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Inklings Issue 3.12
================================================================
i n k l i n g s
Inkspot's newsletter for Writers on the Net
Issue 3.12 June 11, 1997
================================================================
<http://www.inkspot.com/inklings/issues/ink0312.http>
* Over 12,000 subscribers! *
This issue features an article on self-publishing by Sharon
Woodhouse, a column by Lee Wardlaw (ASK THE CHILDREN'S BOOK
AUTHOR) on getting honest criticism and resubmitting a
manuscript, and a letter to the editor about vanity presses.
This issue sponsored in part by:
================================================================
* ON SPEC Magazine *
The premiere Canadian Quarterly of Speculative Writing, where
readers can find the best in Canadian SF, Fantasy, Horror and
Magic Realism. E-mail: onspec@earthling.net
================================================================
THE WRITER'S SOFTWARE COMPANION: multimedia software by Writer's
Digest's Nancy Kress. Uses advanced learning tech. and total
immersion to bypass years of trial-and-error, dramatically
accelerating a writer's progress. http://www.novalearn.com
================================================================
MARKETS ABROAD - Thousands of publications overseas buy English-
language articles. This quarterly newsletter, delivered by email,
provides editor names, addresses, needs, rates, etc. $27/year.
Sample: sedgesample@inkspot.com. Inquiries: pp10013@cybernet.it.
================================================================
SAMURAI CONSULTING http://www.samurai.com
Services include internet consulting, WWW page design, electro-
nic newsletters, mailing lists, FTP sites, system maintenance,
training. Email: Bryan Fullerton <bryanf@samurai.com>
================================================================
ISSN 1205-6413. Copyright 1995-1997 Debbie Ridpath Ohi. For more
info about Inklings (how to subscribe/unsubscribe, change your
address, submit material, copyright, etc.) send any email message
to infoinklings@inkspot.com. For info on how you can become an
Inklings sponsor, send any email to ratecard@inkspot.com. No
attachments, please. Send comments to editor@inkspot.com (please
use a meaningful subject header!).
================================================================
| CONTENTS THIS ISSUE: |
| From The Editor's Desk |
| Fresh Ink and Market Information |
| Ask The Children's Book Author |
| Can Self-Publishing Help Your Writing Career? |
| Letter to the Editor |
| Writers' Conferences and Events |
================================================================
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK:
=======================
The Internet is a wealth of information and opportunities for
writers. How have YOU used the net to help you write, sell or
market your writing? Send your tip(s) to tip@inkspot.com. One
lucky person will win a copy of Gary Gach's WRITERS.NET ("every
writer's essential guide to online resources and opportunities",
Prima Publishing/97), signed by the author. More info about the
book at:
http://www.primapublishing.com/life/76150641.html
Deadline: Fri. June 21st, 1997.
Thanks to Barb Chandler for mentioning Inkspot and Inklings in
her freelance writing article for FolksOnline:
http://www.folksonline.com/folks/hh/talent/cw.htm
Submission guidelines for Inklings have been updated. Get your
copy by sending any email to guidelines@inkspot.com. Inklings
is now a paying market!
Bryan Fullerton (of Samurai Consulting, hosts Inklings) is
switching servers and majordomo admin requests may be delayed
a day or two as a result. If you have difficulty, please send
administration requests to admin@inkspot.com.
Inklings now has a special WRITERS' CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
classifieds section at the end of the newsletter where you can
advertise your event for as little as US$10/issue. Send any
e-mail to confinfo@inkspot.com for details.
And finally, a challenge completely unrelated to writing. The
subject: geeky school photos! Check out my geeky school photo
at: http://www.inkspot.com/ohi/geeky.html. If you think you
have a geekier school photo, I'll add it to my Geeky School
Photo Gallery. Please *don't* send attachments without asking
first...e-mail me (editor@inkspot.com). Thanks to Scott
Ruthfield for honouring this page with the Geek Site Of The
Day Award on Monday. :-)
================================================================
ADMINISTRATION NOTES/REMINDERS:
*Resending issues*
Please don't ask me to resend issues...I no longer have time to
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Only notify me about this if this happens twice or more in a row.
