Leave or Stay with Shoddy Publisher? - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T05:00:48Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/leave-or-stay-with-shoddy?feed=yes&xn_auth=noJump. I waited 4 years for a…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-02-09:537324:Comment:2692982011-02-09T14:47:20.019ZFrank Gateshttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/FrankGates
<p>Jump. I waited 4 years for a book to get published and the publisher decided to be a writer. I ended up self publishing it and it is doing very well. If the book had come out in 2002 or 3 the timing would have been perfect but the book missed it's chance because I wanted to hang tough and wait it out. I had no idea online gaming was going to take off like it did.</p>
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<p>Go with your gut.</p>
<p>if you are having doubts analyze the issues without bringing in your emotions.</p>
<p>Jump. I waited 4 years for a book to get published and the publisher decided to be a writer. I ended up self publishing it and it is doing very well. If the book had come out in 2002 or 3 the timing would have been perfect but the book missed it's chance because I wanted to hang tough and wait it out. I had no idea online gaming was going to take off like it did.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Go with your gut.</p>
<p>if you are having doubts analyze the issues without bringing in your emotions.</p> I went for self-publishing...…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-10-31:537324:Comment:2546502010-10-31T01:22:53.345ZCamille LaGuirehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/CamilleLaGuire
I went for self-publishing... but it IS a lot of work and it takes a certain personality type. I really enjoy the publishing process, and I know a lot about format preparation and graphic design, and I can even knock out a decent cover myself.<br></br>
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For those who don't have that expertise and don't enjoy it, then you will have to pay people to do some of it for you, and that could run you some money.<br></br>
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My advice is, before you try self-publishing something that might be…
I went for self-publishing... but it IS a lot of work and it takes a certain personality type. I really enjoy the publishing process, and I know a lot about format preparation and graphic design, and I can even knock out a decent cover myself.<br/>
<br/>
For those who don't have that expertise and don't enjoy it, then you will have to pay people to do some of it for you, and that could run you some money.<br/>
<br/>
My advice is, before you try self-publishing something that might be commercially viable, look in your trunk and see if you have a novella or a batch of short stories (maybe something that's about 15-25k total words) and create a 99 cent special. It probably won't sell well, but you can see if you like the process.<br />
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(Oh, and there are a lot of people making good money who are not Joe Konrath - many completely unknown before they started. The key is, money in the hand is more valuable than maybes.) Pepper and I are on the same…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-10-23:537324:Comment:2540232010-10-23T17:31:17.119ZStacyhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/StacyDeanne
Pepper and I are on the same page, LOL!
Pepper and I are on the same page, LOL! Yep.tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-10-23:537324:Comment:2540072010-10-23T12:05:37.534ZJon Loomishttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JonLoomis
Yep.
Yep. I would suggest getting out y…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-10-22:537324:Comment:2538182010-10-22T03:03:54.783ZPepper Smithhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Reefrunner
I would suggest getting out your contract and reading it. Find out what ways are available for terminating your contract if you choose to. Usually if your publisher doesn't fulfill certain requirements, like publishing your book within a certain length of time after contracting it, you can legally get out of the contract. But you have to check what your contract says to know.<br></br>
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I don't know who you're with, but it sounds like your publisher is in trouble. In the current economic…
I would suggest getting out your contract and reading it. Find out what ways are available for terminating your contract if you choose to. Usually if your publisher doesn't fulfill certain requirements, like publishing your book within a certain length of time after contracting it, you can legally get out of the contract. But you have to check what your contract says to know.<br/>
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I don't know who you're with, but it sounds like your publisher is in trouble. In the current economic climate, it's probably not going to get better. If your publisher goes down the tubes, you're going to have trouble when they declare bankruptcy. Bankruptcy courts view book contracts as publisher assets, and they will keep them tied up in settling the company's debt. The company has to have let you out of your contract over six months prior to declaring bankruptcy before the courts will let you alone, according to the experiences of a number of authors with e-presses that went under.<br/>
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If it was good enough for one publisher to pick it up, shopping it around is a viable alternative, but of course you have to get out of the contract first.<br/>
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On edit: Checked to see who you were with. Checked them out on Absolute Write. I have one word for you. Run. You need an agent. Try Fictio…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-10-22:537324:Comment:2538092010-10-22T01:22:34.671ZMilton T. Burtonhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MiltonTBurton
You need an agent. Try Fiction Addiction, or the Jeff Harmon guide. Keep writing and work on getting an agent. Isolate a half dozen agents who will take three chapters or the first fifty pages or whatever. The heck with those who just want a query letter. The only thing that will sell you is your writing itself. I had 22 agents turn me down before one showed any interest. And he is one of the best in the business. You have to have a little talent, but you have to have a LOT of persistence.
