Comments on: What’s a Newbie Novelist to Do? http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Mon, 21 May 2012 04:27:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Jaina Kay http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18306 Jaina Kay Thu, 02 Jun 2011 01:59:16 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18306 Just a quick thought - Eragon was originally self-published before self-publishing was even the thing, if I recall correctly, and it was made into a movie. (Of course opinions vary on how good of a movie it was, but that's beside the point). Yes, he was picked up by a legacy publisher first, but then Amanda Hocking was picked up by a legacy publisher too after getting a start in self-publishing, so it's not like self-publishing absolutely closes the door on all possible chances of getting a movie. I doubt that will be the deal-breaker for anyone who is looking to make a movie out of a book. Just some thoughts. Just a quick thought - Eragon was originally self-published before self-publishing was even the thing, if I recall correctly, and it was made into a movie. (Of course opinions vary on how good of a movie it was, but that’s beside the point). Yes, he was picked up by a legacy publisher first, but then Amanda Hocking was picked up by a legacy publisher too after getting a start in self-publishing, so it’s not like self-publishing absolutely closes the door on all possible chances of getting a movie. I doubt that will be the deal-breaker for anyone who is looking to make a movie out of a book.

Just some thoughts.

]]> By: Michael http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18309 Michael Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:43:52 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18309 Thanks Randy. Your answers to Lisa's question are insightful. I have been a dabbling storyteller for years, and I have recently made the final decision to turn my love of the craft into a career. I recently left the corporate world and have a fairly foul taste from it. Albeit, my experience is from banking and not publishing. That being said, I have been adamant that when my book is finished I would self publish. Thus avoiding corporate structure. I may be jaded, but I think with my personality and unique story ideas it would be better to market myself instead of letting a corporate entity define me. Thanks again. I love the Snowflake method. I have been struggling with keeping the organization to my stories cohesive. I have usually just written from the hip. This method seems to have given me the structure that I needed. Thanks Randy. Your answers to Lisa’s question are insightful. I have been a dabbling storyteller for years, and I have recently made the final decision to turn my love of the craft into a career. I recently left the corporate world and have a fairly foul taste from it. Albeit, my experience is from banking and not publishing. That being said, I have been adamant that when my book is finished I would self publish. Thus avoiding corporate structure. I may be jaded, but I think with my personality and unique story ideas it would be better to market myself instead of letting a corporate entity define me.

Thanks again. I love the Snowflake method. I have been struggling with keeping the organization to my stories cohesive. I have usually just written from the hip. This method seems to have given me the structure that I needed.

]]> By: Andie Mock http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18311 Andie Mock Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:43:20 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18311 Can you play both sides of the aisle and self-publish while you look for an agent/editor. thanks! Andie <strong>Randy sez</strong>: Yes. Can you play both sides of the aisle and self-publish while you look for an agent/editor.

thanks!

Andie

Randy sez: Yes.

]]> By: Daniel R. Marvello http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18312 Daniel R. Marvello Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:06:48 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18312 I'm impressed. You are one of the first traditionally-published authors I've heard from who actually makes it sound like it's okay to just put your stuff out there and see what happens. There is, after all, little to lose. On the other hand, I agree that a book has to be of professional quality, or at least *near* professional quality for it to really get anywhere. The book marketplace (and I do mean marketplace, not the book "industry") is amazingly supportive of good work, regardless of its origin. It's also amazingly brutal toward work that isn't so good. To a poorly-written book, the marketplace resembles a giant void. You push your book into it and get nothing in return. I’m impressed. You are one of the first traditionally-published authors I’ve heard from who actually makes it sound like it’s okay to just put your stuff out there and see what happens. There is, after all, little to lose.

On the other hand, I agree that a book has to be of professional quality, or at least *near* professional quality for it to really get anywhere.

The book marketplace (and I do mean marketplace, not the book “industry”) is amazingly supportive of good work, regardless of its origin. It’s also amazingly brutal toward work that isn’t so good.

To a poorly-written book, the marketplace resembles a giant void. You push your book into it and get nothing in return.

]]> By: Tami Meyers http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18318 Tami Meyers Fri, 03 Jun 2011 05:55:42 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18318 I am in the process of e-publishing a children's book. I've tried the traditional route, with some very positive feedback, but they don't seem to like that it is a Christian children's read-aloud bedtime story book. I don't expect to set the net on fire with the number of downloads, but feel that I can promote a respectable number of sales – respectable for a newbie anyway. There are a lot of steps to follow, and I'm sure it will be harder than traditional publishing, but I'm willing to pay my dues and work hard for my membership into the ranks of "published author". It has to be easier than the struggling, frustrated, wannabe club that I've been a member of for the last ten years. Thanks, Randy, for teaching the lessons we need, and for the encouraging words that keep us going! I am in the process of e-publishing a children’s book. I’ve tried the traditional route, with some very positive feedback, but they don’t seem to like that it is a Christian children’s read-aloud bedtime story book.

