Writers and Authors

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When Your Publisher Closes, guest post by Virginia Jennings

Mid July my publisher PDMI Publishing LLC announced that it was closing its doors. I had been with PDMI Publishing for almost four years, so the news came as quite a shock. All rights were to be released back to their respective authors.

As it typically happens when a publisher closes, the authors are all left to figure out what their future holds; find a new publisher or go self-published.

http://amzn.to/2ypScOr

There are inherent downsides to being with a traditional publisher, one is you don’t always have access to the digital files of your book to just give out to reviewers left and right. Second, if you want to try something new, like produce an audio book, you have to make sure you check with your publisher because often times your contract reserves those rights for your publisher. But say you keep those rights, running an audiobook without your publisher’s blessing could serve to tarnish your book’s branding as well.

The upside to being with a traditional publisher, you write the book and then later help with marketing. The publisher will have editors, cover designers, layout artists, and sometimes even a marketing team to help make your book sell. Because your book has to go through all these people, many publishers have a limit on how often they will release a new book from you. Depending on your marketing strategy, this could be a good thing or a bad thing.

I knew that it would be difficult but not impossible to find a publisher that would be willing to take on a book that had already been released twice. You see, I started off in the world of self-publishing before PDMI picked up my books. I knew I also wanted to do paperback, ebook, hard back, and audiobook editions of my book. As smaller publishers don’t have the time or the resources to do all of that for each of their authors, I leaned more towards going the self-published route once more.

In order to keep from infringing on the cover artist, and the layout designer’s work, this meant I needed all new layouts, and covers for my book. Having a new cover also helps readers find the new edition instead of tripping over the edition that is no longer available. I treated this new edition release as though I would any other release with guest blog posts, cover reveals, and interviews, just in a bit more subdued manner. I’m not going to stress about scheduling every day of the month with a tour spot, but I did want to get the word out there. I also joined instafreebie and started a newsletter.

For Self Published Authors, you make the decisions. Sink or swim, your book relies on you and you alone. You could give away all your books for free if you want because now you don’t have to worry about a publisher needing their cut of the profits. Go produce that audio… just make sure the producer does a good job! You find the editor, and cover designer… and pay them. You are typically doing all the marketing. But now you have all the freedom in the world to do what you want with your book. The only thing you have to worry about now is if people will buy it!

The biggest downside to being self-published is navigating how to upload your book onto all the different types of self-published sites out there, Createspace, Lulu, Nook Press, KDP are the main ones that distribute directly to their respective online retailers. They each have their own requirements and specifications. They each have their own peculiarities that can make the process a bit frustrating at times, but rewarding when you finally get it right!

Am I happy with my decision? Sure! I love my new cover and am thrilled to be able to offer a large print and hardback edition of my book! Do I miss being traditionally published? Sort of. I do miss being able to SAY that I have a publisher backing my books. I miss knowing that everything to get my book published is being taken care of and all I have to do is approve the final copy.

Being self-published is a LOT of work and certainly not for the faint of heart. Somewhere amongst all of this I still have to find the time to go to school and finish going through the edits on my next book!

To make a long story short, know what you are getting into before making your decision as to whether to go with a traditional publisher or self-publish. I choose self-publishing this time around because it works for me. I can re-release my back list and move on. I don’t have to worry about rebranding my books again when yet another publisher closes because… I am my own publisher. I do have to do all the work though. The next book I write, who knows, I may change my mind. Until then you can now find my book in paperback, hardback, large print, and kindle. Links to all these editions can be found here: http://www.virginialorijennings.com/p/the-alien-mind.html While you are at it, feel free to leave me any questions you might have in the comments here at Writers and Authors! I’d be happy to hear from you!

When V.L. Jennings isn't traveling to other worlds through her imagination, she calls Dillon, South Carolina her home. She is the author of science fiction novels "The Alien Mind" (recipient of the Readers Favorite Five Star Review Award), and "Visionary From The Stars".

But what motivates Virginia to create, to illustrate, to prognosticate? Virginia is a speculator, the kind of person who always debates the "what if?" of where stories both true and fantastical are leading themselves to, which explains her love of post-apocalyptic fare such as "The Walking Dead." Through her writing, she enjoys trying to figure out what our human potential is, and where our innate desire for a better world could lead us.

