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 Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 9:57 am
Hm, usually when there are a lot of markets like here in America it is harder to get known, there are so many books being accepted everyday that it almost makes it impossible. Out of all the books written in the English language it would take over a life time to read them all, even if that was all you did.
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:40 am
I don't think it's harder to get known in the US than in other markets. Larger publishers are able to acquire more books and have wide distribution, but are selective about their lists. Your book is competing for attention in its own section of the bookstore, not with all books published in all genres, so I still feel there is plenty of room for new authors to make it.
If you look at individual publishing houses and imprints, I think the really intimidating thing is actually how few books they acquire per year. The number can range anywhere from 20-100 books per year for a medium to large house, but your book needs to stand out among potentially thousands of submissions.
When you include smaller publishing houses, there are a lot of options, but many of them are for very niche markets.
Once you narrow down the list to the houses that are a good fit for your book, it's much less overwhelming.
If you submit to smaller houses, you do need to make sure they have good distribution or you may run into a barrier there (readers can't buy your books if they can't find them in stores).
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 11:33 am
I definitely enjoy writing - making worlds, characters, plots - it's great fun. But that's the fun part, actually WRITING the story once I have all of the previous stuff done, that's the hard work part. You have to make sure you write well and that your writing is understandable and... good.
So yes, writing is both highly enjoyable, but at the same time, it's work.
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 1:22 pm
DesertRoseFallen KaNugget DesertRoseFallen However, I'm not deluded in thinking my writing is good enough for me to earn a living off. But delusions are fun! mrgreen Haha yes. I am confident about my writing just...Britain is insanely small and so is the pathway to publications. Tell me about it. xd I often feel like a very small fish in a very very VERY big pond (y'know, sort of ocean sized?) It's hard to get anywhere these days. I used to write as an outlet, now it's simply something I can't live without. I go months without writing sometimes, but it's very rare. Writing allows me to explore myself, but more than anything it's a kind of temporary escape. I enjoy being able to create things, and control them (I'm a bit of a maniac when it comes to control issues... sweatdrop ) but most of all it's nice just to be able to have my own little world. Characters are the best bit. XP Writing for me used to come easily, but as I've grown more self-critical it's getting harder. Not to mention a battle with mild depression doesn't help my case when I feel too sluggish to do anything at all. However, there are times when I just can't wait to sit down and write - and it's those times that make me class it less as work than something I really want to do.
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Psychotic Maniacal Sanity Crew
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DesertRoseFallen Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 1:27 pm
Psychotic Maniacal Sanity DesertRoseFallen KaNugget DesertRoseFallen However, I'm not deluded in thinking my writing is good enough for me to earn a living off. But delusions are fun! mrgreen Haha yes. I am confident about my writing just...Britain is insanely small and so is the pathway to publications. Tell me about it. xd I often feel like a very small fish in a very very VERY big pond (y'know, sort of ocean sized?) It's hard to get anywhere these days. I used to write as an outlet, now it's simply something I can't live without. I go months without writing sometimes, but it's very rare. Writing allows me to explore myself, but more than anything it's a kind of temporary escape. I enjoy being able to create things, and control them (I'm a bit of a maniac when it comes to control issues... sweatdrop ) but most of all it's nice just to be able to have my own little world. Characters are the best bit. XP Writing for me used to come easily, but as I've grown more self-critical it's getting harder. Not to mention a battle with mild depression doesn't help my case when I feel too sluggish to do anything at all. However, there are times when I just can't wait to sit down and write - and it's those times that make me class it less as work than something I really want to do. Oh yes. England is insanely small and with the amount of people writing nowadays, the publishing market is tight. Nothing gets seen without an agent now...ugh.
You shouldn't be too hard on your writing PMS!
