No, I didn’t read your article. I guess the distribution system in Australia is similar, then?

I guess we both just see it the same way. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one.

My 1997 article “Book Distribution: The Fatal Flaw”, which was published in a m Australian journal called Publishing Studies came to the same conclusion.

I can’t imagine that the article would have made its way to America but I guess it’s possible. Have you read it?

I got sidetracked, but will go back to the main topic of this blog.

I am wondering why bookstores often sell books at huge discounts, such as for a few dollars, if they are able to simply ship them back to the publisher. Would I be correct in assuming they have a limited time to return them to the publisher for their money back?

As an long-time observer of the political scene, I can attest that the biggest businesses (e.g., large NY publishers in this case) deliberately see to it that legislation and systems are established in such a way that barriers are put in the way of small, poorly capitalized, would-be competitors. I don’t know if that is the case here, but it wouldn’t surprise me.

In any case, unless the big publishing firms sign on to any change in the existing way of doing business, it is not likely the situation will improve.

Your last comment particularly hits home. As a publishing coach/consultant, I could tell people what they want to hear, as many do: that they can write a bestseller in a couple of weeks, that it doesn’t take work on both craft and marketing, that a bit of sleight of hand can bring success overnight.

I don’t say those things.

In fact, I require people to jump through a few hoops, because I truly want people to succeed buit I want them to succeed in the real world.

The publishing world IS awash with people who think they can write, but aren’t willing to do what it takes. I attempt to guide people in what it takes, while shortening the curve to success as much as possible, in a realistic way.

Publishers are still looking for, as you say, people have fresh ideas and a unique perspective. People FOLLOW such people, and thus you have “author platform,” which is what publishers also look for. So, concentrate on “fresh ideas/unique perspective,” make sure those ideas get out there, and you’re on your way….

If retail book outlets do not provide a net benefit, publishers and authors can choose not to sell books through them. Self-publishing provides this opportunity directly to the author at a low cost.

As an aspiring author, I don’t like the business model either, yet it seems like the “invisible hand” of the marketplace is at work, giving each player in the game an opportunity to either make some profit or go out of business.

Personally, I think there are too many no-talent, wanna-be authors swamping agents and publishers with manuscripts containing nothing original, and that even their 6th grade teacher would flunk them on. This, of course, restricts opportunity for more talented writers. They all need good mentors to tell them their work sucks, and that they aren’t cut out to be writers. Nor, for that matter, are they likely to become the next “American idol.”