tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post8189587273189950782..comments2023-09-29T05:32:04.308-07:00Comments on StrangePegs: You're a Hitter, Now!Andrew Leonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-84214693960239921512014-03-18T22:09:02.058-07:002014-03-18T22:09:02.058-07:00Briane: I have not forgotten that about traditiona...Briane: I have not forgotten that about traditional publishing. What I think writers forget is that the goal of traditional publishing is to make money for the publishers, not the writers. That's why writers end up in the subservient role there, not able to make decisions about their own work. <br />And that analogy extends to baseball as well. In professional baseball, the players are there to make the owners of the team money, not the other way around.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-37287306263084552812014-03-18T15:39:56.752-07:002014-03-18T15:39:56.752-07:00What an awesome analogy.
The thing people forget ...What an awesome analogy.<br /><br />The thing people forget about traditional publishing is that it's a moneymaking business, not an artistic business.<br /><br />To make money at something like music, movies, writing, publishing, you've got to convince people to buy what you have to sell, the same as McDonald's or Burger King. And look what they do: cram junk food down our throats (look, I love McDonald's cheeseburgers but I know how bad they are for us) and copy each other. <br /><br />Another way is to convince people that what you have is what they want. I remember reading an article about movie ads that talked about how execs could almost predict how many people would see a movie on opening weekend based on how many ad buys they made in the 2 weeks before. They just push it and push it and then we think "oh, we have to buy it."<br /><br />Books by Paris and Snooki and Sarah Palin exist because they have a built-in market. They are the McRibs of the book industry: awful, derided, laughable, and eaten up by the people who love them. They keep publishing houses alive the way tentpole movies like The Avengers make studios profitable. So to an extent, they make possible the finding of smaller authors whose books would not ordinarily merit any kind of big publishing deal, and to that extent, while I find them annoying, I understand why they exist.<br /><br />So your analogy of publishing to a sort of pick-up softball game is pretty apt: it's actually more like Major League Baseball's relationship to all those semipro leagues around the country where kids can play for nothing and hope to get picked up by a farm system of a major team. Those leagues have their fans and their championships and lots of people can get into them, but they never quite have the cache of the majors.<br /><br />I like the idea that our team is more open and anyone can join and be welcomed with open arms, and hope to make it big. Now, we have to convince people that our kind of softball is worth watching.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11618883288780393195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-5916613697190190292014-03-18T11:43:58.402-07:002014-03-18T11:43:58.402-07:00Jessica: At the kid level, teams should be more ba...Jessica: At the kid level, teams should be more balanced. It's just no fun to be playing in a league where one coach made sure he got all the "good" kids. (Until you beat them in the playoffs, which my girl's team did the first year she played.)<br /><br />Maurice: I tell my daughter that every time she goes to bat; she always responds, "I can't hit it that far, Dad," and I say, "Yeah, but keep trying and one day you will."Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-83214495241777728352014-03-18T07:40:27.019-07:002014-03-18T07:40:27.019-07:00This is the key to confidence Andrew. Knowing you&...This is the key to confidence Andrew. Knowing you'll hit it and aiming for the fences. Good advice.Maurice Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15338165486757095191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-44597286909371987902014-03-18T05:55:48.260-07:002014-03-18T05:55:48.260-07:00Yep, I also read it as "Hitler" by mista...Yep, I also read it as "Hitler" by mistake.<br /><br />Spring baseball season kicks off this weekend for us. On top of the current season, decisions about summer teams are being made. The politics that go into having kids try-out to gain placement on different summer teams is...frustrating. I feel like those decisions and placements can affect the players' self-esteem and performance during the spring season. The kids are so in love with the sport and they just want to play, and the adults are weeding them into different groups and abilities...it's hard to watch as a parent. Even if your kid makes an "elite" team, they often don't get playing time, which was kind of the point in the first place. Good post. Jessica Lawsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08916560941871741885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-28323598898947565332014-03-17T19:56:49.646-07:002014-03-17T19:56:49.646-07:00Jeanne: Actually, yes, it's very like that.
