Now I'm curious - fuck all this voting crap - Ambro, how do you sell words?

[Sparky Kronkite]

And that question goes out to any other's out there with experience in selling their writing efforts.

I have no clue - as you all know, I write (If you can call it that. I call it spew.) for the primary reason of keeping myself sane. I haven't thought much about it - making money off of my spew.

Hey!

Sparky's spew for cash money.

Kinda catchy.

So, how to - I need to know. But, but, but - if it's too much work, well forget it.

 

[Ambrosious]

Sparky, I'll mail you. Ok?

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Shop Screenplays. Query Articles. Mail Novels.

Get the annual "Writer's Market" from any bookstore. It will tell you EVERYTHING you need to know.

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

You mean.....

I would have to read a book!?!

Instructions?!?

I'm fucking doomed!!!!

 

[Closet Desire]

Don't give up your day job...

...just yet!

Jeff Hermann's "Writer's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Agents" helped me get a thick file of 77 rejection letters before I finally published my first novel. The first publisher breached on the contract, but it finally made it with the second. It has a lot of useful information in it, but here's my list of warnings about some of the publishers in it...

1) If they ask for money...run. (if you want to foot the bill yourself there are better ways)

2) If they say it is promising but needs to be edited...and then suggest they know someone who will do it for a fee...run.

3) Be prepared to market the book yourself because unless you land a contract with a big publisher you will be disappointed with the marketing efforts of your publisher.

That's my short list. It's hard work. CD-able is the more successful writer between us (if you measure it in pounds and advances), but we figure so far she earned about £5.00 an hour for writing it...so far...haven't gotten the cheque for 2000 yet.

If you do it because you love it and like seeing your name on Amazon then it's great fun and, who knows, one day you might hit it right.

Notice I didn't give any advice? There's plenty of it out there already and I don't need to muddy the water with second hand advice!

Have great fun and good luck! (oh yeah...I've published quite a bit...still have my day job!)

 

[Grrrn38]

What do you want to publish -- magazine articles, novel, poetry...?

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Thoughts, ideas brought to word.

That's what I want to sell.

And it would help if I could get paid by the pound - a pound of thoughts. 16 oz's of ideas.

I'd sell for cheap to.

 

[Grrrn38]

I always thought I'd be a great fiction writer. But real life intervened and I found myself needing food and shelter (damn!) and ended up in a job in which my writing ability came in really handy -- although in a corporate capacity. (FYI, fiction writing in the corporate world is generally frowned upon, tending to get you fired rather than rewarded!) I started editing letters literature and moved on to writing papers and speeches, then articles.

I ended up writing professional journal and magazine articles as a sideline; I was approached to write my first article by an editor for a professional journal who attended a seminar at which I spoke. That first article started my clip portfolio, which, once established, allows an author to easily establish credibility with editors when querying them. I was really lucky in that I was able to establish contacts in several fields, all through the kismet of that first "food and shelter" job.

20 years later I still attend writers' workshops, write and submit short stories, and wish I was Stephen King. (OK, Kurk Vonnegut with Stephen King's money.) But I enjoy the creative stimulation of magazine work as well; I love interviewing, I love composing the story according to my outline, and I love to put the final editorial touches on it before submitting it.

How's the pay? I left my corporate job, and started my own writing and training business. Let's just say that I could live on the writing alone -- but I'd need to find a REALLY, REALLY cheap garrett!

Best of luck to you!

 

[Angel]

I just had to second what CD said about them asking YOU for money. Run, and run fast. I have sold ONE poem and luckily had a friend who held my hand through the entire thing. I came pretty damn close to totally getting screwed over. Be very very careful, and realize that you ain't gonna be rollin in the big bucks soon unless you are very lucky

 

[Savage Kitten]

I've had a lot of stuff published, short shorts as well as poetry. After A LOT of research I decided NOT to submit for $$. Like it was mentioned before.. there are a lot of publishers out there who want to screw you.. and a lot of people to eager to part with their money in order to get published. At the end of all the headaches... the money u get barely covers the postage.. unless you are the rare gem.. and hit it big like stephen king or ann rice.

For me, the odds seemed to high. The glory of seeing my name in print far out weighed my hunger for "selling my words" so I steer clear of the $$ paying publishers and only submit to those who pay with contributors copy's or even nothing at all.

If you wish to sell your work I suggest research research research.. market trends vary and publishing co. are a dime a dozen. Good Luck and Happy Writing