Hiya, kids—
Well, as some of you I’m sure are aware, there’s a debate going on in the lesfic blogosphere about used books. If you’re a member of Facebook, you can find one author’s take on it there. It’s KG MacGregor, and she raises the point that used book sales do not benefit an author. If you’re a friend of KG on Facebook, you can read it in her “Notes” section. It’s called “Trade-ins: Another nail in the coffin for lesbian fiction.”
Author Nicola Griffith made a similar argument in January. That one’s called “don’t be fucking cheap! a rant.” You can check that out right here.
Read the comments under both KG’s (if you can access it) and Nicola’s. That helps with more perspective, and it gives you other writers’ views and readers’ as well.
Now, initial reaction: KG and Nicola are right—authors make money off new book sales and not on subsequent sales of used books. Here’s where things get a little sticky, though. In order to ensure that your fave authors are making money, thus, you should (according to the arguments presented by KG and Nicola) purchase all their books new, and you should do so direct from the publisher (since large companies that start with an “A” further skim from publishers’ and authors’ royalties). Used books, the argument goes, hurt authors. Following that logic, loaning the book to friends also hurts authors. As would libraries, since hundreds of people can check a book out without buying it.
My take? I’m a writer. And a reader. And yes, I know that used books and book borrowing doesn’t give me any royalties. But I’m not sure what, if anything, there is to be done about it. Why? Because there are used markets for practically anything and I happen to be a consumer of used goods. Why? Various reasons. Money (lack thereof); not wanting to add to landfills; not wanting extra resources consumed in the production of a new item for me to buy. I’m sure we all have reasons for buying used, cost being one of the most important. KG argues that most people who buy used books just want cheap reads (something Nicola also seems to imply) and no matter how many used copies exchange hands, there’s no guarantee that one of those used book/loaner readers will turn into a new book reader. She may have a point. But on a deeper level, is it a “bad” thing, to want a “cheap read”?
KG also argues that a used book market could supplant new books in lesfic, making it harder for authors to break in and produce. Nicola notes that the more used books that are bought, the less inclined an author is to write and will probably have to spend most of her time working a day job while the “amateur” and “hack” writers are able to keep publishing. There might be merit to that argument, too, though I don’t have the figures to bear it out. And yes, a used market can play havoc with an author’s backlist. If nobody buys new copies of an author’s backlist, then there might be an argument made that the backlist books could go out of print. Which means even used copies become expensive.
Devil’s advocate—if that backlist is print-on-demand, there might not be that issue.
At any rate, there’s a used market for everything, and there’s been a used market for everything since there were things to market. And sure, it’d be GREAT if readers only bought new books of mine—one new book per reader. But books, unlike something like CDs, aren’t necessarily things that someone is going to enjoy over and over and over again. One read, maybe two. And then it sits on your shelf. So why NOT loan it to someone else? Like you loan your CDs? You bought it, after all. It’s yours to do with as you will.
Indeed, any artist is “hurt” when a used copy of his or her art is sold. Or rather, doesn’t make anything. So the argument itself has merit. However, perhaps people are so pissed about these rants because of the ways in which they’re presented. If you’re a reader, how did either of these posts make you feel? Guilty? Angry? Kind of “well, fuck you very much”? Or did you think: “wow. I never thought of it that way.” Maybe both? Mixed feelings?
And that’s why we here at Women and Words would like to now throw it open to you, the readers and other writers. What’s YOUR take on used books? Readers, do you think about an author not making royalties when you buy a used book or loan a copy out? Does it matter? If either KG or Nicola had couched their arguments differently—say, “hi, readers. Thanks for all your support! And if you could, at least once, buy a book new, that would be fabulous, thanks”—would that make a difference in your buying habits, if you buy primarily used books? Writers—what do YOU think about Nicola’s and KG’s (if you were able to read it) posts? Okay, then—go for it. We’d like to hear your thoughts.
But remember,
peace.
–andi
Women and Words
Jove Belle
Andi Marquette
Clifford Henderson
Georgia Beers
Sandra Barret
This is a topic that Andi and I discussed quite a bit before posting this blog. I have to say that both of us are all over the place with our reactions. I’m feeling a bit schizo, myself.
