Dear Readers,
Greetings! It's been a bit since my last post simply because I had no idea what to do with this new Blogger format! Personally, I liked the old format better as it was much more colorful and easier to use. This is the problem with technology; just when you think you are getting an upgraded system, you realize, hell, I liked the last version better! Note to Blogger: IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT!
Folks, I have serious concerns about the future of print publishing (my preferred form). I just DON"T DO DIGITAL! You say you want me to utilize an ipad, nook, etc. Uh, no. As stated above, I only do print publishing. My latest trip to my local Barnes and Noble store totally ticked me off completely. I along with two other customers were standing in the check-out line and NO ONE WAS AVAILABLE TO RING UP OUR PURCHASES! Furthermore, the one person on the floor that worked at this Barnes and Noble informed me upon inquiring if someone could ring up my purchases that I would have to check-out in the cafe area. HEADS UP to Barnes and Noble, the two customers that also wanted to purchase products gave up entirely, put their merchandise back on the shelves, and left the store. HELLO? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? I'm no nuclear physicist, but I can tell you that having no one at any of your six available registers for purchases IS NOT GOING TO KEEP YOU IN BUSINESS!
Because I'm the wickedly persistent literature lover that is determined to purchase her books, magazines, etc., I went to investigate what the problem involved. First, one of the only customer service members on the first floor of the store informed me he did not have time to go to the register for "check-out" because he was busy stocking books. Regrettably, I wound up in the cafe at Barnes and Noble inquiring as to why I was having to check-out in the cafe when all I needed was to purchase my items at the front of store registers? The cafe employee informed me there was no one available to work at the front of the store, aka cash registers, until 11:30a.m. Fascinating! I had now watched as more people left the store after just putting down their items and getting frustrated that no one was available to tally their purchases. I left the store with exasperation and ready to go locate the CEO of Barnes & Nobles and give him WHAT FOR! For heaven's sake, couldn't the store just install some self check-out lanes if you are not going to provide associates to work the registers??
And now for magazines and print publishing. Okay, first I witnessed the magazine, Glamour, give up its print publication after I had been subscribing to it since I turned seventeen. I was not too pleased with the decision and neither was the customer service attendant at Glamour, who when I called to inform her to cancel the rest of my subscription, also informed me she was just informed of the decision and also that she would be losing her job as a result. Great. Now, I have learned Oprah Winfrey has decided to stop the print publication of O, The Oprah Magazine. Now Oprah, obviously it's your magazine and your decision, but I have to say I rather liked the magazine as a twenty year subscriber and well, if your subscription numbers were dwindling, I think I know why. Several changes to the magazine in recent years have not been impressive. I thought the recommendations made for fashion, makeup, home decor, etc. were dated. I did not like the idea of having Martha Beck work with a client regarding a serious life problem and have to wait for the next two issues to arrive in order to read how she helped the individual address the problem. And frankly, the December issue has become too much about "things" and less about the heart and spirit of Christmas. Do I think these issues could be addressed and improve the print version of the magazine? Absolutely. Do I think you should seriously reconsider doing away with the magazine's print version? Yes; otherwise, I will really miss much of the divine content.
Next, what in the heebie-jeebies is happening in New York such that magazines are either no longer producing a monthly issue and if they do, it is not arriving in a timely matter. Look, I realize you all were hit brutally by the Covid-19 pandemic; however, it now appears that the state has its puzzle pieces back together so could we get the show back on the road? I mean, if not, additional magazines and their respective staffs will be joining the unemployment lines and not many people I know want to see that happen.
And finally, I keep hearing about diversity in publishing. Diversity does not just mean nationality or skin color, folks. It also involves publishing people who have much to say about disabilities and no one in the publishing world that I have contacted appears even remotely interested in investing in those manuscripts or authors. Today, I read where one prominent literary agent said, "Well, if you can't summarize and pitch your manuscript in 30 seconds then I can't sell it to an editor!" I'm sorry, but who died and appointed you Literary Goddess?!! What if I told you that if you can't get your business done in the bathroom in 30 seconds then no bathroom break for you, missy?! That is how ridiculous this literary agent's commentary sounded to a writer and I might add that unrealistic time frames, bad attitudes, and narrow-mindedness are what's contributing to the downfall of the publishing community. And let me just say that we print publishing lovers deserve better on all fronts! So get busy publishing industry! CHOP! CHOP! You've lost a lot of ground recently and if you even hope to win the next battle much less the war, you had best not forget about or give up on your print publishing fanatics!
Till my next post,
Grace
