Authors create product, readers consume product—those in between must provide long-term value

A thoughtful post from Bob Mayer

Originally posted on Write on the River:

When talking with an author about possibly partnering with Cool Gus, the second they drop the phrase “my agent” into the conversation, we know the odds of coming to a working partnership are not likely. This is not because agents are evil or mean, but because we’ve found most to be mired in an outdated business model and unable to see the advantages of focusing on long-term profitability. This is because traditional publishing didn’t particularly value the long tail because it wasn’t possible with limited shelf space in consignment outlets, called bookstores.

That’s changed.

Ten years ago when someone from the outside asked me to describe the publishing business, I would say: “Slow and Techno-phobic”. While the Big 5 and others scramble to adapt to the digital world, there is a segment that has been very resistant to the winds of change blowing through the publishing world: agents.

When I…

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