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 2:01 pm
Racheling I don't think it's harder to get known in the US than in other markets. Larger publishers are able to acquire more books and have wide distribution, but are selective about their lists. Your book is competing for attention in its own section of the bookstore, not with all books published in all genres, so I still feel there is plenty of room for new authors to make it. If you look at individual publishing houses and imprints, I think the really intimidating thing is actually how few books they acquire per year. The number can range anywhere from 20-100 books per year for a medium to large house, but your book needs to stand out among potentially thousands of submissions. When you include smaller publishing houses, there are a lot of options, but many of them are for very niche markets. Once you narrow down the list to the houses that are a good fit for your book, it's much less overwhelming. If you submit to smaller houses, you do need to make sure they have good distribution or you may run into a barrier there (readers can't buy your books if they can't find them in stores). getting a book published is one thing, getting profit off of it is another... I wasn't saying that you couldn't publish a book, just that gettign it publsihed is the first thing, and then the rest seems to be luck for new authors who are not really known.
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 5:54 pm
DesertRoseFallen Nothing gets seen without an agent now...ugh. So true, so true. But at the same time, if you get picked up by an agent, it's kind of like a "Hey, you're on the right path" kind of thing. Besides, even if you're new, you're more likely to be seen as a reputable writer since someone whose income is dependent upon representing and selling someone else's work, you know?
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 9:30 pm
A bit of random UK news, I saw that Penguin Books UK is reading unagented submissions for the next couple of months, until the end of October. http://www.penguin.co.uk/static/cs/uk/0/aboutus/#question11 11linda getting a book published is one thing, getting profit off of it is another... I wasn't saying that you couldn't publish a book, just that gettign it publsihed is the first thing, and then the rest seems to be luck for new authors who are not really known. I guess it depends what you mean by profit. smile I consider the advance the primary profit and if it earns out and starts giving royalties, that's a bonus. It takes most authors several books to really start building up a fan base, unless they get really lucky like you said. Most "overnight successes" are authors who have actually been publishing for years and slowly building up their career (like Rick Riordan, who I think had been publishing novels for about 10 years before the 3rd Percy Jackson book took off). I think that can be better than blowing up right away and getting a huge amount for the first book--as far as building a career is concerned anyway. It's a lot of pressure to have so much hanging on your first book like that. Though I can't say I would turn down that kind of money, either. I do have bills to pay. I agree there is luck involved. Though I also believe you can help your luck along by being really stubborn and persistent. ninja
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 9:40 pm
I live in a house where money is a large issue, I know a lot about my families debt, and there isn't anything I can do about it. I always thought maybe if I could get somewhere in what I love, and make a profit it might be able to help. So yeah I meant profit like money, though everything helps. I honestly don't see it happening, don't want to sound negative but our world is fallen to hell (or maybe it is just America I don't pay attention to what is happening outside of my country) our president needs shot (and no I am not racist)
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:33 pm
Well, just saying that if a book is acquired, the author will profit from the advance money, regardless of how well their book does after. General Phade DesertRoseFallen Nothing gets seen without an agent now...ugh. So true, so true. But at the same time, if you get picked up by an agent, it's kind of like a "Hey, you're on the right path" kind of thing. Besides, even if you're new, you're more likely to be seen as a reputable writer since someone whose income is dependent upon representing and selling someone else's work, you know? Plus there are some really awesome agents out there. And honestly I wouldn't want to work without one. I like that someone is looking out for my best interests, you know? Especially with so many rights issues going on in publishing right now. I can't keep up at all. gonk
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DesertRoseFallen Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 4:12 am
Racheling A bit of random UK news, I saw that Penguin Books UK is reading unagented submissions for the next couple of months, until the end of October. http://www.penguin.co.uk/static/cs/uk/0/aboutus/#question11 Wow. Pity I don't have anything to send into them! *Sigh* Nothing edited and worthwhile I'm happy with anyway xD Plus I don't think they publish gay fiction...ack.