Overall, Virginia is just about as real as a person can get. Yes, even authors love to sing along with their favorite local radio station while driving, and Virginia is no exception to this rule. She enjoys watching Doctor Who or Star Trek with her family over dinner, and also watching the latest sci-fi and action movies with her husband. On the weekends, you may even find Virginia and her family at the local comic book store, hunting down more comics to add to their collections.

V.L. Jennings spends her free time writing flash fiction on her blog and working towards her degree in Electronics Engineering. You can find out more about V.L. Jennings as well as join her newsletter at: www.virginialorijennings.com

Sit Down and Write, guest post by G. Lloyd Helm

Dorothy Parker was once asked, what do you say someone who wants to write. She said "Oh I discourage them and I urge you to do the same," so I feel obliged to do just that. If you feel that you want to write, run away quickly because if you catch the sickness you will never be free again. On the other hand if you already have said sickness which I assume you have since you are reading a blog about writing, there is nothing in the world that can discourage you. That being the case sit down at your desk, writing table, computer, or whatever your chosen literary weapon and get at it. Don't talk about it just sit down and write.

Above all, if you are going to write for publication don't be discouraged. You will get rejects by the ream. I personally kept my first thousand rejects, then I have decorated a thousand more trash piles around the world with thousands more. You must toughen up and remember that that reject is of the work not of you personally. That is hard to remember when someone tells you your baby isn't pretty enough to get published in their anthology, magazine or as a novel. Writers succeed by being too damn dumb to quit. And who knows, you might get lucky. Submit everywhere, even to places that seem dumb. Some small publication from Toolieville Montana might just have more power than you know. You are after publication. Money would be nice, but publication is the most important. You gotta get your name out there, but don't be afraid to aim high too. Again what have you got to lose? What are they gonna do reject you? Then you can say "I was rejected by_______" fill in the blank.

There are resources out there to help you too. A major one for me has been Duotrope.com They send out a news letter once a week with a list of open paying markets of Anthologies and book publishers. I have had a good deal of success submitting to the publishers Duotrope has listed. There are other resources as well. Writer's Digest is still a good mag with good articles and markets. I find their markets a little stale compared with Duotrope and a couple of others but they always have interesting and useful articles.

I hesitate to add this one but I feel I must. Find yourself a critique group and join it. A good critique group can help you take a mutt of a manuscript and curry it into a show dog. But this also requires your having to refer back to the reject advice. The critiques aren't about you. They are about your work, and if they are about you, leave that group immediately. No need to have your heart cut out once a week or once a month if you aren't making any strides in the writing department. But being a part of a critique group will certainly bring you closer to other writers, which is a good thing though writers are a pretty strange bunch. The old saw about writing being a lonely profession isn't wrong, but it helps to have friends who know what you are talking about when you say, "That transition is kicking my____."

I'll end by repeating Dorothy Parker's advice. Run away, but if you can't sit down and go to work.

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Why You Should Make That Rejection Letter the Focal Point of Your Home

“I pinned my 1st rejection letter to my kitchen wall because it gave me something in common with all my fave writers!” – J.K. Rowling via Twitter (March 25, 2016).

What do literary geniuses, J.K. Rowling, Dr. Seuss, F. Scott Fitzgerald, George Orwell, and Agatha Christie all have in common? Surprisingly enough, each of them have written books that were rejected by multiple publishers. As hard to believe as that may be, it’s entirely true!

Contrary to popular belief, rejection more than anything is a learning opportunity. Of course, no one welcomes rejection. In fact, they avoid it at all costs. But everyone gets rejected at one point in their life, or another, and instead of dwelling on the pain of being told “no”, they can use that rejection as a motivator – the greatest motivator in their life!

