More Responses to YOUR responses

First, let me express my thanks again for the dialogue on this series on publishing. You've all made me think, challenged, me, and even made me laugh. I appreciate you!

In my last entry, I responded to about half of those who left comments on my 11/18 post. Here are my thoughts for the rest...

Mary Kay, I hear your frustration with editors and publishers being hesitant to take on a book dealing with deep issues, such as family violence or rape. I've turned some of those books down myself. But not for the reasons you may think. It's not because I, or my publisher, was afraid of the topic. It's that there wasn't anything, either in the treatment or voice, that presented the topic in a new or powerful way. If I'm going to put a book out there to help people facing such horrific things in their lives, I need to offer them something more than what's been said before. I'm not saying your books don't do that, I'm just saying there's a lot more that goes into deciding what we will and won't publish than sticking with the tried and true. I'll explore that more in a future post. You are right, though, that we all need to be talking about the books that have struck a chord within us. In fact, if any of you would like to list such books in the comment section, please do so.

Becky, I hear your concerns, but, to use your words, horrors if you think editors think that's what it's all about. I'm afraid my not taking the time to explain all of our conversation in the workshop gave you a wrong impression. The editors' comments on format weren't a mistaken direction at all. I specifically asked them what kinds of formats we need to use to reach new readers. We'd already discussed craft and content. Believe me, editors are deeply invested in both. And they spend a great deal of time evaluating the books that work and learning from them. They'd be foolish not to, and if there's one thing these folks aren't, it's foolish. The editors in Christian publishing are bright, passionate, and oftentimes just as frustrated as you are. I'm sorry if what I wrote in my blog gave you any other impression.

Kristi, I hear you, but publishing on the whole is faster, more demanding, and harder than ever before. You're right, you do have to earn back in 12 months; 18 at the most. None of us can afford the long-term scenario you posed, especially in light of the advances being demanded nowdays. And so few books earn back...ever. You'd be amazed how much money publishers have to write off EVERY YEAR from unearned advances. More on that later, too.

Jlo, I appreciate your thoughts. I have to say I wouldn't be willing to publish a book with the F-word in it. This is just my vote--and we all get one--but I don't believe there's any context in which that word or other violent obscenities can honor God. Even so, I respect your decision to keep it in. You're the author. The final call on content is yours. (Yes, you all can quote me on that!) And I respect a publishing house's decision to not acquire a book, whatever the reason. It's vitally important for publishers to hold fast to who they are, and for books to find the right fit in a publisher. There are a number of manuscripts I loved, but knew, for whatever reason, that the books wouldn't be a good fit for my house. So the best thing I could do for the author was to let the book go.

Jamie, wonderful illustration and reminder. We can dialogue and brainstorm and wring our hands ad nauseum, and not accomplish a thing because we're trying to do it all ourselves. We've GOT to remember Who is in control, and do our best to serve Him in whatever role we have.Work hard, but rest in Him for the outcome.

Pammer, thank you, thank you for this: "as Christian publishers, we have to hold up to intense scrutiny. If we travel too closely to the world, why do we ask to be set apart? To be seen as separate or better? Because in a larger picture Christian fiction is still the new kid on the block and we are held to higher standards to prove ourselves." Absolutely right.

Marci, I could kiss you! Yes, yes, and yes. The retailers have a huge impact. They've been called the "gatekeepers" for a number of good reasons. Mostly, though, they are the ones in the trenches. They see, firsthand, the response of the readers. They hear the accolades; they bear the brunt of the angry reader slamming a book down on the counter and demanding an apology (and a refund). And with so many stores going under, the climate at Christian bookstores is, to say the least, tense. So yes, retailers and publishers and authors all need to be working together to find ways to do this whole publishing and selling books better. But even as I write that, I know we've all been trying. And I know the limited funds for making change. So what's the answer? Hmmm...watch for a future post to address this very thing!

Colleen, absolutely. As Pammer said, as Christians we're held to a higher standard. Not by the readers or retailers, but by the One who assigned us this task, be it writing or publishing. Writers need to express the range of life--the depth of darkness and the heights of light--without using the easy outs of graphic language, sexuality, violence, or preachiness. Publishers need to operate wisely and honorably.

Crystal, excellent points! Especially about these issues sometimes putting publishers and writers at odds with readers. Which is why the responsibility rests so heavy on the editors' shoulders to KNOW those readers and communicate who they are and what they want in a way the others in the house can hear and receive. I studied multiple languages in college (French for 12 years, Spanish for 4, Russian for 1), but none of that prepared me for speaking Sales', Marketing's, and Finance's languages. That's somethine editors need to learn. Well. And I'd encourage writers to learn them as well.

