As large publishers turn into monopolies, and the MBAs who are running them - maybe editors used to run them before - are steadily tightening the screws, they feel more and more that they get to call the shots.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
There's been a growing dissatisfaction and distrust with the conventional publishing industry, in that you tend to have a lot of formerly reputable imprints now owned by big conglomerates.
Most editors are just worried about their jobs. They're overwhelmed. They're underpaid. They do the best they can.
When there are fewer and fewer publishers of scale, it's just not good for authors.
In a world where everyone is a publisher, no one is an editor. And that is the danger that we face today.
It seems the world of book publishing is constantly changing. Whether it was the rise of chain stores or their decline, or the digital revolution... fortunately, we have been able not only to adapt but to thrive.
I think when companies are struggling, they don't want to talk to the press. The guys who write business books aren't interested in it because nobody wants to learn what it's like to be a mess, you want to learn how to be successful. That's slanted the whole thing quite a bit.
The real literary editors have mostly been fired. Those that remain are all 'bottom line' editors; everything depends on the money.
Publishing companies are like schoolyard bullies that can't even fight well.
It's not like publishing is perfect. Far from it. The industry is struggling to adapt and survive, and it's incredibly frustrating trying to break in.
Everywhere, publishers are being squeezed out.