TIP # 1 From guru Dan Poynter
Self-publishing isn't new. In fact, it has solid early-American roots; it is almost a tradition. In the early days of the U.S. , the person who owned the printing press was often the author, publisher and printer.
Some authors have elected to publish themselves after being turned down by regular publishers. However, many more have decided to go their own way from the beginning. Some have started as self-publishers and sold out and some have built their own large publishing businesses. See Books That Were Originally Self-Published, Document 155 for examples.
Self-publishing is good business. Writing a book is a creative act; selling it is a business. Some people can do both while others are more creative than businesslike. You have to ask if you want to be a publisher. Do you have an office, the time to conduct the business and a place to store the books?
There are many more tax deductions available to the author-publisher than there are to the author. There are more write-offs for entertainment, travel and electronic toys.
But, what about bookstores? Small and medium-sized publishers use distributors to get their books into bookstores. Since distributors have sales reps, these publishers have the same access to the stores as the large publishers. See Wholesalers, Distributors and Bookstores.
Self-publishers make more money on their effort, get to press sooner and keep control of their work.
If you invest the money in your manuscript, you can make a lot more than what you would get from a publisher in a royalty-nearly 40% of the list price. Why accept 6 percent to 10 percent in royalties when you can keep much more? Why share the profits?
Most publishers work on an 18-month production cycle. Can you wait that long to get into print? Will you miss your market? The one and a half years don't even begin until after the publisher accepts the manuscript. Why waste valuable time shipping your manuscript around to see if there is a publisher out there who likes it? Publication could be three years away.
Once you turn your manuscript over to a publisher, you lose control. They sometimes decide to save money by leaving out some illustrations and they often change the title and lose the theme of the book.
Dan's web site is http://www.parapublishing.com
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
LONG RIDGE WEBSITE E-NEWSLETTER
LONG RIDGE WEBSITE E-NEWS November 9
Newsletter Click here to read it or paste this into your browser: http://www.thelongridgewritersgroup.com/T6020/rx/wc13/webletter_110909.shtml
Highlights from this week’s Newsletter: Remember – It’s on the LR Website for you to read, this isn’t the actual Newsletter! On the LR website, click on ‘Writers Life Support’, then ‘Writing Craft’, then ‘Newsletter’
GREAT INFORMATION and I suggest that you check it out. It's a weekly newsletter.
Newsletter Click here to read it or paste this into your browser: http://www.thelongridgewritersgroup.com/T6020/rx/wc13/webletter_110909.shtml
Highlights from this week’s Newsletter: Remember – It’s on the LR Website for you to read, this isn’t the actual Newsletter! On the LR website, click on ‘Writers Life Support’, then ‘Writing Craft’, then ‘Newsletter’
GREAT INFORMATION and I suggest that you check it out. It's a weekly newsletter.
HARRY WINS - POETRY SLAM VICTORY
On Saturday November 7, 2009, Judy and I attended the Words Aloud Poetry Slam Fest at the library in Owen Sound.
Our own Harry Posner performed. His performance was ranked 4th. He has a professional stage presence and we were disappointed that the judges hadn't rated him higher.
We delighted in listening to all the spoken word artists. There’s something magical when poetry is read aloud.
Barbara Adler's performance amused and entertained us. She is a Vancouver Spoken Word Artist, writer, musician, and workshop facilitator. She is a founding member of the band, Fugitives.
The second Poetry Slam was held on Sunday, November 8, 2009 in Durham and I have cut and pasted Harry’s email to Judy and I.
I just wanted to thank you for coming up to Owen Sound to support my first foray into slam poetry. It was great having your energy to back me up! Finishing fourth was awesome, as well. Now...awesome as that was...the next day (today) in Durham, I managed to win the whole damn thing! It was only a two rounder (I did the jazz poem and the howl poem), but still an amazing result for my second slam ever. Just wanted to pass my joy on, and say thanks, again.