I don’t expect to set the net on fire with the number of downloads, but feel that I can promote a respectable number of sales – respectable for a newbie anyway.

There are a lot of steps to follow, and I’m sure it will be harder than traditional publishing, but I’m willing to pay my dues and work hard for my membership into the ranks of “published author”. It has to be easier than the struggling, frustrated, wannabe club that I’ve been a member of for the last ten years.

Thanks, Randy, for teaching the lessons we need, and for the encouraging words that keep us going!

]]> By: Jarvis http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18322 Jarvis Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:12:51 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18322 I feel like you gotta go with a real publisher, since they'll know how to market your book better than you can, and that's the bottom line. Plus, your book can easily be converted e-books, that's not the point. <strong>Randy sez</strong>: A traditional publisher of course CAN market your book better than you can. But in most cases, they WON'T. You can easily verify this by asking 100 traditionally published novelists. <strong>If you choose them at random</strong>, then probably 80 of them will tell you that they already do all the marketing for their books. <strong>About 10</strong> will tell you that they do about the same amount of marketing as their publisher. <strong>About 10</strong> will tell you that their publisher does a lot more marketing than they do. These last 10 are the A-list authors. The system works for them. The system really doesn't work very well for everyone else. <strong>Publishers market the winners</strong>. They don't market the losers. That is smart. You'd do the same thing if you were a publisher. But it also makes for a massively self-fulfilling prophecy. <strong>If you believe you should be a winner</strong>, and if your publisher doesn't believe you are likely to be a winner, then you're stuck. You are exactly the kind of person who might well benefit from self-publishing via e-books. Because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I feel like you gotta go with a real publisher, since they’ll know how to market your book better than you can, and that’s the bottom line. Plus, your book can easily be converted e-books, that’s not the point.

Randy sez: A traditional publisher of course CAN market your book better than you can. But in most cases, they WON’T. You can easily verify this by asking 100 traditionally published novelists.

If you choose them at random, then probably 80 of them will tell you that they already do all the marketing for their books.

About 10 will tell you that they do about the same amount of marketing as their publisher.

About 10 will tell you that their publisher does a lot more marketing than they do. These last 10 are the A-list authors. The system works for them. The system really doesn’t work very well for everyone else.

Publishers market the winners. They don’t market the losers. That is smart. You’d do the same thing if you were a publisher. But it also makes for a massively self-fulfilling prophecy.

If you believe you should be a winner, and if your publisher doesn’t believe you are likely to be a winner, then you’re stuck. You are exactly the kind of person who might well benefit from self-publishing via e-books. Because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

]]> By: Free For All Friday for June 3rd, 2011 | T.N. Tobias http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18323 Free For All Friday for June 3rd, 2011 | T.N. Tobias Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:33:39 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18323 [...] What’s a newbie novelist to do? @ Advanced Fiction Writing Blog [...] […] What’s a newbie novelist to do? @ Advanced Fiction Writing Blog […]

]]> By: Lyn Cote http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18326 Lyn Cote Fri, 03 Jun 2011 21:15:46 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18326 Jarvis, you have blind faith in publishers. Get over it. :-) One size does not fit all--as Randy sez. Jarvis, you have blind faith in publishers. Get over it. :-)
One size does not fit all–as Randy sez.

]]> By: Daniel R. Marvello http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18334 Daniel R. Marvello Sun, 05 Jun 2011 12:06:46 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18334 Jarvis: These days, a publisher won't do much of anything to market a book for a first-time author. That's why they won't even accept your book unless you have some kind of "platform." They expect YOU to market it. Jarvis: These days, a publisher won’t do much of anything to market a book for a first-time author. That’s why they won’t even accept your book unless you have some kind of “platform.” They expect YOU to market it.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18338 Lisa Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:11:44 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18338 Thanks for your answer. I wonder the same as Andie, what happens if you do both. I guess if your ebook does well that would help, but if it gets missed for some reason that could hurt your chances of getting a traditional publisher. I am looking forward to the day when agents get print and ebook rights seperated so you can easily do both in any order, and not take as large a hit on the ebook profits. Thanks for your answer. I wonder the same as Andie, what happens if you do both. I guess if your ebook does well that would help, but if it gets missed for some reason that could hurt your chances of getting a traditional publisher. I am looking forward to the day when agents get print and ebook rights seperated so you can easily do both in any order, and not take as large a hit on the ebook profits.

