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Self-Publishing, is not publishing. Read the terms and conditions carefully.
At least with an electronic format you don't end up with 1000 copies in your basement.
Mod
Read the terms and conditions carefully.
At least with an electronic format you don't end up with 1000 copies in your basement."
Well there are a lot of people out there who have been trying to get their books published the traditional way, and haven't been able to do so. I figure as long as they are getting paid, and people are getting to read their books... some people might be interested in this... It's not for everyone, but it's a good way to get your work out there if publishing companies turned you away...
Amazon does the same thing, www.Createspace.com. They offer Kindle and paperback formats. So do scads of other places. If you search self-publishing, you'll find loads of resources on Goodreads.
Smashwords are another one to use and pretty essential if you're self-publishing outside the US and want to be able to go through distributors other than Amazon.
Oh thank you! I'm hoping to finish up a couple novels I've been working on really soon, so I'm definitely interested in this, especially since self-publishing is very expensive and getting published via a publishing house is not as easy either.
Have any of you heard of the wise owl reader coming up?
I really wanted to participate in that, but it seems like they're looking for full time writers and sadly, I cannot commit like that at the moment...Sounds really exciting though! I'll post a link.
http://www.thewisereader.com/
I'm playing with the idea myself, but it is sooo overwhelming trying to weigh the pros and cons of self-publishing. I got an agent for one of my books back in February and have heard nothing since. My contract is up in two months ( with the option to renew) but I am not sure if I should just go it on my own. Thoughts from anyone else?
Well, if you haven't heard anything from your Agent in five months, I'm not seeing much in the way of value you're getting from him.Is he shopping your book around? Where? Is anyone nibbling? Give him a call and find out. If there's no deal on the table by the end of your contract, I'd head away.
Now, you might want to hunt for a new agent, or go on your own, that's a different decision, but there's no reason to tie up your book for ten months with a guy who may or may not be trying to sell it.
Thanks Keryl, that was my thought as well. I haven't heard anything. I was expecting to have revision notes or something. My optimistic self wants to believe that I haven't gotten anything because the book doesn't need any revisions. (VERY Optimistic self!!) The thing is that I spent four years writing, revising and re-writing this book. Another two years to get it published is expected, but I am getting antsy. I had been sending it out to agents for over a year when this one picked it up. Not sure I want to go through that whole mess again. Anyone out there done the e-book route? I like the financial risk better than self-publishing. Thoughts?
Ummm... why are you expecting an agent to give you revision notes?As I understand it, you send your query. If he likes that, you send a manuscript. He might (at that point) as for some revisions to make it more salable. If he accepts the manuscript, he tries to sell it to publishers. If they are interested, they may ask for revisions.
I've seen people spend years waiting for information back from publishers and agents. In most business communication it's not considered rude to pop up every six weeks or so and ask what's up. It's especially not rude in the case of your agent, because you've hired him to represent your work. (You are the boss, not him!)
What do you mean by the e-book route?
I self-published (e and paper books) and yes, it does take some money. (I'd suggest having about $2-3k on hand for good edits, a website, and good cover art, but you can do it for less or a WHOLE lot more depending on what you want and how you go.) It's more money upfront, but it's a whole lot faster than going the traditional route.
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/ has more or less everything you might want to know on self-publishing.
I signed up to attend a workshop on self-publishing given by someone in our town who has done it many times. The first night was very interesting and not a bit overwhelming. I think this might be the way to go.
I'm a firm believer in self publishing for most people. If you think you've got a decent shot of writing the next hyper-best seller (Harry Potter and the Secret of the DaVinci Code) then go the way of the trads. They've got the power to make your book go way further than you can on your own.But if you're a midlister, and you know you're a midlister, I wouldn't bother with the traditional route. They don't have much they can offer that you can't get for yourself.
Mod
pros- Great Advertising, your books will be in actual stores, you have a team of experts to help you with everything.
cons- You get a small advancement. You get REALLY low royalties, your chances of being published are slimmer, it can take up to 3 years before your book is available for purchase. You do not retain the copyright of your book and you don't have a lot of say in the final product.
Self Publishing
Pros- MUCH higher royalties, your book is published when you submit it, you choose the cover, and you retain the copyright.
Cons-You have to advertise yourself, you would have to pay or do it yourself for the cover and editing, and your book will not be in stores,
it's very difficult either or the way I see it.. Despite having their pros and cons.. But it's still a very long way to go. The best chances are to get an agent I believe and even this is quite a difficult thing to do
Thx John, despite this is the most difficult step , but I believe the Agent is the best option since they know that they have to sell your work in order to make money. As very Business-ish this sounds.. But I believe it's the best way to work, despite for example in my case this is very difficult because I am in Egypt and we don't have a lot of English literary agents.
I c.. What do you mean by "Went indie" ?
I agree with J.D. the e book publishing sounds cool. But your book has to be good. I know one girl who just paid a company to print a 1,000 copies of a Vampire romance book she wrote. Then she started self advertising on the internet. With a piece of her book published on her website. It was soooooooo bad. Finally she was beging people check her book out at half price just to pay publishing cost. Most old time writters started out having short stories, or longer books in serial form, published in magazines or free press. That is a good way of getting people to know you. I think Ernest Hemingway was a famous newspaper man when he first started publishing so people just bought books like For Whom The Bells Tolls because they had read his news articles from the war and knew him to be an interesting writer. Also a well illustrated cover can really help. As they say one picture is worth a thousand words.
Cary wrote: "I agree with J.D. the e book publishing sounds cool. But your book has to be good. I know one girl who just paid a company to print a 1,000 copies of a Vampire romance book she wrote. Then she star..."Cary,
What you describe is, for lack of a better term, Vanity Publishing, about the worst possible way for anyone to do a book.
