If you're a new writer, you're screwed . . . - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T12:13:31Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/if-youre-a-new-writer-youre?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A224672&feed=yes&xn_auth=noYep--very cool. I have a feel…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-01-18:537324:Comment:2247922010-01-18T00:50:28.586ZJon Loomishttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JonLoomis
Yep--very cool. I have a feeling we'll be hearing a lot more of this kind of story as the ebook market continues to expand.
Yep--very cool. I have a feeling we'll be hearing a lot more of this kind of story as the ebook market continues to expand. Wow! Great story, John. Congr…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-01-17:537324:Comment:2247882010-01-17T22:42:55.273ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Wow! Great story, John. Congrats!
Wow! Great story, John. Congrats! I agree mostly, John. Of cour…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-01-17:537324:Comment:2247862010-01-17T21:47:57.005ZEric Christophersonhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/datahog
I agree mostly, John. Of course the powers that be don't always know what's saleable even if they think they do. I read, for example, that all of NY publishing essentially turned down John Grisham's first two books, A Time to Kill and The Firm. The former was sold to a very small publisher in the end and the latter was only sold to a major house after Tom Cruise bought the film rights and the project got greenlit. Given Grisham's prose shortcomings, especially back then, I suspect it was the…
I agree mostly, John. Of course the powers that be don't always know what's saleable even if they think they do. I read, for example, that all of NY publishing essentially turned down John Grisham's first two books, A Time to Kill and The Firm. The former was sold to a very small publisher in the end and the latter was only sold to a major house after Tom Cruise bought the film rights and the project got greenlit. Given Grisham's prose shortcomings, especially back then, I suspect it was the writing the publishers turned their noses up at initially. Writing does matter to them, I believe. To some extent I think editors publish novels for each other, wishing to be associated with the books their peers respect, even in the commercial fiction arena.<br />
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Any ideas, John, on what aspects of your work led to your publishing deals, what made them saleable? John, allow me to politely di…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-01-17:537324:Comment:2247702010-01-17T17:51:21.723ZB.R.Statehamhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BRStateham
John, allow me to politely disagree. I think there are hundreds of books which never see the light of day that are excellent. A combination of factors keeps it from being seen, true. One of them being that neither a publishing house nor an agent will take the chance on an unknown piece of fiction. To count the number of times an agent who originally liked my stuff yet turned around and told me they no longer worked the fiction market would be a surprisingly large number. Really, the saying that…
John, allow me to politely disagree. I think there are hundreds of books which never see the light of day that are excellent. A combination of factors keeps it from being seen, true. One of them being that neither a publishing house nor an agent will take the chance on an unknown piece of fiction. To count the number of times an agent who originally liked my stuff yet turned around and told me they no longer worked the fiction market would be a surprisingly large number. Really, the saying that "a good book will eventually be published," is a myth.<br />
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Which is the reason I think the antiquated idea of a slush pile should come back. At least slush piles dedicated to nitch-genres. I think it's always been toug…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-01-17:537324:Comment:2247672010-01-17T17:42:20.232ZJaden Terrellhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BethTerrell
I think it's always been tough, but each new technological advance makes it tough in a slightly different way. I think the "Got Books?" advertising idea is interesting.
I think it's always been tough, but each new technological advance makes it tough in a slightly different way. I think the "Got Books?" advertising idea is interesting. The libraries are full of tho…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-01-17:537324:Comment:2247472010-01-17T14:33:14.950ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
The libraries are full of those posters -- including one of E.T. Of course, you can argue that that's not the place for them. Yes, I think public service spots on all channels would be nice.
The libraries are full of those posters -- including one of E.T. Of course, you can argue that that's not the place for them. Yes, I think public service spots on all channels would be nice. Yeah it sounds great, but whe…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-01-17:537324:Comment:2247072010-01-17T02:58:40.651ZD.R. MacMasterhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DuncanRMacMaster
Yeah it sounds great, but where will we find a celebrity who reads?<br />
<br />
;)
Yeah it sounds great, but where will we find a celebrity who reads?<br />
<br />
;) Wow--ask and you shall receiv…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-01-17:537324:Comment:2247052010-01-17T01:15:04.532ZJon Loomishttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JonLoomis
Wow--ask and you shall receive. Lovin' me some Al Gore every day. But imagine a national ad campaign along the lines of PETA's nude anti-fur deal: naked big name celebrities, Proust or whatever they keep on the nightstand in the way of reading material, simple ad copy along the lines of "reading is sexy." Get the top five publishers to fund it, major markets only, print and billboards, as risqué as you can make it--think of the buzz! If sex sells, why can't it sell books?
Wow--ask and you shall receive. Lovin' me some Al Gore every day. But imagine a national ad campaign along the lines of PETA's nude anti-fur deal: naked big name celebrities, Proust or whatever they keep on the nightstand in the way of reading material, simple ad copy along the lines of "reading is sexy." Get the top five publishers to fund it, major markets only, print and billboards, as risqué as you can make it--think of the buzz! If sex sells, why can't it sell books? I've heard ad guys say about…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-01-17:537324:Comment:2247012010-01-17T00:20:25.367ZJack Getzehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JGetze
I've heard ad guys say about TV vs. reading: You have to do the book, the TV does you.
I've heard ad guys say about TV vs. reading: You have to do the book, the TV does you. I love the Internet. Thank Go…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-01-16:537324:Comment:2246912010-01-16T19:20:58.931ZDana Kinghttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DanaKing
I love the Internet. Thank God for Al Gore.<br />
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On a more serious note, I agree about niche markets. What I'd like to see is for publishing to do some research into whether their ideas of marketing work at all, and try to come up with some empirical evidence of how that time and money can best be spent.
I love the Internet. Thank God for Al Gore.<br />
<br />
On a more serious note, I agree about niche markets. What I'd like to see is for publishing to do some research into whether their ideas of marketing work at all, and try to come up with some empirical evidence of how that time and money can best be spent.