Do You Want It Hard or Soft?
Monday, August 10, 2009 Question of the day: Can you explain the difference between a hardcover release and a paperback release? Which is better? What about e-books?
First of all, forgive the header innuendo. I couldn't help myself. :) Second of all, I'm happy to explain MY opinions on this subject, with the understanding that this can be a little touchy and not everyone will likely agree with me!
So, when you sell your book, you usually sell it with the understanding that it will come out either in hardcover, trade paperback or mass market. I'm going to solely deal with the first two because I've never had a book come out in MM (the even smaller version of a paperback that you often see in airports or grocery stores), so can't claim to have first-hand knowledge of that situation. Whether or not you land a hardcover deal depends on a few factors - 1) the imprint that makes an offer (some imprints, such as Avon, solely publish in pbk), 2) how much money they're offering you (generally - and this is just a rule of thumb and not always true, bigger advances garner hardcover offers - I'll explain why below) and 3) where your agent/editor think you fall in the marketplace.
What's the positive of coming out in hardcover? Well, there are a few. (Don't worry, I'll get to the negatives.) For one, you get TWO shots at the book doing well and TWO shots at earning back your advance. So there's the first wave, and then the second, as you can see from what I've been doing this past week with Time of My Life. For two, hardcover books are generally the ones that grab reviews in the major mags/trades (though not always, of course!). For three, for whatever reason, there is a certain prestige within the industry about hardcover books...I'm not saying I agree with it, but the general belief is that there's something...grander?...not sure if that's the right word, but something along those lines with hardcover. And again, for four, hardcovers often get bigger advances because as I noted in my first point here, there's a bigger opportunity to earn it back AND more media coverage to generate buzz.
Now. Before anyone gets upset, let me say that there are downsides in being published in hardcover too. For one, the price will turn some people off, especially if you're a new author. So your agent/editor may very well try to build your audience in pbk with the long term plan of eventually coming out in HC. For two, if your HC doesn't perform, the publisher has the option NOT to publish you in pbk, which really leaves you screwed. For three, paperbacks tend to sell A LOT more copies - so while yes, someone in my position DOES have the opportunity to come out with a paperback - it CAN be nice, especially for a new author, to really sell like gang-busters out of the gate.
I really don't have any idea about e-books, if you're talking exclusively publishing in that realm. Maybe someone on here does? If you're talking Kindle, I believe that this is part of your entire publishing contract and you receive a certain percentage for each sale. (I'd have to check my specific contract however and am too harried to do so at this exact moment.)
You know, it's a tricky thing - which one to come in. Both have their positives and negatives, and I guess this is where having a trusted agent to advise you really comes into play. But I'm curious to hear feedback from others: hard or soft? Preference?
Reader Comments (7)
Great post, Allison.
I prefer to read soft cover books. Not sure why, but if I have the option I seem to prefer the flexibility.
But as an aspiring author, I agree that I'd love to have my book published in hard cover. You're right, there is a sense of almost prestige and accomplishment in a hard cover. It's almost like a badge, or some sort of validation by the publisher that the book is a legitimate one worth reading.
I really enjoy a hardback, especially if it's a favourite author. But lately, credit crunch and all, I've stopped buying them as they cost £17+ sometimes and that's a bit much. But holding back is difficult as there is such a long wait for the paperback.
Sometimes, having bought the hardback, I get jealous when I see the paperback comer out as it often has a really cool design. I feel like buying another copy!
MK.
As a reader, I much prefer the pocketbook size softcovers. I prefer to be able to hold a book in one hand while having lunch or reclining in bed, and hardcovers are too bulky and heavy for that.
As an aspiring author, I would actually prefer my first book or two to come out in pocketbook size first because, as you said, they sell a LOT more copies than hardcovers, especially for unknown authors.
Most people I know greatly prefer to buy trade paperbacks, but they're willing to splurge on a hardcover for a writer they know and adore. So I think it makes sense for a debut to come out in a trade paperback, and for that author to build up to a hardcover. You certainly wouldn't want to do it the other way around. Of course, if publishers are expecting the book to be a can't miss -- Angelina and Brad pen their own memoirs? -- they'll bring it out in hardcover and be wise to do so.
I'm unpublished so can only speak as a buyer. I only buy hardbacks of books I am anxious to read that aren't out in paperback yet. However, if I LOVE it, I will buy three to TEN copies of hardbacks to give as gifts because it feels cheap to give paperbacks as gifts.
Thanks for this post Allison. I learned something new. I usually pass on the hardcover and wait for the paperback version (due to cost and I just seem to like paperbacks better than hardcover) - but now that I know an author may not get the chance to have his/her book released in paperback if the hardcover doesn't sell well, I might reconsider buying those hardcovers.
I prefer to read paperback. But not just because of the cost. The thing that annoys me the most with the hardcovers is the jacket always falling off. I love hardcovers where the cover image is printed right on the actual cover so there's no slippage =) Silly, I know, but it's just a personal preference. Of course, when I'm published, if they want to do HC first, I am certainly not going to argue!