Seth Godin likes to give his opinion. The other day this post he wrote, about an interview that annoyed him, was in my Inbox (I think Inbox deserves a capital “I” by now, don’t you?). It was also in the Inbox of thousands of other people, because a lot of people like to read what he has to say. I personally find what he has to say about publishing the most fascinating these days. I’m over the other stuff.

Anyway, Godin thinks that publishers who think like Jamie Raab, head of one of the biggest publishers on the face of the Earth, miss the mark when it comes to being on the side of the writer. Or at least that’s what I gathered from his post.

I want to share that Jamie Raab is a woman; not a stocky, white male in his 50s, which is what, I’ll admit, I thought when I saw the unisex name, “Jamie” and a story involving the publishing industry. Although I really don’t blame myself for that, I can see that I’m just one of billions of people who have yet to change their minds about what women do for work.

Anyway, I clicked on the interview Raab gave to Media Bistro, the one that Godin refers to, and I decide that I agree with Godin: publishers who say things like “I’m a big believer in the power of a cover” are great marketers, but who is sticking up for the writer, the writing, the work?

And, ouch, she also says:

“If, as a writer, you want to spend the time going to the different distribution channels and marketing and doing publicity yourself, that’s less time you have to write. Look, we’re aware that many authors are choosing to e-publish, that they can make money quickly. We know there’s a lot of competition and whenever there’s competition, you’ve got to prove your value.”

Translation: you’re screwed without us.

Although, I have to add, I really like Raab’s flavor – she comes a cross as a woman with some grit, and I like that. …but I still don’t agree with her.

I encourage you to read the interview and draw your own conclusions. It was an eye opener for me, and probably something that will come in handy some time in the future.

Here’s hoping.

sandy.

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