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

g-paw · 09-10-2007, 07:05 PM

Greetings, and welcome to my second post on this forum. I have a question, so maybe if I can get jump started here... or jumped.

I'm helping a writer friend to publish. My own publication experience is limited. There was a chap book years ago, and more recently I've published the content on several successful web sites. But, this is a book.

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. 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.

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

The book is written, and is in the final editing phase. I've read it, and while it won't be a bestseller, it is entertaining. I don't anticipate a surge of excitement with our publication. For this reason, I tend to believe that self publication and promotion will be how we achieve results. Any thoughts about that?

And, just in case this is too on topic, be assured I can post some serious off topic material.

valeca · 09-10-2007, 08:12 PM

How about we move this to a better place.

Tips & Advice

Mike C · 09-11-2007, 01:11 AM

Is this a novel, or non-fiction? And why have you decided to self-publish? What was your thinking behind that?

lin · 09-11-2007, 02:29 AM

Actually, it's a topic that has been much discussed. Try searching around for some of the earlier threads on it.

Joe Moore · 09-11-2007, 06:25 AM

Here's some thoughts on e-publishing from BookEnds Literary Agency. Good luck.

g-paw · 09-11-2007, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Is this a novel, or non-fiction? And why have you decided to self-publish? What was your thinking behind that?

while it won't be a bestseller, it is entertaining. I don't anticipate a surge of excitement with our publication. For this reason, I tend to believe that self publication and promotion will be how we achieve results.

The book is a novel. The self-publishing was my idea, as the publisher. I have marketing experience on the internet, and that's about it. It's easy to sell - but I was selling something else, not a book. So I will look over the resources. Thanks for that, Joe.

lin, I will look around more. I'm new, and this was my burning question.

valeca, I'll get them in the right forums before too much longer

Mike C · 09-12-2007, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g-paw

I tend to believe that self publication and promotion will be how we achieve results.

Why is that? Do you not believe the book to be good enough to attract the attention of a publishing house? Or have you figured this is the best way to skim a percentage from your friend's book?

Pete_C · 09-12-2007, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

Why is that? Do not believe the book to be good enough to attract the attention of a publishing house? Or have you figured this is the best way to skim a percentage from your friend's book?

Nicely put!

g-paw · 09-12-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Do not believe the book to be good enough to attract the attention of a publishing house?

Bingo! The author, nice as she may be as a person, is not a very good writer. But she has a story to tell, and she has taken time (10 years) to write her story. I think it is an entertaining story, but if I were grading the story, it would not pass.

Quote:

Or have you figured this is the best way to skim a percentage from your friend's book?

Tough crowd

No, I'm not interested in money. Honestly. We have our deal arranged for my work. I'm only interested in doing the best that I can with what I have to work with.

BTW, thanks again Joe. I read that post and bookmarked it.

Joe Moore · 09-12-2007, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g-paw

Bingo! The author, nice as she may be as a person, is not a very good writer. But she has a story to tell, and she has taken time (10 years) to write her story. I think it is an entertaining story, but if were grading the story, it would not pass.

Why would you think that someone would publish an ebook if the quality of writing was bad? In most cases, the reduced cost of e-publishing is not a reflection of sub quality writing but of a cost efficient method of publishing and distributing works of literature electronically. A poorly written ebook will be rejected just as fast as one submitted to a traditional publisher. And as the BookEnds blog stated, e-publishers in general feature alternative books. So unless I read you wrong, don't think legitimate e-publishers will be any easier on submitted manuscripts than their traditional counterparts. Good luck.

g-paw · 09-12-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Why would you think that someone would publish an ebook if the quality of writing was bad?

That's the point, I don't believe any publisher will accept this book. So self-publishing and promotion seem to be the only alternatives. If someone can be lured into buying the book, and if they read it, I believe they will be amused and entertained. But I have a hard time believing they would ever recommend the book to a friend. However, my job is self-publication and promotion, and so I am going to give it a try.

Truth-Teller · 09-12-2007, 02:14 PM

How about not try at all?

Tell her she was never born to be a writer.

Tell her the truth, instead of wasting her time.

wmd · 09-12-2007, 04:30 PM

If you do not believe in the quality of the writing, than why would you market it to a group of people as a good book to read?

Self Publishing can be the way to go for different things, but it sounds like you are only doing it because the book is not good and it would never get published by a real publisher.

valeca · 09-12-2007, 04:46 PM

This is what makes self-publishing so hard to get accepted as legit. Please reconsider doing this, if not for the others who're fighting to be taken seriously under the mass of crap self-published every year, then do it for your friend.

Truth-teller is right (wow, that's weird to say), tell her the truth. It might hurt her feelings, but how much more hurt will she be after her work is ripped apart and she's ridiculed for her writing? You're not doing her any favours by publishing her less-than-stellar work, and could, in fact, be harming her in the long run. At the very least, tell her to workshop it around to other writers (hell, if you found WF, she can, too) and clean up the writing before its put out there! That's what friends are for.

g-paw · 09-12-2007, 05:12 PM

Excellent points valeca.

Quote:

if not for the others ... then do it for your friend.

A point of view I had not considered. Sadly, I am commited to this project, so I will be feeding the glut machine. I promise, I'll still do my best to make this the best that it can be. Small consolation, I know.

Quote:

to workshop it around to other writers and clean up the writing before its put out there! That's what friends are for.

I have been trying to get her to workshop. She suffers from A.D.D., and its a chore to to get progress on anything on any given day. But I have learned how to get her attention. Sometimes, a friend will find the resources and help make it as good as it can be.

O.T.
This would be a good time to say thank you. This morning I flagged several threads around here, covering things that I know I need to know. Heck, before too long, I might even be able to answer a question around here.