| Author |
Message |
    
Olen Armstrong
Wandering Member
Post Number:
116
Registered: 06-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 03:25 pm: |   |
Here's a coupla queries for this learn-ed group, wherein I've gone 'bout as far as I can with independent research.
Booklocker.com-- anyone have any experience? Yes, they seem to be a subsidy press. But their web site is about as straight-up as I can imagine about what they do and how they do it and what they charge. P&E says almost nothing, so I assume they failed to respond to any info survey. I've found no opinions anywhere.
And-
I long ago realized that I was a short story writer in an MTV world...and spent a boodle of time figuring out how to do the novel-thing while REALLY writing short stories (I finally DID figure it out too.)
So, that in mind...
What about chapbooks? Is that a valid venue for short material (NOT poetry)? Does anyone have any experience there? Or am I trying too hard to find a "quick-n-easy" way? (Dumb question, huh?) I can envision that being used to hook an audience but have seen no mention of anyone doing it. My stories are written to be blended into a single novel-like volume but could be split into smaller bites if it's done carefully. The back-story could be an issue but I'll figure that out.
I surrender the floor to the thoughts of the learn-ed group.
Ga-hed, hit me wit' ya' best shot!! Fire away!!
Thanks,
>Olen A
Have you forgotten how it felt that day
|
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2451
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 05:33 pm: | |
I have never seen a chapbook of anything but poetry, but that does not mean there is not such a thing for short stories. I just don't know which publisher handles them if there are.
In which genre do you write, Olen? There are many short story contests on the web. I submitted one to www.donardpublishing.com for this month. They host a short story contest every month, for all genres. Not that I hope to win but I have been "practicing" writing short stories as an exercise.
There are several people here who excel at short stories. They can probably be more help than I have been. |
pacwriter
Unity Member
Post Number:
1059
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 07:30 pm: | |
chap books - the only genre I am aware of is the 7-10 year old market. Goosebumps style.
http://www.pacwriter.netfirms.com/ |
Olen Armstrong
Wandering Member
Post Number:
117
Registered: 06-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 07:44 pm: | |
Thanks for the input.
Well, in my digging around, I found multiple references of chapbooks as poetry, essays or short fiction. So that's what I know. But I'm floundering around blindly here, so anything I say doesn't much count. I'm just fishing for info to find a way around this >major-publisher vs POD< impasse. Neither option seems to be a ready path to success. Slush pile vs low sales.
And from what I can find, there's no money or serious career prospects in short stories. Novels, and any resultant movie etc deals, are where the money's at. I've found a way around the novel thing. It was pretty simple actually. But I'm open to any alternatives. Just getting my ducks in a row BEFORE I'm ready to get serious about publishing.
I tried my hand once at product sales with the intent of finding my first million just around the next corner. But I messed up by getting the "buy low" part down pat, but failing to research the "sell high" part. Just don't want to make that mistake again. When I research now, I check it all out.
Any information is appreciated. And anything I find I'll gladly share.
Thanks,
>Olen A<
Our homeland under fire
Our people blown away |
pacwriter
Unity Member
Post Number:
1060
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 08:31 pm: | |
Remember the movie FRIED GREEN TOMATOES?
Fannie Flagg (the author) strung together a bunch of "preacher stories" which are old stories (illustrations)preachers have been telling for years. Most are humorous and a few are on the serious "moral" side.
What Fannie did was to take those stories, have the various characters in her book live those stories or relate them to another character. She strung her "novel" together with the relationship between the two main characters.
What I'm getting at is this -- her book was a collection of short stories loosely tied to a simple plot. The selling point was the humor and the eccentric characters.
Speaking of characters -- editors are looking for the exterely eccentric. ALL ABOUT SMIDTH (SP); ETC.
http://www.pacwriter.netfirms.com/ |
Olen Armstrong
Wandering Member
Post Number:
118
Registered: 06-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 08:49 pm: | |
You know, I forgot about that one.
And that's pretty much the solution I came up with. Roughly each short becomes the basis for a chapter. Then I write what I call the "overstory" that drops in and out of the others, tying them together. In the end a novle will appear.
For the one I'm on now, I'm gonna just use the characters and premise in each story but each will have a seperate plot. Most of the Holmes/Watson stories were done this way and later published as books (Yeah, there were 4 or 5 actual novels, but most were shiort stories) Also Asimov's first 3 Foundation books were written as sequential short stories, with an overstory tying it all together.
Nice to know I'm on track with others.
Later,
>Olen A<
Our homeland under fire
Our people blown away |
Steven Shrewsbury
Hsympothai Member
Post Number:
394
Registered: 04-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 06:37 am: | |
Had a buddy go thru booklocker a few years back. Dunno if he really liked it or not. |
Olen Armstrong
Wandering Member
Post Number:
120
Registered: 06-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 12:01 pm: | |
I'm finding that Booklocker.com is kind of a mystery.
They're obviously (from the web site at least) of the 1stBooks POD variety but their stated fees aren't too bad.
They're extremely up-front about what they do and how/why they do it.
They present themselves almost as PA's good twin, they don't seem to be trying to hide anything. There are those pesky "setup" fees, though. I haven't read thru their contract yet (I THINK I downloaded one??!!)
But I can't get below the surface anywhere for the "real poop". There doesn't seem to be any information. Maybe that's GOOD. Maybe their authors are all quietly and ecstatically happy. No one's bitchin'. They're still POD though.
