A Tad Ballistic!

Yesterday, I read a blog by Rachelle Gardner and commented, along with hundreds of other readers.  My comments by far were in the minority.

Most of the commenters wanted to be published in the traditional method for--get this, this is what I have a problem with--VALIDATION. Oh, my personal validation was having an 11-year-old read and enjoy my story, plus I have a small group of under-priveledged after school kids who are fans of my work (my MIL is reading to them).

Validation is all fine and dandy, but they seem to be missing the bigger picture. 

Does anyone have the answer?  Do you know what I'm getting at?  Well, if you've been reading my blog, and many others, you will know the answer.  Okay, okay, I'll give it to you.

Publishing is a BUSINESS.  What do businesses do?  They make money.

They aren't here to validate the author's existence or pat your hand.  They want to make money on a product, your story. You can have the best damn product in the world, but if it doesn't fit in their narrow view within their various imprints or what is currently selling, then it won't get a contract. It has NOTHING to do with the writer's ability to craft a good story.  It has to do with the ability to sell the product and turn a profit.

It's all about making money. PERIOD.

Ditto for agents.  Oh, I'm sure some agents pick up authors who they see as potential moneymakers, but if they can't sell your product--THEY DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY.

Another few commenters wanted the publishing house's publicity and marketing muscle.

Uh, again, if they had been reading any one of numerous blogs by agents and traditionally published authors, they would realize most of the monies reserved for publicity go to the big guns, NOT the debut authors.  Oh, I'm sure it happens, but I'm also sure someone does win the lottery, too.  Who is to say debut author A will get the said monies?  The odds are against you.

Plus many of these commenters want to simply write, they don't want to do publicity, worry about contracts, money, promoting, etc. 

Uh, again, they have managed to stick you head in the ground.  A minuscule number of authors simply write.  If they are smart, they will know the ins and outs of the business.  Follow the money trail. Knowing your rights and legalities of the contracts is only smart business savvy.

Who do you think sets up blog tours? or bookmarks? or local book signings?  YOU. So many authors spend their small advances on their own publicity. Unless you have a huge platform already built, like THE PIONEER WOMAN, then the publisher does the publicity BECAUSE IT'S A GUARANTEED SALE.

Some authors wanted an advance.  Again, most advances are less than $10,000 and more of them hover around $1-2,000 dollars for the debut author. AND you don't get an advance in one lump sum. Publishing houses want to hold onto their money for as long as possible--they make more money on the interest it generate than giving it to you. 

I have many traditionally published friends who have commented that their advances are now split into FOUR increments. Some are still three increments (1/3 on signing, 1/3 on acceptance of manuscript, 1/3 on publication), but look at your contract before you sign.
*REMEMBER--many times it takes two years for a book to go from contract to bookshelf*
1) signing of contract
2) ACCEPTANCE of manuscript
3) acceptance of edited manuscript
4) publication and distribution (many times this step hasn't been happening. And don't forget your book sits in limbo during this time)

And don't forget that the agent takes her cut before you even see the money. EVERYONE gets paid before the author does. 

And many of the commenters put down self-publishing--and as I said before, I agree with them up to a point--but they all talked about how much money it costs to self-pub.

WHAT??

Are they still in the freakin' 90's??  The only reason it cost me any money to self pub is because I have zero artistic talent and wanted to have awesome book covers! Many commenters also mentioned that you can't tell the chaff from the wheat with self-published books.  I think you can, if you take the time and trouble.  But, yes, there is a problem with too many writers who aren't ready to SP and it does glut the market.  All a potential reader has to do is read a blurb and they can sense the quality of the story.

Trust me, it's easier than you think.

Anyway, rant over, now I need to get back to my bocce ball dodge ball game that I'm editing in FAERIE.
Oh, bocce balls are the hard black balls used in lawn bowling--let the dodge ball frenzy begin!

Later, Peeps!

Plan B

One of my writing friends has a quote at the bottom of her signature line, to paraphrase: "When life hands you lemons, then make margaritas and pass the salt."  Or something like that.

Life will always hand you lemons.  It's how you deal with them that shows others what you're made of.
 
So what is my Plan B?

Well, last August I queried Jabberwocky Sourcebooks publishing, sometime in October I received a request for my novel, GNOME (shortened for ease of relating this story), which I promptly sent.  And then the waiting started.  As of February 1, 2011 (yes, yesterday), I got my response, "blah, blah, blah . . . is an intriguing concept; unfortunately, it doesn' fit the needs of our publishing program at this time. . .   Blah, blah, blah"  This is a generic rejection.  One mark in their favor is that they responded to the full in 3-4 months, whereas, many publishing houses will take six months to a year or more.

So, now what?

When I self-published Lost Leprechaun Loot, I KNEW I wanted to publish the rest of the stories that I had written.  I love these stories and wanted to share them, but I had to wait until I received a response from Jabberwocky.  Well, I have my response.  They don't want it.

Fine. Now, I can move forward with my Plan B: to get more of Kyte's stories out there. 

GNOME is the first novel involving this world--it intros characters and reveals some important characters.
FAERIE takes place about six weeks later, about two days into the new school year.
TROLL takes place over Thanksgiving. (Written, but I haven't edited it AT ALL)
TROLL 2 isn't written yet, but TROLL stopped with a serious loose end and it needs to be written, but I think my character needs to grow and learn before she's ready to tackle TROLL 2. 

All these above are middle grade NOVELS running about 45-50,000 words

Halloween Monster Mix-Up takes place over Halloween BEFORE TROLL. This is a short story/chapter book @ 5000 words
Sugar Plum Disaster is a Christmas short story/chapter book
Lost Leprechaun Loot is technically last, but the first published because of the holiday timing. It is also a chapter book.