You need an agent. Try Fiction Addiction, or the Jeff Harmon guide. Keep writing and work on getting an agent. Isolate a half dozen agents who will take three chapters or the first fifty pages or whatever. The heck with those who just want a query letter. The only thing that will sell you is your writing itself. I had 22 agents turn me down before one showed any interest. And he is one of the best in the business. You have to have a little talent, but you have to have a LOT of persistence. Thanks for your input, everyo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-10-21:537324:Comment:2537932010-10-21T21:53:13.231ZBenjamin Sobieckhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BenjaminSobieck
Thanks for your input, everyone, I appreciate it. I do have the option of leaving the contract I'm in, so it leaves a lot of things wide open.<br />
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I've got some hard thinking to do about all this.
Thanks for your input, everyone, I appreciate it. I do have the option of leaving the contract I'm in, so it leaves a lot of things wide open.<br />
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I've got some hard thinking to do about all this. Hi Ben,
Forgive me if you've…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-10-21:537324:Comment:2537902010-10-21T20:51:59.742ZStacyhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/StacyDeanne
Hi Ben,<br />
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Forgive me if you've already done this, but have you voiced your concerns to the pub first? I would definitely talk to them about it and tell them that you are seriously considering terminating the deal. So if you haven't, talk to them first and then see what's really going on. This doesn't sound good at all because usually when pubs start pushing stuff back and not releasing books on time, I'd worry about how long they are gonna be around. Seriously.<br />
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You gotta protect yourself and…
Hi Ben,<br />
<br />
Forgive me if you've already done this, but have you voiced your concerns to the pub first? I would definitely talk to them about it and tell them that you are seriously considering terminating the deal. So if you haven't, talk to them first and then see what's really going on. This doesn't sound good at all because usually when pubs start pushing stuff back and not releasing books on time, I'd worry about how long they are gonna be around. Seriously.<br />
<br />
You gotta protect yourself and your work before anything else. You need to find out how they are doing and if they are about to go belly up so you can make arrangements. You also need to see why the heck they are having these issues.<br />
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Don't make any decisions until you've talked to them and voiced concerns. Sure pubs sometimes have to delay books but the issues you are saying seem to have been going on a while. Also, I don't see why they'd have to push the book back THAT long. Usually when a pub pushes you back it's a month or maybe two or three but seven? I don't know.<br />
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If I were you I'd be thinking they might be getting ready to go down the toilet. You don't want your work tied up with them when they do. So talk to them and tell them all your concerns. If you don't like what they say, pull out (if possible).<br />
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About your options:<br />
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You don't have to self-publish (unless you want to). I am sure if a publisher felt your work was good enough to give you a contract, another will. Don't doubt yourself and don't sell yourself short. You deserve to be with a publisher that respects you and values your work. Don't think you gotta sit with a publisher if you're not happy and have them treat you like crap. Nope. You hold the cards. Just talk to them and go from there.<br />
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I'm sure there are many pubs who'd want your book if you and this pub part ways. Sorry you're going through this sucky situation.<br />
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So I too agree with I.J.<br />
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Best Wishes!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.stacy-deanne.net" target="_blank">http://www.stacy-deanne.net</a> If you're on the schedule, yo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-10-21:537324:Comment:2537812010-10-21T20:27:34.445ZJon Loomishttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JonLoomis
If you're on the schedule, you must have signed a contract. Unless there's mutual agreement between you and the publisher not to go forward (or failing that, legal action), you're pretty much stuck with the deal you signed. If you can get them to agree to return the rights to you, I'd think about going back to the drawing board and shopping the book elsewhere. No distribution=no sales, and there's no reason I can think of to settle for that--partly because it's a waste of your current book, and…
If you're on the schedule, you must have signed a contract. Unless there's mutual agreement between you and the publisher not to go forward (or failing that, legal action), you're pretty much stuck with the deal you signed. If you can get them to agree to return the rights to you, I'd think about going back to the drawing board and shopping the book elsewhere. No distribution=no sales, and there's no reason I can think of to settle for that--partly because it's a waste of your current book, and partly because it establishes a very negative track record that could follow you as you try to shop the next book. Not your fault, but then it never is, right? You're right to be unhappy--and my guess is it's going to get worse. Next they'll want you to buy x-number of your own books, and pay them to "promote" and "distribute" the book for you. Grant has a good point, Benja…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-10-21:537324:Comment:2537742010-10-21T18:22:51.199ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Grant has a good point, Benjamin. Very good luck!
Grant has a good point, Benjamin. Very good luck!