UK independent publisher Andrew Franklin, founder and managing director of Profile Books, delivered a virulent assault on the current self-publishing environment at the Literary Consultancy conference Writing in a Digital Age in London, as reported in The Guardian. “The overwhelming majority [of self-published books] are terrible—unutterable rubbish,” Franklin said. “They don’t enhance anything in the world.”
There are “now unmeasurable numbers” of books being self-published, according to Franklin, and “these books come out and are met with a deathly silence, so the principal experience of self-publishing is one of disappointment.”
This outburst is especially surprising as Profile Books is clearly no stranger to e-books or to using modern social media, offering pay-with-a-tweet promotions. The company takes an exemplary line on its digital publishing: “Profile are committed to releasing all of our new books as ebooks, published on the same day as the print book hits the shops,” according to a note on its website. “Our ebooks are produced with the same care, dedication and attention to detail that goes into our print books.”
Parasites on the Back of Real Books
Profile Books is also a founding member of the Independent Alliance of publishers, which includes other illustrious names such as Atlantic, Canongate, Faber & Faber, and Granta. In the past, Franklin (photo at right) has authored articles claiming that e-books are “Parasites on the back of real books,” but he seems to have come to terms with the digital revolution. Not, however, self-publishing
No matter that convergence between self-publishing and mainstream, whether through publisher-supported platforms like Author Solutions or successful self-published authors like Hugh Howey striking major deals, is the new mantra; Franklin has a serious down on the entire sector. “I was very shocked to learn you can buy Facebook friends and Likes on social media,” Franklin said. “That is what passes for affirmation in what I think is the deeply corrupt world of self-publishing.”
With the last hearings of the Department of Justice e-book price fixing investigation still under way, it seems no good time for a publisher, however independent, to be labeling the self-publishing sector as “deeply corrupt,” but Franklin insists on the added value that publishers can contribute in the space between writer and reader: “I think there is a process of the professional making of books which does make a real difference to the reader and the writer.”
Explicitly Dumping on the Very Notion of Creative Independence
Franklin may be right that a massive amount of dross gets self-published. (Though it consequently gets ignored, so why should that bother him?) He may also be right that many self-published works are produced to abysmal standards, and that their authors could benefit from some serious editorial guidance—although that’s as disrespectful as a Mayfair gallery owner abusing the competence of hobbyist Sunday painters. But why would any capable author go to a publisher who explicitly dumps on the very notion of creative independence? And if Franklin speaks for the Independent Alliance, I’d have doubts about the entire organization.
Franklin was acerbic as ever, even in auto-reply mode, when I emailed him for comment. “I am out of the office having my heart removed,” he wrote. “On my return, I’ll be a Conservative cabinet minister.”
Not Minister for Culture, one hopes.
I hear they’re discovered a new dinosaur species. It denies change around them and rants without recourse to facts while dissing the very people it ’employs’. It would be such a shame if this species were to become commercially extinct. But wait, it reluctantly lurches into the modern world while spewing bile and brimstone. Bereft of objectivity it totters on the edge of publicity. Welcome to the change curve, it’s long overdue. It’s called ‘progress’.
Jealous, frightened, clueless, obsolete?
A bitter, sad man. I’m sure every book he turns out is stellar and bought for its literary merit, not any other reason.
If the books are met with deafening silence, why doesn’t he just shut up? He’s adding nothing to publishing other than showing his ass.
It seems he likes insulting people at random, as his auto-reply indicates. It also seems that his opinions on self-publishing are venal and hence worthless.
It’s not like authors are the only people buying “likes” through social media. Plenty of other businesses are into that game.
Funny, I don’t feel corrupt, but maybe I’m just fooling myself…
Hey, I’d like to give the guy right of reply, as I emailed his entire publicity department, but you read all I got. And I’m sure Profile has done some great things. It’s just a pity to see a creative independent publishing house dissing on creative independents – I mean, what sort of sense does that make? And one point I didn’t raise in the article was the abysmal standard of much mainstream publishing these days in terms of proofreading, layout, editing, etc. I’m sure Profile isn’t an offender, but I know for a fact that one of the other Independent Alliance members is.
He’s lashing out because he feels threatened. If self-published books weren’t selling at all, he would probably never have mentioned them. It’s a bit like Steve Jobs saying the Kindle didn’t matter because no one reads anymore.
I responded this in a post. But, what is his problem? Books are great … while some could use help with editing, he should really relax a bit and enjoy what is going on.