What are your ideas worth?

January 18, 2010 by Claire Fogg (Publisher, Yearbooks)
Filed under: Digital publishing, Writing Advice 

Claire Fogg blogYou’re writing a book and you want to make money. Yet the expected rite-of-passage for any new writer is a sojourn in the wilderness of holding down multiple jobs, struggling to get an agent, and – well – not earning a great deal of cash. Not for a while, at any rate.

‘Writer’ has never been up there with lawyer, doctor, broker etc, as one of the UK’s best paid jobs. Nor, thankfully, is it up there with the Worst Jobs with the Best Pay. I’d say it’s a whole lot more glamorous than 21hr crab-fishing shifts in Alaska. But it’s a breadline kind of glamour, isn’t it?

Actually there could be other ways to generate revenue. It could be that making money won’t always be about sales of your book. I spotted a site recently, one which is setting itself up as a new way for authors to make cash. I can’t vouch for it in any shape or form, but what I can say is it’s an interesting concept.

What Manfred Macx is suggesting revolves around your willingness as a writer to ‘sell’ things other than a book. Bear with me. Yes, you could sell your story, in a book form, but you could also sell all sorts of other things, things which might not even have occurred to you yet. One of their examples is the name of a character: would someone you know pay to name a character in your book, for instance?

Now this is not entirely new. In some respects it’s like Fay Weldon’s The Bulgari Connection, her 2001 book in which she managed to namecheck the jewellers Bulgari throughout – all part of a tie-in deal which reportedly netted a handsome five-figure sum. It didn’t pass without comment though. Not everyone approved.

But is it really so strange? For the music industry the ready availability of digital downloads has shifted money-making increasingly towards live events and sponsorship. Product placement in music is a big deal, with ad agencies such as Kluger making serious headway with ‘brand partnerships’ such as Beck’s beer and Kid Rock. This practice means that a musician can sell the space in their lyrics to an advertiser.

In time we might see novels geared towards this kind of brand-dropping too.

As a writer, would you be happy with product placement in your novel? And is it a good idea to sell things like character names, or do you think that’s a case of selling-out?

Best wishes, Claire

Publisher (Yearbooks)

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Comments

16 Comments on What are your ideas worth?

  1. Goldstein on Jan 18, 2010 at 10:08am

    2. I tried to be open minded to the question, I really did: but the words of Bill Hicks came irresistibly to mind…

    “Let me tell you somethin’ right now, and you can print this in stone; and don’t you ever forget it: any, ANY, performer that ever sells a product on television is for now to all eternity removed from the artistic world – I don’t care if you shit Mona Lisa’s outa your arse on cue. You’ve made your choice… everything you say is suspect, everything that comes out of your mouth is like a turd falling into my drink… that’s the deal. End of story.”

    Emphatic argument, and one I believe you simply must adhere to if you have any artistic acumen whatsoever. Thanks for all the blogs on this site – they’re a tremendous help, keep up the great work guys and gals.

    John

  2. Jessica Blake on Jan 18, 2010 at 13:11pm

    3. It’s a matter of where you put yourself. We humans like to classify and that’s what I’m doing right now.
    If you put yourself in the artist box, than how could your moral and pride allow you to sell your own work for less than you think it deserves?
    But if you’re an economist who happens to write a book, you will have no problems with selling things like names of your characters… is it possible to be an artist and an economist?
    The answer is individual, but I believe that if you’re an artist (born to be one, even) you will accept only the result of your own labour and will try to do it (write) to the best of your abilities.
    All best.

  3. Jon Renaut on Jan 19, 2010 at 03:18am

    4. Claire – Your analogy with the music industry is perfect – that was a big inspiration for the site. I’ve been watching bands change the way they make money, and started thinking, “Why can’t authors do that, too?”.

    Product placement is really a small part of what I think the site will be. If the placement works in the story, or if it doesn’t take away from the story, then I think it’s a good option, but I think it will be the exception more than the rule.

    A better way to look at the site is to think about what things become more valuable when you read and love a book. Let’s say you have a fantastic recipe for chocolate chip cookies that was passed down to you from your grandmother. You might be able to sell a dozen cookies for $8.

    But what if you wrote a book that really spoke to people, that everyone who read had to share with a friend? Now you can sell those same cookies to your fans for $20. They’re no longer buying cookies from some random person on the internet. They’re buying cookies from an author they really love.

    Jon Renaut
    Founder (Manfred Macx)

  4. Audrey-K on Jan 20, 2010 at 10:03am

    5. Great subject!

    Personally, I have no problem whatsoever with merchandising or product placement.
    I think that it is only in the writing world that people have such strong opinions about whether or not being commercial makes you less of an artist. No one frowns upon cleverly construed joint promotion in television, or movies, or in the music industry. Yet in the literary world it is considered to be a terrible sin.

    Not for me, anyway. A great story will remain a great story, whether or not your character only drinks sponsored Budweiser, or just an unnamed “bottle of beer”. And a great author will remain a great author, whether or not they sell their main characters favorite t-shirt in a webstore.

  5. Fran on Jan 20, 2010 at 20:19pm

    6. Interesting idea. I think readers might catch on, though, if you called your main characters Jane, Bob, Alan and CarlingBlackLabel.

