Posted on 07/23/2007 5:05:12 PM PDT by SamAdams76
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Thanks for the tip. I self-published a book that was distributed by Biblo a few years back, but I haven’t started researching the latest developments yet for the new one. Lulu sounds pretty interesting.
I like true crime stories. I’ve never published anything but I did a website about one:
http://home.earthlink.net/~chicago1946/
Yep, whiny article, but really good stories in this thread...
Kudos to you published and trying-to-get-published types!
Called that one right. He has yet to see any royalties, and the advance got me a new computer and helped me pay down some debt. Don't worry about him, though. He's an engineer, I'm a writer. Guess who doesn't need the moeny.
moeny = money
Dammit, Jim! I’m a writer, not a proofreader!
Definitely check it out. As I noted, I’ve been 100 percent satisfied with the results and the production is very, very nice. A full-color cover is included in the per-book cost.
I’ve been writing a fantasy story for the past few years. I’ve finished the draft of the first book and charged headlong into the next one. I admit I’ve been afraid to try to get anything published until everything is written, as I have a full-time job and I don’t know how long it will take. Aside from finding time to write, for me the struggle has been getting anyone to read it for the sake of getting some feedback. I hate writing in a vacuum. How do the other writers on the board deal with this?
Congrats! Don’t know if I could write a textbook! I tend to write the way I talk—not sure the two are compatible! I do get lots of compliments on my gardening column and I can’t tell you how nice it is. One older gentleman wanted to know what school of journalism I attended—he was flabbergasted when I told him I didn’t even go to college.
Your textbook sounds infinitely more interesting than some of the ones I had in school! Most textbooks are guaranteed to turn kids off reading. I grew up on an isolated farm. I’m the oldest, so I spent a lot of time by myself. I’ve always had an overactive imagination, have gotten in a lot of trouble for it on occasion. OTOH, I’m never bored!
Sam, I am a writer also. I belong to a writers group (a must for a writer) and we recently had a speaker who has a (relatively) famous book out and he said the most fun you will EVER have with your writing is not getting the agent, not getting published, but doing the writing.
Another friend in this group has a novel coming out in September and she is totally anxious about publicizing it, getting book signings, the whole business bit.
So just write on and enjoy what you’re doing. I’ve written a ton of stuff, 7 books, 8 screenplays, a lot of short plays, columns (published in a big daily paper for a year or two).
My problem is marketing my stuff. A couple of rejection letters and I blow it off for a long time.
Gardengirl, you sound like so much fun! I myself am known as the Master, make that Mistress, of mostly useless trivia.
My husband cannot fathom how much I enjoy reading books and spending time here at FR. He’s a creative director so he’s a very visual, graphic person. Though he’s a conservative, he thinks FR is boring and contains “just words.” That’s why I love it!
Luckily, he doesn’t begrudge my freeping since he enjoys watching television. It works very well. LOL
I’m a longtime gardener and would love to read your column if it’s available online. I also wanted to share a wonderfully witty site by a local gardener/landscaper. For some reason, I’m unable to post a link, but it’s renegadegardener.com. Check out the “Don’t Do That” section of his site. The part about alien tree circles is hilarious.
My first book, “Humanity’s Edge”, was through a small publisher. I used a cost sharing arrangement. They paid for printing, distribution, etc. After they broke even on their costs, I began to receive royalties.
I’ve also worked on several anthologies through lulu.com (my work one of 10-20 in the collection). Lulu is very professional, and have decent shipping. Advertising for their books, though, is mediocre.
Indie Press (worked on one anthology with them) is OK on shipping, but needs work on their prices.
Amazon.com Shorts (I have two with them) are wonderful. The links you can get in and out are great. If you link from your site to the amazon.com Short, you get paid for the referral PLUS your commission. But it’s all electronic eBook distribution, that has limited appeal.
Small press (but not self publishing) is a great way to go. Non-traditional publishing where you pay for it is a business that makes its money off of you.
Good venues to get published on include:
Amazon.com Shorts - no cost to you, amazon.com distrbution, and 40% commission. (I have two of these published). Downside - all electronic.
Traditional publishing - 1 book, “Humanity’s Edge”
Upside - no cost to me
Downside - low royalties.
Lulu.com = upside, 4 anthologies, low price
downside, cost if you don’t break even
When I was in high school and my father was encouraging me to write, he said he’d pay me a dollar for every rejection slip I got.
I though that was a clever way to get me to submit ideas and articles without putting too much pressure on me, especially considering how fickle the publishing world is.
Me, too! Have three in a fantasy series done. My brother likes them, but... LOL
Maybe we could start an informal “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours” club. LOLOLOLOL
Thanks for the compliment—back at you!
My hubbie just shakes his head. I usually have several books going at a time—reading and writing. Mine loves the boob tube as well—maybe we should get together?
What part of the world do you garden in? I’m in eastern NC, right on the coast. We’re in such a micro-climate...gardening is interesting to say the least!
Thanks again, but I write for a small, local paper—not on line! At least not yet! Josie’s been publishing for about three years and my column is one of the features. No money but at least I can truthfully say I’ve had my work published!!! LOL
I”ll check it out tom-getting past my bedtime!
G’night gardengirl!
I garden in the frozen north, Minnesota specifically. That would probably preclude our getting together while the hubbies watch the tube. LOL
North Carolina on the coast must be a wonderful place to live. You can grow so many interesting plants in your zone, though I imagine you have some salt issues. I’d be willing to deal with that if I could expand beyond zone 4 or 5 plants.
I admire you, and all of the writers on this thread, that have the creativity and dedication to ‘put the pen to paper.’ Yes, I can be a bit quaint. :)
Fascinating thread about book writing.
Worth a perusal and a bookmark to see who all the writers that FR can claim.
But stories like hers give life a richness and magic that self-help books, if they worked, would not.
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