Cheers, Harry aka Monster of Mayhem
I would recommend the Words Aloud Spoken Word Festival for all poets and storytellers. Workshops were held during the festival. Please check out http://www.wordsaloud.ca/
I’m sure Harry will let us know about next year’s festival.
Our own Harry Posner performed. His performance was ranked 4th. He has a professional stage presence and we were disappointed that the judges hadn't rated him higher.
We delighted in listening to all the spoken word artists. There’s something magical when poetry is read aloud.
Barbara Adler's performance amused and entertained us. She is a Vancouver Spoken Word Artist, writer, musician, and workshop facilitator. She is a founding member of the band, Fugitives.
The second Poetry Slam was held on Sunday, November 8, 2009 in Durham and I have cut and pasted Harry’s email to Judy and I.
I just wanted to thank you for coming up to Owen Sound to support my first foray into slam poetry. It was great having your energy to back me up! Finishing fourth was awesome, as well. Now...awesome as that was...the next day (today) in Durham, I managed to win the whole damn thing! It was only a two rounder (I did the jazz poem and the howl poem), but still an amazing result for my second slam ever. Just wanted to pass my joy on, and say thanks, again.
Cheers, Harry aka Monster of Mayhem
I would recommend the Words Aloud Spoken Word Festival for all poets and storytellers. Workshops were held during the festival. Please check out http://www.wordsaloud.ca/
I’m sure Harry will let us know about next year’s festival.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Blog Roll-Up: Best of the Week's Writing Blogs
I don't make it to our meetings very often, and sometimes I even feel like I'm doing okay on my own. And then I come across a post like this, One is a Lonely Number--Why You Need a Writing Mentor on Write to Done, and I'm reminded of not just what the group can do for me, but what I can do for the group.
Do you Tweet? Do you blog (and if you do, let me know so we can add you to our blog roll)? Should you? The Guide to Literary Agents blog answers these questions with another post from the South Carolina Writer's Conference: Literary Agents Talk Blogging, Twitter and More. If you need more incentive to check out Twitter, then head on over to Freelance-Zone.com for an explanation of how TweetMyJobs Changes the Game and Freelance Folder sends out a Call to All Freelancers to get included on a Freelance Folder.
Also, make sure you head over to There Are No Rules by Writers Digest's Jane Freidman for her list of Best Tweets for Writers. There are tweets about craft and technique, getting published, self-publishing and marketing and promotion--and more!
Are you looking for new markets for your work? Are you trying to break out as a freelance writer, or even as a short story writer? The Freelance Writing Jobs Network offers 15 Places for Freelance Writers to Find Magazine Markets (note: you can use these for fiction markets as well) and 10 Ways to Get Your Freelance Writing Foot in the Door. The Renegade Writer is offering a New FREE Teleclass: Breaking into Food Writing.
Men With Pens is hosting a special fiction writing week with posts about Creating Character Flaws and Creating a Setting. Be sure to check out the full week's posts!
If dialogue is your weak point, C. Patrick Schulze brings you a couple of posts that should help: The Hidden Secret to Dialogue and How to Punctuate Dialogue.
Rachelle Gardner has some suggestions for Writing a First Draft in honour of NaNoWriMo, and The Three-Ring Circus posts this week offer tips for writing that draft quickly. Diane, our prolific writer updates us on the progress of her work, and the Brian Henry workshop over at Pens, Paints and Paper.
Finally, if you need a little inspiration, head over to Jennifer Lawler's Finding Your Voice blog for a quick lesson in The Power of Yet. And if you prefer your inspiration in laughter, definitely check out The Official Rejectionist's Death Match of Wittery, a tongue-in-cheek contest to find the best rejection letter. Scroll down to the comments to find them.
Do you Tweet? Do you blog (and if you do, let me know so we can add you to our blog roll)? Should you? The Guide to Literary Agents blog answers these questions with another post from the South Carolina Writer's Conference: Literary Agents Talk Blogging, Twitter and More. If you need more incentive to check out Twitter, then head on over to Freelance-Zone.com for an explanation of how TweetMyJobs Changes the Game and Freelance Folder sends out a Call to All Freelancers to get included on a Freelance Folder.