  6. John Warwick on Jan 20, 2010 at 22:37pm

    7. I don’t think it’s a problem if it’s done well.

    Ian Rankin sometimes holds charitable auctions where the highest bidder gets a character named after them in the next Rebus novel. It never seems to intrude on his work.

    I think the point Bill Hicks was making is that you shouldn’t allow the money to dictate what you write. Rankin certainly doesn’t do this – he named a prostitute after one auction winner!

  7. Cressida Downing (Editorial Consultant) on Jan 22, 2010 at 12:02pm

    8. Traditionally this has probably had most relevance for children’s authors. If your picture book series takes off, then you may wish to consider merchandising – a range of cuddly toys, nursery bedding, tv shows etc etc. It’s worked well for Beatrix Potter, Michael Bond and other such luminaries.

    I understand that children’s films don’t necessarily have to make a profit these days, as so much money floods in with merchandising!

    Cressida

  8. tonyl on Jan 22, 2010 at 16:36pm

    9. Interesting thread this, it hadn’t really occurred to me that this happened (but then again I’m new to this). At the moment, I’d happily namedrop for money in order to be able to write fiction for a living. Of course the catch-22 is that you are only going to get sponsored f your book get spublished anyway. I think if I had a deal for any piece of work, then I’d probably be hesitant to “advertise” in it. But I guess it also depends what you are writing. If its a commercial, airport bookshop, paperback type book, with no pretensions other than to be easily accessible and an entertaining read, then as long as it doesn’t detract from those goals, I suppose I see no problem. I think if your work is the kind that requires a bit more reflection to fully enjoy it, and it attempts to deal with more serious or senstive or emotional themes, then clumsily inserted product placements would definitely be unattractive, in my opinion. I suppose if I’m honest, I’d like to write something that required reflection that also sold in bucket-loads!!

  9. Claire Fogg (Publisher, Yearbooks) on Jan 25, 2010 at 14:00pm

    10. Thank you for so many great comments. The theme of art vs commerce reminds me of the debate that surrounded the appointment of the new Poet Laureate: ie, can you write poetry to order and still be good, or will that kind of role always stifle creativity?
    Tonyl, I have a feeling that most people would agree with you and would like to create great literature that sells to millions!

  10. iskra on Feb 2, 2010 at 11:08am

    11. I am sure it can be done relevently & reasonably tastefully.

    The other side of the coin are the letters journalists, writers & editors get from companies scolding them for using their product’s name ‘out of context’ & without capitals eg, sellotape, cornflakes, hoover etc.

    Personally speaking, I am in such a state of fiscal embarassment at presnt that I could have no hesitation endorsing anything from neutron bombs to kidney sales!

  11. kjbrown60 on Feb 4, 2010 at 18:20pm

    12. Couldn’t agree more with Iskra. Give me money, now! I’ll write anything you want.

    We all want to write great prose. Sometimes, we probably all manage it. We certainly all want to be recognised for our writing talent, admired for our genius, worshipped for our artistic integrity.

    But until that happens, we all have to eat. And I’m hungry.

  12. Naivion on Feb 5, 2010 at 09:56am

    13. To be honest the concept of advitising in a book is odd, as i do not see it happening in my genre. Since when did elves or other mythical things go to mcdonalds? or drink coca cola? hehe my point being i don’t think theres a chance to in my genre… and even if there was i wouldn’t because its basicly saying, i know my work is not good enough to make money on its own so i need another way of making money. Oh and this blog is great as is the book, kudos to the writer utter genious :P best writing help ive seen.

  13. Youthensia on Feb 5, 2010 at 16:03pm

    14. I wouldn’t have any objection to name dropping IF it was relevant to the storyline or helps to inform the reader about the ‘character’ and what they like etc. As a new writer to be published for the first time later this year, my problem is I’m not sure what I can actually mention !

  14. lil.miss.hc on Feb 26, 2010 at 14:13pm

    15. Hmm tough call. I don’t think i would want to limit my writing in that way by selling my characters’ preferences to the highest bidder. What if my character doesn’t like cadbury’s chocolate or Nike sportswear? I want my creations to like what i want them to like, not what i’m told they should like. For me, writing is about freedom to say what i want, not get told what to say like in other jobs.

  15. Sajjid Manuel on Feb 28, 2010 at 15:24pm

    16. There is a BIG difference when one does something for the sake of money, and when one does something for the sake of truly communicating ideas, thoughts and feelings without the element of monitory gain getting in the way.

    You see I am a musician and that’s what I do best, but on the other
    side of this coin, I also have a passion to write for children. Although,
    I have not had any of my writings published, I have been writing and
    researching the market in the offline world and the online world for
    many years now with the intention of being heard one fine day.

    Believe me when I tell you this, my life from year 1 to 35 has been
    a life I would not wish for my worst enemy, and not to mention that
    I have been broke for the most of my life.

    But I noticed something in my life that made me feel different and made all the difference. When ever I did something because I loved it and was passionate about it and never allowed the money-factor to get in the way, I got better and better at it and I enjoyed it all the more..

    Kind Regards,

    Sajjid Manuel

  16. Xean Puccio on Apr 12, 2010 at 05:14am

    17. Glamour is fleeting and money a fickle reason to write. I believe there’s nothing wrong with product placement in one’s writing… so long it’s your idea. Sometimes, survival has to come first. But at what cost?

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