[Writer Post] More on Amazon v. Publishing
I really don’t know where to begin with this week’s blog post. It’s been one of those sputtering weeks. Days of great productivity (at least in my mind) and days of “not so much”. I have a looming deadline that I’m, at least, picking away at and will meet (darn it!), but other issues raise their heads. And I know much more “invested” people than I have weighed in on this topic, but apparently I needed to rant. Feel free to debate me, but keep it civil.
The Amazon vs. Publishing War took on a new element (and if you think it’s JUST about Hachette, you are sorely mistaken) over the weekend with an open letter to all KDP writers and the world in general from Amazon. And though this isn’t a bloody battle like in the Middle East, it’s very much an economic war where the “civilian” casualties are the writers and – by extension – the readers. Both Amazon and Traditional Publishing have vehement supporters and detractors (much like religion and politics). It makes me sad and angry and frustrated to watch professionals and non-professionals alike “Armchair Quarterbacking” this dispute and telling those of us with a stake in the outcome – which I have (this is my Career) that we’re wrong/stupid/greedy/insert favorite derogatory comment.
No one is in a good place here. Yes, I side more with traditional publishing. Amazon is a fantastic TOOL – like fire – and should be used as such. Amazon started out (and in the most part still is) as a supply chain moving goods. Which is AWESOME. More ways to get books into the hands of reader is a good thing. That it’s now trying to dictate terms to ENTIRE INDUSTRIES and creators? That’s when this fire that should be used for warmth and substance now becomes the ALL CONSUMING RAMPAGING WILDFIRE OF DOOM. And I seriously think that’s what’s happened here, Amazon has gotten completely out of control and now believes it should be able to gobble up everything in its path.
Traditional publishing is not blameless in this war. They’re trying hard to hold on to a “But we’ve always done it this way” mentality that needs to change. But as people have mentioned, these are multi-billion dollar corporations. Corporations that big do not move quickly. These are icebergs and glaciers that are seeing paradigms shift at a pace that is overwhelming to ALL of us. We all have to figure out our ground here. But for me, I want traditional publishing (large and small press) around for the simple reason I don’t want the COMPLETE responsibility for being brilliant – I want all the help I can get from professionals. I want the support structure. I want someone to believe in me enough to help shoulder the risk and the reward. I’ll go it alone if I need to, but I want that to be MY choice.
And don’t let ANY company – Amazon or otherwise – call us “content providers”. As Jane Yolen mentioned on Facebook, “When a company calls writers “content providers” they are the enemy. No matter what else they say, they see the writer as a widget or possibly a widget maker, infinitely interchangeable and negligible.” I am not a widget. I’m a creative, feeling, thinking PERSON who creates unique things that no one else can (or possibly will) and should be compensated and valued, unlike Bob Stein’s comment at the 2011 Frankfurt Book Fair: “As the value of content approaches zero,†Stein said, “people will pay for context and community.†Content has VALUE. The writer HAS VALUE beyond the production costs. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.