(BTW, Crystal, my hubby is an ISTJ, so I DO know where you're comin' from. And while I'm mostly Golden Retriever, I do think I have a smidge of Siberian in me, so no. I won't keep chasing the ball. In fact, you throw it too much and I'll sit there, looking at you with that, "You threw the ball. You want it, you go get it" expression I so often see in my Sibe's eyes.)

Again, wonderful comments all. Thank you so much for participating in this dialogue. You're helping me learn as we go, and I appreciate that a great deal. In fact, your thoughts and insights have convinced me to take this discussion back to my publishing house to see what they think of it all. So watch for thoughts from sales and marketing in my upcoming blog posts.

Peace to you all today.

Karen

Comments on Your WHO ARE YOU Comments

GREAT dialogue, all! You're giving me all kinds of confirmation and challenge for my next series of posts. In fact, there's so much in all you wrote that I wanted to give a few reactions/responses. I've split this into two posts, so if you don't see a comment on your response, not to worry. It'll be in the next blog post.

Photoqueen, Lynette, and C.J., concerns about sales are definitely a part of the equation. Okay, a BIG part. But not for the reason so many think. It's not about just making . It goes far deeper than that. I'll delve more into that in my next series of posts. And Kathy, I hear what you're saying, but the issue is more about fiscal responsibility than a comfortable bottom line. If publishers don't make a profit, they don't stay in business.

Lynn, I agree. Francine's books are the epitome of powerful fiction, Christian or otherwise. She delivers true-to-life stories with depth and TRUTH.

Nicole, most marketing teams really aren't ineffective. Every house I've worked at has had a cracker-jack team, B&H included. They've found ways to do great marketing with minimal funds. If you want to pinpoint a marketing problem, it's that: Minimal funds. I've said for a lot of years that the way publishing houses assign marketing dollars is backwards. Books selling like hotcakes don't need as much marketing. They're selling already! We need to put more substantial money behind new books to build them. And why do marketers get a way in anything? Because they know their segment of the market better than anyone. I WANT marketing on my team, helping make wise decisions. As for the chasm between pub boards and fiction readers, well...yes. But that's because it's not their job to be tuned in to those readers. It's the editors' job. We're the bridge for that chasm. With returns and refunds, though, you're right on the money. If a reader isn't sure s/he will like a book, pick it up at a library first. Retailers aren't lending books, they're selling them. And returns to publishers? Huge issue. Returns are killing some publishers...more on that later.

Kathleen and Courtney, great wisdom in this: build name brand trust, earn the right to take readers off the beaten path. That's what Francine did. By the time readers had finished her Mark of the Lion trilogy, they were ready to follow her anywhere. Gave her great freedom--and great responsibility--as a writer. Courtney, the beauty is that you can still let your voice come through loud and clear, even as you're building that trust in your readers. In fact, you need to do that. Because it's your voice, your true voice, that will touch hearts.

Tricia and Cara, absolutely. We need to spill our hearts, and do so in authentic, well crafted ways. It's not easy, but it's so worth it! Michelle, yes, we need to speak our readers' language, and to be vulnerable. It doesn't help anyone to write books that don't address real issues in real ways. And Kelli, you're right: publishers ARE doing all of that now. They are putting out wonderful, highly crafted books that deal with real issues in honest ways. And publishers definitely are taking more risks than ever before--maybe not as much as we'd like, but it is happening. And backlist? Oh, Kelli, RIGHT ON! Backlist is what sets the Christian market apart from the general market. Backlist keeps us alive. So are we doing all we could with it? Are we being wise and strategic? Wait for a future post to see!

Rel, contrary to what you might think, bad press doesn't put publishers off. Shoot, I've seen sales and marketing people tickled all shades of pink by bad press. After all, you know what they say: Bad publicity is still publicity. And if it stirs up some controversy, all the better, because that means more and more media outlets will pick up on it. But if bad press is accompanied by poor sales...well, that makes it especially hard to convince the finance folks it's worth the risk. So the key seems to be jumping on whatever publicity we get and making it work for us.

Well, I think this post is PLENTY long, so I'll save the rest for the next one.

Peace, all.

Karen

Who Are You? (pt. 3)

So, there we were, a room full of editing professionals, faced with the question of whether or not we liked--or respected--our end consumer: the reader.

Editors are a freaky bunch. They love to think and debate and share ideas and dissect and explore. Get a whole room of editors going and nothing is sacred. At the same time, everything is. At their core, editors recognize--and love--the power of words. Spoken, written, sung from the rooftops--words contain the power to create and cultivate, encourage and empower...or decimate and destroy. These particular editors also love God and His Word. So their drive is work on books that impact lives rather than books that just entertain.

So, what did they say, these learned, insightful, imaginative folks? At first, nothing. They stopped--really stopped--to consider the answer. Editors are great at pondering.