Also, make sure you head over to There Are No Rules by Writers Digest's Jane Freidman for her list of Best Tweets for Writers. There are tweets about craft and technique, getting published, self-publishing and marketing and promotion--and more!
Are you looking for new markets for your work? Are you trying to break out as a freelance writer, or even as a short story writer? The Freelance Writing Jobs Network offers 15 Places for Freelance Writers to Find Magazine Markets (note: you can use these for fiction markets as well) and 10 Ways to Get Your Freelance Writing Foot in the Door. The Renegade Writer is offering a New FREE Teleclass: Breaking into Food Writing.
Men With Pens is hosting a special fiction writing week with posts about Creating Character Flaws and Creating a Setting. Be sure to check out the full week's posts!
If dialogue is your weak point, C. Patrick Schulze brings you a couple of posts that should help: The Hidden Secret to Dialogue and How to Punctuate Dialogue.
Rachelle Gardner has some suggestions for Writing a First Draft in honour of NaNoWriMo, and The Three-Ring Circus posts this week offer tips for writing that draft quickly. Diane, our prolific writer updates us on the progress of her work, and the Brian Henry workshop over at Pens, Paints and Paper.
Finally, if you need a little inspiration, head over to Jennifer Lawler's Finding Your Voice blog for a quick lesson in The Power of Yet. And if you prefer your inspiration in laughter, definitely check out The Official Rejectionist's Death Match of Wittery, a tongue-in-cheek contest to find the best rejection letter. Scroll down to the comments to find them.
Tips from Writer's Market.com
Before you submit anything, here are a couple of tips from Writer's Market.com:
Quick tip #1:
Always check a listing's website before submitting. Submission guidelines, subjects covered, and even contact information can all change at a moment's notice. So be ultra-professional and double check before making your submission.
Quick tip #2:
Focus on the main sotry and characters when writing your query and cover letters. Think of your query as similar to the description on the back cover of a book or DVD. Don't get lost in the details, but make editors and agents want to read more.
Quick tip #1:
Always check a listing's website before submitting. Submission guidelines, subjects covered, and even contact information can all change at a moment's notice. So be ultra-professional and double check before making your submission.
Quick tip #2:
Focus on the main sotry and characters when writing your query and cover letters. Think of your query as similar to the description on the back cover of a book or DVD. Don't get lost in the details, but make editors and agents want to read more.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Brian Henry Workshop in Orangeville
About 30 people attended Brian's Nov 1st workshop . Aside from a couple of technical difficulties - the room was freezing and tea was accidentally dumped all over our table - it was a fun afternoon.
We did an exercise on creating prompts which led to a discussion about writing short stories and why entering the Toronto Star Short Story contest is a waste of time. We used some of our new prompts in our first exercise which was to actually write a short story. Brian's definition of a short story was: a prose narrative between several hundred and several thousand words that aims to achieve a single, concentrated effect.
After our break, we discussed plotting novels. His basic 3 step approach to writing a novel is:
1) Brainstorm
2) Organize
3) Write
Few writers will go these steps only once. For some of us, it's an ongoing process until we get to The End.
One of the most helpful things to do as you brainstorm is to create character sketches. The more important the character's role, the more detailed you want to be. This is also the stage to develop a 500-1000 word synopsis that highlights all the major and minor crises as well as the climax. Tracking your scenes using a flow chart or cue cards is helpful in keeping your novel moving smoothly.
Keep your eyes open for the next workshop!
We did an exercise on creating prompts which led to a discussion about writing short stories and why entering the Toronto Star Short Story contest is a waste of time. We used some of our new prompts in our first exercise which was to actually write a short story. Brian's definition of a short story was: a prose narrative between several hundred and several thousand words that aims to achieve a single, concentrated effect.
After our break, we discussed plotting novels. His basic 3 step approach to writing a novel is:
1) Brainstorm
2) Organize
3) Write
Few writers will go these steps only once. For some of us, it's an ongoing process until we get to The End.