On one hand, I’m a writer and a portion of my annual income is tied to those book sales. I have a vested interest in ensuring that my publisher is financially solvent.
On the other hand, I’m a consumer. My reactions there are way more varied. I believe I should be a conscientious consumer, but what does that mean?
1) I think about the business aspects of publishing, the variable break even point and what I can do personally to help lesbian presses reach that place financially, in turn helping the authors get paid properly. And I feel all warm and fuzzy inside until…
2) I see a news special about the dying industry of the independent book seller. I want to support my locally owned businesses, especially gay and lesbian owned businesses. Solidarity of the people and all that. And I feel all warm and fuzzy inside until…
3) I visit my local Barnes & Noble because I like to sit in their cafe with my laptop and write. The noise of shoppers is much less distracting than the noise of my hell-children. While there I glance at the dwindling gay and lesbian fiction section. I remember how long it’s been since I purchased a book there. And, armed with the knowledge of how supply and demand works–they won’t supply it if I don’t demand it–I pick up a book and head to the check out station, letting my money make demands on my behalf. And I feel all warm and fuzzy inside until…
4) I visit on online seller, like Amazon, and I realize how many options are available there. The menu of available titles is absolutely intoxicating and, drunk on the options, I excitedly order myself a treat. And I feel all warm and fuzzy inside until…
5) I see a news special about the effects of global warming. What am I doing to make sure the planet will be around and thriving for my children and my children’s children? I know, I’ll buy used books, saving them from a landfill. The books will have a longer life, give joy to another reader (me), and my guilt about the planet will be assuaged for a bit. And I feel all warm and fuzzy inside until…
6) I think about the business aspects of publishing…
It’s this horrible, vicious cycle of guilt and penance. And I can’t help but wonder shouldn’t my treat for myself involve more pleasure than guilt?
I can say that my introduction to lesbian fiction happened with a used copy of a K. Kallmaker book. No, I don’t remember which title it was, but I do remember craving more. My search for more, more, more was absolutely relentless. Followed quickly by a obsessive pursuit of Radclyffe. The vast majority of my book collection was purchased new, but the whole thing started with a battered used copy of a then out of print title.
I have no idea what the solution is for this tricky, tricky subject. Ultimately, I just want people to read. Simple.
I’m both an author and reader, and the decision to buy used or new is entirely up to the reader. As an author, I don’t care how people get my books, I only care that they DO get them and hopefully enjoy them. But then I have the benefit of a day job so royalties are a nice-to-have but not mandatory income.
When I pass along a great book to a friend, I actually feel like I’m doing the author a favor and expanding her potential audience. Perhaps my friend will become a new fan or a future purchaser of a new book by that author. For those of you sci-fi geeks out there, I’m helping to increase the “wuffie” of the author (per “Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom”). When I read the posts you mentioned, I guess some authors could do without such “favors.” Personally, I think it’s their loss.
Yeah, Jove and I talked a lot about this. I personally don’t care where readers get copies of my books. Or of anybody’s books. I want people to read and if someone is in a situation where he or she can’t get new books, or has to hide what he/she is getting, then a loaner fits the bill. Since we can’t get a lot of lesfic at libraries (major bummer!), it makes sense that a used market has developed for it. But the same could be said for just about anything. When a product goes on the market and is sold once, well, chances are it’s going to end up in a used market. And the original manufacturer doesn’t make any money off subsequent sales.
This is a really tricky subject, as Jove says. I don’t think there are any easy answers. New print books are expensive. And any more, people are really watching their funds. So if someone comes to my house and says: “oh, I’ve never read anything by this author.” I’m going to say: “take that copy. See what you think.” I mean, why WOULDN’T I do that? It makes little sense to say: “well, go buy your own to support the author.” That just sounds kind of…unfriendly.
