I am super excited as today 2nd October, IWSG site is going live. This month I am co-hosting IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) founded by
Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh, is a support group for writers, where we talk of
our writing insecurities, share ways we circumvent these insecurities and help
and support each other. We post on the first Wednesday of every month. My amazing
co-hosts this month are Julie Luek, Beverly Fox and Ilima Todd. To read the other IWSG posts go here.
I look forward to the IWSG posts. As sharing
insecurities is becoming quite a stress buster for me. It’s nice to know that I
am not alone where these insecurities are concerned.
Today I am sharing an insecurity which I am sure all
writers have at some or the other point. Fear of my books not selling many
copies. The first time I heard about books being pulped was the time when my
heart skipped a beat. My publisher told me that when a particular book is not
sold and the copies are lying in the storage room for some time, then the publishers
have no option other than pulping these books. Pulping means that the books are
stripped of their covers and the pages are sold like old newspapers. That
really depressed me.
So far none of my books have been pulped. Actually,
thank God for this blessing, they have gone into reprints. But, I still fear
that word, and hope and pray that none of us writers ever face that day where
we see our books being pulped.
Have you ever had such a fear? Have you heard of pulping? How do you deal with
it?
P.S. I am taking a blogging break for two weeks due
to personal reasons. I will hopefully be back by the third week or max by the end of October and
will catch up with you all then.
Thanks for teaching this new term, Rachna:)
ReplyDeleteI used to work in a bookstore and I remember when the publishing houses' reps came along and pulled their books which weren't selling off the shelf. They'd then rip off all the covers. Right in front of me. It felt like a million books were screaming in horror at the sight. The sound might've just been in my head, but you know what I mean ;)
ReplyDeleteThat is horrible! When you think of all the work that went into those books. I hate it that money has become the be-all and end-all in the publishing world. Not every best-seller is worth keeping, and quite a few books that aren't selling well are gems.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your break, Rachna.
Great. Do share the links for your posts on IWSG, here too.
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
I never realized *that* was what pulping was - I always thought it was the literal destruction of the book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting IWSG :)
Hi, Rachna,
ReplyDeleteHope your challenges get sorted out quickly.
I wonder who buys the pages and for what use. The digital age is such that many of us won't have books that ever go stale. I've just got the rights back on a couple of my books and I gotta tell you, I'm ecstatic.
Have fun and thanks for your hard work.
Hadn't heard of them being pulped. But yes, I worry about my books not selling. If I ever get published.
ReplyDeleteHope your break goes well.
Great to see you hosting the Group, Rachna, thanks!
ReplyDeleteRachna, thanks again for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteDestroying books seems like such a waste. Surly there is a library that would appreciate them?
And hope everything works out during your break.
I guess the only good part about worrying that my books would end up being pulped is that it would mean I've been traditionally published. Right now, I'm only expecting to publish electronically or via POD. But I can always hope.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting this month's ISWG.
Yes I had heard of that term from an episode of a UK comedy programme. Not funny, but Steven Coogan made it so.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your break.
Shah X
http://iurl.no/b5655
Those poor books :( As sad as it is that I've not sold many e-copies of my books, at least I know THAT isn't happening to them! Thanks for co-hosting IWSG! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog this morning! This is my first ISWG blog tour. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of pulping, but it would scare me, too. As writers, we worry about so many things. Our minds are trained to always think of the worst-case scenario, but it really sucks when that ability works against us.
Congrats on the success of your books, and I hope everything goes well for you in the next two weeks. Thank you for supporting other writers. <3
I hadn't heard of pulping! Yikes! And I think all writers fear their books won't sell. I think the best way to deal with that is to remember why you started writing in the first place and just keep writing.
ReplyDeleteOh, Rachna, I don't blame you for having this fear. I have it too. But together collectively, we'll overcome this fear and keep doing what we love. Writing. Thanks for co-hosting this month.
ReplyDeletePulping definitely sounds like something to avoid.
ReplyDeleteThe pulping process conjures a horrible image... *shudders*
ReplyDeleteNever heard of this before, hope I never have to experience it. Hope all is well on your hiatus.
ReplyDeleteI think that in the future there will be less pulping because of technology advances. Enjoy your blogging break! I am excited to see the new website. Happy IWSG Day!
ReplyDeleteI've heard of that process, but didn't know it was called pulping. Sound horrible. Congrats on your books and their reprints, and thanks for helping the the IWSG this month!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I hope all is well in your end, Rachna, and if it is not, then that it works out soon. Dragon and dwarves will be waiting for when you come back.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I had no heard about books getting pulped but I had thought about the fear of publishing a book that no one reads. Must be horrible.
