For those that keep on asking about publishing

[gauchecritic]

I found a couple of interesting articles (ops?) posted on another site about publishing and pitfalls. This one about midlist authors on Salon. and this one by the poster himself. Veeeerry interethting.

 

[impressive]

Interesting indeed. I aspire to be "midlist" someday. Right now, I'm "nolist." LOL

 

[jomar]

Thanks. I'll get back here after I read these. I've been having some questions lately about the commercial appeal of e-novels.

 

[CeriseNoire]

I found the midlist author's article really interesting. Sometimes I think authors forget that when you decide to make writing a job, it gets to have the pitfalls of any job. I felt like the anecdote at the end of it (where the author runs into a friend with a best-seller) sums it up. The way it came across to me, the author put all her hopes for self-fulfillment on the success of those books, and made the writing into some sort of devouring beast (ie. the jealousy when reading 'for pleasure').

 

[JPMMURPHY]

Great articles. And a good representation of what one might expect to see here at AH. I’ve tried the SP (POD) route. You can still find a book of mine out there. The biggest problem with SP is reach. The conglomerates (big houses) that control that 90/10 market that makes up the bulk of TP have developed, over the years, the most important aspect of any publishing venture – distribution. If they choose to do so, they can literally put hundreds of thousands of copies of any book within driving distance (if not walking distance) of almost anyone in the US, overnight. And let’s face it, buying a book, is often an impulse decision driven by the cover on the front, the author name under the title, and the blurb on the back.

I’m pursuing e-publishers right now. Yep, I’m a no-lister too. I’ve found a few e-publishers that have business models just like the big houses. In that they have editors, people that proof, art departments, the works. I’ve seen them grow considerably in the last four years, and believe they represent the best stepping stone to mid-listmanship.

 

[jomar]

Great articles. And a good representation of what one might expect to see here at AH. I’ve tried the SP (POD) route. You can still find a book of mine out there. The biggest problem with SP is reach. The conglomerates (big houses) that control that 90/10 market that makes up the bulk of TP have developed, over the years, the most important aspect of any publishing venture – distribution. If they choose to do so, they can literally put hundreds of thousands of copies of any book within driving distance (if not walking distance) of almost anyone in the US, overnight. And let’s face it, buying a book, is often an impulse decision driven by the cover on the front, the author name under the title, and the blurb on the back.

I’m pursuing e-publishers right now. Yep, I’m a no-lister too. I’ve found a few e-publishers that have business models just like the big houses. In that they have editors, people that proof, art departments, the works. I’ve seen them grow considerably in the last four years, and believe they represent the best stepping stone to mid-listmanship.

What do you hope to happen if you step up to mid-list? Traditional?

I do wish you the best.

 

[JPMMURPHY]

Me? I don't even presume I can make it to mid-list. It would seem like a natural progression to eventually move on. Kinda like the author in the article.

I'll just be happy if people continue to enjoy my writing here, as I assume most that post here are.

 

[jomar]

Me? I don't even presume I can make it to mid-list. It would seem like a natural progression to eventually move on. Kinda like the author in the article.

I'll just be happy if people continue to enjoy my writing here, as I assume most that post here are.

I hope you do. But understand completely what you're saying. I suppose you meant moving on to traditional publishing. One of hte links in the article to UKPUB (or something like that) Basically said don't bother submitting if you've SP. Almost like they feel SP is cheating and insults the tradition of paying your dues with years of frustration.

 

[JPMMURPHY]

I hope you do. But understand completely what you're saying. I suppose you meant moving on to traditional publishing. One of hte links in the article to UKPUB (or something like that) Basically said don't bother submitting if you've SP. Almost like they feel SP is cheating and insults the tradition of paying your dues with years of frustration.

Sorry, I must be dense today. Dad day and all. Od'd on silk ties and beer. I seem to be missing the point, or the question.

You're right. The TP thumbs its nose at SP. I have no idea why, but I can guess. Most vanity books are poorly thought out, poorly executed, and rife with glaring grammar errors. At the same time, during my stint with a POD I actually met two people (virtually) that got their books out of POD and into mainstream publishing. Mid-lister's I guess.

And I recently discovered something I found even more interesting. Many agents are asking for your e-book history. Also interesting to note, they aren't interested in your POD history.

( ) I'm not sure if they want your e-book history just to make sure you didn't write, and have out there somewhere, Debbie Does Dallas - Again, or if they are truly interested in what experience you might have in the publishing industry. Not so much volume as working inside the industry with an editor, making changes, meeting deadlines. I have no idea.

