Any writers?

[AmateisGal]

On my blog today, I talked about whether or not I was "ready" to be published. Answer? As ready as I'll ever be.

You guys?

 

[Undertow]

On my blog today, I talked about whether or not I was "ready" to be published. Answer? As ready as I'll ever be.

You guys?

Good question! I think it would be nice if I could jump on it and say yes, but I would have to consider the pros and cons. 2nd book syndrome; time, money, effort, energy; constant internal and external pressures to achieve the same recognition or better; etc.

My answer - yes. I would be willing to work through my full time job as well as promote my own book, take my own losses, continue writing to meet deadlines, sign contracts, and go to crazy lengths to make it all meet in the end. I doubt that I would ever gain any worthwhile noteriaty, but I would do it for the love of the art and to hopefully reach out and touch someone.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

I'm resuming my writing in earnest. I have a friend to whom I send something daily to hold me accountable and also whose opinion I value.

 

[Pompidou]

I don't know if this helps anyone, but this website has a list of smaller indie publishers. The last one on the list, "The Independent Publishers' Guild" looks promising, as does "Consortium Book Sales & Distribution". They, on the whole, seem more willing to publish the sorts of things others won't touch.

http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Fall05/mangan/indie5.html

 

[AmateisGal]

I'm resuming my writing in earnest. I have a friend to whom I send something daily to hold me accountable and also whose opinion I value.

Good for you, PrettySquareGal! What do you write?

 

[AmateisGal]

I don't know if this helps anyone, but this website has a list of smaller indie publishers. The last one on the list, "The Independent Publishers' Guild" looks promising, as does "Consortium Book Sales & Distribution". They, on the whole, seem more willing to publish the sorts of things others won't touch.

http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Fall05/mangan/indie5.html

Off to check it out now. Thanks, Pompidou!

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Good for you, PrettySquareGal! What do you write?

Thank you. I have three books in progress. One is non-fiction self-help, another my memoirs, and the third is a novel. I hope to finish them before I pass away*. Maybe then I can at least be dead and famous. :eusa_doh:

*NOT PLANNING ON THAT ANYTIME SOON!**
**I just mean I hope I can get my act together sooner than later!

 

[Pompidou]

Have you folks looked into what it takes to publish electronically, say, on the iTunes iBook store? Or for the Amazon Kindle? I was spurred to bring it up by a thread that just started in The Observation Room. This site "Smashwords" offers an e-publishing service. I sympathize with all the "no"s you all are getting for your efforts. I face similar negativity as I gather funding to open my cafe - and in the future I'd like to turn some of my stories into novels as well. Getting published to the various e-stores is free, and you get 85% of sales. You're guaranteed to be published. Read into it. I'm no lawyer, but it looks like you all can get feet in the door. Then all you need to do is market yourself to get sales.

http://www.smashwords.com/about/how_to_publish_on_smashwords

Smashwords for Authors
Smashwords is a free service that helps you publish, promote, distribute and sell your masterpiece as a multi-format ebook, ready for immediate sale online at a price you determine. Because we publish your book in multiple ebook formats, your book is readable on any e-reading device, including the Amazon Kindle, the Apple iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad, the Sony Reader, the Barnes & Noble nook, your personal computer, Android devices, and others. As a Smashwords author, you gain access to free, do-it-yourself sales and marketing tools to help you promote your book. You receive 85 percent of the net sales proceeds from your titles (70.5% for affiliate sales).

EDIT: If there's no restriction on publishing to a physical format later, you could maybe use sales from the e-proceeds to take to a physical publisher as proof of worth. Or, if there is, you can take the sales from the e-proceeds from your first publication as proof of your worth in publishing the second. I mean, it gets easier every subsequent time you get a book out there. Your names will get known, and that counts way more than quality. Stephen King could write a line or two about his latest bowel movement, and publishers would be knocking down his walls to get the rights.

 

[AmateisGal]

Feeling good tonight. Met with my awesome critique group this morning, then wrote 2,200 words tonight.

 

[Undertow]

Feeling good tonight. Met with my awesome critique group this morning, then wrote 2,200 words tonight.

Wow! Don't you feel like electricity was shooting through your veins? I love that feeling!

 

[AmateisGal]

Wow! Don't you feel like electricity was shooting through your veins? I love that feeling!

Y'know, I actually did. I was almost giddy writing that scene. So much fun!