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Try subscribing again (send email to majordomo@samurai.com with
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If you wish to receive the full "Inklings admin FAQ" (includes
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================================================================
FRESH INK
=========
Poetry Plaza
------------
UK-based. Includes listing of poetry-related events, publishers,
contests, libraries,links.
http://www.poetry.net/
Children's Book Council member list
-----------------------------------
Good source of info about children's book publishers, with
guidelines and links to publisher websites. Always confirm info
with a SASE before submitting your mss.
http://www.cbcbooks.org/member1.html
H.E.L.P. fund
-------------
Help author Jayne Hitchcock cover legal expenses in her fight
against usenet abuse. Details in website below.
http://www.geocities.com/~hitchcockc/story.html
The Market List
---------------
In addition to a free downloadable market info list of sf/f/h
writers, this site also contains useful articles, interviews,
reviews, and other resources. Highly recommended.
http://www.marketlist.com/
New writers' chat rooms!
------------------------
Writer's BBS has a new chat server accessible through a standard
web browser (you also have the option of the java or telnet
versions). The Inklings room is upstairs (next Inklings chat is
Wed. June 18 9-10 pm EST, theme: Author Chats - which authors
would you like to see? would YOU like to volunteer?), many other
chatrooms available 24 hrs.
http://www.talker.com/writersb/
Promotion newsletter for authors
--------------------------------
Spotlight is a free online publication "for authors to promote
their own work while sharing their promotion expertise with each
other, in order to minimize energies spent promoting and maximize
growth in the craft of writing."
http://www.eclectics.com/newsletter/spotlight.html
The Eclectic Writer
-------------------
Nice site with a writers' message board, fiction writers'
character chart, free promotion newsletter for authors, online
articles.
http://www.eclectics.com/writing/writing.html
ASJA Contracts Watch
--------------------
Free electronic newsletter with news about the latest terms and
negotiations in the world of newspapers and magazines. Published
by the American Society of Journalists and Authors. To subscribe,
send email to ASJA-MANAGER@SILVERQUICK.COM, Subject: CONTRACTS
WATCH, Message text: JOIN ASJACW-LIST.
http://www.asja.org/cwpage.htm
Inkspot seeks published authors for online chats
------------------------------------------------
If you're a published author and are interested in hosting
online chats/Q&A;, please visit the Inkspot/Inklings chatroom
on Wednesday, June 18 9-10 pm EST. Details on how to get to
the Inklings chatroom (kindly hosted by The Writer's BBS)
are available at: http://www.inkspot.com/inklings/chat.html.
If you can't attend the chat, send email to editor@inkspot.com
with "chat author" in the subject header...but please note that
preference will be given to those who drop by the chatroom
(it gives me a chance to see you're able to get there :-))
Sign up ahead of time for a free account. Author chats
will be publicized in Inklings and Inkspot.
================================================================
MARKET INFORMATION
==================
Please note: Inklings does its best to print only accurate market
info. However, it cannot be held responsible for lost postage,
time, etc. that you may incur due to inaccuracies. Do not send
submissions by email before inquiring first. You should get
current, detailed guidelines before submitting. Include SASE for
snailmail replies. More market info at:
http://www.inkspot.com/market/.
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING MARKET SOURCES:
SCAVENGER'S NEWSLETTER
Monthly sf/f/h/m market info letter. Contact foxscav1@jc.net
or see http://users.aol.com/Lemarchand/scavenger.html
THE GILA QUEEN'S GUIDE TO MARKETS
POB 97, Newton, NJ 07860-0097 Email: gilaqueen@aol.com
http://www.pacifier.com/~alecwest/gila/index.html
CHILDREN'S WRITERS MARKET LIST (magazines only)
Available by e-mail or snailmail. Email mshauers@midusa.net.
==-----------------------------------------------------==
"FNASR" = First North American Serial Rights, "SASE" =
self-addressed, stamped envelope, "simsubs" = simultaneous
submissions, "mss" = manuscript, "RT" = response time, "GL" =
guidelines, "wds" = words, "cc"= contributor's copy.
