dtcmor
freely admits to licking rocks
Back to lickin' rocks again!
Member since May 2006
Posts: 898
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Post by dtcmor on Jun 12, 2006 0:56:35 GMT -5
Over the last year or so I have been throwing around ideas for writing a book. The theme is in the style of modern fantasy fiction, which has a strange market, unless you already have a good name or start. Some of the major publishers I have checked out (on-line) for guidelines to submit works seem to have you shot down before you even finish and give you the feeling that your work is not good enough before you even start. I have gotten about 20 chapters into my first work, and can see an end somewhere at about 4 to 5 (800 page) books in a series before I am done. I am now wondering if it is even worth my time to go on and finish.
Has anyone here written or published before that could give me some insight as to what i can expect in the market and how to go about it? I have seen where more people are doing e-publishing now but would rather see my work in ink.
Oddly enough, the title I have chosen for the first book is:
'The Creator's Stone'
Hmmm, must be a rock thing!?! LOL
Any kind of info would help.
Dave
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jun 12, 2006 1:35:32 GMT -5
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beechcomber
spending too much on rocks
Summertime!
Member since March 2006
Posts: 345
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Post by beechcomber on Jun 12, 2006 7:29:52 GMT -5
Dave,
All I can say is DON'T GIVE UP! To have 20 chapters already means you have a strong passion for writing and I wouldn't let stuff you read online get you down. You may want to talk to publishers in person...or wait to find out what advice you get here or from others that published books.
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Post by docone31 on Jun 12, 2006 8:28:41 GMT -5
Most publishers have an agenda. Do not chase their agenda if you have an idea. Sooner or later, it will come out. I know of a few people who started their own publishing house for just the same reason.
Don't buy into social control if you have a dream.
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Post by BAZ on Jun 12, 2006 8:39:58 GMT -5
I second Beech's statement, "Don't give up!". I am interested in screenwriting and have a friend who studied the subject on the east coast who I will probably collaborate with. To have 20 chapters is awesome! Statistically for screenwriters, only 10% of them actually finish a screenplay and submit it to the industry.
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Post by LCARS on Jun 12, 2006 9:56:53 GMT -5
I had an idea for a book back in 1995, started writing it late in '96 & by '99 I had about 300 pages written 2/3 of the way through it. Things got busy & I never actually finished writing it.  In 2002 my computer was stolen & I lost everything  I no longer have the heart or drive to do the writing anymore. I never even thought of the publication aspect, I just wanted to get everything down & be happy with it first. Whatever you do, make sure you don't give up on it. Finish it & back up copies of it. Best of luck, it's a tough sell even with a good concept. |
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Post by Cher on Jun 12, 2006 11:38:56 GMT -5
I was told by a writer once to mail a copy of the manuscript to yourself and don't open it. Just keep it on hand for protection against plagarism and whatnot.
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dtcmor
freely admits to licking rocks
Back to lickin' rocks again!
Member since May 2006
Posts: 898
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Post by dtcmor on Jun 12, 2006 12:32:58 GMT -5
Thankx to all for the support in not giving up. I too feel that I'm too far into it now to just abandon the ideas I have. When I get a little farther along, maybe the decisions will be a little easier. Thanks Kim for the links. They are very helpful  LCARS, It's too bad that you lost all of your work. That is one of my biggest fears. I have been saving all of my stuff to disk every time I work on it. I have even made a backup off of this also so I double my chances of not losing anything! Baz, have you ever tried the Dramatica software? There is a version for book writers and also one for screen writers. This has helped me with plots and characters immensly. If I can find the link, I'll try to PM you. There is a free trial download that can get you started. |
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Post by xenaswolf on Jun 12, 2006 12:47:02 GMT -5
DT, if you find the link will you post it here? It sounds interesting. I can only get a couple chapters into my stories and I just give up |
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Tellfamily
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 476
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Post by Tellfamily on Jun 12, 2006 15:26:05 GMT -5
Go for it! It is better to do it, than wondering if you should have.