On March 25, 2016, J.K. Rowling took to twitter to share two rejection letters she received on her crime novel, “The Cuckoo’s Calling”, written under the alias of Robert Galbraith. While Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series has sold more than 400 million copies to date, Rowling admits to having self-doubt. “I wasn’t going to give up until every single publisher turned me down, but I often feared that would happen” she explains. Despite these fears, “The Cuckoo’s Calling” was eventually published by Sphere Books, an imprint of Little, Brown & Company, and the rest is history.

Rowling didn’t allow the fear of going unpublished stop her from trying time and time again, which is an example many dreamers can learn from. Yes, rejection bruises a person’s ego and, more often than not, forces them to go back to the drawing board, but sometimes that’s the best thing a person can do. Going back to the drawing board means making improvements both personally, and in one’s work, and making those improvements brings the motivation to pursue that passion even further.

Remember, rejection isn’t a death sentence, but merely a stepping stone which brings you closer to finally hearing that “yes” you’ve been waiting for. Though it might sound crazy to hang a negative note about your life’s work up on a wall, it can serve as a reminder to persevere…and when you achieve your success, it will be a reminder of all that you’ve overcome.

As an added perk of Reader’s Legacy’s Rowling celebration, we will be holding a special 20% off sale for each of her novels from April 25th to April 30th – ReadersLegacy.com/JKRowling.

The sale not only celebrates J.K. Rowling, but was also brings attention for a special grant program we have created in order to give away 1 million physical books in support of literacy programs! Spreading a love of books, and ending illiteracy around the world is 100% possible, and with the help of reader’s on the site, we believe will be one step closer to achieving that goal! Get in on this sale HERE.

My journey into the world of self publishing started in 2013. It was not planned. I was struck by inspiration on a beautiful spring day in Spain. The story followed spontaneously. We all experience moments in life we wish to document and share but rarely do so. Less than a year later, fuelled by the recurring image in my mind I decided to take myself up on it.

My self publishing journey, guest post by Corine Timmer

Good fortune arrived in the form of Story Jumper. A site I found during a brief online search dedicated to story telling, creativity and sharing. It proved such fun that my book took shape and grew together with the images I created using their props. There was one downfall. My stripy wild boar Squeak called Djabali had no choice but to be a pink pig and I very much wanted him to resemble himself.

This eventually led me to creating, managing and directing a new version of the book with beautiful water colour illustrations by Kristina Muñoz. Kristina, like Story Jumper, crossed my path through what I considered to be an act of fate. She was the first person I clicked on during a random search for illustrators and it turned out she grew up less than 5km away from the actual spot where the baby boar ran in front of my car. Thus I looked no further and hired her to do the illustrations.

To see the pink pig turned into Djabali and his surroundings into Andalusia was a joyous moment. But that was only the beginning of what turned out to be a long and intense journey, not without its obstacles. One could compare it to ultra trail-running. Ultras are not easy. Mine was exhausting. But with good information and a little preparation they become manageable and totally rewarding.

10 tips for surviving your first ultra trail-running book experience

1) As a first time runner, don´t race. Be glad simply to complete your journey.

2) Write down a plan. Organise your thoughts and what you need to complete your run. Keep a note book.

3) This is long distance so be prepared to fall, get up and carry on.

4) Do your homework before you start. Know your terrain.

5) Choose your gear well and don’t rush it. Make sure your gear fits you and is suitable for the terrain and conditions. You need to feel comfortable.

6) Don´t assume that even with a solid plan and good gear you will automatically have a great race the first time. See it as a learning curve.

7) Some of us, myself included, learn the hard way. To shorten your learning curve, get a knowledgeable coach and be open to discussion and advise. But don’t lose yourself.

8) nutrition. Feed your mind regularly with relevant information and make a note of what is useful. Don’t overdose. Remember to enjoy the view.

9) Be selective and consistent with social media and how you market yourself. Control your enthusiasm.

10) Remember you are not running alone. Show an interest in others who share your passion and goals.

Written by Corine Timmer

www.bicadeideias.com

www.amazon.com/author/corinetimmer

Publishing: Print, Digital and POD , guest post by Sam Smith #Publishing

http://amzn.to/1GjLnQE

I was an almost author for 23 years. That was from my early twenties: I'm 68 now. I say 'almost author' because in among the rejections in those 23 years at least once every couple of years I'd have an agent or a publisher considering taking on my work. After a while I got to see that these were people just starting up as publishers and with no real business aptitude or they were old publishers with ossified lists and were desperately looking for a title to stop themselves going bust.

