Dear Lit Loves,
Ah well, I am beginning to discern that publishers (traditional and independent) do not see any value in publishing memoirs written by female writers who are not social media powerhouses or celebrities. It's quite disappointing; particularly, when you have friends, book club members, medical specialists, and acquaintances ask you about how the publishing quest is progressing and as a writer you want to say, "Maybe it is just the sad reality that publishers and literary agents just do not place a priority on books that communicate the often valuable experiences of everyday women." There are most definitely literary agents making requests for memoirs, but only IF you have a GINORMOUS platform. Platform meaning you are a leading university professor, medical specialist, award-winning journalist, or have somehow amassed a gazillion social media followers. When did this become the manner by which literary agents and publishers decide who does and does not get their book published? I mean, do any of these folks remember that memoirs were once published and many did exceptionally well when we did not have any forms of social media? For instance, when Mitch Albom published Tuesdays With Morrie and Jeannette Walls published The Glass Castle - they were not social media stars. I know we did not have the too numerous social media networks we have today, but those books did really well and someone did see potential in those writers and their material.
Today, as a writer you will rarely receive a response from a literary agent if you are not a highly acclaimed professor, a celebrity chef, a spiritual guru, or someone who has amassed the abundant attention and following of individuals due to Youtube video makeup tutorials or crazy stunts involving having someone make a video of you jumping out of a car and trying to dance while the car is still in "Drive". Let us all be real here: ignorance is not my jam. Honestly, I do not participate in most social media because frankly my dears, I do not want people all up in my business, stealing my personal information, or harassing me by wait for it - "unfriending me". Are you kidding? This is not eighth grade, folks! Nor do I trust Mark Zuckerberg to not sell my personal information or prevent unknown entities from sending me political propaganda. Seriously?! You might locate me on the book fanatic site known as Goodreads because I like books, majored in teaching writing, love the book giveaways, and am delighted to discover other new writers, authors, and reviewers. Does this mean though that my manuscripts about surviving domestic violence and thriving as a teacher in an inner-city school or navigating our discombobulated medical system are not valuable, informative, and entertaining? Heck no. To me it means someone has yet to uncover the diamond in the slush pile. It means the publishing powers are putting too much of a priority on the number of social media outlets authors utilize and not enough value on the content, voice, and craft of the writer and his or her ability to connect with readers. And that is a sad reality for the world of publishing presently.
And then there is the truly hysterical part of all this publishing chaos my friends. Most of the memoir writers that are being allowed through the holy gates of publishing DO NOT EVEN BOTHER TO RESPOND TO THEIR READERS. How do I know this? I read non-celebrity memoirs quite often and when I write or email these authors, many do not respond. On the Goodreads book site about fifty percent of authors will reach out to you, but the sad reality is that many do not. And believe me when I say if an author is not willing to respond to a reader's inquiry or connect with a writer colleague professionally then I will not buy that author's book. Or if I receive a review copy of that author's memoir and I have expressed an interest in their book via email, Goodreads, or LinkedIn and that author has not bothered to even respond then when I go to review the book on a five star scale, the book is already diminished. And that my friends is what is eluding many a literary agent and publishing house: The author they chose to represent and publish is not doing their part to respond in a genuine way to their readers which means I most likely will not buy any of that author's future books much less recommend it to the book club I attend or librarians who ask my opinion of the book.
So here is the real deal: when it comes to memoir the evaluation of the author and the book should be based on content, voice, craft, and responsiveness to readers and NOT ON THE NUMBER OF SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS UTILIZED OR THE NUMBER OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS.
And besides, I am way too busy writing, editing, reading and living to spend my time worrying about how many social media outlets I have utilized or how many people are "following" me. I associate following me with potentially stalking me, but maybe that is just due to me being a part of Generation X. As a proud member of Generation X, I can honestly say that I am SOOO glad I did not grow up with a cellphone practically becoming a permanent attachment to my body. And I am really glad not to have grown up in the age of social media where everyone and anyone feels entitled to give their two cents about every little aspect of life when it most likely does not amount to a heal of beans anyway.
Till my next post,
Grace
(Amy)