***If you are a *paying* market and would like your guidelines
included in a future issue of Inklings, please fill out the form
at: http://www.inkspot.com/market/mktpayform.html
PAYING MARKETS:
The Romance Writer's Companion Page
-----------------------------------
941 Fishburn Drive, Brigham City, UT 84302. Anne Marie Baugh,
Editor. "A portion of our Web Page is written by our visitors.
We are actively seeking short ideas on Plotting, Story
Development, Character Development. Check our site to understand
what we are looking for. We pay $5.00 for each idea that is
accepted and published on our site." Pays on publication. Email
submissions okay. Ideas must relate to romance writing. (Info
rec'd June 4/97)
http://www.vii.com/~internet/
On Spec magazine
----------------
ON SPEC Magazine, Box 4727, Edmonton, AB Canada T6E 5G6.
"Canadian magazine Of Speculative Writing." PAYMENT: poems: 4 to
100 lines $15 plus 1 contributor's copy short-short stories
(under 1000 words): $25 plus 2 contrib copies fiction (1000 to
6000 words): 2.5 cents per word (min payment $40) plus 2 contrib
copies. MSS FORMAT: Competition format (no names on the MSS
itself). Cover page should have phone # and e-mail address and
word count. TIPS: "Show us something that we've never seen
before. In other words, don't give us "fractured fairy tales", or
yet another post holocaust scenario with absolutely no character
development. Don't give us a "cats in space" story! Give us a
real "people" story, in which real characters face some kind of
challenge that they overcome or learn to deal with, by their own
resourcefulness and strength. The main flaw in many stories we
get is that people send us an "idea" (gee, what if there was a
future where everybody had to wear a coloured ribbon to identify
them to a computer?) but they go no further to develop that idea,
or even show us some characters whose lives are affected by the
society which would come up with this kind of idea. People aren't
telling stories. Many times, writers will send us something which
sounds like it was ripped out of an "X-Files" plot. Adequate TV,
but lousy literature. Bottom line is-- if we don't like it, it
doesn't matter who you are-- it gets rejected, with as many
constructively critical comments as we can give. If we like it,
we buy it. And we are very willing to work with a writer when
their story is a "close, but no cigar". When we ask for a
rewrite, we never promise to buy, but we do want to see it
again." See website for full guidelines.
Email: onspec@earthling.net
http://www.greenwoods.com/onspec/
QUOTE magazine
--------------
12 Wingadee St, Lane Cove, Sydney NSW, Australia 2066. Editor:
Tim Duggan. Monthly publication aimed at a youth audience (12-30
year olds). Seeking "articles that would interest an average
12-30 year old. The main feature is an interview with
up-and-coming young stars or celebrities, but am also looking for
feature articles and columns" Email submissions okay. Pays on
publication. PAYMENT: $AUD200 for main interview, article,
$AUD150 for all else. "Also looking for columns, ie. "The Last
Word" at the back of the mag, Fashion stories, Technology Watch
stories, youth trends, "The American View" column etc."
(Confirmed June 9/97)
Email: duggo@magna.com.au
Freelance Food Science Writers
------------------------------
Weeks Publishing, 3400 Dundee Rd., Ste. 100, Northbrook, IL
60062. Editor: Lynn Kuntz. Monthly publication. Pays: Approx.
$100/500-600 word page/3-12 pp. Send resume and sample of writing
to snailmail address. "Need freelance science writers for
technically-oriented trade journal. Prefer writers who can submit
3-12 articles per year on assigned subjects such as: "Designing
Low-Fat Cakes and Muffins". Must have food science, nutrition,
chemistry or similar background. Actual work experience in the
processed food industry required. No culinary or recipe
development." (Source: Writers' Marketboard, verified and updated
by email June 5/97)
E-mail: lakfpd@aol.com
Grain
-----
Grain, Box 1154, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada S4P 3B4. Editor: J.
