Survey Update on Digital Buying Trends - The numbers!

Here are the results from the survey we ran a couple of days ago. I do some of the responses came back with a split that seemed a bit larger than I had expected.

Do you own a digital reading device?

• Yes 83.3%
• No 16.6%

If given a choice and the price was the same would you buy a digital or a print book?

• Digital 36.1%
• Print 63.9%

If given a choice would you prefer to buy your book online or in an actual book store?

• Online 50%
• Bookstore 50%

Has the cost of books changed the format you buy your books in?

• Yes 47.2%
• No 52.8%

First of all, I know that surveys only function as a snapshot and have some limitations. Still, as I pointed out, I found some of the numbers a bit telling!

The simple fact that we have such a high percentage of people with digital reading devices, and yet, if given a choice, they aren't going to go with the digital book is fairly interesting. I have said this before. When I sit at swim meets and scan the stands of parents waiting for their kids to swim, they are always on their iPads and other digital devices, and yet, very few are using the device for reading. Games, movies, Facebook and emails seem to be the standard activity.

I do believe, for me, the one question that stands out the most is the fact that 2/3 of the respondents are telling us that they prefer the print books. They want that hard copy (or paperback) in their hands. And yet, how often do we hear publishers going on and on about how many people really want their books digitally. Is this really the case?

Just something to consider for the weekend!

Do You Have A Plan "B"??

It's Friday so I am keeping it short today! Still, I think there is a lot we can do with this small point.

I know there are a lot of authors out there that get the same way I do. When I dive into a project that I am really connected with, I put blinders on. I can't see anything else other than that single project and I need it that way. This is how I keep my focus and how I keep moving. There are a lot of benefits to this. Unfortunately, as writers, this might not always be the best strategy to take. 

I see far too many authors who have devoted so much time and energy toward that one project, or that one series, that they don't consider what would happen if that project didn't work out well. In other words, the author simply didn't have a Plan B to fall back on. Now, instead of moving forward, the author is stuck for while just to get the ball rolling again and to get the career moving forward.

Publishing is a business that is always changing. Just when you think you know where things are going to, the industry shifts and, unless you have that Plan B, you might be stuck going one way when the rest of the world goes the other direction. Not a place you want to be.

Many of my writers have different projects in the fire at one time. No, this does not mean they are writing different projects at one time. It simply means they have projects ready to go and at different phases of the process. Some are starts of stories and some are plans of new projects. Some are in genres they are not currently working in. The point is, they are ready for a change, should the need arise.

Do you have a Plan B?

Buying Trends Of Readers

I was sitting with the dance moms at my daughter's recital this last weekend and we were talking about books. Again, I heard the same comments I continue to hear time and time again:

• "I love the feel of a book in my hands when I read."
• "Sure, I'll get a book for my iPad but I really hate reading on the thing."
• "I really wish bookstores were back, I used to read so much more."
• "I can't even figure out the darn reading apps."

I am always hearing comments like this. And yet, daily we are bombarded here on the Internet with articles and blog posts showing "supposedly" more people wanting to move to a digital books. We hear publishing professionals proclaim in business meetings, write articles for magazine and sit on conference panels that "readers really do want to see more things digitally."

But on the streets, I keep hearing otherwise.

I even hear from writers who will tell me they love books in the traditional format.

Yes, we know brick and mortar stores disappeared, and now, it seems much of the reason for this shift was not so much the book buying trends but the bad business models some of the stores used. Many of these stores forgot they were a book seller and attempted to do much more.

So I thought I would try something. I will tell you, this will only work if we get some feedback from you.

What I am asking is to do a little survey for me. At the same time, ask all those around you what book format they really prefer. Take out the cost factor. Take out the fact that they might be forced to use Amazon because their bookstore shut down. Let's just focus on the book buying trends.

I also have a 4 questions survey you can take that would help us out! Forward this link to your friends. As we all know, the more numbers we get, the more accurate the results will be.

SURVEY LINK! (Now that the survey is done, I have removed the link! Thank you to those who responded!)

Honestly, I would love to know this. 

What Genre Is Your Story?

Publishing and selling books well is about product placement. This is especially true today when so many people are buying their books online (either in print or digitally). Readers have to be able to find your book! To do so, the book sellers have to be able to identify what genre your book really falls into.

I do think far too many authors struggle with this. Writer's Digest re-tweeted an article I did with them on understanding Women's Fiction and one author Tweeted me directly wondering how an author would classify his or her work if it fell into both categories.

