| Author |
Message |
    
Stephanie S. Sawyer
Awareness Member
Post Number:
47
Registered: 08-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 01, 2004 - 08:52 pm: |   |
I thought I'd never get back onto here!
Thanks, C.E. for all your hard work in helping me find my way back onto here!
After a VERY HARD fall and much difficulty with great labor in both physical safety and mental health, I am finally pulling it back together.
The ONLY way I have pulled through four hospital stays, a residency in a shelter, and a whole lot more that is not fit for here, is through my sweet little pen. Thank God, literally, for my pen!
Now if you want to appease your curiosity you will visit the Short Stories section at my den on www.authorsden.com/stephaniessawyer
The residency at the shelter is included there, and one I just posted as well from a long ago butcher knife story. Delight yourself. All comments accepted.
Stephanie |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
774
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 02, 2004 - 09:37 am: | |
Welcome back, Stephanie. You have been missed.
Claudia |
Dennis Collins
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
502
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 09:19 am: | |
I didn't mean to shanghai this thread but I loved that title...
I just got my panel primer from Sandy Tooley who will be the panel moderator at Love is Murder.
She sent an overview of the questions that she plans to pose to the panel.
Now here's the kicker...
She cautioned anyone who is published through iUniverse and is intensely dissatisfied with their deal, to be prepared to softpeddle their comments and be extremely diplomatic because we will be presenting our case in front of a large audience... And... AND... ARE YOU READY???
Susan Driscoll, President and CEO of iUniverse has accepted an invitation to sit in on our panel!!! |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
812
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 10:58 am: | |
sounds like a bit of shady underhanded - "let's not really say what is bothering us for we might offend" strategy. So, what are you going to add to this conversation???? You know some of the things that have been said about IUniverse and quite a lot about POD's in general, some more than others, and the discrimination that B&N shows for IUniverse as opposed to other POD's on their shelves.....
Please hold true to yor convictions Dennis.......
Claudia |
Dennis Collins
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
503
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 11:44 am: | |
We were not asked to withold criticism, only to be professional and polite. I will likely not comment on iUniverse because everything that I've heard about them has come to me second or third hand and without substantiation.
Likewise with PA. The only things that I will say about them are things that I have personally experienced. Granted, my ride has not been as bumpy as some of the others here but not always been smooth either and it has still been my choice not to seek separation from them. Sometimes I absolutely hate PA but it's possible I might have that same feeling if my publisher was Harper-Collins. Other times I tolerate them and on occaision I even praise their efforts. But all of those sentiments are based in personal experience.
Would I jump to Simon & Schuster if I had the chance? Somebody get them to make me an offer and see what happens. |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2559
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 05:13 pm: | |
I got an interesting newsletter this week. In it a self published author told why he preferred to self pub and gave glowing descriptions of his successes so far. At the end of the article he said er um......all that having been said, Harper Collins asked to print trade paperbacks of my book and I jumped at the chance. |
Dennis Collins
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
506
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 06:24 pm: | |
Well, let's face it...
If we honestly and seriously examine our motives, wasn't the first objective getting published? Wasn't that what we all wanted? To see our work in print, bound between two covers with our title and our name on it? Something to show the world.
What happens next?? Likely, none of us really had a clue.
Now it was time to grow.
And man, have I learned!!! Would I do it again??
Probably
At this point in time, all of my efforts in getting my foot in an agents door have produced absolutely nothing.
But at least I'm learning the industry and my best selling non-seller has been the key that opened that door.
I'm not there yet and I may never be there. But I've got two more manuscripts to sell that would have never existed without the incentive provided by that first faltering effort.
Looking back and comparing, I believe that my second book is about twice as good as the first and the third one is easily ten times better.
Yeah, I'll grudgingly admit that PA has helped me. I'm just being brutally honest. |
Gloria Marlow
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
542
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 07:25 pm: | |
I'm happy to be out of my contract with PA now. I am glad, however, that I did publish my first book, because without the praise it received from those who read it (yes, they were friends and family so probably a tad biased) I probably wouldn't have written anymore...or, at least, I wouldn't have had the nerve to send any of them out to publishers.
I think my writing has definitely improved, and even if it hasn't, I'm a lot more knowledgeable about writing than I was.
Gloria |
Todd Hunter
Unity Member
Post Number:
1089
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 05:17 am: | |
Unfortunately, seeing the 'dark side' of the industry has made me really wonder whether this is something I want to be a part of. The only reason I'm even still involved in my writing is that I still have stories to tell. If not for that, I'd probably be happy as a clam to head off and do something else.
(And of course, getting asked at least once a week how my sequel is coming...ugh)
We won't delve into receiving praise...... |
Perry Comer
Unity Member
Post Number:
1135
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 01:31 pm: | |
I agree that there is a dark side but there is a business side that works very hard to put out a good product and earn the respect of readers and authors. The sad part is that it is difficult for authors to get their foot in the doors of those fine folks.
Reminds me of american Idol - seems there is always a Simon waiting to step on your dreams.
We must remember with are working at impressing the "professionals" in the publishing industry and just like the American Idol contestants, we have to "Wow" the judges of talent. Anything less is slush pile material.
http://www.pacwriter.netfirms.com/ |
Jennifer Lynn
Unity Member
Post Number:
1011
Registered: 03-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 01:51 pm: | |
oh c'mon.. ya gotta love Simon's hootzpah! |
Gloria Marlow
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
543
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 02:21 pm: | |
If I write like some of those people sing, please let someone like Simon be there to tell me so... |
Nancy Marie
Unity Member
Post Number:
1669
Registered: 08-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 07:32 pm: | |
Amen!! Gloria
Kitty |
Stephanie S. Sawyer
Hunger Member
Post Number:
51
Registered: 08-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 08:34 pm: | |
That was very kind of you, Dennis.......
