Dear Writers that want to be published:

 I subscribe to several publishing industry newsletters and journals.  One of the newsletters I get, The Main Street Rag Monthly, struck a bit of a nerve with me as I was reading it.  The editor shared a not uncommon incident that happened at a recent book fair.

 In my booth, I had nearly five times as many people try to sell me on the idea of publishing their book as there were people who bought or, for that matter, even picked up one of our books to look at.

Two things that stick in my mind:  (1) Of the folks who were there hustling me to publish their book, I don't recall a single one buying anything from us and most looked as though they hadn't bought anything from anyone else, either. (2) A friend of one of the authors we had signing at our table came running up and when my author did the Vanna White pivot to show her friend her newly released book, the woman put on the brakes and raised her hands palms forward as if to ward off an unfriendly dog and said, "Oh, no, I promised myself when I walked in here that I wasn't going to buy any books." That's a quote folks.

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I wouldn't be mentioning it if it was just this one event, but it's the same at every one I've attended in the past 2 years. Too few wanting to buy and read the books on display; too many looking to get published. We in the small press have to make decisions based on these circumstances.

 A-FRIGGIN-MEN, brother. Amen.

 I operate a micro press.  We work on a tight budget.  Now I don't do this expecting to get rich.  In fact, more often than not I reach into my own pocket to make sure I am paying my writers and artists.  There are enough so called "publishers" out there that expect writers and artists to work for free in exchange for "exposure."  What the hell good is "exposure" if nobody is buying anything anyway?  So I start this journal, and I make it a point to pay at least semi-pro rates when we buy a story, even though I know the journal is not going to make a profit.  I KNOW THIS.  But I made a commitment to my fellow writers that I was going to support them.  I made a commitment to provide a paying venue to showcase their work.  Because I know such venues are disappearing.

 I get two to five unsolicited FULL MANUSCRIPTS each week from writers wanting me to publish their books.  We aren't even reading full manuscripts, but they want me to "take a chance" on them because they "know" their book will be a bestseller.  I ask, how the hell do you know that?  How many Bards and Sages titles have you read to even know what type of books we publish?  I often ask them how they come across us, and I get the answer that they just found the website and their book "seemed like a good fit?"  Based off of looking at my website?  Did you actually READ anything on the website? 

 And then I get the people who won't submit stories for the journal unless I'm willing to negotiate my rates.  I pay 1 cent/word.  The journal is distributed for free in electronic format and we sell print subscriptions.  Exactly how much do you THINK I should be paying per word?  I'm working at a net loss to produce this journal and you want more money for your "masterpiece" that I haven't even seen yet?  Good luck.  I hear Harper Collins is buying short stories...not.

 Writers bitch that publishers only want to publish bestsellers. Well, DUH!  Brilliant observation there.  Maybe the big publishing houses are getting rich because they have the industry tied up.  But we small presses and micro publishers that actually are publishing the experimental, niche stuff that you are writing?  We're struggling.  We're struggling because for every one person that actually buys something we've got five that want to sell us something but have no interest in buying books. 

 You want publishers to "take a chance" on you?  How about taking a chance on us?  How about showing a little support to the publishers that are publishing the type of stuff you want to sell?  I'm not saying buy every book we put out.  That's unreasonable. 

But maybe instead of buying the "bestsellers" that you love to bitch about but buy anyway, pick up an indie press book instead.  If you are only buying books from the major publishers, you my friend are part of the problem you are complaining about!

 And if you can't afford to buy a lot of books, be a cheerleader for your favorite publisher and support them.  Write book reviews of the books you HAVE read and enjoyed.  Go to your local library and ask them to buy a particular book for their collection.  Ask local bookstores if they are going to carry a certain book.  Enough people make requests and show interest, a bookstore might start stocking books from your favorite micro publisher.

 Sign up for their newsletter.  A lot of micro presses supplement their income with google ads, Amazon affiliate links, etc on their websites.  Maybe click a few, or when you are shopping at Amazon do so through your favorite publisher's affiliate store.  Tell your friends about books that they might be interested in. 

 The thing is, those of us in the small press industry do this because we love literature.  We don't expect to become independently wealthy, but we do like to at least break even.  If you want a thriving marketplace that is willing to take risks on experimental, niche, or untested works, YOU need to help create it.