I'd never heard of pulping, Rachna - my first month as part of IWSG and I've learnt something already. Thank you.
ReplyDeletePulping... eek.. I never heard the term before, I don't like it. lol.
ReplyDeleteYay for co-hosting IWSG this time around, Rachna ;)
I have NOT heard of pulping. O.O *gulp* It's awesome that your books were reprinted, though!
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting.
That's a legitimate concern but, on the other hand, at least you have a book out -to be- pulped :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting, this month, and I hope your break goes well.
Hello fellow co-host!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of pulping before but boy, dose it sound frightening!
Should I ever get a book published (someday....) I will hope and pray that word doesn't come up...
Hope your personal issues get resolved.
Take care,
Bev
I've never heard the term pulp before (this blog hosting has been an education for me today!). Thanks for the explanation and congrats you haven't had to personally apply it.
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you on your break!
Julie Luek
A Thought Grows
Co-host IWSG October
I knew that's what happened to books--covers torn off and returned to the publisher to get credit. But did not know the term. Just think, not only the books are wasted, I wonder how many trees were cut to make the paper and all for nothing. Thanks for hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteYikes. So what exactly is Pulp Fiction, then?
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting this month and have a nice blogging break!
Tessa (currently posting both at Tessa's Blurb and The Book Bunnies)
Pretty sure my heart stopped beating for a moment there, I've never heard of pulping before. Glad that you've not been victim to it!
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of that term until now. My debut book will be digital first (only), which means the term won't have the same meaning to me.
ReplyDeletePulping. Now that is frightening. I wonder what the ebook version of that would be. Send in some virus to eat up the code of your book so it no longer exists. Great, now I am going to have nightmares.
ReplyDeleteRachna, thanks so much for co-hosting this month! Isn't it funny how we fear things like this? I fear it, too, and I don't even have a book out yet. Never heard of "pulped."
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of it, but being from California, the recycling state, I understand the concept. Its hard to have books just sitting around, taking up storage space for years and years if nobody is requesting them.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you will never have to face the horror with your books :)
I worry all the time about my publications not selling. I imagine someone must have bought or read any of the anthologies I've been published in; but its really hard not to get a review - even a one star - that shows at least one person read it, lol.
Have a good weekend Rachna.
.......dhole
Hi friends, thank you for dropping by and leaving a comment. I feel that pulping is a writer's worst nightmare come true. I hope and pray none of us ever face that day where our books will be pulped.
ReplyDeleteRachna Chhabria
Co-host IWSG
Rachna's Scriptorium
I think mass pulping only comes about when the publishers flood the market and get it wrong (which they do a lot). A bookshop with shelves full of the same book is supposed to make buyers think it must be a big hit already. Most books never get that sort of push. Of course ebooks don't face that problem.
ReplyDeletemood
Moody Writing
I used to see stripped books at flea markets all the time.
ReplyDeleteI worry about the bargain bin, with the black stripe of marker on the bottom.
See you after your break.
Nice to meet you and I hope you enjoyed co-hosting IWSG. Hope all goes well in your break!
ReplyDeleteThe "pulping" process is pretty disturbing. Thanks for co-hosting the IWSG. Hope your break goes well.
ReplyDeleteJulie
Having ones books pulped would be very discouraging. Not having enough sales is something that worries anyone in any business. Good marketing can help. And if you don't succeed then...well, you know the rest of that.
ReplyDeleteTake care. Hope all is well.
Lee
A Faraway View
Can't picutre a better co-host:) Also, I hope all is well with you on your two week hiatus:)
ReplyDeleteI'm just coming back from a five-week break. See you when you return!
ReplyDelete(and don't think about book pulping while you're away)
Thanks, Rachna, for your support and commenting on my post! Hope to see you when you get back! Much love to ya!
ReplyDeleteHope everything's OK and see you soon. Here's hoping that none of us ever get pulped!
ReplyDeletePulping? Oh my goodness, I didn't know they did that! But at least you've never had that problem :-)
ReplyDeleteNot really worried about pulping at the moment, but I also fear not selling enough copies.
ReplyDeleteBut it's early days yet...
Aww! That's so sad about pulping books. I guess that's another good thing about ebooks and print on demand. There's no need for pulping.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a nice blogging break.
Actually I am surprised that it is still be done... With most books being printed on demand, I would think this happens less.
ReplyDeleteBut, yes, this is something to be anxious about. Since I have no books published yet, I'm not going to think about it.
Don't worry Rachna ... if your books are in reprint, you have nothing to fear.
I hope your time off goes well... We'll miss you.