By Jodie Cain Smith
As an author who wants to sell books, I occasionally deal
with the public. At a recent signing,
attendance was so poor the “public” I dealt with for most of my allotted time
was made up of the other two authors present. We shared a table so I couldn’t
run away, even as some of the dumbest comments on publishing ever flew from their
mouths. Nope, I’m not as sweet as I look, but at least my filter works.
Author 1: “I double-spaced my book. It’s been a hit
with the senior set.”
My silent response as I thumb through the pages of the
“Christian Thriller” in question: I have
never read or heard anyone in the publishing industry recommend double-spacing
a novel. Large print is an option, but costly, and the line lead varies from
book to book and publisher to publisher, but this thing is printed in 16pt font
and double-spaced. It’s gigantic! I
could render someone unconscious with a book this thick. And what the heck is a
“Christian Thriller?” Smile and nod,
Jodie. Smile and nod. (If you are unaware as I was, Christian Thriller is
an actual sub-genre on Amazon. Thank you, Google.)
Author 2: “Why did you use a traditional publisher? I
don’t want to share my money.”
I responded, “Because I wanted to, and I couldn’t afford to
hire an editor.” My inner diva begged me to say, “Watch that tone, Lady. And
what’s with the snarl? I hope your face sticks that way.”
Author 1, joining
in: “Oh, I didn’t use an editor. I
wanted to see what I could do by myself. Sure, there are mistakes and quirks,
but that’s what makes my book unique.”
My inner monologue:
Don’t laugh. Don’t bang my face against the table. Don’t pick up this
guy’s “Christian Thriller” and bonk him on the head with it.
Instead I said, simply,
“I love editors.”
Author 2, later: “According to my publishing agreement, I had
to buy 1,000 copies of my book, so now I have a good stock of books in my
garage. You really should consider self-publishing.”
More smiling. More nodding. More screaming from my inner diva: Are
you kidding me? You didn’t self-publish. You vanity published! And who on Earth
is going to buy 1,000 copies of your book out of your garage? Good job with
that whole not-sharing-your-money thing.
Toward the end of our time together, I asked my tablemates
if they are members of the South Carolina Writers’ Workshop. They both nodded
“no.” Then Mr. Double-space proposed the following question:
“I mean, what could a
writer’s group actually do for me?”
“My chapter, Columbia II, makes me a better writer,” I told
him. “They are my first-line defense against bad writing.”
“That wouldn’t work for me. I don’t need other people
judging my stuff,” Author 1 told me while straightening his unsold stack of
books.
I smiled. I nodded. Then I turned forward in my seat and
stared at my own untouched stack. No more
talkie-talkie. Let’s play the quiet game.
5 comments:
Oh my Lord, Jodie, but I'm laughing and rolling my eyes at those two "writers." Lord have mercy!
I think you handled the situation with class and a little sass and that's what I love about you.
I have shared signing table with those types of writers and I had to admit, but I always resent being
lumped with them. I want to grab my stack and move.
Thanks for shedding light on this.
You have to love the guy who doesn't want his work "judged." Isn't that what the readers do???? ��
That was really good--too bad it was an act of non-fiction.
I give you a lot of credit for not blowing up, especially since no one else was around.
My favorite is “Oh, I didn’t use an editor. I wanted to see what I could do by myself. Sure, there are mistakes and quirks, but that’s what makes my book unique.”
Love your witty and unflappable response to such authors. The opportunity to self-publish, a valuable resource to writers, has nonetheless diminished the respectability of the word "author."
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