My novels were changed, even proofed a couple of times, covers were considered, before belly and up arrived. Then in the mid-eighties another new publisher - my book was to be their one fiction title - took me on. Numerous editorial meetings followed, a novelist MP was to be one of their backers, the MS was hawked around the UK Parliament... October 1987 promptly came along with the stock crash. Their real backer, not the MP novelist, lost all his venture capital.

I was by this time in my late forties with not a novel, not a word in print. I decided to switch to poetry, solely to have some words of mine on a page in black and white. Within a couple of years I had a collection, 'To Be Like John Clare', had poems shortlisted for prizes and even got to read on national radio.

Seeing how the small presses worked (desk-top publishing then) I set up my own, Original Plus, and started my own poetry magazine, The Journal of Contemporary Anglo-Scandinavian Poetry.

The technology is important here. Because although I like to think that it may have been my budding reputation as a poet (Sam Smith who he?) it was the arrival of online publishing that finally saw the publication of one of my novels, Sister Blister, by one of the first online publishers, Online Originals. Sister Blister even got put in for the Booker, and a hardback POD followed. As did publication by other POD presses and short run publishers.

The fuddy-duddies were finished, the future had arrived. I was having paperbacks published by Salzburg, Jacobyte in Australia, BeWrite in France, dpdotcom on the Isle of Man, and elsewhere in the UK - Bluechrome/boho, Kite, Odyssey, erbacce-press, Indigo Dreams, Skrev, Turner Maxwell... I even got taken on as poetry and fiction editor by three of the publishers. And then the POD bubble burst.

Hosting a POD platform costs, and unfortunately POD sales rarely meet those costs. The switch to digital by many readers also hit the paperback market. That saw the end of my employers and has resulted in my very latest publisher, Safkhet (Germany), offering publication of my novel Trees in digital formats first, POD if digital sales justify the cost. From digital back to digital I feel publishing has completed yet another circle.

Now with the plethora of self-published novels querying both digital and POD markets it's difficult to see where publishing is going next. The one certainty is, although expectations of fame and fortune may be modified, I for one will carry on putting pen to paper, fingers to keyboard.

Onward!

Sam Smith. Editor of The Journal (once 'of Contemporary Anglo-Scandinavian Poetry'), publisher of Original Plus books, I was born Blackpool 1946, now living in Maryport, Cumbria. A freelance writer, now pensioner, my last casual job was as an amusement arcade cashier. Before that I was a psychiatric nurse, residential social worker, milkman, plumber, laboratory analyst, groundsman, sailor, computer operator, scaffolder, gardener, painter & decorator........ working at anything, in fact, which has paid the rent, enabled me to raise my three daughters and which hasn't got too much in the way of my writing. I now have several poetry collections and novels to my name.

http://thesamsmith.webs.com/

Last Sunday, while I was praying that God would forgive me for missing church because I was working to meet a tight deadline, my husband was served with an envelope and told to deliver it to me. Upon opening the envelope, I slumped.

It contained several pages of handwritten poetry on lined notebook paper. The poet had given them to a friend and asked that she deliver them to me (a mystery writer) to offer my opinion in order to help her get published.

When my first book was published in 2004, I was surprised by the number of writers asking me to please read their books. I totally understood where they were coming from.

I once paid a hundred dollars to a writer’s conference to have a published author critique my work in progress. She ripped it apart without even a drop of compassion. Then, I found out this same author had shown my manuscript to another author and made fun of it.

I was so devastated that I didn’t write for a year. When I returned to writing, I swore that I would never forget what it was like when I was an unpublished writer looking for help from those who had managed to succeed in the world of authorship.

However, now that I have “broken thru” and am now a best-selling author, I can see why many published authors refuse to read other writers’ unpublished books.

Many writers think that it only takes an hour or two of the author’s time to read their book—so they think they are asking the author for “a favor” to read their book. Frankly, it takes more than a couple of hours and the writer is asking for more than a simple favor.

