Comments on: More Depressing (or Encouraging Depending on Your POV) Publishing News

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:32:06 +0000

Honestly, I think businesses that sell creative products (tv shows, books, movies) just get lucky half the time when they have a huge hit on their hands. I’ve worked in the cable industry for 9 years, and some of the things that are hits and some of the shows that are flops can just defy reason. You read about them in pilot stage, hear about them being presented at TCA, and you would not guess that show c would be a hit and show a (which looks much better on paper) would not.

Yes, quality can rise to the top, but it seems like a certain story just hits the zeitgeist at the right time – and the same thing of same quality would not hit 2 years before or even 1 month later. Basically the william goldman nobody knows nothing idea. I would doubt that anyone would write a business plan based on just one item really taking off like gangbusters, but they want to ride the wave as long as they can when it happens.

By: Zoe Archer

Zoe Archer — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:15:16 +0000

I always felt that diversification is the smartest business option. Relying overmuch on one product seems akin to building your house with a foundation of Cheez-Whiz.

By: Cara

Cara — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:09:35 +0000

Isn’t that the business though? They look for strong selling books and authors, but the biggest goal is to have that one book or author that tens of millions of copies? They have to take some risk to achieve maximum profits. It does make me see what a scary business publishing is!

By: Alice

Alice — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:03:53 +0000

That’s probably what got them into trouble in the first place. Much like celebrity books.

By: Keishon

Keishon — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:41:09 +0000

So does that mean my first edition copy is worth money?

By: Amy @ My Friend Amy

Amy @ My Friend Amy — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:17:16 +0000

I say no, considering Scholastic had a tough year this year.