However, I do understand where Nicola and KG are coming from. Writers don’t make money off used books. Still, this is an argument that I’m sure writers and artists have been having since someone figured out that someone was willing to buy someone’s writings/art. And I’m not sure it’s an effective argument to have. After all, it’s one thing to say: “Hey, thanks for supporting my work! And if you could, every once in a while, buy a new copy, that would be awesome. Thanks.” And it’s another to say: “don’t be fucking cheap.”
Perhaps it’s how the message is couched, yes? The devil’s in the details. Hmmm.
peace, all!
Declaring an interest here : I’ve sold second hand books for more than thirty years. I can understand how annoying it is for authors to see their books sold without them having any financial reward. There are some benefits though.
When readers sell their books it’s often as a way of making space and a little money towards buying more books. People are often introduced to an author when they borrow from a library or a friend and they’re more likely to risk buying the work of an unknown author if it doesn’t cost too much. In my experience people who buy second hand books also buy new books. Until recently it was almost inevitable that books would go out of print and it was generally considered un-economic to reprint. Libraries and second hand shops were often the only source and contributed to keeping the author name in the public eye.
It’s maybe worth asking why customers sell books so soon after purchasing them. Other than the simple reasons such as space & cash the only other explanation is that the owner doesn’t think they’ll want to read them again. They’re sometimes wrong about the latter. I don’t think I’m the only person to have to have cleared out an authors’ books and then re-purchased them 10 years later. I do know that the better books generally reach the second hand market much later than run of the mill stuff. Until recent years lesfic rarely made its way to my shop, I’m seeing more now but not in quantity. Given the growth in title numbers I expect to see more in future years.
Heya, I’m an avid reader of LesFic, so this reply is from that POV.
I have a tendency to purchase more used books than new and here is one of the reasons–acquiring good lesfic can be…spotty. I know most of the publishers are author owned and author edited but when I purchase a book, I expect there not to be rampant spelling mistakes or continuity issues–names changing, eye color changing, car models changing, etc. I’m currently reading an ebook (purchased new from the publisher) that in 75 pages has had at least 4 errors that I’ve caught. Now, I’m not saying all publisher’s or writers fall into this category but a lot do. So, I prefer to purchase used, especially a new author that doesn’t offer an excerpt. Then if I like the author, I’ll seek out an ebook. If I really like the author then I will buy at least one book from the publisher.
Another thing that I prefer is the option of an ebook (that isn’t offered by most lesfic publishers). I still get to support not only the author but the publisher at a cheaper rate and am more likely to take a chance on a new book and more likely to read it again. If authors expressed more interest in having their publisher offer their work as ebooks, I think they’d be less likely to whine about us readers buying used. An example; I tend to loan books but I’ve yet to loan an ebook. I don’t know if that is a consistent trend with ebook readers but from someone who has moral gray areas about some digital content (that’d be me), I think it’s telling.
Finally, the attitude of some authors, that their readers are too cheap to purchase new books, here’s what I say–the fact that you get to write and are published is a privilege, not a right. You got lucky. There are tons of really good authors out there that aren’t or can’t get published and that’s a shame but it still goes back to it being a privilege. That said, I understand that maybe said author is frustrated because major publishing houses won’t touch lesfic (for the most part) or maybe your publisher has dropped you because of lack of sales. But to insult your readers because we have the “audacity” to purchase your work used? Well, who can really afford to spend $20 (I’m including shipping) for a new paperback book; especially if you’re a reader like me who reads roughly a book a day? As much as I would love to support each and every lesfic author, I can’t afford to. Plus, if a certain author is going to whine about us used book buyers, then I don’t really want to support you at this point. So, insulting your market, is kinda like shooting yourself in the, er, book sales.
I buy a fair number of used books. However, the only times I’ve bought a used book for which, had that used copy not been available, I’d have bought the title new have been in cases where the book is out of print (Joanna Russ’s and Lee Lynch’s old works). So if I buy a used book, that author has lost nothing, but has gained — at least temporarily — a new reader. If I love it, I’ll go buy more of that author’s works.
Jen also makes a good point about authors collectively pushing their publishers to put out reasonably priced e-books. AndiM and others published with Bedazzled Ink are proof that it works — BI now puts out all their novels in e-book format *and* sells them at a much lower cover price than the print versions.