Jill Robinson. Quarterly literary publication, publishes poetry
and prose. No email submissions; email queries welcome. POETRY:
max 8 poems at a time. FICTION: max 2 stories or 30 pages of
novel-in-progress. RT: 2-4 months. PAYMENT: Poetry Cdn$30-$100
(depending on number of pages published), Fiction & other:
Cdn$30-$100. Purchases first Canadian serial rights only.
Copyright remains with the author or artist. (Confirmed June
6/97)
E-mail: grain.mag@sk.sympatico.ca
URL: http://www.sasknet.com/corporate/skwriter/grnhome.html
GL: http://www.sasknet.com/corporate/skwriter/grncontr.html
Creative Nonfiction
-------------------
Larry Bielawski, Online Editor, Goucher College, 1021 Dulaney
Valley Rd., Baltimore, MD 21204. Literary journal published three
times a year. Creative nonfiction, including essays, profiles,
reviews. PAYMENT: $5/page (sometimes more depending on publishing
project). SEEKING: strong reportage, well-written prose
(attentive to language, rich with detail and distinctive voice),
an information quality or "teaching element" offering the reader
something to learn (for example, an idea, concept, collection of
facts) strengthened with insight, reflection, interpretation, a
compelling, focused, sustained narrative that's well-structured,
makes sense, and conveys a meaning. (Confirmed May 28/97)
E-mail: cnf@goucher.edu
URL: http://www.goucher.edu/~cnf/
Event Horizon
-------------
Mike Allen, Poetry Editor, POB 13511, Roanoke, VA 24034-3511.
Poetry ezine. "I'm very interested in hearing from new or
lesser known writers." Check website for full guidelines.
Seeking: "SF/F/H poetry. Horror poems must contain an element
of the supernatural. SF/Fantasy poems must contain strong
elements of those respective genres. Rhyme/meter/traditional
forms will impress me if they're done well. Although I do
enjoy poems with a surreal feel, I'm not looking for stuff
that's unclassifiable or experimental. Payment for poems is
$3 + 10 cents/line on publication. Some contributors have sent
submissions intended for both me and Daniel D. Adams (fiction
editor). A word to the wise: Danny and I have very different
reading schedules. If you have work for both of us to see,
you'll hear back much more quickly if you provide both of
us with a SASE." (Source: Scavenger's Newsletter, June/97)
URL: http://www.wwco.com/scifi
The Hotchkiss Merchant Herald
-----------------------------
The Hotchkiss Merchant Herald, P.O. Box 386, Hotchkiss, Colo.
81419. Thomas Wills, Editor (970) 872-2664. Monthly news/feature
paper for an area "similar to Aspen in the sixties. Lots of arts
types." Circ. 3000. Subscription $12/yr. "We do pay but it
varies...usually about ten bucks for a short column length piece.
(aprox 500 wds)." Short columns: 250-500 wds. Don't bother to try
and write something for me if you are not familiar with Western
Colorado. 'I was a tourist' pieces are very welcome. You don't
have to live around here..just share some impressions of the
North Fork Valley as you pass through. No artsy generic poetry."
(Confirmed June 5/97)
Email: Hotchkiss@aol.com
Taler Tales
-----------
M. Leftridge, P.O.Box 510812, St. Louis, Mo. 63151-0812. Seeking
poetry and stories. "All submissions must pertain to paranormal
phenomena genre." Snailmail submissions only. Include SASE. Max
5000 wds. PAYS: $5/story + cc. RT: 2 wks/queries, 4 wks/mss.
Seeks one-time copy rights.
http://www.cza.com/HTMS/taler.htm
Dance Spirit
------------
DANCE SPIRIT, 250 W 576h St., Ste 1701, New York NY 10107: Julie
Davis, Editor. TO BE LAUNCED IN SEPT Ô97. Primarily dance teams
on campus & in dance studios. Very visual (photos!) with brief
articles 100-500 words. Ideal writer is a choreographer for a
school spirit team or trainer. Pay rate varies. (Source:
Children's Writers Market List)
Freeze
------
FREEZE, 929 Pearl St., Boulder CO 80302: Tom Winter. This new
magazine is for skiers 14-25. Likes writers under 30!!!!