]]> By: Sally Ferguson http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18343 Sally Ferguson Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:16:09 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18343 Lisa mentioned the need for marketing. That falls on authors to do in any field they publish! Lisa mentioned the need for marketing. That falls on authors to do in any field they publish!

]]> By: Cricket http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18344 Cricket Tue, 07 Jun 2011 23:15:28 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18344 Jaina: Traditional publishers often want first publication rights for a book. If you self-publish, and that includes putting an early version on a blog, that can count as publishing. You would have used up the first publication rights, even if you later take it down. (That's how I read it. The line might be fuzzy in some places, but "self-publishing" is publishing.) If the book does well, or your other works are popular, a publisher may still pick it up, or a sequel, or first rights for a book you didn't self-publish, so self-publishing doesn't destroy all chances, but it does eliminate one of the big ones for that book. Also, if your early work isn't up to par, readers (and agents and publishers) who search for you will see that work. They might not give you the chance to prove that you've improved. Jaina: Traditional publishers often want first publication rights for a book. If you self-publish, and that includes putting an early version on a blog, that can count as publishing. You would have used up the first publication rights, even if you later take it down. (That’s how I read it. The line might be fuzzy in some places, but “self-publishing” is publishing.)

If the book does well, or your other works are popular, a publisher may still pick it up, or a sequel, or first rights for a book you didn’t self-publish, so self-publishing doesn’t destroy all chances, but it does eliminate one of the big ones for that book.

Also, if your early work isn’t up to par, readers (and agents and publishers) who search for you will see that work. They might not give you the chance to prove that you’ve improved.

]]> By: Evergreena http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18366 Evergreena Fri, 10 Jun 2011 04:12:00 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18366 Wow, I knew that you had the "Ask a question" feature, so I came to ask my question, and I see here that someone already asked it! After several years of studying and practicing the craft of writing (about five years, to be more precise), I'm starting to feel like my stuff has improved to the point of being publish-worthy, but this crossroads has stumped me. I'm thinking I'll probably attempt the traditional route first. We'll see. Self-publishing an e-book has its appeal, but since I haven't purchased any e-books myself, I'm hesitant to go that route. Wow, I knew that you had the “Ask a question” feature, so I came to ask my question, and I see here that someone already asked it!

After several years of studying and practicing the craft of writing (about five years, to be more precise), I’m starting to feel like my stuff has improved to the point of being publish-worthy, but this crossroads has stumped me.

I’m thinking I’ll probably attempt the traditional route first. We’ll see. Self-publishing an e-book has its appeal, but since I haven’t purchased any e-books myself, I’m hesitant to go that route.

]]> By: Debbie Thorkildsen http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18430 Debbie Thorkildsen Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:54:34 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18430 A friend of mine had her book printed and sold a few hundred copies online. Another author who has her own publishing company told my friend that she didn't self-publish her book, she just had it printed. What's the difference between self-publishing and just printing and selling copies of your book or is there really a difference? A friend of mine had her book printed and sold a few hundred copies online. Another author who has her own publishing company told my friend that she didn’t self-publish her book, she just had it printed. What’s the difference between self-publishing and just printing and selling copies of your book or is there really a difference?

]]> By: Garry Grierson http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18549 Garry Grierson Mon, 04 Jul 2011 14:39:37 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/01/whats-a-newbie-novelist-to-do/#comment-18549 But what about the hundreds of thousands of wannabe writers who are writing well enough to sell to a traditional publisher, but can’t get a deal or just want to try the self-publishing thing? And there isn’t a magic gong that goes off when someone reaches the bar, so how do you know when you are ready? I think a very large part of making e-sales is down to the marketing; obviously not all of it, you also need a well written and saleable book; and most wannabe writers, myself included, don’t have a clue what to do or where to start with marketing. So there may very well be good books e-published that don’t get any sales But what about the hundreds of thousands of wannabe writers who are writing well enough to sell to a traditional publisher, but can’t get a deal or just want to try the self-publishing thing? And there isn’t a magic gong that goes off when someone reaches the bar, so how do you know when you are ready?
I think a very large part of making e-sales is down to the marketing; obviously not all of it, you also need a well written and saleable book; and most wannabe writers, myself included, don’t have a clue what to do or where to start with marketing.
So there may very well be good books e-published that don’t get any sales

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