Money, Etc. - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T06:04:34Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:50801?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A50993&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHi Ray. Thanks for that persp…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-27:537324:Comment:511252007-06-27T09:15:45.133ZJude Hardinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
Hi Ray. Thanks for that perspective.<br />
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I guess it should be said, of course, that all small presses aren't created equal. Some are quite respected in the publishing community, get good distribution, reviews from the trades, etc. So, it's certainly possible to build a stout career from a small-press start. And, there are a handful of authors who even started out self-published and then later got picked up by a major.<br />
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Like I said before, there are no guarantees any way you go. You can't force…
Hi Ray. Thanks for that perspective.<br />
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I guess it should be said, of course, that all small presses aren't created equal. Some are quite respected in the publishing community, get good distribution, reviews from the trades, etc. So, it's certainly possible to build a stout career from a small-press start. And, there are a handful of authors who even started out self-published and then later got picked up by a major.<br />
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Like I said before, there are no guarantees any way you go. You can't force luck, so sometimes you just have to follow your heart.<br />
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Looking at it from a business standpoint, though, I think Konrath makes a good argument. I want to be able to ditch my "day" job and write full time, and still have time for a good deal of promotion. The only way for <i>me</i> to do that is to get a decent advance. I have no means of support other than my own income, so I need a sturdy launch pad. At the risk of sounding overconfident, I believe it's going to happen for me. I believe I'm going to be a bestselling author. People usually laugh when I say that, but if you can't really visualize it happening, if you're unable to actually put the words out there for the universe to digest, then it probably won't happen.<br />
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Okay. I'm starting to sound like a self-help guru so I'll shut up now. :) But can you afford to keep th…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-27:537324:Comment:510932007-06-27T01:06:18.637ZJude Hardinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
But can you afford to keep the fridge stocked with beer? That would be my primary concern.<br />
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Seriously, though, there's an enormous amount to be said for doing what you love and making a living (no matter how meager) at it. I have a new house, new truck, 401(K), good insurance...but I abhor the job that pays for all that. Life's just too short to spend half of it doing something that sucks.
But can you afford to keep the fridge stocked with beer? That would be my primary concern.<br />
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Seriously, though, there's an enormous amount to be said for doing what you love and making a living (no matter how meager) at it. I have a new house, new truck, 401(K), good insurance...but I abhor the job that pays for all that. Life's just too short to spend half of it doing something that sucks. "I'm going to keep emailing y…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-27:537324:Comment:510852007-06-27T00:32:08.168ZOlen Steinhauerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/olensteinhauer
"I'm going to keep emailing you until you give me an answer"<br />
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Nice. This sounds like a good technique to get girls to talk to me.<br />
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But you're right, persistence is the answer. Or a bulldog of an agent.
"I'm going to keep emailing you until you give me an answer"<br />
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Nice. This sounds like a good technique to get girls to talk to me.<br />
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But you're right, persistence is the answer. Or a bulldog of an agent. Jude, if you can pull off 2-3…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-27:537324:Comment:510842007-06-27T00:31:22.659ZOlen Steinhauerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/olensteinhauer
Jude, if you can pull off 2-3 books a year of decent quality, then more power to you! When I first got a deal, I started taking notes. "If one book earns me Y, then two books earn me 2xY," and the 5-year plan of 10-15 books followed. Sadly, it turns out I'm not the kind of writer who can pull off that kind of volume. Wish I was....<br />
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My answer to the problem has been to live cheaply. I don't own much more than my laptop, have no insurance, and dream of the day when I'll own a car.
Jude, if you can pull off 2-3 books a year of decent quality, then more power to you! When I first got a deal, I started taking notes. "If one book earns me Y, then two books earn me 2xY," and the 5-year plan of 10-15 books followed. Sadly, it turns out I'm not the kind of writer who can pull off that kind of volume. Wish I was....<br />
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My answer to the problem has been to live cheaply. I don't own much more than my laptop, have no insurance, and dream of the day when I'll own a car. Good points, Sandra. I was mo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-26:537324:Comment:510592007-06-26T22:56:16.985ZJude Hardinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
Good points, Sandra. I was mostly talking about that $1.25 million deal you mentioned. I know it doesn't happen very often.<br />
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Let me rephrase: All other aspects of the contract being equal, and trusting your agent to not submit to some jerk who'll leave your ass flapping in the breeze, the house with the most coin gets the book.