It's all a mystery to me. And I'm sure it will continue to be.

 

[jomar]

And I recently discovered something I found even more interesting. Many agents are asking for your e-book history. Also interesting to note, they aren't interested in your POD history.

( ) I'm not sure if they want your e-book history just to make sure you didn't write, and have out there somewhere, Debbie Does Dallas - Again, or if they are truly interested in what experience you might have in the publishing industry. Not so much volume as working inside the industry with an editor, making changes, meeting deadlines. I have no idea.

It's all a mystery to me. And I'm sure it will continue to be.

No Sweat, lots going on today.

Interesting. I wonder if e-publishing will become one of the legit media that establishes publishing history along with magazine articles. I could easily see it happening, since it could demonstrate a track record of sales. Maybe it already is, huh?

 

[gauchecritic]

No Sweat, lots going on today.

Interesting. I wonder if e-publishing will become one of the legit media that establishes publishing history along with magazine articles. I could easily see it happening, since it could demonstrate a track record of sales. Maybe it already is, huh?

I think they mention that in one of the articles. When e-books become as simple as I-pods for transfer and the technology becomes closely equivalent to paper.

I understand that last year a singles record got into the top ten charts entirely based on downloads. No label, no contracts and perhaps best of all, no agents.

I think that's a few years away yet.

 

[jomar]

I think they mention that in one of the articles. When e-books become as simple as I-pods for transfer and the technology becomes closely equivalent to paper.

I understand that last year a singles record got into the top ten charts entirely based on downloads. No label, no contracts and perhaps best of all, no agents.

I think that's a few years away yet.

Yes, technology has to be more user friendly. I was sort of floored when I visited FictionWise and saw big name authors listed. Among others, Clive Cussler was listed - his books run 350 pages and typically name authors' e-books are one dollar less than the hardbacks. I can't imagine downloading one his Cussler's, so I imagine they're there mostly for marketing (both for themselves and fictoinwise).

 

[flavortang]

Great link! Thanks much!!

 

[JPMMURPHY]

Yes, technology has to be more user friendly. I was sort of floored when I visited FictionWise and saw big name authors listed. Among others, Clive Cussler was listed - his books run 350 pages and typically name authors' e-books are one dollar less than the hardbacks. I can't imagine downloading one his Cussler's, so I imagine they're there mostly for marketing (both for themselves and fictoinwise).

Ahhh... a Cussler fan. Right on! Now there's a franchise. I saw on one of the threads here a week or so ago that e-book publishing was the only part of the publishing industry in 2006 that showed growth. I (personally) believe that, just as music is going through its growing pangs, e-booking is stepping through the door. What we really need is a Steve Jobs to create the ultimate pocket reader. Something with a fold out page the size of a paperback, ability to dock and download, low battery consumption, and a great screen.

I would much rather have one of those on the nightstand, than the 8 or so paperbacks stacked on the floor that are there right now.

Back to Cussler. I think he's done and is doing much better than Clancy with extending the life of his character base, expanding horizantally, and passing the franchise to his son. I just wish he'd get books out more often.

 

[jomar]

Ahhh... a Cussler fan. Right on! Now there's a franchise. I saw on one of the threads here a week or so ago that e-book publishing was the only part of the publishing industry in 2006 that showed growth. I (personally) believe that, just as music is going through its growing pangs, e-booking is stepping through the door. What we really need is a Steve Jobs to create the ultimate pocket reader. Something with a fold out page the size of a paperback, ability to dock and download, low battery consumption, and a great screen.

I would much rather have one of those on the nightstand, than the 8 or so paperbacks stacked on the floor that are there right now.

Back to Cussler. I think he's done and is doing much better than Clancy with extending the life of his character base, expanding horizantally, and passing the franchise to his son. I just wish he'd get books out more often.

Franchise is right. Passing it along to his son literally and...literature-ly. I'm finishing up Treasure of Khan now. The son, by the same name in the book, is poised to take the reins from Dad and begin saving the world.

I could see if technology was right, e-books could explode. But there's just something satisfying about finishing a book, putting on the shelf and pulling down another. I'll have to work through that one.

 

[CeriseNoire]

Franchise is right. Passing it along to his son literally and...literature-ly. I'm finishing up Treasure of Khan now. The son, by the same name in the book, is poised to take the reins from Dad and begin saving the world.

I could see if technology was right, e-books could explode. But there's just something satisfying about finishing a book, putting on the shelf and pulling down another. I'll have to work through that one.

I'm the same way, I like touching my books.