My goal is to get GNOME self published ASAP.  I'd love to have it ready to coincide with the release of Gnomeo and Juliet (Feb 11), but I think anytime in February would be good timing.

Then I need to write a short story that involves one of my leprechauns getting some payback against Kyte.  Easter comes to mind as a good holiday timing, but how to make leprechauns and Easter work together . . . only my warped mind will figure it out.

When everything hits the skids and your world seems to crumble, I have my Plan B. 

Do you have a Plan B, too?

Later, Peeps!  I have to edit and format GNOME for my new CP to take a gander at.

To Self-pub or NOT to Self-Pub

that is the real question, isn't it?

For years, self-published writers got a bad rap (and many of them deserved it), but the publishing world is changing. BUT I don't think someone who is a new writer should immediately self-publish. 

Why?

Because they aren't ready and, more importantly, their work isn't ready. (Of course there are always exceptions to broad statements like this one)

Just because you write a book it doesn't mean everyone in the world should see it.  So many first books are dreck.  If they aren't dreck, then they've been overworked, critted to death, or simply in need of a single shot blowing it into shreds.  So many writers need to write hundreds of thousands of words to even get a clue who they are as a writer.  One book ain't gonna do it.

Personally, I have four 90-100 K word novels and 10 picture books sitting under the proverbial bed, AKA the hard drive.  And this isn't including my current middle grade stuff.  It is a rare writer who can write something that is publishable first time around.  It takes time and many, many words to hone your craft, find your writing voice and style, and TO LEARN THE BUSINESS OF PUBLISHING.

Way too many writers are just so anxious to see their name in print or to say they're a published author that they forget there is more to this business than simply writing a story.  There is also something to be said for having a pile of rejections in your files. 

Why?

It allows you time to develop a T-rex thick skin.  Rejection happens get used to it.  Instead of agents and editors rejecting your stuff, it's bad reviews, trollish comments, or whatever.

Another key to self-publishing is to get as many books out there in a reasonable time frame.  If someone likes your story, then they want to buy another story.  HAVE THAT NEXT STORY READY. 

How long did it take you to write your first story?  One year?  Five years?  How long will it take for you to write the second story? 

My first story took over two years to write.  The second one took about eight months.  Some of the middle grade stuff doesn't take as long to write, but it does take time. 

So to that end, I must go and work on my next Kyte Webber story:  She might have won the battle in LOST LEPRECHAUN LOOT, it doesn't mean the leprechauns aren't contemplating revenge. . .

Later, Peeps

Due to my own stupid incompetence , Lost Leprechaun Loot, has been delayed going up on Kindle.  And yes, I was severely reprimanded by my writing friend, Edie Ramer.  Let's just say that it was up, but I managed to give myself a double last name.  So as soon as I was able, I took it down to fix my errors, delaying its release. 

Taking a Leprechaun Leap

Well, I did it.

I made a foray into the world of self-publishing.  Yes, it made my brain hurt trying figure out all the stupid little formating things that I had to to and reading all the fine print of the contracts.  I don't even want to think how much my head would have hurt trying to clean up a full novel--ugh!  All I had was a simple 5500 word chapter book story, or short story, which wouldn't have seen the light of day any other way, I might add!

Anyhoo, I want to thank all the people who helped me along the way. I'll blog about my story when it becomes available.  Right now, it's in the hands of Amazon and Smashwords for them to do their 'magic'.

But I have to give Laura Morrigan a shoutout for my incredible cover:

Don't you just LOVE the dragon's eyes!  I know I do.

Later, Peeps!

 

Double, double, toil and trouble. . .

DAMN! Shakespeare certainly knew his stuff--and it was almost as if he knew about the Harlequin brouhaha before anyone else! Uhm, basically HQ went to bed with AuthorSolutions(self-publishing) and managed to catch a roaring case of crabs. Within a short period of time RWA pulled their support of ALL HQ imprints, which means their HQ authors are NOT allowed to sign at any RWA venue and they will not be able to submit their books for the Rita's (romance's answer to the Oscars), and I'm certain there are all sorts of other ramifications that I'm blissfully unaware.

And as I'm supremely NOT qualified nor do I have an immediate interest in the outcome, I will leave it for others to give their input.
--And I'm sure virtually every agent and author who has ANY connection to Harlequin--and even some that don't--has had something to say about the situation. (sorry, no links--find your own. Okay, I'll provide some if you ask nicely)

I feel sorry for all the authors caught in this mess. They did nothing wrong. It is simply a case of management seeing guaranteed dollar signs with frustrated writers willing to do anything to publish their tomes--even handing over $600+ for the privilege of HQ/AH to publish it.

Uh, Remember--money moves toward the author. I can also see it from the business side of the issue. HQ saw a huge leap in the self-publishing industry and didn't see any reason NOT to get a piece of the market. They already had the set up, so it was a simple decision to add gravy to their taters.

But honestly, some books have no biz EVER getting published. Oh, there are exceptions: granny's rambling memoirs about the Oklahoma land run or a cookbook with all the recipes handed down over the generations to share with family.

But most self-pubbed books could stand a heavy editing hand. Shoot, just judge a contest and you know what I mean!

In the meantime, I'm popping some popcorn and sitting back to watch the show. It'll be interesting to see how it all boils down.

As I said before, I feel so sorry for those HQ authors, especially the debut authors, who are caught in the middle of the crap hitting the fan.

Thanks a lot, HQ!

But while we wait to see what happens . . . Write On!