I'm not off topic am I? - Page 2 - Writers Forum

Non Serviam · 09-12-2007, 05:16 PM

Who is committing financial resources to this self-publication?

Mike C · 09-12-2007, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g-paw

Sometimes, a friend will find the resources and help make it as good as it can be.

And sometimes a friend will be honest about what's going on rather than taking money under false pretences. I'm glad I don't have friends like you; my pockets aren't deep enough.

streetkid · 09-12-2007, 06:13 PM

As others have said, you're only hurting her if you truly believe her work is sub-par, yet are willing to have her pay you to self-publish her work. But you probably knew that already. Now we know it too. Maybe eventually she'll figure it out.

wmd · 09-12-2007, 09:36 PM

It is beginning to sound like g-Paw is the first ever one person vanity press.

g-paw · 09-12-2007, 10:06 PM

Wow, a really tough crowd here.

I won't be paid a dime until, and if, there are any sales. Money is not my objective. Learning is something I'm not opposed to doing, and so for both of us, this will be a learning process.

I have no intention of ruining her dream. For all I know, this book will be stellar - my opinion about it is my own. I've been an avid read for the last 49 of my 54 years, and in my opinion, it's a stinker. I've read a few of those, too.

So how about this. She wants it published. I told her that, as a friend, I would help. If I can get help here without getting a bunch of grief, it would be welcomed. I assumed this forum would be a good resource. Prove me wrong.

Mike C · 09-13-2007, 01:44 AM

OK g-paw. Whenever anyone proposes self publishing I tell them to write a business plan, showing how you intend to market the book, cost of sales, likely number of books sold, etc. and I stress that numbers should be realistic and achieveable.

Have you done that? Have you forecast sales in any way? And have you shown the forecast to your 'friend'? How exactly do you propose you earn your cut?

Non Serviam · 09-13-2007, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g-paw

Wow, a really tough crowd here.

I won't be paid a dime until, and if, there are any sales. Money is not my objective. Learning is something I'm not opposed to doing, and so for both of us, this will be a learning process.

I have no intention of ruining her dream. For all I know, this book will be stellar - my opinion about it is my own. I've been an avid read for the last 49 of my 54 years, and in my opinion, it's a stinker. I've read a few of those, too.

So how about this. She wants it published. I told her that, as a friend, I would help. If I can get help here without getting a bunch of grief, it would be welcomed. I assumed this forum would be a good resource. Prove me wrong.

Okay--

If you're bound and determined to self-publish a work of fiction, then I should go to Lulu.com to get it printed, if I were you. They won't demand any money up front--they're a print-on-demand printer where the buyer pays for the book, then it gets printed, then you get a slice of the money.

I've personally used Lulu to self-publish material and I can tell you the quality is quite reasonable.

I imagine you're holding a Word document, or something similar, at the moment?

Non Serviam · 09-13-2007, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

OK g-paw. Whenever anyone proposes self publishing I tell them to write a business plan, showing how you intend to market the book, cost of sales, likely number of books sold, etc. and I stress that numbers should be realistic and achieveable.

Have you done that? Have you forecast sales in any way? And have you shown the forecast to your 'friend'? How exactly do you propose you earn your cut?

How's he going to know, Mike?

He can't possibly know the answers to these questions.

The Backward OX · 09-13-2007, 04:49 AM

To me the OP comes across as sincere.

I was going to say “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read some of the replies.”

But then I reconsidered. I’ve seen it all before with various members of WF. As the OP said (about some, not all) “Tough crowd.”

What is it with you lot? Petty jealousy? Resentment?

Even when he revealed his friend was flawed, that she has ADD, there was still an element that kept up the negativity.

I know little about writing and nothing about publishing. But I do know about personality disorders. I’m the sarcastic nit-picker, remember? They're just two of the symptoms of an associated disorder, one with which I was born. So I can understand a lot of what is happening for this pair.

For your information, “the hallmark of ADD is an automatic, unwilled "tuning out," a frustrating non-presence of mind. People suddenly find that they have heard nothing of what they have been listening to, saw nothing of what they were looking at, remember nothing of what they were trying to concentrate on. One misses information and directions, misplaces things, and struggles to stay abreast of conversations. Tuning out creates practical hardships, and it also interferes with one’s enjoyment of life.”

I say, lighten up. Let this guy help his friend in the way he knows how.