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 12:23 pm
As a self-proclaimed feminist I know I'm about to get beaten and called a hipocrit, but I really just want to find a nice and loving man who has a good enough job to support me and our family. My money, from my books, would be the extra money. Like how my dad makes the big bucks and my mom works part-time so we can afford a trailor, go on vacation, afford a pool, ect. She used a week or so of her pay check to pay for my prom. With out her job, though, we'd be fine.
I'm not being a gold digger, I don't care of if he's rich. I also understand that to be able to write full time is a dream that most of us can only dream about. I'll probably become a teacher before I get famous. And if I must teach while I write, I'll still use my book money for the extras.
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 1:10 pm
Wanting a good man to take care of you is not the opposite of feminism. That is the fundamental man-hater version. Pure feminism is about choice: if you choose to be a housewife, be a housewife. If you choose to get a career, get a career. Any feminist worth her salt will not look down on you for it.
Actually, literary example: Mrs. Weasley. Housewife. Mother of seven children. Her husband works to support them. Yet no one looks down on her, because she is still her own person (and it does not hurt that she kicks a**!).
On topic:
Writing is fun for me when I can get started (and I admit it is a combination of laziness and juggling my other responsibilities). It does feel like work sometimes when I sit down and force myself through it. When I can get beyond the initial, "Great, how do I start this?" I often have a hard time stopping once the writing roller-coaster starts.
I love writing, even if I am just jotting notes or, like now, responding to a forum post. XD I enjoy getting my thoughts out of my head and recorded somewhere, and I often times get ideas from conversations or just lurking and reading what other people say.
I would not enjoy writing if it was not a challenge, but if it was too hard, I would not be doing it. I think my biggest challenge is getting this story I had in my head for eight-or-so years down on paper. After all the notes, overhauls, beta reads, re-writes, and new characters/story lines/plots/etc., it is going to happen one day.
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 1:36 pm
Nightmare1 Wanting a good man to take care of you is not the opposite of feminism. That is the fundamental man-hater version. Pure feminism is about choice: if you choose to be a housewife, be a housewife. If you choose to get a career, get a career. Any feminist worth her salt will not look down on you for it. Actually, literary example: Mrs. Weasley. Housewife. Mother of seven children. Her husband works to support them. Yet no one looks down on her, because she is still her own person (and it does not hurt that she kicks a**!). Quote: Mmmh, it's just that most people don't see feminisum as that. A friend of mine once told me I wasn't a feminist becuase I don't hate men, lol. What sucks nowadays is the pressure female characters get in media. If a woman dares to be a housewife and mother, and if she dares to wear a dress not only if she labelled a damsel but also anti-feminist. And there is such a double standard. A man can get all the woman he wants, but as soon as a woman gets her second boyfriend she's labelled a slut. I guess one of the reasons I want to be a writer is so people can hear my voice. One day I'll probably comic about a housewife and mother by day and vigilantee by night...*wirtes down idea* We should totally create a thread discussing feminism in fiction. mrgreen
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Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 1:37 pm
Nightmare1 Wanting a good man to take care of you is not the opposite of feminism. That is the fundamental man-hater version. Pure feminism is about choice: if you choose to be a housewife, be a housewife. If you choose to get a career, get a career. Any feminist worth her salt will not look down on you for it. Actually, literary example: Mrs. Weasley. Housewife. Mother of seven children. Her husband works to support them. Yet no one looks down on her, because she is still her own person (and it does not hurt that she kicks a**!). Quote: Mmmh, it's just that most people don't see feminisum as that. A friend of mine once told me I wasn't a feminist becuase I don't hate men, lol. What sucks nowadays is the pressure female characters get in media. If a woman dares to be a housewife and mother, and if she dares to wear a dress not only if she labelled a damsel but also anti-feminist. And there is such a double standard. A man can get all the woman he wants, but as soon as a woman gets her second boyfriend she's labelled a slut. I guess one of the reasons I want to be a writer is so people can hear my voice. One day I'll probably comic about a housewife and mother by day and vigilantee by night...*wirtes down idea* We should totally create a thread discussing feminism in fiction. mrgreen
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