The author’s insight and advice is not going to be worth anything to the writer unless it is a detailed critique, which takes time. It takes me no less than three days to critique a book. Yet, time reading unpublished manuscripts takes time away from my own writing career.

Now, this post is not to tell writers refrain from asking published authors for advice or to even go so far as to ask them to read your book. I love offering advice to new writers. I simply want to educate writers about what is happening on my side so that you’ll understand why authors may make certain requests or even refuse to read unpublished manuscripts.

I’d also like to offer advice for published authors who find themselves bombarded by requests from new writers.

1) Never Forget: Published Authors Are Professionals. Their job is writing and their knowledge is based on their professional experience.

a) Writers, expect to pay for their time;

b) Authors, your time is valuable, so charge for it.

2) Make sure the work-in-progress is in digital format! No publisher I know will take a book in hard copy. So your book is going to have to be in digital format anyway. Get it in proper format before asking an author to read it.

Every time I see someone walking toward me with a three-ring binder in their arms, I cringe. I’ll ask, “Don’t you have it in digital format?”

The answer will be no. (Don’t laugh. I once took a survey in one of my writing classes. Half of the writers said they write in longhand!)

So then, I’ll ask, “Is this your only copy?”

“Oh, no,” the writer will swear.

Over a year ago, in the middle of yet another tight deadline, I spent a whole morning returning two original manuscripts to writers who had both sworn to me that I did not have the only copies of their books. For one, I had to drive an hour away from home to return her book. The other, I paid over fifteen dollars in postage to mail it back. I hadn’t charged that writer for a critique—so that fifteen dollars was out of my pocket!

3) Don’t be expecting a quick turn-around on your critique. I tell writers to expect their critique in four to six months. If your author is successful, then they have deadlines—editors, cover designers, proofreaders, tour coordinators, hungry teenagers, demanding dogs—depending on them. Authors—give the writer some timeline of when they can expect their critique and try to stick to it. It’s a professional courtesy.

4) Don’t expect the author to say your book is perfect. If the author is truly sincere about helping you, then he/she will point out your mistakes. Better the author than readers and reviewers!

Every professional author has their own books critiqued before it goes to editing. I have written sixteen books—all of which have made Amazon’s best-sellers in mysteries. Still, I have my books critiqued by a fellow author before it goes to the editor. One hundred percent of the time, I end up doing a rewrite based on her critique.

a) Writer: When the author points our flaws, or even if they rip your book apart, remember this—everything is subjective and this is your book—not that author’s. It will be your job to determine what advice the author is giving you will work best for you and your book.

Don’t take a bad personally and don’t seek revenge. I know of more than one author who had a disgruntled writer go onto Amazon or Goodreads and post one-star reviews for one or more of their books after a bad critique, which is why many authors won’t critique books. This is not a good idea. The writing community is a small town. Word will get around and the help you are seeking from those who have broken thru won’t happen.

b) Author: Treat the writer with respect and compassion. This writer is looking for your help. Be honored that he/she came to you. Also, as a professional courtesy—no matter how much you may not like the book—do not discuss it with anyone else.

Now, I feel better after getting that off my chest. Time to go to work on my next mystery novel. I think my next victim is going to be a poet.

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday Mysteries, which takes place in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. Open Season for Murder is the tenth installment in the Mac Faraday Mystery series.

In addition to her series set on Deep Creek Lake, Lauren Carr has also written the Lovers in Crime Mysteries, which features prosecutor Joshua Thornton with homicide detective Cameron Gates, who were introduced in Shades of Murder, the third book in the Mac Faraday Mysteries. They also make an appearance in The Lady Who Cried Murder.

Three Days to Forever introduced Lauren Carr’s latest series detectives, Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday in the Thorny Rose Mysteries. Look for Kill and Run, the first installment in this series, to be released September 1, 2015.

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, editor, cover and layout designer, and marketing agent for independent authors. Visit Acorn Book Services’ website for more information.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She also passes on what she has learned in her years of writing and publishing by conducting workshops and teaching in community education classes.

She lives with her husband, son, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

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