And I come back to THAT as the more basic problem to be addressed first. I have less time left than most of you. How much of it do I want to waste shlogging waist-deep in the slush-piles? It almost feels like: do I want this writing thing to be a vocation (slush piles ahoy) or an avocation (get it published anyway you can)? My chosen field or my great hobby? Is it to be a career or a heart-felt calling? It'd be nice if it could be both, but my clear-eyed research is showing that, while that's possible, I'd damned-well better have a "Plan B". The odds are ag'in us my friends.
Barring a bus crash (or my cancer coming back), I still have plenty of time to decide which way to go.
And "self-publishing" is still an option I'm looking into, although with a cautious and jaded eye.
Thanks for all of the input folks,
>Olen A<
Our homeland under fire
Our people blown away |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2453
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 02:45 pm: | |
I am no spring chicken anymore either Olen. I am of the "get it published by the best means possible" scenario.
I want publishers to treat me with respect and at least communicate with me.
My lifelong profession is behind me now. My mother always hoped I would get a novel and a book of poetry published. She's gone, but I'm still working at not disappointing her.
|
Olen Armstrong
Wandering Member
Post Number:
121
Registered: 06-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 04:27 pm: | |
Ms. J.,
Ya' know? I may be there right with you. I keep finding myself slipping back to dig more into POD. I've got enough debt and bills that I probably need to keep my "day job". We also have taken on one grand-daughter (9 yr old).
>I'm back in the saddle again!!<
I keep trying to convince my wife that I should stay home and be her own personal "kept man" and sex-toy...but she ain't buyin' it. Hey!! I can bake brownies and iron skirts and stuff. And my macho isn't threatened, not one bit. For some reason though, she's resistant.
So I'm drifting toward POD but I'm still investigating. I won't make the call until I absolutely HAVE to. You never know what hidden gem I'll find before then. And right AFTER I sign their standard "rich-and-famous" contract, I'll let you guys know about it.
I guess that's why Booklocker is curious to me. Not the rich-and-famous part of course.
But wut-the-hell. I may just declare it an avocation (re: hobby), jump into the deep-end of POD and have myself a ball. I'm sure my sugarbabe would support me in THAT. That's a better mid-life hobby for me than, say, a hot red ragtop with a hot topless red-head to navigate. (At least from my BABE'S POV.)
I'd still like that rich-and-famous thing though.
Later on,
>Olen A<
Have you forgotten?
When the towers fell? |
Victoria Strauss
Awareness Member
Post Number:
5
Registered: 11-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 04:39 pm: | |
Booklocker is a straight-up self-publishing service. No hidden costs or catches that I know of. It's got a good, nonexclusive contract and its fees are reasonable. For POD self-publishing, this--like iUniverse or almost any of the large, well-established fee-based PODs--is a reasonable way to go.
- Victoria
Writer Beware
http://www.writerbeware.com/ |
Olen Armstrong
Wandering Member
Post Number:
122
Registered: 06-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 04:58 pm: | |
Ms. Strauss
Why thank-ee ma'am. It felt that way from their web site. But sometimes important information shows itself only by the hole it leaves. That's how I felt about the lack of complaints. SOMEBODY has to not like them!!!
But it seems maybe their straight-up-ness may preclude complainers from signing on.
Thanks for the info. Right now, they're up on the list, such as it is.
Later on,
>Olen A<
Have you forgotten?
When the towers fell? |
Frank P. Baron
Awareness Member
Post Number:
9
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 - 09:56 am: | |
Angela Hoy (of Writers Weekly) is associated with Booklocker. I believe her husband owns the company. I've sold work to Angela (she pays PROMPTLY  ) and have subscribed to her newsletter for a couple of years.
She's a fierce advocate of writer's rights. If Booklocker seems like a straight-up POD, I think it's because that's exactly what it is.
Author: What Fish Don't Want You to Know |
Tony (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 24.31.215.202
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 08:10 am: | |
Anybody see the article on self-publishing in yesterday's USA Today? |
Joy Lee Rutter
Awareness Member
Post Number:
24
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 03:58 pm: | |
No, Tony, enlighten us, please? What did USA today say about self-publishing?
I'm curious about Booklocker too. I'm looking for a publisher for Flamboyant Disarray of Dreams, and while waiting for answers to my queries, I'm always looking through other avenues, and Booklocker is one I've overlooked for one reason or another. It seems like a decent one though. |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
991
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 04:45 pm: | |
The article is here, though I tend to disagree with some of the things that are in there simply because, as we all know, if you don't have the bucks to put out for your book, it ain't gonna get the recognition to get very far.....
http://USATODAY.com - Self-publishing will spur book industry to modernize
it is a good article, though, with hope for better things to come.
Claudia |
Perry Comer
Unity Member
Post Number:
1235
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 05:33 pm: | |
too late - have to buy it now - it was in yeasterday - 23 - edition
http://www.pacwriter.netfirms.com/ |
priceless1
Awareness Member
Post Number:
42
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 05:48 pm: | |
Joy, you're just going to have to trust me here, but there is NO WAY you'll be going the self-publishing route.
Lynn
Lynn
lynnprice.net
|
Joy Lee Rutter
Awareness Member
Post Number:
25
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 06:05 pm: | |
OH? Hmmm...Okay! I'm ready to turn my back on POD! I hope, I hope, I hope....
Joy Lee
PS: Thank you Lynn! |
D.R. Bennett
Hunger Member
Post Number:
70
Registered: 05-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 05:09 pm: | |
Booklocker is one of the most reliable and trustworthy gadgets I've seen.
But if you're going to self-publish, good luck.
http://www.literaryagent.2ya.com
http://www.drbennett.2ya.com |
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