One of the most helpful things to do as you brainstorm is to create character sketches. The more important the character's role, the more detailed you want to be. This is also the stage to develop a 500-1000 word synopsis that highlights all the major and minor crises as well as the climax. Tracking your scenes using a flow chart or cue cards is helpful in keeping your novel moving smoothly.
Keep your eyes open for the next workshop!
Contests, Contests, Contests
Agent-judged contest! I'm not sure if there is a prize other than being noticed by Anna Webman, agent at Curtis Brown, Ltd. During QueryTracker.net's last similar contest, one of the winners went on to sign with the literary agent in question. Send the first five pages and a synopsis of your complete YA novel for consideration. Contest starts November 10th, and only the first 70 entries will be accepted.
C. Hope Clark from Funds for Writers shares this contest that's a little different: You know how you set the volume on the TV at a comfortable level and then BAM! a commercial blasts through? Well, SRS Labs wants you to write a 500-word story about that experience. Three winners will receive a VIZIO Home Theater Speaker Bar featuring SRS TruVolume and their stories will be eligible to be chosen as the creative motivation for a future SRS commercial. Details are on Hope's blog. Deadline: November 17, 2009.
Women on Writing hosts a quarterly flash fiction contest. Enter your story of between 250 and 750 words for a chance to win prizes. Entry fee is $10. A critique is also available at an additional cost. The contest judge is literary agent Noah Lukeman of Lukeman Literary Management Ltd. Full contest details are available on the WOW website. Deadline: November 30th.
Show your thanks and win a free essay writing course from Amy Paturel, one of the instructors over at Renegade Writer. Send your essay about what Thanksgiving means to you. Full contest details are available here. Deadline: November 26th (American Thanksgiving).
Glimmer Train is looking for unpublished stories from writers whose stories have not appeared in publications with circulations of over 5000. Entry fee is $15. First prize wins $1,200 plus publication in Glimmer Train. Deadline: November 30th.
Editor Unleashed and Smash Words are teaming up to present a writing contest with a theme: Why I Write. The 50 best essays will be published in an anthology, and the Grand Prize Winner will receive $500 and promotion on both websites. You can find full contest details on the Editor Unleashed blog. Deadline: December 31st.
Glimmer Train's quarterly Fiction Open contest offers a first prize of $2,000 plus publication in Glimmer Train. The contest is open to all writers. Entry fee is $20. Deadline: January 2, 2010.
C. Hope Clark from Funds for Writers shares this contest that's a little different: You know how you set the volume on the TV at a comfortable level and then BAM! a commercial blasts through? Well, SRS Labs wants you to write a 500-word story about that experience. Three winners will receive a VIZIO Home Theater Speaker Bar featuring SRS TruVolume and their stories will be eligible to be chosen as the creative motivation for a future SRS commercial. Details are on Hope's blog. Deadline: November 17, 2009.
Women on Writing hosts a quarterly flash fiction contest. Enter your story of between 250 and 750 words for a chance to win prizes. Entry fee is $10. A critique is also available at an additional cost. The contest judge is literary agent Noah Lukeman of Lukeman Literary Management Ltd. Full contest details are available on the WOW website. Deadline: November 30th.
Show your thanks and win a free essay writing course from Amy Paturel, one of the instructors over at Renegade Writer. Send your essay about what Thanksgiving means to you. Full contest details are available here. Deadline: November 26th (American Thanksgiving).
Glimmer Train is looking for unpublished stories from writers whose stories have not appeared in publications with circulations of over 5000. Entry fee is $15. First prize wins $1,200 plus publication in Glimmer Train. Deadline: November 30th.
Editor Unleashed and Smash Words are teaming up to present a writing contest with a theme: Why I Write. The 50 best essays will be published in an anthology, and the Grand Prize Winner will receive $500 and promotion on both websites. You can find full contest details on the Editor Unleashed blog. Deadline: December 31st.
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