A Piece of My Mind: Writers and the Economy
     Bennet Pomerantz

The Great Depression, like most other periods of severe unemployment, was produced by government mismanagement rather than by any inherent instability of the private economy.
   ~   Milton Friedman

A free-enterprise economy depends only on markets, and according to the most advanced mathematical macroeconomic theory, markets depend only on moods: specifically, the mood of the men in the pinstripes, also known as the Boys on the Street. When the Boys are in a good mood, the market thrives; when they get scared or sullen, it is time for each one of us to look into the retail apple business.
   ~    Barbara Ehrenreich

So food prices are up and many are laid off. How can this affect a writer? Many ways!

I hate to be a naysayer, but the lay-offs are not just at GM, Alcoa and Circuit City. Many in book publishing are cutting back accepting new authors and publishing more books. Barnes & Noble and Borders are closing stores and focusing their efforts on their on-line shops. Public libraries are cutting hours, supplies (yes, that also means books) and staff. Some magazines are folding and others are cutting their staff and statuses (going from a monthly to a bi-monthly).

So what is a writer to do? I still say WRITE! Get out there and work on your short stories and novels. Because the economy is not that stable, that does not mean stall writing.

If you have not realized it yet, getting published is be a dog eat dog market nowadays. The cream will rise to the top. If you slow down or stall your writing, you will be left in the cream’s scum - which is not a good place to be.

Sure, there will be more rejection letters. With fewer books and magazines folding and slowing, publishers will get selective. The slush piles will always be there.

Understand that a rejection letter is not personal, it states the publisher can not use your work at this time. Many writers get a few rejection letters and assume it is the end of the world. It isn’t.  Remember that!

We can hope the economy changes over the next four years with our new president. We can assume that will happen..Or we can be negative and assume it will be pitch dark, before the silver lining comes through.

I just read a great article about a film that will never be made. Read it and see what happens with a film and you may get an idea what is happening with the state of publishing now.

I welcome your comments. So Until Next time, Reach for the Stars

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About the Writer:

Bennet Pomerantz is a media review columnist in 175 newspapers with his weekly column AUDIOWORLD. His fiction and reviews have appeared in the pages of Affaire De Coeur, Gateways, Mystery Scene, Power Star, The Hot Corner, Washington Entertainment Magazine, and many others. He is also known for his review appearances on the MCN Forum. View his web site at Audioworld.