Articles will range from 750-1000 words, with many photos. IÕd
write for more info. (Source: Children's Writers Market List)
UPDATES:
City Now! is experiencing staffing changes, so submissions are
being put on hold.
================================================================
Ask The Experts
---------------
*** Please put "inklings question" in the subject header. ***
Judith Bowen (ROMANCE WRITER) jbowen@max-net.com
David Breeden (POET) drpoetry@ktc.com
Charles Deemer (SCREENWRITER) cdeemer@teleport.com
Mark Fowler (LAWYER) askthelawyer@inkspot.com
Susan Graham (AGENT) slgraham@mindspring.com
Paula Guran (HORROR WRITER) DarkEcho@aol.com
Carol Henson (BOOK DOCTOR) UBKX12C@Prodigy.com
Ken Jenks (ELECTRONIC PUBLISHER) MindsEye@tale.com
David Leit (LAWYER) askthelawyer@inkspot.com
Bob Sablatura (JOURNALIST) bob.sablatura@reporters.net
Michelle Sagara (SF/FANTASY WRITER) Michelle.Sagara@sff.net
Lee Wardlaw (CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR) Katknip2@aol.com
Marcia Yudkin (FREELANCE WRITER) send to yudkin@inkspot.com
Sharon Zukowski (MYSTERY/SPY WRITER) 76372.2252@CompuServe.COM
Columnists may be unable to reply privately to every message,
but will answer selected questions in future issues of Inklings.
===============================================================
ASK THE CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR
----------------------------------------------------------------
by Lee Wardlaw
<Katknip2@aol.com>
Getting honest criticism
------------------------
Q: I have written one children's story book and sent it to
several publishers. All have turned it down. As expected, the
manuscript was not critiqued by an editor. How can I get honest
criticism on my manuscripts? I don't consider family or friends
as honest criticism.
A: You're right: family and friends are definitely not the best
people to offer honest criticism. They love you and don't want
to hurt your feelings - - even if the pain means helping you and
your manuscripts in the long run. In addition, they most likely
don't know the first thing about the children's book genre or
market, and therefore won't be much help anyway.
There are several ways to acquire honest criticism on your
manuscripts:
*Take advantage of the manuscript exchange service sponsored by
the Society of Children's Book Authors and Illustrators. (To join
send the $50 membership fee to: SCBWI, 22736 Vanowen Street,
#106, West Hills, CA 91307) Through this service, you can trade
manuscripts through the mail with other writers working in your
genre and give/receive honest evaluations. This service is free
to members.
*Join a writer's critique group. To find one in your area, talk
with local authors, children's librarians, children's
bookstores, or reading associations. Once you're a member of the
SCBWI, you can also check with your Regional Advisor to see if
there's an ongoing writer's group near you.
*Start your own critique group. Scout local workshops,
conferences or classes in writing for children to recruit
interested persons.
*Take a "writing for the juvenile market" class, conference or
workshop. As part of these programs, many teachers or lecturers
will critique manuscripts for free or for a nominal fee. (The
SCBWI national conference, held annually in Los Angeles, always
offers manuscript evaluations by editors and published authors
for the incredibly reasonable fee of $35.)
*Hire a professional to critique your manuscript. Published
authors in your area may be willing to evaluate your manuscript
for a fee (often $150-$500, depending on the length of the work).
There are also a number of former children's book editors who
now work as professional manuscript consultants. Check the
Literary Market Place and the Children's Writer's and
Illustrator's Market for names and addresses. Good luck!
Resubmitting a manuscript
-------------------------
Q: Several publishers rejected my picture book mss last year. A
professional gave it a thorough going over, and I feel that the
book is much stronger now. Can I resubmit the revised version to
the same publishers, considering that the first readers may not
be the same now as last year? I doubt my story ever got passed
the first reader as I had no comments on the rejection slips.
