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Advice from an Unsuccessful Author
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Thanks for sharing your writer's experience! Sobering advice and I too believe in realistic management of expectations, which never precludes nice surprises, if these happen.Wonder indeed what happens in such situs, when a publisher goes bankrupt. Didn't you get back your publishing/copyrights?
Nik wrote: "Thanks for sharing your writer's experience! Sobering advice and I too believe in realistic management of expectations, which never precludes nice surprises, if these happen.Wonder indeed what hap..."
Nik,
Standard procedure: the author maintains the copyright to their published work. It is so noted within the print, electronic, and audio formats of my novel:
Levels
Copyright 2011 by Jim Vuksic. All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-61777-799-8
Jim wrote: "...Standard procedure: the author maintains the copyright to their published work...."Yeah, I thought so, but pressed the Amazon button for Levels here on GR, and didn't see it available. Haven't you republished it independently after 'losing' the publisher?
Nik wrote: "Jim wrote: "...Standard procedure: the author maintains the copyright to their published work...."Yeah, I thought so, but pressed the Amazon button for Levels here on GR, and didn't see it availa..."
Nik,
Since my initial attempt, I have moved on to other endeavors. Writing a novel was a great learning experience, but just one of many things I wished to experience during my lifetime. There are just so many other things yet to do and so little time.
If you are still curious about the book, feel free to click on to my author profile, scroll down, and then click on the cover of the novel.
I appreciate your interest and input and wish you success in your own writing career.
Jim
Jim wrote: "Nik wrote: "Jim wrote: "...Standard procedure: the author maintains the copyright to their published work...."Yeah, I thought so, but pressed the Amazon button for Levels here on GR, and didn't s..."
Gotcha and thanks for all the good wishes!
Jim, concur with you that life offers so many different opportunities that we can't possibly do it all and I salute you for wanting to move on to experience new things. I find that many people who end up bored once they retire just don't have enough hobbies! We only have one life to live. Thanks for sharing your experiences as a writer.
I'm an Engineer/IT guy by profession.Many years ago I was working with a guy with software/telecommunications double degree who was also a guitarist in an Australian music band.
In the time that I knew him (i.e. worked with him). His band had 2x top ten hits including this song....
REF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnKXP...
Now, he explained that at the time (1999) the band would pull $100K AUD for the year - which was break even on costs.
Hence why he was working as a software engineer....
He further explained that being in the top 2% in the industry was necessary to 'break even,' and that only a fraction of bands operating in the top 1% were making good money that would support the band members without having to resort to real-world jobs.
I believe story-telling is just like music.
If you're not in the top 1% you need another job.
I might have already posted this in this group because I quote it a lot...These figures are for Australia, which is small by US/UK standards, but still the 13th biggest economy in the world...
Also, the figures are only for commercially (trade) published authors, they don't include indie authors...
The proportion of Australian writers who make $70k per year (just above the average wage) is 4%.
70% of Australian writers make less than $10k per year. (I've averaged $4k per year since 2010 when I was first published.)
On the one hand, those numbers are incredibly depressing for anyone who's been trying as long as I have. But as writing is not my number one source of income, I'm able to simply rejoice in the fact that some tens of thousands have read my work - all over the world.
Money isn't everything, but... I don't quite know how to finish that sentence.
How about...money isn't everything if everything includes being poor?The problem I think is that 100% of indie authors try to break into the market thinking they are in that 1%. Only after years of setbacks, harsh critique, learning, and dogged determination do the 1% struggle on, and even then, it's hard for that 1% to break out when they are still competing with the other 99%.
Too many novice writers prematurely self-publish without first expending the time, energy, and resources to first learn and then master basic writing knowledge and skills (spelling - punctuation - grammar - syntax - narration - character development) and the promotional and marketing tools and techniques to attract potential readers.There are exceptions to every rule. However, an impressive level of success within any undertaking is seldom achieved without discipline, a strong work ethic, and realistic expectations.
One can try years and nothing much could still be the outcome, so better not to foster illusions and take it pragmatically.I personally like the stories of PR "catalyzers". Don't remember the details, but I heard no one knew about Tom Clancy nor bought his books until Reagan praised his work. Heard about another struggling thriller author, who was a total unknown until he made it to a popular night show and ever-since his stuff turned bestsellers, also retroactively.
So from theory to practice: if you can hand out books to every looter of any remarkable store, making sure the cameras are on you, that can be a serious springboard.
Now, if you go to an election rally and hurl books at one of the candidates, that surely gonna grab attention. Just make sure, they are paperbacks and not hardcover, lest hurt the candidates (they are kinda old). Yes, you might serve time for criminal offense but that can be an attention booster.
Now, if you throw a hardcover and actually hurt one, it might catapult you into an immediate best-selling status. Imagine headlines: "Mr. _______ hit hard by an erotic romance written by _______. The author is released, bail paid by the US national discus throwing team, taking note of a remarkable prospect for upcoming Tokyo Olympics."
Desperate as some of us are, don't try this at home :)
Jim wrote: "An idea for a story resided and evolved inside my head for years. However, too many other aspects of my life left no time to seriously pursue it."Hi Jim, I read your Introduction to the group with interest. I am a few years younger than you. About the time you were leaving the Seminary, I was entering a Catholic Capuchin Monk Jr. Seminary. I was lucky enough to be born in Canada, so avoided your Vietnam experience. Otherwise, our lives had some parallels.