It is important to realize that many genres have sub-categories. For example, we have romantic suspense, historical romance, YA fantasy and so forth. This does not mean, however that the story will be marketed as both of the genres. The book sellers will look to the major force within the story and use that as the basis. What I told the author was the same thing. Look to the main story arc.

If you look at your current story and try to figure out how you would market it, focus in on the one story arc that runs through the entire story. It is that simple. For example, is the central focus:

• the relationship toward the happily ever after? Then it is a romance!
• the understanding of what it is to be a mother in the hectic modern world? Then it is probably a women's fiction.
• the in depth study of a historical couple from European history? Then it is a historical.

I do think too many authors try to make this harder than it is. Keeping it simple will certainly make marketing your book to agents and editors so much more productive and successful!

Why Live Pitches Are Better Than Queries

I will begin by saying that I am probably in the minority here when it comes to other agents and editors. Time and time again, I hear my colleagues say they truly hate the concept of pitching. The time constraint, the pressure for the writing, and probably the real reason, the fear of the editor or agent being forced to say no to an author. I am one, however, that believes the live pitch session is one of the best approaches.

First of all, let me set a few things straight here. Yes, the book you are pitching is the central focus. I get that! I know that even if you have a great pitch with me, the story itself may completely fall apart when I finally get it into my hands.

Let me also say that I get why editors and agents don't like the pitch. 8-10 minutes is tough to sell someone on a book. I also get that we see far too many people pitching stories that need to spend much more time on their craft before they come to an editor or an agent. I get that sitting in these sessions can be pretty tiring! I am not going to deny that.

But... what we can get from that pitch session is much more, and it is this added "stuff" I am looking at when listening to pitches.

As an agent, I want to work with an author for the long haul. I am not looking for some one-hit-wonder. For this reason, the book being pitched is really just the starting point for our discussion. We want to look toward the future. When I am talking to an author during that pitch session, I am thinking about whether or not this business relationship is right for either of us. Are we thinking the same way? Are we seeing the vision of the future the same way?

Let's take a 10 minute pitch session and break it down as to what I am looking for.

Minute 1 - Introductions and niceties. "So how are you enjoying the conference?"
Minute 2-3 - So tell me the basics about your book. This will include the title, genre and word count. At this point, I am getting a sense of the professionalism and the readiness of the author. Is this person already pulling out there scripted speech? Have they already started shoving a business card in my hand so I can call them with an offer? I will also add here that since I already know what genres I acquire and what things I am looking for in each story premise, this part should go pretty quick!
Minute 4-5 We are fleshing out the story now. At this point, we want to see if the story they started with is really matching up with what the story is really about. We'll ask questions about goals, motivations and conflicts. The idea here is to see how much the author really knows about the craft or if the author is still at that elementary level of writing. At this point, even if the story has potential, I am thinking about how much work this author will take to "get ready to play in the majors."
Minute 6-8 Now we move on to the future. What other stories does this author have? Where does this author see their writing in 5, 10 or 15 years? This is further telling me where this relationship will head to. This is also giving me a sense of how to market the books, where their real interest is at, and even who I might market the books to. It is amazing, but in this phase we often find out how far the book they are pitching really is in the writing process. I sometimes find out that the story isn't even done in this part.
Minute 9-10 We discuss what the author should send, collect any information we need to further the discussion or even discuss how the story could be improved should I say no. I should note, sometimes this process begins around minute 6 or so.

I think the one thing to understand here is something I have mentioned here before. Deb Werksman, of Source Books has often said she doesn't sign a book but she signs an author. That's what the pitch session does. We are looking at you as a professional writer now. We are putting a face to a story now.

I will also say, this is something I love about going to conferences and meeting authors. I people watch. In look around those rooms and I listen in around the hallways to the authors that really have it! I see those people who have the potential and those that don't have it. I see the authors that are composed of nothing but "smoke and mirrors." If I were simply reading a submission, I might not see that. Along the same lines, you don't get a chance to see me an an agent either. You're simply relying on what you read here and what you "hear" on the loops.

The problem we have with those written pitches is that we aren't really seeing who you are as a person. You have run that query letter though so many critique circles that we are not really seeing what the story is truly about. Essentially, we are seeing the story as you "want us to see it" and not what the story really is. This is part of the reason why you hear of so many stories getting rejected. The premise looked great but the writing really wasn't that story.

I do find it a shame that so many editors and agents don't want to participate in pitches. I find it a shame that so many editors and agents just tell the authors to "send me something" even if they are already starting to make decisions. I find it a shame that we aren't using this block of time to really get to know the authors. I, for one, will continue to do pitches. I, for one, will continue to sign authors I meet at conferences (which I have done a lot of). There is just too much we lose if we don't have these sessions.