A: If the editors you submitted the picture book to did not ask
to see a revised version of the manuscript, then it is best not
to resubmit it. If they had seen any potential in the story, or
if they had forseen room on their list for a book such as yours,
they would've given you the opportunity to try them again with a
revised version. However, a new editor at the publishing house
may feel differently about your manuscript, especially if the
story has undergone a major rewrite. Check the 1997 Children's
Writer's & Illustrator's Market to see if any of the publishing
houses you tried before have new acquisitions editors. (Or give
the companies a quick phone call to see who is reading the
picture book manuscripts.) If a new editor is in charge, by all
means, resubmit the manuscript. If not, I recommend you move on.
If you haven't sold the book a year or so from now, check the
Writer's Market again. There is a high turnover of staff in the
publishing world, and the odds are good that a new editor will be
in charge of acquistions in at least one of the houses you tried
before.
As for not receiving comments on your rejection slips: Even if
your manuscript passes the first (and second and third) readers,
this does not guarantee you'll receive comments or suggestions on
your rejection. Editors are swamped - - some houses receive
between 5,000-20,000 unsolicited manuscripts a year - - and
simply do not have time to write personal rejections, especially
if they feel the book is inappropriate for their list.
==-----------------------------------------------------==
Lee Wardlaw is the award-winning author of 17 books for children,
ranging from picture books to young adult novels. Recent titles
include 101 WAYS TO BUG YOUR PARENTS (middle grade novel, Dial),
THE GHOUL BROTHERS (first chapter book, Troll), and PUNIA AND
THE KING OF SHARKS (picture book, Dial). Lee's web page is at
http://www.inkspot.com/author/lee/
Copyright (c) 1997 Lee Wardlaw.
================================================================
CAN SELF-PUBLISHING HELP YOUR WRITING CAREER?
----------------------------------------------------------------
by Sharon Woodhouse
<LakeClarPr@aol.com>
The Chicagoland Self-Publishers is a group of micro-presses
(mostly one-person operations) that convenes semi-regularly to
swap information and stories and to remind ourselves that we are
not alone in the world. Some of us, myself included, have turned
our initial self-publishing enterprise into bona fide small
publishing businesses. While a good portion of our group talk
centers around our gripes and frustrations with the industry and
our undertakings, most of us relish the benefits of
self-publishing and are deeply satisfied with our quirky choice.
Saving the hurdles and nightmares for another time, I'll outline
some of the perks we've discovered:
Self-Publishers Are In Good Company!
------------------------------------
Stephen Crane, Mary Baker Eddy, James Joyce, Ken Keyes, Rudyard
Kipling, D. H. Lawrence, John Muir, Anaiis Nin, Richard Nixon,
Ezra Pound, Carl Sandburg, George Bernard Shaw, Upton Sinclair,
Henry David Thoreau, Mark Twain, and Walt Whitman all
self-published. Self-publishing is not "vanity" publishing.
While self-publishing may require a healthy ego, there is an
important difference between these two endeavors. Vanity
publishers will publish almost anything you write as long as you
pay them to do it. Self-publishing is a business that requires
not only a financial commitment but an investment of time and
energy as well. As with any business, if you don't have a
viable product (a high-quality book) that you can be proud of,
it's not going to work.
Self-Publishers Can Release A Book Faster Than The Big Publishing
Houses.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After a manuscript is completed and contracts are signed, it
typically takes a major publisher 1-1/2 to 3 years to publish a
book! Self-publishers, who generally work on one title at a time
and can devote all of their resources into producing high-quality
and timely books, can often publish a title in several months.
Self-Publishing Can Be A Rewarding Career.
------------------------------------------
--Whereas an author generally receives 6%-10% of a book's intake,
a self-publisher can take in anywhere from 35%-100% of a book's
list price, depending on the distribution methods used.
--As self-publishing -- vs. writing alone -- qualifies as a
business, it's entitled to the numerous tax breaks and incentives
of any small business.
--The freedom, control, flexibility, and sense of pride that
accompany most self-employment ventures apply to self-publishers
as well.
--Publishing is an interesting field filled with interesting
people. Through book writing, one can pursue subjects of
personal interest. Through book publishing, one can learn and
develop the many skills necessary to produce and market books in
particular, as well as run a business in general.
