Do We Need Agents and Editors? - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T04:47:35Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/do-we-need-agents-and-editors?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A204396&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI still buy from book stores…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-25:537324:Comment:2046722009-06-25T04:19:47.649ZFlic Manninghttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/FlicManning
I still buy from book stores even though i know many readers that now happily purchase "unknown" authors from sites like amazon. There may be a viable future in internet books but it will tak a while to get there.
I still buy from book stores even though i know many readers that now happily purchase "unknown" authors from sites like amazon. There may be a viable future in internet books but it will tak a while to get there. LOL. Same here. It's depressi…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-24:537324:Comment:2045842009-06-24T21:08:05.068ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
LOL. Same here. It's depressing sometimes how your nearest and dearest let you down. One of my avid mystery-reading friends gets my books from the library.
LOL. Same here. It's depressing sometimes how your nearest and dearest let you down. One of my avid mystery-reading friends gets my books from the library. The random assignment feature…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-24:537324:Comment:2045762009-06-24T20:27:06.057ZEric Christophersonhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/datahog
The random assignment feature of this particular contest prevented most of the chummy gamesmanship. In my case, I solicited no friends or relatives. (I can't even get them to read my stuff!)
The random assignment feature of this particular contest prevented most of the chummy gamesmanship. In my case, I solicited no friends or relatives. (I can't even get them to read my stuff!) It's funny, there are many bo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-23:537324:Comment:2044022009-06-23T20:59:41.500ZJohn McFetridgehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
It's funny, there are many boks about the movie business lamenting the fact that agents and marketing departments have too much power.<br />
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I shudder to think what the state of literature would be today if sales projections and fads of the moment had determined what got published.<br />
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Well, I guess publishing would look a lot like Hollywood. Or <i>even more</i> like Hollywood than it does now.
It's funny, there are many boks about the movie business lamenting the fact that agents and marketing departments have too much power.<br />
<br />
I shudder to think what the state of literature would be today if sales projections and fads of the moment had determined what got published.<br />
<br />
Well, I guess publishing would look a lot like Hollywood. Or <i>even more</i> like Hollywood than it does now. Hah! It could happen. Wouldn'…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-23:537324:Comment:2044002009-06-23T20:56:15.814ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Hah! It could happen. Wouldn't put anything past them. We could dig in our heels, I suppose. And as long as Kindle takes offerings, we can go that route ourselves without sharing.
Hah! It could happen. Wouldn't put anything past them. We could dig in our heels, I suppose. And as long as Kindle takes offerings, we can go that route ourselves without sharing. Oh, exactly. I intend to rais…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-23:537324:Comment:2043982009-06-23T20:51:15.588ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Oh, exactly. I intend to raise that point with my agent next time a contract rolls around. If it does.<br />
Arrgh! This goes with John Loomis's post. The electronic rights are now part of the print contract, but they can be taken out and retained by the author.
Oh, exactly. I intend to raise that point with my agent next time a contract rolls around. If it does.<br />
Arrgh! This goes with John Loomis's post. The electronic rights are now part of the print contract, but they can be taken out and retained by the author. Amen, John! On the fact that…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-23:537324:Comment:2043962009-06-23T20:43:54.874ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Amen, John! On the fact that publishers turn down books because they don't think they'll get enough sales. I have the same problem with readers as you do. And I have the same problem as Dana, placing my literary historical thriller. Those who have seen it don't know what to make of it because it doesn't fit the current fads. My agent thinks I should rewrite it.<br />
No way! It may crop up on Kindle.
Amen, John! On the fact that publishers turn down books because they don't think they'll get enough sales. I have the same problem with readers as you do. And I have the same problem as Dana, placing my literary historical thriller. Those who have seen it don't know what to make of it because it doesn't fit the current fads. My agent thinks I should rewrite it.<br />
No way! It may crop up on Kindle. I think a lot of publishers a…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-23:537324:Comment:2043922009-06-23T20:09:56.639ZDana Kinghttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DanaKing
<i>I think a lot of publishers are turning down books because they don't feel there is a "big enough," market for them - not because the books aren't "good enough."</i><br />
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I hope you're right. (I think.) Almost all of the rejections I got for my PI novel praised the writing. My agent didn't want to drop down to smaller publishers, and I thought I had a better chance of building a readership by getting on base and moving the runners than standing standing around waiting for a home run. (Not to…
<i>I think a lot of publishers are turning down books because they don't feel there is a "big enough," market for them - not because the books aren't "good enough."</i><br />
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I hope you're right. (I think.) Almost all of the rejections I got for my PI novel praised the writing. My agent didn't want to drop down to smaller publishers, and I thought I had a better chance of building a readership by getting on base and moving the runners than standing standing around waiting for a home run. (Not to strain the sports metaphor too much.)<br />
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She said my FBI/organized crime story wouldn't sell, so I took it out on my own to small publishers, and so far she's right: it hasn't sold. If the issue is that my books aren't "big enough" to be marketable, but "good enough" to be publishable, then I'm hoping I can find a small house to take a chance on me, or for one of these new niches (like direct to electronic) may show some promise for me. There's only so small I can afford to go and still be worthwhile, though, given my real job, a daughter starting college, and my personality. I do need a publisher, not just a printer. By "publishable" I mean that…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-23:537324:Comment:2043902009-06-23T20:07:35.510ZJude Hardinhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
By "publishable" I mean that the prose and narrative structure are strong enough; that is, that the author knows how to write. By "rubbish" I mean that the author does not. My terminology, in this context, has nothing to do with sales potential or demographics. I'm saying that 980/1000 novels written aren't good enough to be published. Anywhere.
By "publishable" I mean that the prose and narrative structure are strong enough; that is, that the author knows how to write. By "rubbish" I mean that the author does not. My terminology, in this context, has nothing to do with sales potential or demographics. I'm saying that 980/1000 novels written aren't good enough to be published. Anywhere. If "publishable" and "marketa…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-23:537324:Comment:2043862009-06-23T19:37:17.243ZJohn McFetridgehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
If "publishable" and "marketable" are the same. They may not be.<br />
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My publisher has taken a chance on me. My books, generally, appeal to men over the age of thirty. Probably the smallest demographic in the book business. A lot of publishers turned down my books because not enough teenage girls would be interested in them. I hope that doesn't make my books rubbish.
If "publishable" and "marketable" are the same. They may not be.<br />
<br />
My publisher has taken a chance on me. My books, generally, appeal to men over the age of thirty. Probably the smallest demographic in the book business. A lot of publishers turned down my books because not enough teenage girls would be interested in them. I hope that doesn't make my books rubbish.