Divorce, Publishing Style - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T18:47:48Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=537324%3ATopic%3A15440&feed=yes&xn_auth=noElizabeth,
Hey. I don't know…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-04-05:537324:Comment:186282007-04-05T04:57:17.881ZAndrea Campbellhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/primatepal
Elizabeth,<br />
<br />
Hey. I don't know if it's because I'm a Capricorn (I hate that old pigeonhole thing, BUT), I know myself and I know that I -- 1.) am a workaholic, and 2.) will never feel safe. It seems every time I try to do the thing<br />
that will make me feel more secure, I get further away. I think authors even become gun-shy by nature of the business. For example, I had two best-selling party/games books. The first one, Great Games for Great Parties was published by a medium NY house with not much…
Elizabeth,<br />
<br />
Hey. I don't know if it's because I'm a Capricorn (I hate that old pigeonhole thing, BUT), I know myself and I know that I -- 1.) am a workaholic, and 2.) will never feel safe. It seems every time I try to do the thing<br />
that will make me feel more secure, I get further away. I think authors even become gun-shy by nature of the business. For example, I had two best-selling party/games books. The first one, Great Games for Great Parties was published by a medium NY house with not much of a royalty, but it stayed on the shelf for twelve years and must have paid me $25,000 in royalty. Now I say to myself, get a dozen of those going and you've got something to live on. But, you know what?<br />
<br />
The publishing business turns a corner, becomes very corporate and you're lucky if your shelf-life for a title is six months! Hence, new plan. (One thing though, I got the "rights" to these two books back as quickly as possible and they are sitting on the desk of another publisher—keep those fingers crossed, hm-m?)<br />
<br />
I think in order to stay in business, you have to learn to shuck and jive (geez, where did that come from?)<br />
Well, I mean, just do it all, keep doing what you think works, and then change that up to in the hopes that it will catch on and something else will transpire. It's a re-invention game publishing is, for sure.<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
<br />
Andrea Campbell What publishers want is that…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-31:537324:Comment:164322007-03-31T19:46:30.391ZDianne Dayhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/dianneday
What publishers want is that their authors should sell in certain numbers. If the sales don't reach those numbers, the author will be dropped. Period. This is something a new author needs to know up front in order to have realistic expectations of where his/her career is going, but neither agents nor editors like to tell exactly what these numbers are. And the numbers do change depending on the genre in which one writes, and on the particular publisher, with some having higher expectations than…
What publishers want is that their authors should sell in certain numbers. If the sales don't reach those numbers, the author will be dropped. Period. This is something a new author needs to know up front in order to have realistic expectations of where his/her career is going, but neither agents nor editors like to tell exactly what these numbers are. And the numbers do change depending on the genre in which one writes, and on the particular publisher, with some having higher expectations than others, and in general things are tighter now than they were ten years ago. Expectations may also change depending on how promising the new author is perceived to be by a powerful editor within the publishing house, since a powerful editor can get some leeway to allow the author's readership to build. A new author should ask how many copies of the book will be published, keep up with sales numbers, and have a frank conversation with the agent about what the numbers mean. <br />
<br />
In this new situation of POD and small presses, the new paradigm seems to be for the author to keep track of sales and to solicit reviews (and keep copies of the reviews) him/herself, and then to use this data to encourage agent interest. If you are going to get very far -- unless, like Mr Mize you enjoy doing it yourself, which is a great advantage for him -- you will need an agent sooner rather than later. <br />
--Dianne Scary, but great topic Elizab…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-31:537324:Comment:163702007-03-31T17:11:37.000ZJannie Ballietthttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/tjannieballiett
Scary, but great topic Elizabeth. As a newbie and not a published novelist as YET...although published in magazines and a anthology-- this topic really scares me while breaking into the publishing world and its politics.<br />
<br />
I'm at the beginning (and scary) stage of learning all I can about getting the right agent, and the how-to-do-it with professionality. Heck, finding one interested in my work and who believes in my talent is a cross-your-fingers job. (and I believe I'm talented) That is the…
Scary, but great topic Elizabeth. As a newbie and not a published novelist as YET...although published in magazines and a anthology-- this topic really scares me while breaking into the publishing world and its politics. <br />
<br />