 

[AmateisGal]

It's a good thing I like to write, otherwise I would abandon the whole, sordid writing/publishing business.

I just got a rejection from a leading independent book publisher. To paraphrase: You had an interesting story, but the book market is tight, so we're turning down excellent projects. And by the way, the book's setting (WW2 Hollywood) is a "very difficult" time-period to sell from a sales standpoint. Plus, your hook isn't strong enough to stand out in the market place (in other words, you don't have any zombies or vampires or secret babies).

Nice way to end a Friday. Not.

Oh well. I will keep working on my next novel this weekend. And maybe drown myself in bad for me food.

 

[Pompidou]

It's a good thing I like to write, otherwise I would abandon the whole, sordid writing/publishing business.

I just got a rejection from a leading independent book publisher. To paraphrase: You had an interesting story, but the book market is tight, so we're turning down excellent projects. And by the way, the book's setting (WW2 Hollywood) is a "very difficult" time-period to sell from a sales standpoint. Plus, your hook isn't strong enough to stand out in the market place (in other words, you don't have any zombies or vampires or secret babies).

Nice way to end a Friday. Not.

Oh well. I will keep working on my next novel this weekend. And maybe drown myself in bad for me food.

Would a book about Hollywood be easier to sell if subject relevant people endorsed it? Maybe give a copy to a WWII vet or two, and if you're feeling bold, an actor/actress or two, and see if you can't get some short testimonials to bolster your negotiating position? I mean, things tend to become easier when important people like your work.

 

[AmateisGal]

True, but I don't know any actors or actresses. I am seriously considering trying to sell it in the U.K. From what I hear, the market for historical fiction there is strong, and they have a LOT more WW2 historical fiction than we do in the States.

 

[LizzieMaine]

That's exactly what I was going to suggest. Practically every decent fiction work set in the WW2 era over the last 25 years or so has been published in the UK.

Maybe you should forget about Hollywood and set it at Teddington Studios instead? There was a thriving movie business in the UK during the war era, after all.

 

[Undertow]

It's a good thing I like to write, otherwise I would abandon the whole, sordid writing/publishing business.

I just got a rejection from a leading independent book publisher. To paraphrase: You had an interesting story, but the book market is tight, so we're turning down excellent projects. And by the way, the book's setting (WW2 Hollywood) is a "very difficult" time-period to sell from a sales standpoint. Plus, your hook isn't strong enough to stand out in the market place (in other words, you don't have any zombies or vampires or secret babies).

Nice way to end a Friday. Not.

Oh well. I will keep working on my next novel this weekend. And maybe drown myself in bad for me food.

I really don't blame you. This "market" business has me fed up with the whole publishing idea. Of course, once you start writing you never stop, but perhaps dying in relative obscurity and leaving progeny to publish your work would be better. I finally stopped sending inquiries on my other novel. It was like a scab I had to keep picking until I finally let it heal over. I'll leave it for another weekend.

 

[Undertow]

Oh, by the way...*insert drum roll*

I finally finished my "small town" novel. Penned the last scenes two nights ago. Of course, the editing process will take a year or so, and I'll likely end up rewriting or adding scenes, but in any case, the thing is done. I've been working on it for the last 4 years now. It's titled Among the Damned and so far it's exactly 200 pages.

It's my first "mainstream" novel in that there is a linear plot, sane characters, conflict, humor, etc. (as opposed to a maniac and his tortured dreams). The research for this one was also much safer; nothing like the last one! lol

 

[Senator Jack]

Sorry I haven't been around. For the last month or so I've been building websites. Trying to get the novel out before the holiday season and just got my contracts out to Lighting Source. Here are the links if you're interested.

The imprint
Author website

For all the work I've done, I still don't know how this is going to go. Even though I'm publisher and author, by the time the printer takes his cut and the retailer takes his cut, by pricing it at $24.95 I might be able to make $3.00 per book. About the same as what an author with a major pub gets. Everyone makes more than the writer.

Regards,

Jack

 

[AmateisGal]

Well done, Undertow!!! :eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap

Jack - I admire you for going the self-publishing route. I hope it takes off and becomes a huge seller for you.

 

[AmateisGal]

Allrighty...

How are we all doing on the writing front? I'm limping along and planning to have the thing finished if not by the end of December, then definitely by the end of January. (I'm accounting for the holidays in Nov. and December...I intend to enjoy them and not beat myself up for not writing!).

Jack, how are things coming? Love the website, BTW!