T...Jeanne: Actually, yes, it's very like that.<br /><br />TAS: I think it's here. I mean, where I am, it is.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-57728351259961284462014-03-17T18:56:08.265-07:002014-03-17T18:56:08.265-07:00Nice analogy.
Softball... that means spring is co...Nice analogy.<br /><br />Softball... that means spring is coming soon, right?The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-72912727999023252092014-03-17T15:46:06.723-07:002014-03-17T15:46:06.723-07:00Is it like one of those sports movies where all th...Is it like one of those sports movies where all the kids that were cut from the team get together and form their own team and beat the team that cut them? Because I could get in on that.J E Oneilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09780097298061829471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-64338835883164791242014-03-17T15:39:11.570-07:002014-03-17T15:39:11.570-07:00Jo: And there's an awful lot of crap coming ou...Jo: And there's an awful lot of crap coming out of the traditional market. In the last couple of years, some of the worst edited books I've seen were traditionally published.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-79760168771959558902014-03-17T15:09:30.833-07:002014-03-17T15:09:30.833-07:00Only problem is, there is an awful lot of crap get...Only problem is, there is an awful lot of crap getting onto the indie market. Even if it's only crap because it's badly edited, or proofed, or something. Although that is not the only case.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087140585742801854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-90646350680851848012014-03-17T14:39:12.304-07:002014-03-17T14:39:12.304-07:00Lee: Well, sure, there is a certain amount of (fal...Lee: Well, sure, there is a certain amount of (false) prestige in being able to say "I'm published by " and some people really want that. I get it. But a baseball player is much more quantifiable than a writer. Not entirely so but more so.<br /><br />randi: Glad you liked it. Thanks for stopping by.<br /><br />Tina: I don't think indie will take over, but it certainly is going to become an actual, recognized thing, just like indie music. There will always (probably) be room for the big publishers, at least as long as physical books are still being made, because they still have a better capacity to produce books in large numbers. However, as the production physical books continues to dwindle, they may become more of a nostalgia thing. I guess, at that point, indie will have taken over.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-48390085387547888642014-03-17T14:08:41.027-07:002014-03-17T14:08:41.027-07:00Oh Andrew, how I love your analogies. And math. ...Oh Andrew, how I love your analogies. And math. And that you mentioned me. And math. In the same sentence.<br />Yes, being told you can't play is devastating. You just have to go join a different team where everyone can play. Some are good, some are bad, some are awful, and some are just plain fantastic. I think indie is going to take over. Personal prediction. <br />I want to be a hitter...<br />Tina @ <a href="http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Life is Good</a><br />A to Z Team @ <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com" rel="nofollow">Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2014</a>Tinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08925730745204736744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-5362875739916722622014-03-17T13:51:08.392-07:002014-03-17T13:51:08.392-07:00Agree with the others: great analogy! Very much en...Agree with the others: great analogy! Very much enjoyed this post.randi leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14207001299508931034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-29627863494986254912014-03-17T13:12:13.850-07:002014-03-17T13:12:13.850-07:00Count me in with the "Hitler" crowd--I m...Count me in with the "Hitler" crowd--I mean thinking I saw it.<br /><br />Interesting bit of math and nice analogy. I might also compare it to playing pro ball as opposed to being on a college team or some amateur league. You might picked up by a major league team or even a minor league team and you could mostly sit on the bench or have little significance in any games. But there is a prestige involved. <br /><br />I'd say the dream of most school ball players or amateurs would be to get spotted and recruited for a professional paying ball team job. To be in the industry that you love you might not be a big player but you're at least in the league with the big guys. And there's always that chance.<br /><br />I wonder what the numbers are of people who have written "a book" that never saw any kind of publishing. <br /><br />Lee<br /><a href="http://wrotebyrote.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Wrote By Rote</a><br />An A to Z Co-host blog<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-58290180492689681312014-03-17T12:36:25.628-07:002014-03-17T12:36:25.628-07:00L.G.: Honestly, I would have no issue with the tra...L.G.: Honestly, I would have no issue with the traditional publishing industry if they weren't always trying to hide the facts of what's going on. And continuing with their belittling of anyone published outside of them. And, well, if you have some pros of traditional publishing, pros that still exist, I'm willing to listen.