Publishing

"A publisher is someone who thinks he knows what people want and is always wrong." anonymous

"Publishing a volume of verse is like dropping *a rose petal*an atomic bomb*a cat* down the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo." Don Marquis (American poet and journalist, 1878-1937)

"A publisher is just a banker in a raincoat." Edna Ferber (American writer, 1887-1968)

"Publishing is a *business*sham*scandal* but writing is a passion." anonymous

"I've had more publishers than most people have had hot dinners." Jilly Cooper (English writer, 1937-)

"The difference between a publisher and a prostitute is that the prostitute doesn't ask for a percentage of the royalties." anonymous

"Publishing a book is like being *pregnant.*blessed.*a Martian.* Everyone congratulates you, but no one knows how many times you got screwed." anonymous

"The publishing industry is like a game of musical chairs. Sometimes you get a seat, sometimes you don't, and sometimes you end up sitting on the floor." anonymous

"Publishers are like blind men in a dark room, looking for a black cat that isn't there." Charles Dudley Warner (American writer, 1829-1900)

"Publishing is a very mysterious business. It is hard to predict what kind of sale or reception a book will have, and advertising seems to do very little good." Thomas Wolfe (American novelist, 1900-1938)

"A publisher is a person who takes your money in advance for something they're not sure they want." Arthur Miller (American playwright, 1915-2005)

"Publishing is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs." Hunter S. Thompson (American journalist and author, 1937-2005)

"The only thing worse than being rejected by a publisher is being accepted by a publisher and then realizing you made a huge mistake." anonymous

"Publishing is like *Hollywood.*boxing.*singing.* You're only as good as your last hit." Michael Korda (editor-in-chief of Simon & Schuster, 1933-)

"Publishing is a lot like dating. You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince." anonymous

"Publishers are like *vultures.*sharks.*bankers.* They circle around you, waiting for you to die, and then they swoop in and pick your bones clean." anonymous

"Publishing a book is easy. Selling a book is hard." anonymous

"Publishers are like parents. They give birth to your book, but then they expect you to raise it." anonymous

AUTHOR: Please give immediate decision; have other irons in the fire.
MANAGEMENT: Suggest removing irons and inserting manuscript. anonymous (telegram from an impatient author who had sent her play to a theatrical management)

"In a profession where simple accountancy is preferable to a degree in English, illiteracy is not considered to be a great drawback." Dominic Behan (Irish writer, 1928-)

"The world needs your book, just not many copies of it." Derek Brewer (British academic and publisher, 1923-2008)

"The poem will please if it is lively – if it is stupid, it will fail – but I will have none of your damned cutting and slashing." Lord Byron (English poet, 1788-1824)

"Manuscript: something submitted in haste and returned at leisure." Oliver Herford (English-born American humorist, 1863-1935)

A publisher who writes is like a *cow in a milk bar.*man on a mission.*dog with a bone.* Arthur Koestler (Hungarian-born writer, 1905-83)

"I suppose publishers are untrustworthy. They certainly always look it." Oscar Wilde (Irish dramatist and poet, 1854-1900)