Can Modest Print Runs Be Successful?

Apparently the kinds of sales that used to lead to immediate cancellation of books and much tearing of garments in grief over their crappiness are now looked upon as being successful, if you read between the lines of a couple of newer articles. This profile of the University of Mississippi Press makes no bones about print runs in the early four figures, while an imminent sell-out of 1000 copies of House of Sugar has put a smile on publisher Hope Larson's face.

I think this is a pleasant change from a model of publishing that demands higher minimums to remain in operation. In fact, if you look at a broader view of comics publishing over decades rather than months, one of the grand trends is towards models that favor smaller print runs. I would imagine that changes in technology make this less of a burden to their publishers, while expectations have become both more sober (more people realizing the low sales and building it into a publishing plan; or simply not demanding their endeavor supply them with a full-time publishing gig) and broader (publishing as a resume builder or to secure other work). I think it makes for a richer art form when marginalized work can still be viable, and a more stable industry when publishers are producing work according to their financial ability to handle their needs.
 
posted 10:10 pm PST | Permalink
 

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