David Takes on Goliath: Or How the Small Presses Are Taking on the Big Guys
For many aspiring authors, the dream of publication leads to one destination: Goliath’s front door, otherwise known as the BIG publishing house. We’re all familiar with the names of the titans of the industry: Penguin, Pocket Books, Random House, and St. Martin’s Press. The common perception is that if you can rise from the slush to be published by one of these companies, then you are all but assured of success. But are you? Is this truly the only way to become a success in highly competitive industry?
Before you answer that question, let’s take a look at a different model, the David to the Goliath, the much maligned and misunderstood small press. Quick, what is the first thing you think of when you see the words “small press”? Poor quality? Bad writing? Do you immediately think, “Well, they weren’t good enough to publish anywhere else, so they had to settle for a 
small press?” If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are wrong. Small press does not equal bad writing, just as self-publishing does not equal bad writing. Small press equals a different mode of publishing. One that is becoming increasingly popular in the wake of the shake-ups coming out of the halls of the titans.
Listen up, writers, that sound you hear coming out of New York is David taking on Goliath—and winning. How is this possible? Because the small presses have an advantage that the big ones don’t—adaptability. While the bigger houses are crumbling under the same business models they have employed for decades, small presses are adapting to the new mode of communication. How? By offering readers another way to get their information, from traditional books that can be printed on demand to electronic books that can be downloaded to computers, e-readers—even cell phones.
Small presses have learned how to harness the power of the Internet. While the big houses are scrambling to get on board by offering digitized versions of their backlist, small presses are already offering digitized versions of their frontlist. And in this age of high-tech toys and instant communication where word of mouth is measured by the speed of a text message, that option could mean the difference between success and failure. People like to have a choice. Small presses offer that choice, not only in the form of the book you want to read, be it print or electronic, but in the content, as well. Small presses don’t publish according to trends and what is selling big now. Small presses publish quality works that might be a little too quirky, controversial, or genre-defying for other publishing houses.
This was one of the reasons I decided to publish with a small press. When my book couldn’t find a home with Goliath, but captured the interest of David, I chose to publish with David. And although the leg-work involved in garnering buzz for my book has been time-consuming and sometimes arduous, that decision has paid off for me. I had more control over the look of my cover than I would have had at a bigger house and my book was available for sale on Amazon.com much sooner than if a bigger house published me. In today’s digital age, that availability is paramount. It is my belief that this will be a key factor in the continuing battle between David and Goliath. Availability. Courtesy of the Internet, we are accustomed to having something delivered to us with the speed of DSL. So success might come down to a simple question of: How long are we willing to wait for a new book from a big house when a small press can offer one in a third of the time? What do you think? Are we, as readers and writers, still restricted by the old stigmas regarding smaller presses? Or are the small presses the way of the future?
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Please leave a comment or question for Margay to enter to win a copy of NORA’S SOUL. To read the back cover copy of NORA’S SOUL, please see yesterday’s post. To learn about Margay, please visit her website.
My problems with e-pubs is I don’t have an e-reader — and right now I can’t afford a good one — and I don’t like reading books on the computer. When the books are in print, they’re usually trade (more expensive) and they’re not widely distributed. Because of this, unless the writer is a good friend, I buy more traditionally pubbed books.
But besides my own preferences, I do think epubs are winning and publishing is changing. I’ll check out Nora’s Soul! Love the title.
What Edie said, lol.
Even though I myself am e-published, I’ve never bought an e-publ. book. Simply because I don’t want to read on the computer. I even downloaded a couple free books and didn’t read them. But publishing is changing and only the dinosaurs (can we say RWA) don’t recognize it.
Carly
Hi everyone, and welcome to Margay!
I’m epublished as well, and I share Edie’s and Carly’s concerns. I don’t have an e-reader and personally feel they’re too expensive right now. A friend of mine in the U.S. does have a Kindle and loves it. She orders Kindle editions whenever possible. However, I’m Canadian, and I can’t even BUY a Kindle right now, even if the price were down. They aren’t available, and the Whisper technology isn’t available in Canada, either. If Kindles were available for purchase up here, we couldn’t make use of that fantastic technology. It’s specific to an American cell phone network or other technology (I want to say Sprint, but I’m not 100% on that).
I also don’t find reading ebooks on the computer relaxing. Keep in mind that I don’t own a laptop, just a desktop. I like to read lying down in bed, so the ebooks that I do read, I need to print them out and the pages can feel ungainly.
