I.G.'s comments (member since Feb 16, 2009)

I.G.'s comments from the Published Authors group.

I.G. Frederick

Writers of GLBT books can find a new promotional/support network at GLBT Bookshelf, a community of GLBT writers, artists, publishers, reviewers and readers.

So many online writers' communities have a specific category for Gay and Lesbian works, lumping historical, SF, military, crime, and Western all together. No matter the real genre of the books, if they feature gay characters or interests -- they're GLBT.

The GLBT Bookshelf community supports publishing, encourages writers, and reaches out to intrigue readers in order to fosters sales and build careers in GLBT writing and publishing.

I.G. Frederick

A good resource to check out BEFORE hiring a book doctor, copy editor, etc. is

SFWA's "Writer Beware" page on the subject. http://www.sfwa.org/beware/bookdoctors.h...

You can also find pages there on other issues including pros and cons of self-publishing.

I.G. Frederick

Sheila wrote: "I'd like someone to do more than just grammar checks. I want someone to tell me if I'm missing something or what I could add to make it better so I guess a book doctor."

Check out Elizabeth Lyon who has written a number of well-respected books about writing. I know she's done book doctoring in the past, don't know if she's currently taking projects but I'm sure she can recommend someone if she's not.

I haven't used her, but I've only heard good things. I would suggest getting and checking references from her and anyone (keeping in mind they're only going to tell you about people who are happy with their services).

BTW, one of her books is The National Directory of Editors and Writers for Hire: 600 Freelance Business, Proofreading, Copy, Technical, and Literary Editors, Plus Book Doctors

For the record, I do copy editing. I'm incredibly good (I once edited a piece that had been reviewed by five other authors and found mistakes none of them caught), somewhat expensive, and I only take on a limited # of projects each year.

Message privately if interested. Booked until June.

I.G. Frederick

Sheila wrote: "Anyone know of a good book doctor or copy editor? I want to get my fourth book looked at. I'm on chapter 33 of The Betrayal and I wanted someone to look at it for me."

Which do you need?

I.G. Frederick

Tiffany wrote: "The option to POD a book at independent bookstores gives them an edge over the leading(Walmart-like) bookstore chains. "

Tiffany,

While most of your post has merit, this statement doesn't take into account the book selling business paradigm as it currently exists.

A small bookstores is not likely to take your book except perhaps on consignment. The reality is bookstores do NOT buy books. They sell them.

Books are essentially on loan to bookstores from publishers and bookstores can return them ANY time in ANY condition. With paperbacks, they don't even bother returning the books, just rip off the covers and send them back.

If you're self-publishing your books and want to include bookstores in your marketing plan, you must be prepared to sell on consignment and/or accept returns and the losses (since they often will not be in salable condition) they represent.

Also, even small bookstores usually only buy stock through distributors. This saves them on paperwork and the costs of that. Unless you have access to Ingram or Baker & Taylor, most bookstores -- except perhaps the one your girlfriend's mother works at in your small town -- won't even talk to you.

I.G. Frederick

Excellent post biLL. I think it's very important that we each define what being a successful writer means to us rather than require validation in others' opinions.

For some, just completing a novel is success, even if no one reads it. New York says you must sell thousands of books to be successful. If you decide selling 100 copies of your books is your goal and you sell 100 copies you have been successful.

When I left my (very lucrative) career in marketing, I set out to achieve the goal of making a (very modest) living as a fiction writer. When I stated that goal, I was writing fantasy romance.

Now I mostly write erotica because I find it easier to sell. Does that mean I'm not working toward the same goal? No. Have I achieved it yet? No.

But, I have sold my fiction to publishers; I have had readers tell me how they were touched by my stories; I have had reviewers praise my novels. All of this outside validation is wonderful and it helps keep me working toward my goal.

By it does not define whether or not I'm successful. Only I can make that determination.

I.G. Frederick

Sheila,

A book doctor and a copy editor perform completely different functions. A book doctor will look at your work and address systemic problems in your structure, characterization and plot (if it's fiction), marketability, etc. etc. Language is secondary.

A copy editor goes through and finds grammatical, spelling, stylistic, continuity, and language errors, etc. An editor might comment on the story, but by the time you take it to a copy editor, the book should be complete. It makes no sense to copy edit a book that you're going to rewrite because the copy editor would just have to start over.