I'm at the beginning (and scary) stage of learning all I can about getting the right agent, and the how-to-do-it with professionality. Heck, finding one interested in my work and who believes in my talent is a cross-your-fingers job. (and I believe I'm talented) That is the hardest step in the whole writing process. I'm terrified of an agent knowing that I am green. I'd run if I were an agent. <br />
<br />
Now that you've introduced the newest dilemma of publishers divorcing seasoned writers, I'm scared of a future divorce once I am published. I, like most beginners, always thought once you've proved yourself with sells and fan base, you're in like flint. And once upon a time, I believe that was true. If your work sells then the agent and publisher continue to ride the ticket. <br />
<br />
I've read about authors joining in on the e-publishing and other medias available, and do see that we have to take responsibility for our futures with all options available. But this surely isn't what I had in mind for my future. I do believe that e-publishing will take more years than some of us will ever see, to present itself in any reliable venue. Maybe the next generation of writers will benefit. As it was already mentioned, the younger generation is into the computer scene, more than our generation is into the hardcopy and paperback era. <br />
<br />
I'm terrified to learn that publishers drop their proven authors and now wonder where that leaves a newbie unknown first-timer, in the grand scale of things. What do the publishers want if not their proven seasoned authors? Why bother with a new unknown? It seems to me that they would be starting from scratch by divorcing the proven author. P.S. I like the positive attitude most everyone has concerning this transition-- that's encouraging for me. Anne, your agent has no probl…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-31:537324:Comment:161222007-03-31T01:26:33.920ZDianne Dayhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/dianneday
Anne, your agent has no problem with having only some of your work come his way? I'm not sure mine would feel that way and have been concerned about it. Part of the problem for those of us who did "make it" but were dropped when the business changed so much after the big publishers merged in the 90s, is that we are kind of locked in with the older system. I mentioned in my earlier post that I "read a lot." Actually in with my pleasure reading I've been doing some reviews, some for pay and some…
Anne, your agent has no problem with having only some of your work come his way? I'm not sure mine would feel that way and have been concerned about it. Part of the problem for those of us who did "make it" but were dropped when the business changed so much after the big publishers merged in the 90s, is that we are kind of locked in with the older system. I mentioned in my earlier post that I "read a lot." Actually in with my pleasure reading I've been doing some reviews, some for pay and some online for free, and the purpose of the reviewing is both to help authors to get word about their work out there, and to help me understand more about the larger scene for publishing today. I'm enjoying it, but I'm far from having a good picture yet. <br />
-- Dianne Well, my goodness! Life doesn…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-30:537324:Comment:158932007-03-30T16:38:24.190ZDiana Killianhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/girldetective
Well, my goodness! Life doesn't end with a divorce. I look at it these initial contractsa and books as my "starter" marriage. I'm still hoping to find true love along the way. Either way, it's not like it was time wasted. <br />
<br />
One book at a time, Elizabeth!
Well, my goodness! Life doesn't end with a divorce. I look at it these initial contractsa and books as my "starter" marriage. I'm still hoping to find true love along the way. Either way, it's not like it was time wasted. <br />
<br />
One book at a time, Elizabeth! We're in a business that's fl…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-30:537324:Comment:157902007-03-30T13:48:37.848ZNancy Martinhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/NancyM
We're in a business that's fluid. Change happens all the time--good and bad. To stay alive, stay sane, we need to embrace that. As artists, don't we need fresh challenges? I've been writing and publishing books for 27 (ye gods!) years, and I've come to recognize that the only way to continue getting a paycheck is to watch trends and try to reflect what's new in popular culture in the content my books. Yes, it can be difficult, but it's also one of the most exciting and challening parts of what…
We're in a business that's fluid. Change happens all the time--good and bad. To stay alive, stay sane, we need to embrace that. As artists, don't we need fresh challenges? I've been writing and publishing books for 27 (ye gods!) years, and I've come to recognize that the only way to continue getting a paycheck is to watch trends and try to reflect what's new in popular culture in the content my books. Yes, it can be difficult, but it's also one of the most exciting and challening parts of what I do. It's a way of preventing myself from becoming a total hermit. I need to interact with the world! Great topic, Elizabeth. Yes, it's very difficult thes…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-30:537324:Comment:157042007-03-30T06:28:24.337ZAnne Brookehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/AnneBrooke
Yes, it's very difficult these days. It's the way the business is. I think it's best not to<br />