I love that so many epublishers, including my own, offer print on demand trade paperbacks. But the fact is that the majority of epublished books also offered as POD trade are only available on Amazon. So far my books aren’t even on Canadian Amazon, just U.S. So, while I appreciate many aspects of small presses and micro-presses and epubs, I feel the industry still has a long way to go before more than a minority of the population can or will choose to enjoy the wonderful and talented epublished authors out there.
I could download an eReader app to my Blackberry (pearl, so it’s not the latest model) and use it when I’m waiting to pick kids up, etc., so I have a bunch of eBooks with me. It won’t replace paper books for me, but the convenience is really nice!
*waving Hi to Margay!
I agree with Cindy, I think it’s ridiculous we can’t get a Kindle up here in Canada, nor order POD books from our own Chapters/Indigo bookstore – you have to order them from American sites. Until the “international” arms of ebooks and POD publishers expand their distribution and realize they’re missing out on a huge audience up here, I think they’ll remain a David for awhile. What customer wants to pay extra shipping (US) on a book she should be able to download or order cheaper? That’s a big barrier for me, and several of my friends are POD pubbed. I’d also love to have an affordable ebook reader, with several formats so I’m not limited to what I can download. Until these companies realize we’re all in a recession, I don’t see the prices coming down on what is essentially very basic technology. Eg. if iPhone can nearly cut their price in two, surely Sony and Kindle can do the same? 🙂
I was lucky enough to sign with one of the Goliaths, although Cindy, your comment about being “assured of success” is of course, subjective. While it’s true my books are selling and I’m often surprised to learn people know who I am, my life really hasn’t changed, nor do I want it to. So I’m not sure what the measure is for “success.” In any case, I LOVE the fact my books are also available on Kindle and other e-readers. I own a Kindle, and often buy books in that format, both those available in print and e-pub only.
Hi, Tina!
I didn’t say anything about being assured of success if you sell to a Goliath. Were you referring to Margay’s post?
Sorry, Cindy. I typed in the wrong name. Yes, Margay, of course! And I since I’m back, I should add what I’d meant to at the end of that (but got interrupted by a kid), that I really enjoyed her blog, and wish her the best with her books!
Hi, Edie! Thanks for stopping by. I just want to clear one thing up: my book came out in trade paperback first and is available on the Kindle, but Second Wind is not an e-publisher, it is a small press. But I guess this post could refer to the e-pubs out there, too, who, like the small presses, find themselves up against the giants of the industry as they try to carve out their own niche. But things are changing.
Margay
Carly, I agree with your assessment that things are changing. And I used to think that I wouldn’t like to read things on a computer, but I have actually found that I read faster that way, which is amazing in light of the fact that I have Multiple Sclerosis and can’t sit for long periods without my entire body getting tired. I can only imagine how fun it would be to read on a Kindle.
Margay
Cindy, when I read in bed, I fall asleep, so maybe I’m better off doing it at the computer. Although I could take the computer to bed with me because it’s a laptop, but…on the other hand, that’s probably a good idea. As for the state of the industry, with all of the small presses that are out there making it easier for people to get published, the bigger pubs are going to have to change their ways if they want to stay viable. And one way I think they need to do it is by embracing the digital realm and not just for publishing books, for publicizing them. The internet is not going away. It’s only going to get stronger and more powerful and they need to harness that now before they totally miss out.
Margay
Judi! So happy you stopped by! I agree. My first love will always be paper books, but it would be nice to own a Kindle…
Margay
Laurie, you are so right. I don’t understand that, either. What would it take for a publishing company to make themselves more accessible in other countries? That’s something to look into.
Margay
Tina, thank you for giving us a look from the other side of the fence – and who among us wouldn’t want to be there, right? I just think, in my experience at least, that the small presses are more adaptable to digital technology than their bigger brothers – and more ready and willing to indulge in it. I would love to be proven wrong, but so far…doesn’t look that way.
Margay
I tried the Goliath route when I first started writing. I realize NOW that I was probably premature on those submissions. But I sold to a David, and I’ve never looked back…and since I have had over a dozen Davids publish my work. I find the interaction with the publisher to be much more satisfying when it is more direct, and I agree about covers — I’ve even had my photos used for a couple of them. While I still dream of selling to a Goliath someday, I feel the Davids have taught me a world about the business and improved my writing exponentially.
Hi Margay,
I used to think everyone read lying down. It appears I might not be in the majority. Every time I bring it up now, more and more people tell me they read sitting up.
I also like to watch TV lying down. If it’s sitting, it feels too much like work. I sit when I work. I don’t want to sit when I’m relaxing. As far as TV and books are concerned, at any rate! 🙂
::Cindy waves to Rie!:::
Just had to get that in there. I totally agree that publishing with a David has taught me reams about the industry. I don’t regret my decision for a second. However, I do admit that when I chose to go the micro-press route, I did firmly believe that epublishers and small presses were set to grow much faster than they actually have.