I am, of course, an editor. But I'm also a writer. And I'm an ENFP, which, according to the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator, means I'm basically a Golden Retriever. So no surprise I can't ponder long. Or let others do so. My mind always bounces to the next thing to explore, and I find that's often how you discover answers. So as they pondered I turned back to the white board and wrote: "Who is your audience?"

Responses flew:

• Predominately female
• Age range: 34-80s
• Over 40
• Conservative Faith/Evangelical
• Most likely Republican
• Mother
• Mostly stay at home
• Some professional people
• Men, but not a lot
• Usually women bought for the male readers
• Very few in 18-34 age range

From there the discussion morphed into how to reach our current audience better, as well as reaching those beyond:

• the 18-34 demographic
• those who aren't overtly Christian but interested in spiritual issues
• men
• Post-moderns
• ...and on and on.

Again, ideas flew. From using technology better and more strategically (e.g., e-books, book readers, online downloads), to reconsidering format (imaginative use of packaging, layout, content), to allowing for open-ended books (e.g., story isn't all wrapped up at the end, leave some questions unanswered). Ideas fairly sizzled through the room.

As I listened, I had--you guessed it--this incredible feeling of deja vu. I'd been in this very dialogue already this year. Twice, in fact. Once at a retreat attended by nearly 100 published authors. The second time at the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference. Editors, writers, even readers...we're all struggling with the same issues.

Now, don't hear me saying there isn't a place for books that primarily encourage and entertain. Books that don't ask hard questions, but give the reader a wonderful, wholesome story. I don't think the majority of us want to eliminate those books. Not at all.

But in all these conversations I heard the same frustration of being held back, of not being able to write with authenticity. I'll never agree that Christian fiction--or fiction written to glorify God--should contain graphic language, sexuality, or violence, but I understand the frustration. Writers, editors, and--from your responses--readers want fiction that digs deep, that challenges and pushes as well as comforts and encourages. All of us want to be iron sharpening iron.

So, you say, why don't you all follow Nike's admonition and JUST DO IT? What's holding us back?

Before I answer, I'm curious what you think the answers are. What do YOU think holds publishers, editors, and writers back from writing the kinds of books they want to do? The kinds of books many of you have said you want?

Look forward to your insights!

Karen

Infiltrating the Blogosphere

Since I'm traveling today, I couldn't get a whole blog written. But a writer friend of mine, Cara Putnam, was so interested in your comments for the last two posts that she let her blog followers know about what you all were saying, then posed the same questions to them. They had some great thoughts as well. It means so much to see how deeply all of you and others are thinking about this. Publishers need to know what you all are thinking!

See what folks are saying on the Nov. 14 post at Cara's blog. And look for a new post from me in the next few days.

Peace!

Karen

Who Are You? (pt. 2)

So what were the editors' answers to the question "What makes a Christian book Christian"? Some answered as follows:

• Written from a Christian world view
• Story offers hope
• Core of the story shows importance of faith in Christ

Similar to the things you all wrote in your comments (thought I think your responses went far deeper.) But I was also peppered with the following:

• It's safe
• It doesn't challenge the status quo
• It doesn't leave anything unsettled, everything's resolved
• Quality doesn't match that of ABA fiction
• Easy answers
• Doesn't make readers think
• Affirms readers beliefs and perspective
  

Notice a trend here? Now, before you get upset or think these folks are totally out of touch, let me point out that this view of the reader comes most often from what we hear from retailers rather than from the readers themselves. And, be honest now, there are some readers who fit those descriptions. But even more don't.

So listening to what was said, writing down their definitions on the white board, I came to a conclusion. I turned to those gathered and offered the following: "You really don't like this consumer much, do you?"

No response. But I could tell that, indeed, they weren't crazy about this person. This simplistic non-thinker who only wants books that offer a kind of pablum to the masses determined to hide in their safe churches and faith, never questioning, never facing real life.

Can't say I blame them, can you? I wouldn't care much for that kind of person, either. But here's the thing: I don't know many Christians like that. And I sure haven't met many readers like that. From the reader letters I get, it's clear those who read Christian fiction are looking for books that not only make them think, but that challenge them--even PUSH them--to go beyond themselves and what they think they know. In the letters and emails I receive from my readers, I've found people who are facing life's ambiguities and inequities full-force. Yes, they long for something to give them answers. But even more than that, they long for something to tell them, quite simply and honestly, they're not alone. They're not the only Christian out there who:

Doubts
Struggles
Wrestles with God and living a life of faith in an insane and hostile world
Doesn't appreciate easy or pat answers
Wants to KNOW God. Intimately. Even when it's scary or uncomfortable or painful. Which, as anyone who's walked a hard path knows, it is. Often.