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-58974662235276597392014-03-17T12:13:47.452-07:002014-03-17T12:13:47.452-07:00It's true that anyone who hits "publish&q...It's true that anyone who hits "publish" these days is a published author. I don't quite understand all the vitriol back and forth between the Indies and the Traditionalists. There are pros and cons to each, it seems to me. Luanne G. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15762881276976395955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-76531008986160697552014-03-17T11:57:28.473-07:002014-03-17T11:57:28.473-07:00To Everyone: I wrote the title and knew what it sa...To Everyone: I wrote the title and knew what it said, and I still saw Hitler a couple of times while I was working on it. Had one of those, "Oh, crap!" moments where I thought I'd actually typed in "Hitler." I am not sure what that says about all of us.<br /><br />Alex C: That's true. It's actually cool to be an indie musician, but indie authors are still being vilified.<br /><br />Alex H: Well, awesome. Thanks! And glad you liked it.<br /><br />ABftS: Yeah, no kidding. That's like, "Please step to the end of the line."<br />And that sucks about your fridge.<br /><br />Pat: I agree with you in theory, but I don't think "people" agree with you. Those same people are buying the Snooki stuff and still tend to think, overall, that traditional publishers are doing their "jobs."<br /><br />Elsie: Yes, that makes sense. And, yes, that's correct.<br /><br />Michael: I have no other comment than the disclaimer I made above.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-18259587163552577202014-03-17T10:43:26.248-07:002014-03-17T10:43:26.248-07:00I also got confused and saw the "Hitler"...I also got confused and saw the "Hitler" word first. Weird how my eyes play tricks on me like that.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-82412608733849184092014-03-17T07:59:13.705-07:002014-03-17T07:59:13.705-07:00I'm glad Bryan saw the Hitler thing too. Whew...I'm glad Bryan saw the Hitler thing too. Whew!<br /><br />This was a great analogy, Andrew. You're right, you have to get up to bat in order to see if you'll hit the ball. Keeping writers out of the arena means potentially never being able to read their work. Just because one person says an author's book isn't good enough, doesn't mean it's true. That's just one publishers opinion.<br /><br />(I hope that makes sense, I'm typing with a migraine.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-60016954883899923822014-03-17T07:21:58.750-07:002014-03-17T07:21:58.750-07:00Traditional publishing lost its credibility at pic...Traditional publishing lost its credibility at picking "the best" when A) They bought up indie authors like Hugh Howey and Amanda Hocking and B) They published "authors" like Snooki or Paris Hilton. A means they do obviously make mistakes and B means they care more about the bottom line than quality.PT Dillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394481476862013009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-3763665616711681042014-03-17T07:10:27.818-07:002014-03-17T07:10:27.818-07:00When I first saw this in my Facebook feed I though...When I first saw this in my Facebook feed I thought it said "You're a Hitler now!"<br /><br />Let's also not forget that those who are in traditional publishing get this: "Um, you might be able to bat for us. Maybe. Let me get back to you in 6 months." 6 months later: "We liked your batting sample. Can you please send us a full batting demonstration? Great, we'll get back to you in another 6 months."<br /><br />Not having to wait around forever just for someone to say our story is great but it's too unique and therefore too hard to sell is such a huge weight off both of our shoulders.<br /><br />(Oh, and expect an e-mail this week. My fridge 'sploded so I've been dealing with that)A Beer for the Showerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17029139745335325356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-31695176665962024422014-03-17T04:02:31.089-07:002014-03-17T04:02:31.089-07:00I really enjoyed this post, Andrew. Very nice anal...I really enjoyed this post, Andrew. Very nice analogy. There are a few people that I think would enjoy it, so I'm going to send it their way. :)Alex Hursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05556334141936498897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-72822582349378160372014-03-17T03:39:58.768-07:002014-03-17T03:39:58.768-07:00Keeping kids off the field. That is a good analogy...Keeping kids off the field. That is a good analogy. <br />If you think about it, writing is one of the few art forms that still draw the line. Want to be in a band? You can can play small venues and pull together enough money to do your own record. And it's acceptable. Independent labels have been around for years.<br />Damn, I really should've started this music thing much sooner...Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com