Like Cindy, I’m another one who reads in bed. 🙂 I’ve ordered e-books and they’re on my laptop, it’s just when I open the laptop, I tend to have my attention drawn to work rather than reading.
Thanks for the post!
Gail 🙂
Great article. It made me consider some things about small presses I hadn’t thought of before. As far as the trend to e-pubs– I love paper books, and have resisted change, but I like what they are doing with new readers like the new Kindle, which I’d like to own someday. I think there are advantages to having both available. Thanks for sharing your views on the Davids out there.
Rie, I agree. I enjoyed the interaction, getting in on the cover, etc., with the David and I think it is a great learning experience, too. One of the best things I’ve learned is how to promote myself. That is a skill that every author needs these days, even the ones published with Goliath. I think it is very important for authors to make themselves accessible to the readers in forums such as this. Not only that, I’ve met some fabulous people in the process whom I wouldn’t have met otherwise.
Margay
Cindy, I’m the opposite. If I lie down, I know I’m going to fall asleep eventually, so if I want to stay awake, I stay upright! And what is a micropress? That sounds interesting.
Margay
Thank you for stopping by, Gail! I can see what you mean about the laptop equaling work for you. Fortunately for me, I do a lot of fun stuff on mine – like keep up with my favorite authors and socialize – so I don’t equate it with work.
Margay
Kelly Ann, I think a lot of publishers are resisting that change, too, and counting on readers to do the same so things can stay the same. I think there’s room for both and one won’t necessarily make the other obsolete. How many people who have iPods still buy CDs, after all? The thing we have to remember is that people like to have a choice and with all of the technology babies we have out there now, I think the demand for ebooks is just going to increase over time.
Margay
Margay, I picked up the term “micro-press” from Natalie J. Damschroder. Let’s just say a micro-press is smaller than a small press. 😉 Like, for example, an epublisher that also offers trades through print on demand technology rather than running small print runs.
I see. That’s an interesting term.
I’ve read a few books in e-book format, but I tend to be mostly a paper reader still…although if I converted all my paper books to electronic ones, I’d have an absolutely empty office with so much extra space it would be incredible! 🙂
I wasn’t going to comment because after such a great discussion, I feel late to the party, but then my name appeared! LOL
I didn’t coin micro-press, and unfortunately am not certain where I got it, but I love the term. “Small press” is a long-term designation for small publishers like Avalon Press or Naval Press, who use traditional publishing models but are small companies rather than part of large conglomerates. The “new” model of publishing tends to be a handful of people working virtually (online) without a physical location, using digital or print-on-demand or short print run technologies–as Cindy said, smaller than small.
It also covers the issue of referring to them as e-publishers when they usually publish print books, too.
Marilyn, so would I! And the next time I move, people won’t complain about how heavy the boxes are! What can I say? I love my books!
Margay
Natalie, wherever you got that term, I love it. There is something magical about it – micro press! And thank you for sharing your insights here. I never knew that Avalon Press was a small publisher. I would love to know more about your take on the current state of publishing.
Margay
I love this discussion. I’m published by various Davids and a Goliath. I agree wholeheartedly with the notion that being published by a David is just as good, in some cases, as being published by a Goliath. In fact, some of the Goliaths on your list, Margay, pay advances that equate with those offered by some Davids.
Goliaths can offer great distribution, and they make those co-op deals with bookstores that get your books on “new releases” table, etc. But beyond that, I’ve found that one of the Davids I’ve worked with does a gangbusters job of promotion, getting books reviewed, and working with authors to make the book the best it can be.
My first book, a YA mystery, was with a David….and it became an Edgar finalist (sad to say, MWA has since changed their entry rules, disqualifying a bunch of Davids, like the one who published me).
Small presses are definitely less rigid about what they will buy. They don’t reject something because it’s “not quite right” for a particular line they offer. They will accept a manuscript if they like the storytelling, no matter if it defies categorization.
Hi everyone, thanks for a great discussion! Natalie, sorry about misspelling your last name. I couldn’t remember if an E went in there or not. Seeing as I’m partial to Es, I put one in. Erp. Will go back into my comment and correct it.
Judi Fennell has won the copy of NORA’S SOUL. Congratulations, Judi! Please look for an email from me so we can arrange receipt.
Libby, great points! I love getting such a balanced perspective. This is a discussion that could go on forever.
Margay
Congratulations, Judi!
Margay