Good points, Sandra. I was mostly talking about that $1.25 million deal you mentioned. I know it doesn't happen very often.<br />
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Let me rephrase: All other aspects of the contract being equal, and trusting your agent to not submit to some jerk who'll leave your ass flapping in the breeze, the house with the most coin gets the book. Well Jude, I think the chance…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-26:537324:Comment:510512007-06-26T22:12:41.167ZSandra Ruttanhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Sandramre
Well Jude, I think the chances of a new author getting seven figures are pretty slim, so I'm going in the realm of realism here. If one publisher offered $30,000 per book and another $25,000 but there were thing about working with that editor that appealed to me, I'd weigh that as well. There's a lot more to consider than just the bottom line, for me anyway. Distribution, which rights they're taking, promotional things.<br />
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Sounds like you've picked the list of editors your work is going to? This…
Well Jude, I think the chances of a new author getting seven figures are pretty slim, so I'm going in the realm of realism here. If one publisher offered $30,000 per book and another $25,000 but there were thing about working with that editor that appealed to me, I'd weigh that as well. There's a lot more to consider than just the bottom line, for me anyway. Distribution, which rights they're taking, promotional things.<br />
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Sounds like you've picked the list of editors your work is going to? This isn't about not wanting to work with someone - it's about maybe knowing more about a certain editor, seeing what they've done with a work/author you really admire and therefore wanting to work with them. It doesn't mean another editor isn't a great choice as well, but I don't know all the editors out there. I don't even know half the editors out there. Hell, not even a quarter of them, especially since I've met more editors in the UK than I know in the US.<br />
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Clearly, there are some people who are only interested in making big money, it must be a big publisher, etc. Funny, I read a hell of a lot from small presses and UK publishers that you guys don't have in the US, so maybe that explains something about my perspective. The majority of St. Martin's titles don't even get picked up by the chains here, for example, while Kensington has great distribution here. (However, both have publicity departments that are lacking.) That matters to me, because I can market on my home turf easily, but if the books aren't here I can't do that. I also deal with publicists from a lot of major publishing houses through the ezine, and believe me, my impressions of how some of them handle their marketing and promotion would also factor into a decision. I'm not talking about turning down $50,000 and taking $10,000 so please don't overgeneralize it to the point of making it ridiculous. I'm saying that $50,000 from one publisher isn't as good as $45,000 from another that has better distribution and better marketing, IMHO.<br />
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I actually wish they'd start giving awards for cover design and really making a deal about it, because some of the cover designs really suck. There's a hell of a lot more to the overall success of the book than just the initial dollar figure, and as Kevin has demonstrated from experience sometimes getting a big pay day doesn't mean your book will succeed. I don't want to feel like I'm building a career and then be dead in the water after two books. IMHO one of the big problems with a lot of new authors is they think they'll start off being Laura Lippman or Ken Bruen or George Pelecanos, and they don't comprehend the years and hard work that went into their current success. Ken and George both started small press. I would <b>never</b> dismiss that. I'll let you guys know, Jon.…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-26:537324:Comment:510462007-06-26T21:58:56.573ZJude Hardinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
I'll let you guys know, Jon. Thanks!
I'll let you guys know, Jon. Thanks! Hi Sandra. Wow, it would be h…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-26:537324:Comment:510372007-06-26T21:19:22.704ZJude Hardinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
Hi Sandra. Wow, it would be hard to turn down seven figures. That kind of money in the bank would give you a lot of freedom and options, even if the book flopped. You could pretty much write your own creative ticket from then on.<br />
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I know what you mean about working with an editor you admire. Still, why even submit to someone you <i>wouldn't</i> want to work with? If you submit to seven houses, and a bidding war ensues, high bid should get the contract, IMHO.
Hi Sandra. Wow, it would be hard to turn down seven figures. That kind of money in the bank would give you a lot of freedom and options, even if the book flopped. You could pretty much write your own creative ticket from then on.<br />
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I know what you mean about working with an editor you admire. Still, why even submit to someone you <i>wouldn't</i> want to work with? If you submit to seven houses, and a bidding war ensues, high bid should get the contract, IMHO. Thanks, Karen! I think that's…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-26:537324:Comment:510342007-06-26T21:02:52.974ZJude Hardinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
Thanks, Karen! I think that's good advice. Good luck with your debut!
Thanks, Karen! I think that's good advice. Good luck with your debut! Hi Tom. I have wet dreams abo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-06-26:537324:Comment:510322007-06-26T20:54:24.777ZJude Hardinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
Hi Tom. I have wet dreams about bidding wars, LOL!<br />
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I saw The Police in concert back in their heyday. It's one of the best shows I've ever seen, and Stuart Copeland is one of my all-time favorite drummers (I play drums, too). Is Miles related to Stuart?
Hi Tom. I have wet dreams about bidding wars, LOL!<br />
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I saw The Police in concert back in their heyday. It's one of the best shows I've ever seen, and Stuart Copeland is one of my all-time favorite drummers (I play drums, too). Is Miles related to Stuart?