SeattleCPA

Actually, that was a typo... I meant to say the first 100 books I wrote.

I kind of don't keep track of the title count anymore, but I think it's really close to 160 titles now.

A few years ago, the Wall Street Journal did a little Page B2 write-up on me and a little publishing thing I had going.. In it, they called me (actually, they quoted a Borders Bookstore exec) the Louis L'Amour of computer books. At that point (2001?), I think I was at something like 135 titles...

I'm not sure that's good. My wife was asking me just this morning, "Hey, wasn't it Truman Capote who said about some other author, 'that's not writing, that's typing...'?" I hope she wasn't subconsciously thinking about me.

As far as making money in computer books like the early Dummies titles (and I still do Quicken for Dummies and QuickBooks for Dummies) the industry has really changed... but in those tech boom years, the money was incredible by freelance writing standards.

OK, not JK Rowling levels... or Stephen King... but the busy successful writers (maybe there were a dozen? two dozen?) were making mid-six figure incomes and up. (I would guess the top guy was sitting at around $2M year after year...Not me, by the way.)

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AlexanderCrane

Sounds fantastic, very admirable.

I assume with anything once you learn the environment you naturally far into rhythm with it.

It would be very interesting to read some of your fiction. A tech writer has a wealth of information to use in a story, if they chose to write one.

I'd love to hear more on your writing history and experiences, share at will.

Mike C

I'd google 'how to write a business plan' but basically you need to look at the product - cost of production, cost of sales - and your market - who will you sell it to and how?

You have to be brutally honest with yourself; it's easy to massage figures to make the plan look good, but do you really know who would buy a poetic 'chicken soup', or do you just think you do? Do you know how to reach them, and persuade them?

the last business plan I wrote ran to about 30k words. Obviously, you won't need to go that far, but putting your plan on paper really helps clarify your thoughts.

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AlexanderCrane

I appriciate you sharing this piece of information with me. Before I was not aware of the importance of such a thing. This is the begnning stage but knowing this allows me to enter into the project with the plan in mind. If any good ideas come to me, they can do so under that context.

As I become more aware of all my options, the prices and steps can be logged.

Still, it is quite apparent to me which publishing press to go with, or which companies to apply to.

Just because its in the index it is a quality business?

mammamaia

if your statement is true, why would you need to ask the question???... the answer, of course, is 'no'... i should think that would be obvious...

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AlexanderCrane

My bad, typo. Yes, that didn't come off right. I meant, it isn't apparent to me, and that is why I am hesitate about possibly wasting a bunch of time, energy, and money preparing packages for nothing.

I'm hoping to network with the right people.

If a market already exists, then that would imply a network of some kind exists out there.

mammamaia

sorry, i'm still not getting what you're getting at here... you're part of a network now, on this forum... what other kind are you looking for?...

as for finding out which publishers are legit, you'll have to do the scutwork yourself, sorry to say, as there are so many out there... basically, always check any you intend to query at preditors&editors, first... also google for feedback from happy/unhappy clients and check out their websites, to get a feel for how professional/successful they are...

hope that gives you the info you wanted... if not, please explain what kind of 'network' you're seeking and i'll give it another go...

m

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Shawn

Then spare the money part. Create an excellent business plan.

I've already started on incorporation articles for my estate (which is a lot more like publishing than you think. ) Basically, I've modularized my plan where I will phase in new services and products after certain goals are met. I pretty much am looking to give myself a steady income (factoring in inflation) for the rest of my life. I'll assume you are looking for this also.

With publishing, you're going to have to balance a consumer and supplier relationship. Go for the consumers!

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AlexanderCrane

That's fantastic. Sounds interesting.

I just got some webspace, is there any way you know to start using it in an efficient way to prepare for my book?

I'm not quite sure how it all works either, but perhaps there is someway I could assist you w/ space if you know someone who can assist us in developing it.

Shawn

I would be very happy to help you at no cost... that is, assisting you in developing webspace. However, I really would appreciate seeing a business plan so I would know that my time would not go to waste.

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AlexanderCrane

Fair enough, do you have a link to any sort of example? That way I can be comprehensive the first time around.

If not I can just write down all of my ideas, plans, and estimated costs.

Appreciate the help.

AlexanderCrane

The predator/editor site sounds paramount. Thanks.

Hmm, basically, I just want everyone to humor me, that I have a marketable book, that way what comes to their mind will be ways of helping me get it into the market. Anything that can help really, I am open to learing about. Like, if you had a book that had potential, what measures would you take to prepare its success, and what steps would you take to acheive success? It is a rhetorical question by now, because many aspects of my questions have already been answered. But that is the scenario I am trying to attract for myself.

As this thread unfolds, my idea of what to do with my current set of circumstance will become more clear. Hopefully that will result in more direct questions.

I'll be sure to post as things come.

mammamaia

alex...
as i'm a motherly type, i have to tell you for your own good that if the work you hope to sell is written in as muddled a fashion as your posts here, i doubt you'll have any luck getting it published... you really need to simplify your sentence structure and learn how to get to the point without tossing in so many frills and furbellows that only make what you write nearly incoherent...

if you need examples or would like help with curing that affliction, feel free to email me any time... it's a common problem among the young, btw, so don't feel too badly... if you're not all that young, it's also a common flaw of beginning writers of all ages...

love and hugs, mammamaia
maia3maia@hotmail.com

ps: your link doesn't work... m

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AlexanderCrane

Uhhhh, hmm, I understand what you mean. Ahhhh, I try to work on these things but, ahhhhh, you aren't always aware of yourself hmmmm doing it at the time. Ahhh, yeah.

lol

Thanks for the tip. I try to write clear and concise, but it doesn't always work out. It is interesting because all of my poem are within about 5-6 lines. Very short, simple, and sweet.

Definitely might take you up on that offer. Thanks.

Ahhh, I really do still hmmmm talk like this when speaking ummmm, you know, uhhhhhhhh, in front of a lot of people........I'll continue to work on it.

Yeah, the link went to a temporary forum, which is terribly slow. It is a free forum, and my first shot at trying to organize one. Just got some webspace, so the forum I create there should be more reliable. Check back another time on the link, take a look at my pictures section. I also have some art posted in there. Hopefully I'll figure out how to get my sites and forum set up quickly.