--Small publishing is a friendly field. In an industry devoted
to dispensing information, someone with more or different
experience waits around every corner, eager to share and swap
publishing stories and advice.
Self-Published Books Can Fare As Well Or Better Than Books
Published By The Big Guys.
-----------------------------------------------------------
--Self-publishers do a good job with highly-specialized books
aimed at specific markets. Such books have a definite audience
but have subjects that are too narrow for most major publishers
to take on and sell effectively.
--Self-publishers do a good job selling books in the lucrative
(and often, overlooked) non-traditional book markets, whereas the
big publishing houses sell predominantly to bookstores. Most
Americans buy books, though the majority never enter a bookstore.
At least 45% of books are not sold in bookstores. Think book
clubs, gift stores, airports, corporate premiums, trade
associations, drug stores, museums, specialty stores and
catalogues.
--Self-publishers have a vested interest in a book and will work
as hard as necessary to give it its due exposure. An author's
beloved manuscript is just another book to the large publishers
who will most likely give it routine marketing treatment. These
jumbo companies can afford to have 70% of their books break even
or lose money; the figure for fiction is even higher. They earn
their megabucks from the best-sellers and the celebrity deals.
--Without Manhattan-sized advertising budgets, self-publishers
must often resort to more creative marketing techniques that can
have better results with an ad-weary public.
Self-Publishing Can Provide Authors The Edge And Experience
Necessary To Be Recognized By A Major Publisher.
------------------------------------------------------------
--A published author has a better chance of avoiding the slush
pile where thousands of manuscripts end up annually without ever
being given a first glance.
--A published author has a proven track record and perhaps a
recognized name, making them a better financial risk.
--An author well-versed in publishing is more likely to submit a
high-quality, bankable manuscript.
--An author familiar with the many aspects of publishing can
offer invaluable assistance in the development, production, and
promotion of a book.
Despite its many appeals, self-publishing is not for everyone.
First and foremost, it is a business. No matter how good your
writing is, without business skills like marketing, sales,
accounting, and organization (or the desire to acquire these
skills), self-publishing will be an expensive waste of time. A
LOT of time.
That's not to say, however, that you have to make a career of
self-publishing in order to take advantage of the unique
opportunities it offers. You may decide to write and
self-publish books, but hire others to handle the business angle
of it. Freelancers can take care of everything from editing to
publicity; a combination of fulfillment houses and distributors
can free you from filling book orders yourself. Or, you can
self-publish a single book as a means of attracting a larger
publisher or as a way to learn the basics about the book
publishing industry.
Even if you don't plan on self-publishing, you might want to
consider the many resources available for self-publishers. What
these books can offer writers are invaluable insights into the
mind of publishers and the workings of the entire book trade.
Such a perspective will help any writer prepare the kind of
manuscript that a publisher would take seriously.
Everything you need to know to walk you through self-publishing a
book is out there. Here are some of the first places to
investigate:
BOOKS:
"The Self-Publishing Manual: How to Write, Print, and Sell Your
Own Book" by Dan Poynter
"The $uccessful Self-Publisher: Produce and Market Your Own Best
Seller" by Dorothy Kavka and Dan Heise
"1001 Ways To Market Your Books" by John Kremer
(Note: This book is also geared to authors who have had their
books published by others and want/need to get involved marketing
them.)
WEB PAGES:
Para Publishing is Dan Poynter's (see above) company. His web
page is loaded with books, reports, and resources, including a
quick checklist that helps you determine if you should
self-publish.
http://www.ParaPublishing.com/
This site of the Midwest Book Review has links to dozens of
internet resources for writers and publishers.
http://www.execpc.com/~mbr/bookwatch/
Allbooks, a budding book distribution system, has put up
Publishing FAQs for new, small, and prospective publishers.
http://www.allbooks.com/publishing_faq/faq.phtml
OnQ appears to still be in development, but is a site devoted to
a store and catalog that carry only self-published books.
http://www.wsite.com/OnQ/
==-----------------------------------------==
Sharon Woodhouse started her company, Lake Claremont Press, by
publishing her insider's budget guide to Chicago, "A Native's
Guide To Chicago" in 1994 and its second edition in 1996. This
year she will publish her first books by other writers --
"Chicago Haunts: Ghostly Lore of the Windy City," and "Rosehill
Cemetery: Monument To Chicago." In 1998, Lake Claremont Press
will release 5-7 more titles on the Chicago area and Chicago
history.