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dtcmor
freely admits to licking rocks
Back to lickin' rocks again!
Member since May 2006
Posts: 898
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Post by dtcmor on Jun 12, 2006 22:45:40 GMT -5
Hey all, I found a link that will work to download the free Dramatica writing demos. It is not the same one I used, but it is the main site. This site has both Dramatica Pro and Screenwriter Pro for those of you that asked and a few other writing aids also. The only problem with the demos is that you can't save your work when you quit- must be their way of getting you to buy the full version, but they are still fun to play around with and will give you lots of ideas to put in text. www.dramatica.comThanks to all for the support Dave |
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Jun 13, 2006 2:31:44 GMT -5
Getting published is difficult. Major publishers want proven writers who can sell books, so unknown writers face serious hurdles. You need a very thick skin, as publishers will criticize. Take reasonable criticism as constructive, and learn from it. Ignore the useless negative stuff, just laugh that off.
Self-publishing pays you more (about 10% of book price, vs 3-5% for unknown writers going through known publishers). But self-publishing also means you have to do all the printing, storing, marketing of your book yourself. Prepare to turn your garage into a book storage area, and prepare to work up a selling strategy/presentation to take to local and regional bookstores to convince them why they should carry your book. Also, BEWARE OF FRAUDS -- there are scumbag publishers out there who encourage folks to publish works at their own expense, where the publisher knows the book will never sell, but they take advantage of the writer's enthusiasm.
Going with an established publisher will mean a brutal review of your work -- they aren't interested in anything they don't think will generate a profit. You will give up some control of the manuscript, and will get a much smaller cut of the profits (often 3-5%), but you won't be risking any of your own money in publishing costs. If they take on your manuscript, you will have full advantage of their wide publishing network, which should include exposure in the popular retail book chain stores. You would be expected to do some "book launches" for them also -- presenting and signing books at local book stores, or perhaps on the radio or local TV station, to promote your book.
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Post by Toad on Jun 13, 2006 16:22:47 GMT -5
You have to finish the work to sell it in fiction. Publishers expect a completed manuscript before they will even look at it - even established writers have to do this, and you're an unknown - so no break for you. Another way to break in is writing short stories for the fantasy and sci-fi magazines and websites. Getting a few shorter pieces published can help get your name out there and maybe land you an agent - which will keep you out of the slush pile when you submit your book.
So here is the advice. Keep working on your book while you do some short stories. You can even turn chapters and events in your book into stand alone stories to sell to the magazines. If you sell some of your stories first, you'll already have a built in fan base for the book...
Good luck to you.
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textiger
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2005
Posts: 946
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Post by textiger on Jun 13, 2006 23:54:23 GMT -5
I think Toad gave some good advice, but I would suggest that you don't wait to finish it before trying to find an agent. A good agent -- and you can probably get some assistance finding one through a university creative writing program -- can help you with the writing, both by reading and critiquing what you already have written and by explaining what the market is for different kinds of fiction and helping you tailor your work to those markets, if necessary. Good luck and don't give up.
matt
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dtcmor
freely admits to licking rocks
Back to lickin' rocks again!
Member since May 2006
Posts: 898
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Post by dtcmor on Jun 14, 2006 0:19:36 GMT -5
Thanks to Don, Toad and Textiger for the advice. I have considered doing short stories for magazines, e-zines and such. I figured it might be a way to get my foot in the door and at least try to get something published. This will show me if I have some good ideas or not. Seems like the better publishers will give you more attention when they see you already have something under your belt also. I was really thinking about trying to get published after I have at least two of the books in the series done. I have not contacted anyone as of yet, just been looking at some options for when I do get ready to try. With all of the support here, I know that even if I never do reach my goal, at least I can say that I wrote a book or two. The more I work on it, the more I find out about who I am and what I have to say. Needless to say, it has been a relaxing getaway from the everyday normal. Thanks again to all. |
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