rely on one publisher or agent, but to keep the way open for dealing with others<br />
too, or indeed self-publishing. I've used all the way to market that there are now!<br />
I've self-published, helped form my own company to publish our books and<br />
been published by a small publisher. At the same time, some of my work goes<br />
via my agent and some doesn't.<br />
<br />
These days, we have to be all-rounders for sure!<br />
<br />
A…
Yes, it's very difficult these days. It's the way the business is. I think it's best not to <br />
rely on one publisher or agent, but to keep the way open for dealing with others <br />
too, or indeed self-publishing. I've used all the way to market that there are now! <br />
I've self-published, helped form my own company to publish our books and <br />
been published by a small publisher. At the same time, some of my work goes <br />
via my agent and some doesn't. <br />
<br />
These days, we have to be all-rounders for sure! <br />
<br />
A <br />
xxx This has been suggested earli…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-30:537324:Comment:156642007-03-30T04:11:40.923ZJoy Calderwoodhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Dragonlily
This has been suggested earlier, but let's look at it again. Think of how many complaints we used to hear about family members being glued to their computers. I personally don't hear them anymore. It is taken for granted that a computer is a natural and highly interesting part of one's day. Think how kids take to computers -- we've heard the jokes about if you can't fix your computer ask a 10 year old.<br></br><br></br>So yes, ebooks are a coming part of the future. It won't take a whole generation to…
This has been suggested earlier, but let's look at it again. Think of how many complaints we used to hear about family members being glued to their computers. I personally don't hear them anymore. It is taken for granted that a computer is a natural and highly interesting part of one's day. Think how kids take to computers -- we've heard the jokes about if you can't fix your computer ask a 10 year old.<br/><br/>So yes, ebooks are a coming part of the future. It won't take a whole generation to get there: look at yourself and how much more time you spend on the computer than you used to.<br/><br/>No one is asking us to give up the delicious feel of a book in our hands. But there are technical advantages. Your books don't go out of print. They appear on your screen in a couple of minutes, without a tiring shopping trip. Speed readers can delight in the expandable font size and the relative ease of hitting "page down". You don't have to let go of your best electronic friend to pick up a book. There's a place for both.<br/><br/>What's my point? More publishers. A more flexible industry, because e-publishing doesn't cost much to start up, and the books it presents are as good as the discernment of the acquisitions editor. Whether you are looking to get into "dating" for the first time or after a 20-year "marriage," there are a lot of new publishers who want your good material to help prove their reputations. This is a time of transition, with a lot of opportunity -- not to get rich, yet, but for your writing career to become part of the foundation of a new, more responsive publishing industry.<br/><br/>And for your books to get read. There <i>is</i> life after divorce. Good for you! I also went the…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-30:537324:Comment:155872007-03-30T02:22:24.896ZBobbi A. Chukranhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/bobbichukran
Good for you! I also went the "indie" route with my first mystery. But as you probably know, marketing fiction is a whole lot different than marketing non-fiction!<br />
<br />
bobbi c.<br />
<a href="http://www.bobbichukran.com">http://www.bobbichukran.com</a>
Good for you! I also went the "indie" route with my first mystery. But as you probably know, marketing fiction is a whole lot different than marketing non-fiction!<br />
<br />
bobbi c.<br />
<a href="http://www.bobbichukran.com">http://www.bobbichukran.com</a> Hi Elizabeth,
ACK. My most u…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-30:537324:Comment:155842007-03-30T02:20:08.967ZBobbi A. Chukranhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/bobbichukran
Hi Elizabeth,<br />
<br />
ACK. My most unfavorite topic. As an author who had lots of success in non-fiction publishing, then finally published my mystery novel through my small press because I just got fed up with the ten years of backstabbing, etc. I went through trying to get it placed with a "traditional" publisher, I sometimes wonder if I want to continue writing fiction. All these stories of "divorce, publishing style" scare the bejeebers out of me. I don't think any of us will ever be safe as…
Hi Elizabeth,<br />
<br />
ACK. My most unfavorite topic. As an author who had lots of success in non-fiction publishing, then finally published my mystery novel through my small press because I just got fed up with the ten years of backstabbing, etc. I went through trying to get it placed with a "traditional" publisher, I sometimes wonder if I want to continue writing fiction. All these stories of "divorce, publishing style" scare the bejeebers out of me. I don't think any of us will ever be safe as authors anymore.<br />
<br />
Wow,what a cheery thought, huh?<br />
<br />
bobbi c.<br />
<a href="http://www.bobbichukran.com">http://www.bobbichukran.com</a>