Moving towards Vanity Publishing

Thanks Raymond for this article link. Published in the Guardian the article discusses Macmillan's plans to publish young and aspiring authors in a way that just ain't right.

If it decides to accept a novel for the list, terms are unnegotiable; no advance will be paid, though writers will receive 20% of royalties from sales. Macmillan will copy edit books, but if manuscripts need more detailed work, it will suggest that writers employ freelance editors. According to notes sent to authors, such editors "will charge realistic fees and this will not in itself guarantee publication".

This is a clear move towards vanity publishing and I am not sure why Macmillan is fronting like it isn't. Sounds like the terms offered by companies like PublishAmerica. I can't say there is a problem with PublishAmerica beyond the obvious, but for traditional publishers to do it, is just wrong.

If publishing companies like Macmillan are looking for ways to produce books more affordably, why not look at overhead, why not try to devise strategies to sell direct to consumer and cut out high distributor fees, why not look at unequal advances, why not try to sell all books instead of putting efforts towards "big books"?