Until you’ve spent a lifetime, as I have, with a personality disorder, you haven’t a clue.

Non Serviam · 09-13-2007, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

What is it with you lot? Petty jealousy? Resentment?

Let's say they're outspoken.

You are too, you know, TBO. Forums tend to attract people who aren't exactly shrinking violets...

The Backward OX · 09-13-2007, 06:05 AM

Touché

Mike C · 09-13-2007, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Non Serviam

How's he going to know, Mike?

He can't possibly know the answers to these questions.

You could say that about any new venture; that's why you write a business plan. You have to look at all aspects of the product, and how you're going to sell it, and who to. If it's going to be via a website, how will you get people to visit it, and how will you persuade them to buy? Or book fairs, your local independant bookstore... how many miles will you travel to sell books? How many free review copies will you send out?

I've written many business plans for several businesses, and there's one fundamental truth that I've found; the more honest and realistic the figures going in are, the greater the chance of success (or at least of achieving your targets).

It's tough sometimes being honest with a friend, but it's also tough seeing them fail, especially when they can perceive that you've played a part in that failure. It's also tough trying to sell a product that (a) you don't believe in, and (b) is, by the op's admission, a crock.

There are plenty of organisations out there that will promise impossible results to writers (for a fee). That's not something one should expect from one's friends, personality disorder notwithstanding.

Non Serviam · 09-13-2007, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

You could say that about any new venture; that's why you write a business plan. You have to look at all aspects of the product, and how you're going to sell it, and who to.

Sure.

It strikes me that g-paw is at this stage. He's attempting to come up with a business plan, and he's come to a writers' forum to ask for advice. I think that from his point of view, it's all perfectly logical and I imagine he's probably bewildered by the response he's received.

I've personally done a little self-publishing--not of fiction, thank goodness, but I do have a little input to offer--and believe me, I can also see it very clearly from your point of view.

Personally I think trying to self-publish what sounds like an indifferently-written piece of fiction from an unknown writer is extremely unlikely to succeed.

So personally I'm prepared to make a few suggestions in the hope of turning it into something that (while it's unlikely to make spectacular amounts of money) at least won't be overly expensive.

g-paw · 09-13-2007, 01:57 PM

Bewildered is a very nice way of putting how I felt yesterday

Here are some of the points of my original post. These are the only issues I'm trying to explore right here, right now. I totally understand that there are many, many more things I need to do, but this is where I am today.

Quote:

We have agreed that publishing the e-book format will be our first goal, and there is a web site being prepared for distribution of the e-book.

The web site will be used as effectively as I know how, and in my previous life I was a professional webmaster - a successful one at that.

Quote:

I know so little about this publication process, any good references out there? What I have done so far is purchase an e-book compiler (are names allowed in this forum), and I'm sure there must be better compilers.

Any thoughts or suggestions about e-book compilers? We went the inexpensive route, and it may prove to be a bad choice before this is all finished. What do you look for in a compiler?

Quote:

The other option we explored, somewhat, is online publishers. Do we name names in this forum?

Since Lulu has been mentioned in this thread, I can assume the answer is yes. Lulu is one option that has already been explored. I have not personally looked at the fine print yet, but I have at least visited the site. There is a little voice in my head that screams, "Is Lulu the only option, the best option?"

I came here because I considered that a forum of writers would know the answers. Thanks to all who have participated so far.

Non Serviam · 09-13-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g-paw

Any thoughts or suggestions about e-book compilers? We went the inexpensive route, and it may prove to be a bad choice before this is all finished. What do you look for in a compiler?

Something that converts whatever document you have to a book-format .pdf for minimum hassle, and is free. This is why I asked if you were working from a Word document?

There are several options open to you, depending on the native file format, the fonts in use, and the number of illustrations.

Quote:

Originally Posted by g-paw

Since Lulu has been mentioned in this thread, I can assume the answer is yes. Lulu is one option that has already been explored. I have not personally looked at the fine print yet, but I have at least visited the site. There is a little voice in my head that screams, "Is Lulu the only option, the best option?"

Lulu certainly isn't the only option. In fact Amazon have recently launched their own competitor to Lulu which, on the face of it, seems preferable.

CreateSpace - On-Demand Self Publishing, DVD on Demand, CD on Demand, Books on Demand, DVD Duplication and DVD Replication

I've used Lulu and the book quality's reasonable. I can't comment on the Amazon alternative.