That said, I totally agree that the book must be good. BUT, how does a bad writer know they're a bad writer? If they do, will they admit it? Ticklish situation is it not? :-)
John wrote: "Good luck. Agents are always the best option -- I've had three, although none were able to sell my book. That's why I went indie. Yet when I had an agent, I always new I was being protected."So how is an agent the best option??
Well Larry thats my point. Vanity publishing is not a very good way to go. I don't know how anyone could term themselves an author if they have to pay to have thier books printed. My point was this girls approach was not the right way. How do you know your any good?You probably have been writing or telling stories a long time. I showed a couple short stories published in the free press. People told me dude you should write a book. I am a natural story telller. People said my free press stories were exciting, and entertaining. So most people are going to have a fair idea if they have talent. I think a good way to find out if your stories will be recieved by a large audience would be to get them publish the cheapest way. By ebook seems to be the most inexpensive way to do that. If your ebooks start selling. Then you can get serious and send manuscripts to various publishers. I really am not well versed in getting publised. Don't care if I ever am. One thing I do know. I can spin an interesting yarn. How do you know your good? People tell you so.
Mod
I agree about vanity publishing! IMO, some of the best authors were uncertain about their writing ability in the beginning. I always assumed that friends and family told me that I was a great writer because they were invested in my life. It wasn't until college that I began sharing my work with professors. Somehow, hearing from a professor that my writing is great... was more believable than hearing it from my loved ones.
Weird, huh?
Not really J.D , because well as writers we are mostly looking for neutral people to give their opinion because it is more likely that they will say what they actually think and not try to be complimentary and they won't shy from telling you what they think. While we always feel that friends and family are more likely to compliment us and we feel they're just being nice or they might believe more in us than we actually believe ourselves to be.
Mod
:) I understand but some people won't really mind an honest opinion from close friends.. I myself always appreciate all types of criticizm
here is a good article that walks you thru how to get your book up online.http://editioselfpublishing.com/step-...
Don't forget to have it formatted correctly.
http://editioselfpublishing.com/ebook...
A word of caution. If you're looking into publishing, don't pay a company to do that. (A small fee for a "plan" is okay, but otherwise it's a rip off). I have 6 books published. Yet, I receive emails that state they'll only charge a couple of hundred dollars to publish a book for me!
I've got thirteen book self-published (and five traditionally) it's very easy... and it's free...
There are pros and cons to every discussion, and I think the only way to really settle it is by the individual.If you have spent a lot of time shopping your work around in the traditional route and have had no luck, why not give self-publishing a try? What would you have to lose?
You can start with ebooks free through Amazon and Smashwords and if you do get good feedback you can look into places to get print books as well. Yes, it can be hard work, but if you don't believe in your work who else will?
I agree Bridget. To each his own. I tried going the traditional route with my first novel and it has languished with an agent for almost a year now with third rate contract offers from e-publishing firms. I just self-published a children's book, Royal Prince Vince, through e-pub on Nook and Kindle and I am in the process of getting hard copies to test it out. I may end up doing the same thing with my novel once it is out of contract.
There's a difference between self-publishing (print) and self-publishing (e-book) but both are definitely self-publishing. It also makes a difference whether you're self-publishing (print) to supplement your self-pubbed e-book. stormhawk wrote: "Self-Publishing, is not publishing.
Read the terms and conditions carefully.
At least with an electronic format you don't end up with 1000 copies in your basement."
If an established author in both traditional and self-publishing offered a seminar in how to get published (in any format) would you attend?
It would depend on the cost of the seminar. Budget is tight. I was giving free advice on my blog, http://anangellslife.blogspot.com/just my muddling through it experiences to share with others, but I wasn't getting as many hits as I expected and it was taking too much time away from my writing. I will probably continue to do the blog, but not post as often.
So if it was free, you'd go... I'm thinking of doing something like it here in Ohio.Heidi wrote: "It would depend on the cost of the seminar. Budget is tight. I was giving free advice on my blog, http://anangellslife.blogspot.com/
just my muddling through it experiences to share with others, bu..."
Of course! Well, if it was a webinar! I would be willing to pay for it too, just depended on what you were charging and how long the seminar was. I have seen some similar offers of webinars that last two hours and charge $200 and all I can think is that it just feels wrong to ask that for your little bit of wisdom. These guys were once up and comers. How can they ask others who were in their shoes to pay that much. Feels sort of scammy preying on people's dreams like that. If I did a seminar like that then I would charge something simple like $10 for two hours. You get twenty participants and you are making $100 bucks an hour. Sounds like a win/win to me!!
Heidi, those are my feelings exactly. I just think that having been through the wars, why should I let everyone else do it the hard way? But I'd probably still do it for free...and I may do a sort of webinar in preparation for the seminar.Heidi wrote: "Of course! Well, if it was a webinar! I would be willing to pay for it too, just depended on what you were charging and how long the seminar was. I have seen some similar offers of webinars that la..."
If you do a webinar, let me know! Ohio is too far for me to travel, but Ohio is just too far for me to travel right now!
No problem... I'll let you know!Heidi wrote: "If you do a webinar, let me know! Ohio is too far for me to travel, but Ohio is just too far for me to travel right now!"
Valerie wrote: "If an established author in both traditional and self-publishing offered a seminar in how to get published (in any format) would you attend?"Unlikely. Tons of stuff online already covers the ins and outs of both.
Usually the hook for the traditional publishing seminars is that real live agents/editors/publishers will be there offering quick bits of face time with the authors. That can certainly be worth the time and money.
Meanwhile, for me, I figure every hour writing is a better investment in my career than an hour driving to a seminar.
http://pubit.barnesandnoble.com/pubit...