As with many other "services" offered to writers, there are plenty of charlatans and rip off artists holding themselves out as either or both. Make sure you get references and check them.

BTW, anyone looking to order professionally printed bookmarks, postcards, etc. I highly recommend http://www.psprint.com/. Their prices are reasonable, their quality very good, and their customer service superb.

I.G. Frederick

Standard manuscript format (1-inch margins, 12 pt. courier font, double spaced) produces 250 words per "typed" page (or use your word processor's word count function).

100,000 words = 300 hardcover pages or .003 x # words = # of pages

100,000 words = 384 mass market paperback pages .00384 x # words = # of pages

These numbers were captured and saved before trade paperbacks became pervasive. I think (but I'm not positive) that the word count/page # conversion is the same for trade paperback as hardcover.

Of course, these formulas assume you use a traditional font so YMMV. My publisher used a larger font for my books producing more pages than the word count would indicate. I've read books that had a smaller font and crammed way more than 100,000 words in 300 pages.

I.G. Frederick

The reason most people in the publishing industry have a "sniffy" attitude towards self-published books is because the assumption is that a professional editor decided that a book produced by a publisher was worthy of the cost of paper and ink.

Often (but not always) self-published books are worthy only in the eyes of the author and his/her mother/spouse. The vast majority of self-published books are badly written and poorly edited. Because of this, self-published books do not have access to distribution and review mechanisms available to books produced by the smallest independent POD publishers.

HOWEVER, that said, it is possible for authors to successfully publish their own books. The same elements that make a book produced by a publisher successful are required to make a self-published book successful: good book, well-written, professionally edited, strong marketing, etc.

Because people read more non-fiction, because it is easier to get away with a poorly written book if you have valuable information to sell, and because it is easier to be build a marketing program outside traditional bookstore/review channels, success with self-publishing non-fiction is more attainable than with fiction.

Also, success is in itself a subjective word. What is success to a New York-based publishing house (tens of thousands of copies sold) may not be required for a self-published author to feel successful. Define what success means to you before you even get started and be realistic about your ability to attain it.

My recommendation to anyone who is considering self-publishing: DO YOUR RESEARCH. Research the market for your book and how you will reach it; research the vendors including costs, support, distribution networks (and don't accept their word for any of it -- get references and check them) you might want to use for production; research the disadvantages of self-publishing and understand how you will overcome these.

For many authors, marketing is the worst part of being in this business. It's the part of the "job" most of us dislike the most and in which many have the least expertise. Understand that if you self-publish you will have absolutely no marketing support AND you will have additional marketing obstacles. Be realistic about your ability to overcome these obstacles, be willing to put forth the time, energy, and money required to market your book properly, and you can be successful even with a book produced at Kinkos or Office Max.

I.G. Frederick

Maria,

If you're eligible, you SHOULD enter.

Good luck.

I.G. Frederick

According to the "terms and conditions of entry," available in a Word doc you can download from the site: "The Award is open to British nationals and UK residents, aged 18 years or over only. Proof of nationality and/or residency may be requested." In addition, "The author must have a prior record of publication in creative writing. This means the author must previously have had works of prose fiction, drama or poetry published by a UK publisher (excluding self-publishing) or established printed magazine in the UK or broadcast by a UK national radio station."

I.G. Frederick

Renee,

I have taught a workshop on marketing novels (before turning to writing full time I spent 17 years in the marketing/PR business) to a number of writing groups. One of the things I taught is "think outside the bookstore."

If your book has a theme or setting that will reach readers you can find in groups elsewhere, you're liable to find a more receptive audience. Bookstore readings/signings are so common that unless you already have a name/following the odds of attracting many people to a store are small.

If you are going to do bookstore events DON'T just do a reading. Offer a mini-class on a topic related to your book, put on a show (if it's related to your book), wear a costume from your book ... these are just a few ideas that authors I know have implemented successfully to drive traffic.

Whether or not you do a tour, never pass up an opportunity to visit a bookstore, talk to the staff, sign copies, etc. Bookstores are still an important outlet for print books and should be nurtured.

If you're going to be in another city, to visit friends or on business, write to/call all the bookstores and offer to stop by and sign stock. Sometimes that will get them to actually increase their order.

