writers are completely informed about their situation. They know how many copies of their books were printed, what the cover price is, how many titles each Barnes and Noble has ordered, which Borders sold the most copies of their previous book, and how many more units they've sold than their closest competitor. They know the numbers on their returns; they know how many more (or less) returns they had with their previous title. And there's so much more to know! Yet these writers seem to know it all.

It's very good to be informed about this side of this industry, and I also believe that if you're going into the book business, you really can't be too informed. There are lots of terms you need to understand, and lots of different kinds of publishers . . . well, you can't say "to choose from." You pretty much have to say, "by which you may be chosen."

I achieved success the good old-fashioned way -- by which I mean, the bad and ill-informed way. I didn't think about the numbers. This is a luxury a lot of writers can't afford. I was fortunate in that my husband had a good job, so we weren't going to starve if my book didn't sell. I know many writers are not in the position of having a spouse who makes a good salary, and my hat is off to them. I also want to make it clear that I think there huge holes in my method, and something too Scarlett O'Hara for words.

I simply didn't think about how many books I had sold. I tried every time to make the next book better than the previous one, and I knew when a series was failing I had to think of another one. I knew when my publisher was going to drop me, before my publisher ever told me that was going to happen. (Sure, this can happen. Some editors are so reluctant to tell you the bad news that they simply never do. You just don't ever hear from them again.)

I thought about the work, not the economics of the work. And eventually, I got to a good place.

I'm not advocating this approach. In fact, I think I'm pretty awful for confessing this publicly. I got away with such an attitude because (a) I have a great agent, and (b) I have a trustworthy agent. Also, did I mention I've had the same agent for at least eighteen years? During those years, he has had many long conversations with me about percentages and returns and sell-throughs, and I suspect he knew damn well that I wasn't listening to a word he said. From my point of view, since he already seemed worried enough for both of us, I didn't have to share the burden of it. (Joshua, if you're reading this, I apologize. What? I didn't quite catch that? Sorry.)

But along with mycavalier attitude towards most figures, there were some I paid sharp attention to, and that was the dollars and cents. As in any industry, that's the basis of almost all decisions.

What's the conclusion I'm fumbling toward? It's certainly not that I think anyone else should follow my attitude of selective ignorance. It's certainly not that it's to anyone's advantage to be uninformed about the basis for the decisions that affect your career. I believe the bottom line is that you, as a writer, should not be so wrapped up in the minutiae of the the industry that you forget its main requirement; that you write an excellent book. Sure, you need to search for an agent (which can be like going on eharmony or match.com, from the stories my friends tell me). Finding that agent needs to be your second priority.

But the first priority is to write the best book you can. 

Comments

[Will Bereswill]

Charlaine, I once thought that writers write and that was all there was to it. With my first novel about to be released by a small press, I've learned how naive I was.

I have a fairly demanding day job, so writing is a second career for me. And now knowing how much time needs to go into promotion, etc. I wonder where the time will come to complete my 2nd book (in progress).

It's a daunting task to stay focused on the writing.

[danacmrn]

The industry surely is changing, Charlaine, and it's becoming a steeper and steeper learning curve. It's tough to keep informed about the business side of things while crafting the best book you can. While a writer needs to be responsible about the biz, a good agent makes a huge difference to sides of the job. And I agree: the first thing is to write the best book you are capable of.

[Charlaine Harris]

Will, I sympathize, having been there once upon a time.
Dana, there's so much more to know now; there's so much more information available about the business, and it's not that hard to find for anyone. It's pretty daunting to stay on top of all the numbers and still write well, without being consumed by worry. I am pretty lopsided, and I find I simply can't do both.
Charlaine

[Rachelle]

As the femmes fatales, i choose for you Mary Saums.

Thanks for your blog !