The Ugly Truth: The Price of Nice

Here's something that almost no author thinks about as the one way to get what you need from your publisher: be nice to them. Yes, it's that simple.

A deeply connected author with networks and A-list fans can afford to be mean and nasty to the publisher, because the book will sell anyway. But if the author lacks that sort of fame, the publisher is a lifeline--one that should be treated nicely. Does this mean that the publishing staff will actively sabotage a book if the author treats them with disregard? Obviously not, since poor sales will impact income for everyone including them. But it does mean that the publishing staff (subconsciously or otherwise) remains less likely to go the extra mile for a troublesome author. And while the difference that extra mile makes may seem inconsequential: an editor spending a little more time polishing the manuscript, a publicist aggressively going to bat for the book with a show producer, a designer or producer burning little more of the midnight oil to ensure the book looks good and reads well--it can make all the difference in an environment where sheer random luck can spell the difference between a book's success or failure.

Let's face it: book publishing is not a meritocracy and the best writing does not automatically rise to the surface. A book's success depends a lot on the publisher's efforts, but a lot of authors think that as long as they stay in senior management's good books, everything will be fine. But that is not so. A hearty handshake from the publisher or a great lunch with the VP-of-whatever means nothing because he or she is not doing the real footwork on your book. But that lowly publicity assistant you always complain to, or the editorial assistant you bark orders at? That's the person who is doing the actual lifting on your book--and just how motivated do you think he or she will be to help you out?

A product is only as good as the craftspeople who work to build it and the salespeople who try to sell it. Keep them happy.