Talk to the staff when you're there. Look at the staff picks and figure out which staffer might best like your book and make a point of meeting that person if you can.

Maryanne,

Congratulations on your success, but you have to realize your experience is the exception, not the rule. First, you are selling non-fiction which sells much better than fiction; second, you were smart enough to recognize that many of your readers would be found not in bookstores but in churches; and third you have a celebrity name to help sell your book.

All great things to help your book be very successful. But not always things available to other writers.

Book tours are beneficial under some circumstances. And they always provide opportunities to promote your work to the bookstore personnel. But often, they are not worth the time/financial investment and an author has to weigh that investment over REALISTIC expectations of return on her/his particular book when deciding to embark on one.

I.G. Frederick

I.G. Frederick

I can only speak for the writer's conferences in the Pacific Northwest. We WELCOME new writers. We were all new once.

I can tell you that attending the Willamette Writer's Conference in Portland, Oregon sped up my development as a writer exponentially. It especially helped me learn about the publishing business and marketing in it (as opposed to BtoC marketing which is where I spent most of that part of my career).

Plus, I've gotten personal help from several agents I met there who although they were unable to represent me gave me invaluable advice.

Most established writer's conferences have tracks for beginning authors as well as those who are further along in their careers.

As to PA, yes, the money flows the right way. You still have to contend with their lack of credibility.

I.G. Frederick

I didn't say anything about "real" money, just the direction in which it flows. The paradigm is that the author is paid (no matter how little) for rights NOT that the author pays money for the privilege of being published.

I.G. Frederick

The consensus in the industry is that reputable publishing means that money should only flow one way -- to the author. Any other paradigm is going to be questioned.

A good place to start checking on any publisher you're considering is Preditors & Editors.

I would highly recommend that anyone who really believes (and has done the research to document their belief rather than operating on a my-mom-thinks-it's-a-best-seller mentality) should consider self-publishing over vanity press. Risks/costs are higher, but with POD they're very affordable these days.

A book with xLibris or Publish America on the back is going to get put down more often than picked up. If you study the business and make wise decisions about how you're going to distribute/market your books, you have much better odds of success without that stigma.

I.G. Frederick

Renee,

Yes, it's not impossible and it has been done in very rare cases. It requires both an exceptional book and strong marketing resources (yours or helpful friends ;).

And, it's important to understand the numbers you need to achieve. You must sell several thousand books before anyone in the industry considers you have proved "that your work will sell."

Also, it's a fallacy that agents and publishers do not look at new authors. Come to any large, established writer's conference and you will find they're there looking for new authors. You still have to have a great book, but at least you'll bypass the slush pile.

[author:I.G. Frederick|2782771

To respond to the questions about Publish America and self-publishing.

First you need to know that getting a contract from Publish America, despite what they say, is equivalent to getting a contract from any vanity publisher. No one has determined that your books is marketable, well-edited, or well-written. All this will hurt you when you try to market it.

SFWA writers proved this when they deliberately set out to write the worst book they could and PA accepted it with glowing praise.

Second, you need to realize that self-publishing and/or vanity press publishing eliminates your ability to get your book reviewed and get it into bookstores. I don't care how small the press is that accepts your book (mine being one of the smallest) you have huge advantages over self published/vanity press.

My books will be carried by Powell's -- no self published books. My books have been reviewed by sites that do not review self-published books. I am submitting my books for additional reviews to sites that do not accept self-published books.

Please note that the glowing report about how self publishing can work was for NON FICTION!!!! Non-fiction is all about platform and if you have a good platform you can sell books no matter who publishes them. Non fiction is bought more often outside of bookstores and without reviews.

Hell, non fiction is just bought more often. Reality: 90 percent of the books written are fiction, but 90 percent of the books bought by publishers and readers alike are non-fiction.

None of that works for fiction. You need reviews. You need bookstores. You need word of mouth marketing. All of these are hard (and except for the latter almost impossible) to get for a self-published/vanity press author.

I.G. Frederick The Preditors & Editors Readers Poll named my novel, Shattered, one of the top ten erotica novels published in 2008 and Broken was #12 in the mainstream novel category.

Also, my short story, "If You Love Someone" was named one of the top ten romantic short stories published in 2008.

More info on my website.

Best.

I.G. Frederick