Copyright (c) 1997 Sharon Woodhouse.
================================================================
Comments/questions re: content of this issue? Post your remarks
in the Inklings discussion forum. Select the Inklings forum from
the list available at the Writers BBS/Inkspot discussion forums:
http://www.writersbbs.com/bbs3/
================================================================
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Debbie:
I strongly disagree with Susan Graham's advice in the May 14
issue. Graham was responding to a question from a new author who
said she had made the mistake of publishing her first book
through a vanity press. The author asked if she could submit the
manuscript to an agent or editor as an unpublished novel. Graham
said "no", that editors and agents would consider the novel to
have been published. She suggested that the author consider the
vanity publication to be "practice ... After all, everyone needs
practice in their chosen field before they get really good at it
..." This patronizing comment was followed by several other
statements that suggest to me that Graham has little
understanding of vanity publishing.
For example, Graham said that if the book is "selling well and/or
getting good reviews, putting a little marketing effort into it
certainly wouldn't hurt. If not, perhaps it wasn't ready to be
published yet." She then goes on to refer to the author's
efforts as "self-publishing" -- something altogether different
from vanity publishing.
As one who has been a book reviewer for a major daily newspaper,
I can assure you that vanity press books do not get reviewed. I
confirmed this while researching an article I wrote for a
national writer's magazine. I quoted Genevieve Stuttaford,
coordinator of pre-publication reviews for Publishers Weekly, who
said that PW does not review vanity press books but will consider
self-published books "as long as they are not semi-literate".
For the benefit of Graham and others who are not familiar with
vanity publishing, it involves paying an exorbitant fee to a
"publishing company" which typically does little more than
typeset the manuscript and print a few hundred copies. Several
years ago, I reviewed a contract that an author friend had
received from a vanity press. In return for $8,000 of the
author's money, the "publisher" agreed to provide 50 author
copies and have 400 more copies of the book "available for
legitimate orders". The author's royalty on all these "orders"
was to be a ridiculously high 80%.
Anyone with the slightest business sense can quickly figure out
how hard the "publisher" will work to sell books they will earn a
20% royalty on. After all, why should they waste their time
trying to sell your book to bookstores when they can make a heck
of a lot more money extracting $8,000 from the next sucker?
The reality of most vanity press books is not only that there are
no reviews, there are also no orders from bookstores, libraries,
or other book buyers. This is in marked contrast to
self-published books where the author assumes the role of
publisher and will often aggressively market to booksellers. I
have never heard of a vanity press book making the best-seller
lists, but have heard of a variety of self-published books that
have become best-sellers including: The Celestine Prophecy, The
One Minute Manager, Life's Little Instruction Book, The Christmas
Box, Mutant Message Down Under, Life 101, and numerous others.
In most of these cases, major publishers purchased the rights to
republish the books. I see no reason why a publisher would not
likewise be interested in the book produced by the new author who
made the mistake of vanity publishing -- assuming, of course,
that her book is worthy of publication. If her book is worthy of
publication it would be ridiculous to let it languish with only a
few hundred copies in print and consider it "practice" for her
next book.
Tag Goulet e-mail tag@explorenet.com
================================================================
WRITERS' CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
================================================================
GOLDENROD XV WRITERS CONFERENCE: Oct 17-19, 1997. Morgantown,
West Virginia. Workshops, mss critiques, presentations, literary
and book exhibits. Email: George Lies <glies@wvu.edu>.
URL: http://www.inkspot.com/network/goldenrod.html
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or Inkspot, send any email to confinfo@inkspot.com.
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EDITOR: Debbie Ridpath Ohi (editor@inkspot.com)
COPY EDITOR: Cathy Rutland (copyeditor@inkspot.com)
GLITCH DETECTOR: Rand Bellavia (rand@inkspot.com)
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