It's obvious you didn't pay any attention to the above mentioned article that started this thread.
Even if you wanted to grab the attention with using my title, (Is that plagiarism?) you could have at LEAST, given me the respect of knowing what the article was about. Then you wouldn't have been joking around with the whole thing.
Stephanie |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
848
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 11:56 pm: | |
Stephanie,
I think that you have taken something wrong in what was talked about on this thread. The one you posted had my answer, and I am sure that Dennis probably thought that it was now a thread that could be grabbed because of the TITLE of the thread, not what you were talking about. It was, afterall, 25 days later that he grabbed the title line.
His post was in reference to a conference that he was taking part in and the comments about the people on the panel and his experiences with PA and whether or not he would be talking about negative things that possibly happened to him. Those comments that he made were not in reference to you or your article that I can see. Neither were any of the replies to his comments or talking about the conference.
I know you wrote to all of us here wanting to say hello and tell us that you had something new on your webpage, and that was good, but I think that after the time it was up and the return post that was made, he thought that maybe another topic could be introduced because of the title that you started, and it fit what his post was about, mainly, that no one would believe that this person with iUniverse was going to be at that panel and open to discussion on topics of POD and such, not anything to do with your topic. I sincerely don't think that Dennis meant any disrespect to you or your article or topic, just that he thought the title was appropo. Sometimes, we swap titles and threads and all sorts of things come into a topic because of the title or someone else's remarks that start off a new tangent. Everyone does this, and it is because of the freedom to be open and discussional, not confrontational, that we feel we have the commraderie to talk freely amongst friends. And about a variety of topics on any given thread.
Claudia
|
Stephanie S. Sawyer
Hunger Member
Post Number:
52
Registered: 08-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 07:56 am: | |
Thanks for the clarification, Claudia.
I thought it was interesting that my original got so little attention given the nature of the article.
I do believe it would have been better for Dennis to have started a different thread.
And as for the time lag, I reported way back (months ago) that I couldn't get in on this board for some time. CE knows all about that, and I got real fed up with it trying. So I gave up for awhile.
Then I got an email yesterday by a reader way up north - maybe y'all know I'm in the south - highly commending FACING ME. That brought my interest around again since said reader found out about me, or contacted me, through my profile here.
Thank the good Lord I could get in this time.
Stephanie |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2614
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 08:39 am: | |
Hi Stephanie, my friend.  Good to see you again. And how neat that you heard from someone in the nord country about your book!!
We tend to be a little naughty here sometimes and hijack threads if it sounds roughly like the topic we want to address. Lolly has been known to hijack a thread or two or three in her day.
|
Stephanie S. Sawyer
Hunger Member
Post Number:
53
Registered: 08-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 09:15 am: | |
Hey, Lolly!
Yea, I've noticed that naughtiness a time or two --- LOL
It sometimes lures me, but can't say it's somethin' I want to get swallowed up in. -- too negative. - and I have enUFF difficulty with THAT!
Hey - you just wouldn't believe what I did two days ago on the stated subject of #2! - - it's got me all in a roll.
And hey, - while I'm at it - My stuff is being accepted for publication in some - got that? -'some' i.e. several - periodicals. (See the 's' at end of word.) LOL ----- AAAAANNNND - #2 said "Keep sending".
So I'm on a roll! -
Stephanie |
Stephanie S. Sawyer
Hunger Member
Post Number:
58
Registered: 08-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 07:09 am: | |
With as much reception as I've recently been getting - I should see publication this coming week in two places - and as much as I'm trying to branch out in sensitive areas I could stand all the help I can get. I'm an open book for grabbing onto advice for caution at this point.
Now, if I could just filter that down into specific questions!
Words of caution while developing new material.....??? thoughts......
(I'm already savoring the thoughts on holding personal matters within, shielded: thanks, Claudia and Laurel) others??...
Stephanie
|
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2632
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 08:53 am: | |
Writers write from different places and for different reasons. It's hard to advise others. At least for me it is. My reality is so far removed from that of others. I suspect that might also be the case with you, Stephanie.
Advice and words of caution can blur the personal writing process. When I am in the midst of writing, I seldom share what I have written. If people hate what I have written, I would immediately trash the work in progress. If they don't get it, I would immediately trash the work in progress.
If a project is dear to my heart, I write it with all the honesty and emotion I can muster, then let the results speak for themselves. Whatever the result, it will be purely my creation.
Does that make any sense?? |
Stephanie S. Sawyer
Hunger Member
Post Number:
60
Registered: 08-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 05:20 pm: | |
Lolly, in many ways, you're one of the most significant shapers that ever crossed over into my writing career.
I always take what you say in very precious accord because we are so in tune.
Thanks once again, and I LOVE that hat! - Stephanie |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2634
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 06:14 pm: | |
I have to tell a funny story about that picture and that hat. Shhhh. Don't anybody tell hubby I told.
I sent that picture to a number of writers and friends who had been hounding me because I never have a picture to give. One grizzled old ex-military friend of ours emailed and told my hubby I looked so be-u-tiful, like a movie star, that he put it on his monitor as a screen saver. Mild mannered hubby pouted a couple days then blew his top. Jealous.
I said, "Good God Gertie!! I finally find one picture that makes me look like something other than a monster and you get mad at poor old broken down Muffin for liking it."
Everything is all better now but I am still laughing about it. |
Stephanie S. Sawyer
Hunger Member
Post Number:
63
Registered: 08-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 07:40 pm: | |
Actually, I shoulda said, "I love what's IN that hat!"
Oh, what trouble these hubbys are! - but we'd be in such a mess without them!
Stephanie |
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