I also wonder if the traditional publishers will try to quash the e-book business, or if they'll try to take it over instead (I see some entering it already)

 

[WRJames]

What an interesting link. I'm just at the start (I supposed) of my writing career -- four novels out since I retired a couple of years ago. All published as ebooks -- some I'm still a long way from even being midlist. I was up to number 12 in the SciFi category on MobiPocket for a while. That's the closest I've come to fame so far.

Thirty years ago -- back in the age of typewriters -- I made my first foray into writing, so I know about agents and rejection letters. Never got the good part. The publishing industry was a lot more open in those days and I still couldn't crack it. It will be interesting to see if e-publishing ever picks up enough to make it a worthwhile option.

 

[flavortang]

I guess there's no way to get around it for new writers. You either put up with narrow-minded editors and publishers, possibly never to be published or you go into self-publishing and get relegated to sit in anonymity with millions of other writers, unable to get potential buyers to notice you. It's a no-win.

 

[WRJames]

I guess there's no way to get around it for new writers. You either put up with narrow-minded editors and publishers, possibly never to be published or you go into self-publishing and get relegated to sit in anonymity with millions of other writers, unable to get potential buyers to notice you. It's a no-win.

Well, I'm not self published -- there are e-publishing houses. You still have to deal with an editor (and Terrie at Club Lighthouse Publishing is a delight to work with). But so far ebook sales are only a fraction of hard cover -- and from the link you can see that hardcover sales are pretty depressing.

 

[flavortang]

Yeah, exactly. I don't know. For me, the pleasure is in the writing and completing of stories, not the widespread distribution/profit of them. All of the rejection before possibly getting accepted by a publisher would suck all the enthusiasm out of writing for me.

I was thinking of putting some screenplays I've written into novel form, but I don't know.

 

[CeriseNoire]

What an interesting link. I'm just at the start (I supposed) of my writing career -- four novels out since I retired a couple of years ago. All published as ebooks -- some I'm still a long way from even being midlist. I was up to number 12 in the SciFi category on MobiPocket for a while. That's the closest I've come to fame so far.

Thirty years ago -- back in the age of typewriters -- I made my first foray into writing, so I know about agents and rejection letters. Never got the good part. The publishing industry was a lot more open in those days and I still couldn't crack it. It will be interesting to see if e-publishing ever picks up enough to make it a worthwhile option.

I found that selling short stories give me some of the 'accomplished' feeling without investing as much time (that I don't have). e-publishing seems like a good way to go for in-between lengths though.

 

[jomar]

What an interesting link. I'm just at the start (I supposed) of my writing career -- four novels out since I retired a couple of years ago. All published as ebooks -- some I'm still a long way from even being midlist. I was up to number 12 in the SciFi category on MobiPocket for a while. That's the closest I've come to fame so far.

How long are your novels WR? The length of books throws me. Shorter works I can see as e-books, but longer works...who's the buyer at this point in the game?

 

[JPMMURPHY]

Franchise is right. Passing it along to his son literally and...literature-ly. I'm finishing up Treasure of Khan now. The son, by the same name in the book, is poised to take the reins from Dad and begin saving the world.

I could see if technology was right, e-books could explode. But there's just something satisfying about finishing a book, putting on the shelf and pulling down another. I'll have to work through that one.

Living outside the country where English language books of any kind are rare, a very big plus to e-books (to me) is the ability to shop anywhere, anytime. As it is now, I end up picking up whatever I find in the airport shops while traveling.

I also believe a lot could be done to give the e-book reader the feel of a paperback. Make it the size of a paperback, give it a split screen, open it, thumb buttons on each side to turn pages.

And does Cussler have a daughter? It's been a year since I read my first young Pitt book and I seem to recall the kids were just that. Twins. A son and daughter. While the only one mentioned in the writing is the son.

 

[JPMMURPHY]

A little insight

Estimated Book Publishing Industry Net Sales 2002 to 2005

Estimated Book Publishing Industry Net Sales 2002 to 2006

From AAP. It appears the 2005 and 2006 report are in conflict, but both are interesting.

I thought it was very interesting.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Living outside the country where English language books of any kind are rare, a very big plus to e-books (to me) is the ability to shop anywhere, anytime. As it is now, I end up picking up whatever I find in the airport shops while traveling.

I also believe a lot could be done to give the e-book reader the feel of a paperback. Make it the size of a paperback, give it a split screen, open it, thumb buttons on each side to turn pages.

And does Cussler have a daughter? It's been a year since I read my first young Pitt book and I seem to recall the kids were just that. Twins. A son and daughter. While the only one mentioned in the writing is the son.

That's exactly how I saw an e-book reader.