FROM SCRIPT TO NOVEL TO TRILOGY (part 2)
Seven months later, I had hammered a full novel out of a 114 page screenplay. I didn’t trust myself with the editing. I needed a pro. My budget was virtually non-existent, but if there was one area worth spending money on, it’s a good editor. And a rock star found me. Thanks to social media and mutual connections, an incredible editor reached out to me, having heard of the story.
We spoke at length and I knew right away she was the one to edit Mechcraft. Her grasp of the story and what I was trying to say impressed the hell out of me. It was best money I spent on the entire journey. She helped my words soar without diminishing my voice. Then the publishing. How should I go about it? Traditional? Indie? Self? All had pros and cons.
I submitted to all the majors, and some mid-levels. Most never responded, and the few that did passed. I felt it was the screenplay scenario all over again. No one wanted to take a chance on the new guy. I had confidence in my story. I knew it would sell if it got the right exposure. I licked my wounds, dried my writer’s tears, and pressed on.
Through a contest I read about I discovered a new hybrid publisher that used a crowdfunding model to determine which books to publish. Those authors who could obtain a certain threshold of pre-orders would get their books professionally published and distributed. It seemed daunting and hellish, but I also saw opportunity. It fell upon me, my skills, and a bit of luck to get Mechcraft published. I jumped in.
This was a crash course in marketing. I had to achieve 250 pre-orders in order to fund the publishing of the book. How do you ask people to kick in $10 or $20 for a book they won’t receive for around 2 years? I was prepared to beg, borrow, and steal to hit that goal.
For me this was do or die, so I had to overcome any awkwardness or hesitation the held me back. I forced myself to ask friends, family, and co-workers. I expanded my social media reach, and built genuine relationships and connections with the audience. I cannot stress this enough: social media is a wealth of information, help, and connections- if used wisely and genuinely. Be yourself. Be kind.
We spoke at length and I knew right away she was the one to edit Mechcraft. Her grasp of the story and what I was trying to say impressed the hell out of me. It was best money I spent on the entire journey. She helped my words soar without diminishing my voice. Then the publishing. How should I go about it? Traditional? Indie? Self? All had pros and cons.
I submitted to all the majors, and some mid-levels. Most never responded, and the few that did passed. I felt it was the screenplay scenario all over again. No one wanted to take a chance on the new guy. I had confidence in my story. I knew it would sell if it got the right exposure. I licked my wounds, dried my writer’s tears, and pressed on.
Through a contest I read about I discovered a new hybrid publisher that used a crowdfunding model to determine which books to publish. Those authors who could obtain a certain threshold of pre-orders would get their books professionally published and distributed. It seemed daunting and hellish, but I also saw opportunity. It fell upon me, my skills, and a bit of luck to get Mechcraft published. I jumped in.
This was a crash course in marketing. I had to achieve 250 pre-orders in order to fund the publishing of the book. How do you ask people to kick in $10 or $20 for a book they won’t receive for around 2 years? I was prepared to beg, borrow, and steal to hit that goal.
For me this was do or die, so I had to overcome any awkwardness or hesitation the held me back. I forced myself to ask friends, family, and co-workers. I expanded my social media reach, and built genuine relationships and connections with the audience. I cannot stress this enough: social media is a wealth of information, help, and connections- if used wisely and genuinely. Be yourself. Be kind.
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