Cool thing, though, about that workshop discussion is that it didn't end there. In fact, it led us all deeper. And I'll tell you how and where.

In a minute.

First, I want to know who you think today's Christian fiction reader is? Why do you think s/he reads fiction? What are you hearing from the readers around you about the books they're reading? And, if you care to share, what novel have you read lately that lived up to your expectations?

So share your thoughts...and stay tuned for Part 3.

Karen

Who Are You?

Well, ECPA PubU has come and gone, and I'm here in Illinois on vacation. Okay, it's supposed to be vacation, but I've spent a boatload of time dealing with work. Ah well, as I told folks in Twitterland, publishing waits for no (wo)man's vacation.

Anyway, though PubU is over, several of the conversations keep running through my mind. Questions. Posits. Debates. Explorations. So many topics floating around that caught my attention, only to be pushed aside by the next equally challenging--or troubling--topic. In some ways, publishing is in such a state of flux. In others, it's utterly grounded and unshakeable. Good and bad on both sides.

The final editorial community workshop on Monday was especially fascinating--and worrisome. Our first topic: What makes a Christian book Christian? The answers came fast and furious, but before I share them, I want to know what you think.

So, as a reader, what are you looking for in a book, especially fiction, from a "Christian" publishing house? What do you expect to find. What do you expect NOT to find? What makes a book "Christian"?

Please share your thoughts. And then I'll let you know how our conversation went...and what other questions it led us to.

Peace!

Karen

ECPA PubU

So I'm sitting here, in my hotel room, in Lombard, Illinois, looking out at the flat landscape of buildings, buildings everywhere. Happily, I can see autumn-tinged trees peeking out between the buildings, so that's nice. But boy, do I miss my mountains...

Yup, I'm on yet another trip. This one's for the Evangelical Christian Publishers' Association--or ECPA--Publishing University--or PubU.

A slight aside here: Ever notice how much publishers like acronyms? Yeah. Big time. The winner, though, has to be Zondervan. When I worked there I had to learn to talk in alphabet soup. For the first 6 months, Sue Brower, who was our marketing maven then but is now a brilliant editor, acted as my interpreter. Got so that she'd just translate for me as soon as someone used an acronym. I didnt' even have to give her that "HUH?" look. It was hilarious.

Back to our regularly scheduled blog...

Only a few hours now until PubU starts. In case you're wondering, PubU is for professionals in publishing. ECPA has what they call "communities" for leadership, marketing, sales, editorial, technology, and more. Folks who work at the publishing houses come from all over the map to take the seminars and to network. It's the one time of the year we publishing folks from different houses get to spend time together. It's a blast, because the air resounds with all the conversations about publishing, books, authors, workloads, what's hot, what's not, the state of publishing, the state of confusion, and on and on. I love it!

This year I'm the community leader for the editorial community. That means I arranged the speakers for the four 90-min seminars. So we kick off with a community leader meeting today at 4:30, and then PubU is in full swing. Tomorrow is a solid day of seminars, where I get to hover and help as needed for the first three, then I'm leading the final seminar with long-time editor Judith Markham (who, by the way, edited my very first novel, Reunion!)

I'm so excited about the speakers who agreed to come.

Renni Browne, best known for her book Self-Editing for Fiction Writers (if you're writing fiction and don't have this book, RUN, do not walk, to buy it!), and her son, Ross, who helps her run their business The Editorial Department, are leading the first two sessions. I can't wait to meet Renni--I've asked every fiction author I've worked with to get her book. It's a great resource for writing powerful novels. Plus it's got some of the best writing cartoons I've ever seen. In session one, Renni will talk about what it means to be an editor in today's publishing world. Ross takes session two and will talk about the process of evaluating and editing manuscripts.

The third session will be led by two of my B&H compatriots:
Julie Gwinn, our marketing genius (I owe a lot of the success we're seeing with B&H fiction to Julie), and
Jamie Phillips, one of our top-drawer salesmen. They're going to teach editors how to talk both sale's and marketing's languages. In other words, how to create a cohesive team rather than be at odds with those departments, as editorial so often tends to be.

In the final session, editor extraordinaire Judith Markham and I will do a bit of a debrief on what's been taught so far, then break up into discussion groups on the topics that most interest those attending. Some options: Creating Strong Author-Editor Relationships, Balancing Workloads with Time Demands, and What's Bugging You? (the issues we face and how we each deal with them). We'll come back together at the end to share our best tips and counsel. There's no better way to address issues than to do it together and share both experience and ideas!

So it's going to be great fun. AND I get to see folks I know from my days at Tyndale and Zondervan. Can't wait! I'll do my best to keep you all posted these next three days on what's happening, what the hot topics are, and all that good stuff.

Peace, all.

Karen