Like you, I set aside my writing ambitions for decades. Over the years, I started a novel many, many times. After five years with Coca Cola Canada Ltd., I started my own business in the medical device industry. I went from 10 hour days to 14 hour days, but I had a lot of fun and enjoyed some of the benefits of success. About once a year, I gave myself a three-week break and resumed my novel. Of course, I wasn't happy with what I had written the previous year, so I would start over with a re-write. Sometimes, I would get up to six or eight chapters written.
When the kids were grown and I was retired, I bought a Walter Mosley book, "This Year You Write Your Novel." His message inspired me to write every day and I discovered I loved it.
It would be great if millions of people read my novels, but I no longer care. When I first started writing decades ago that was what I imagined. It was like a burden on every word I wrote. Now, I write for my own pleasure. I know from those who have read my first book that they had a good time reading it. That's what counts. That's what I want.
Second novel will be out in a few months, and I am outlining the third book in my slow-cooker, right now.
Writing makes me happy.
Jim, you are certainly right. I thought when I started that I was a pretty good writer. I wasn't. I made a lot of rookie mistakes and rushed to get my book out there. I understand now about mastering the craft. But how does one master the promotional/marketing tools and techniques unless you have a product to offer first?Nik, I missed out on a golden opportunity several years back. My flight out of DC was being delayed and the airline wouldn't tell us why. It turned out the President Jimmy Carter was taking the flight back to Atlanta. Do you know that he came down the aisle and shook hands with everyone on the plane? I wish that I'd had a copy of my book at the time. He probably wouldn't have accepted it or the Secret Service agent behind him might have grabbed me, but I like to wonder if I could have been one of those PR successes.
G.R. wrote: "...Nik, I missed out on a golden opportunity several years back. My flight out of DC was being delayed and the airline wouldn't tell us why. It turned out the President Jimmy Carter was taking the flight back to Atlanta...."Jimmy? Oh, man, it's a pre-dinosaur's time! Anyway, I hope you'll have another one, maybe with Trump or Biden. But who really hangs around with his/her books handy to catch chances? Maybe somebody does, I don't..
Raymond wrote: "Jim wrote: "An idea for a story resided and evolved inside my head for years. However, too many other aspects of my life left no time to seriously pursue it."Hi Jim, I read your Introduction to t..."
Raymond,
Thank you for taking the time to access and read the brief biography in my Author's Profile. Having found your comment (message 13) interesting, I suggest you consider possibly adding a brief biography to your own Author's Profile. I often access a member's profile to obtain some idea of the type of person they might be and what may have influenced their life choices.
Since writing makes you happy, no doubt you will continue to author more and more books. As stated in my initial comment (message 1), very few novice writers achieve commercial success within this extremely competitive field. That said; some have, there in no reason why you might not eventually become one of them. I wish you success.
Jim
Nik wrote: "One can try years and nothing much could still be the outcome, so better not to foster illusions and take it pragmatically.I personally like the stories of PR "catalyzers". Don't remember the deta..."
Stephen King was a struggling unknown for his first four books.
J.K Rowling wrote for years before she started Harry Potter.
The world is littered with overnight sensations that took ten years to bring about.
Not just in books. The same with music, inventions, etc - there a numerous examples of major inventions beginning in someones garage that end up sweeping the world.
Writing novels is an ultra-marathon event - those who persist will reach the finish line in the end.
It's just a matter of defining the finish line. Some writers only have one book in them, others have more books then they have life to write them in. Some are in between those two points.
For me, I could be playing golf --- but I write instead because I love writing and telling stories and I'm rubbish at golf... but both are time soaks that cost a bit of $$$ (about the same). So, in the end people will spend their time doing what they choose to do, but my personal bottom line is that I won't and can't give up.
Raymond wrote: "Jim wrote: "An idea for a story resided and evolved inside my head for years. However, too many other aspects of my life left no time to seriously pursue it."Hi Jim, I read your Introduction to t..."
Well said, Raymond.
I have no expectations as an author - despite my early wishes. I now write and publish what i want when I want. I try to avoid costs apart from my time and focus now on Kindle only with paperback later If I can be bothered to format etc.My claim to fame 2 days as number 1 in Kindle Mystery and thrillers - sales none as it was on two days free thousands of downloads. Follow up reviews and sales minimal. Oh the heady days....
By 2005, my priorities had changed dramatically. My four children were now self-sufficient, independent adults. I was now a widower, and into my fourth year of retirement. After five years adjusting to my new lifestyle, I decided to focus the vast majority of my time upon finally doing something about my long dormant idea.
After a year of writing, rewriting, and polishing, I submitted query letters to several publishers until one offered me a contract. Unfortunately, the manuscript which I had believed to be polished and ready for publishing turned out to be neither. Fortunately, a copy editor, conceptual editor, and layout design artist patiently helped me to make it ready.
The book was finally released in four formats on August 9, 2011. It remained commercially available until December 31, 2016 when the publisher was forced to declare bankruptcy, probably due to having signed too many authors like myself.
During the five years and four months of its availability, the book sold a total of only 1,029 units (485 paperback - 480 e-book - 36 audio on CD - 28 audio download). Royalties paid to me totaled $2,358.34. My one and only novel was a commercial failure.
During 72 years of life, I have learned that we sometimes suceed and sometimes fail. The important thing is to at least try. Fortunately, I have experienced success many more times than failure: A financially rewarding 33-year management career, 35 1/2 year wonderful marriage, 5 beautiful children and 4 grandchildren, all of whom never cease to make me proud.
If you happen to be a novice writer, remember this: Very few authors will ever become commercially successful within this extremely competitive field. That said; some have. There is no reason why you might not eventually become one of them. However, if you do not, just remind yourself of all the times you have succeeded during your lifetime.
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts."
Winston Churchill