[__ Prayer __] Starting Back on my Book

Publish or perish!
LOL
It's an expression that the professional writers say.
Some say "Write or die"

But it's the same thing meaning that you have to keep at it...it's a long task but it is worth the effort.
 
humble soul said:
Yeah I could write lyrics.
Thanks
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My wife is a professional writer and teacher...but she doesn't teach at school she teaches co-workers about new software (among other things) and procedures for research scientists staff that keep up with the mountain of paperwork that research requires.
 
humble soul said:
Is someone helping you with editing and so on?
Good to get objective opinions. Might become bestseller then...
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Looked for an editor here in Hawai'i, but the editors here seem big on co-authoring and I don't want to give up any control. I also need any income this book may produce in order to get off disability. I can't afford to split proceeds. I've chosen to use an online editor. Then hand it over to either a literary agent or straight to a publisher. First things first....finish book. Covid-19 has given me an idea for a little more story line so I'm inserting a chapter at approx. 80% of the way through the book.
 
daninthelionsden said:
Looked for an editor here in Hawai'i, but the editors here seem big on co-authoring and I don't want to give up any control. I also need any income this book may produce in order to get off disability. I can't afford to split proceeds. I've chosen to use an online editor. Then hand it over to either a literary agent or straight to a publisher. First things first....finish book. Covid-19 has given me an idea for a little more story line so I'm inserting a chapter at approx. 80% of the way through the book.
Click to expand...

Because I've looked at all this because my wife entertains the idea of actually finishing one of several novels she has written...(great starts but no finishing of the stories)
I looked into this.

Now once you have a mostly finished product you will have to decide how you want to proceed.

If you are great at marketing your book or your book is something that will grab a huge audience because of the subject matter and is unique...you can market and promote your book all by yourself. But beware of all the costs associated with this.

You will need a high level of editing...not just a grammar and spelling editor. But there are usually more than one way to say something and certain places in the writing you need the more impactful way of saying that.

Then there are the promotional endorsements that you see on the back cover. These will need to be purchased. (They start at $400 for decent ones)

Cover artwork or photos. These you will have to pay for exclusive rights to the these things. And can run the gambit of pricing...but beware of people selling others work as their own. It can cost you a lot more than what you paid for the artwork or picture.
 
daninthelionsden said:
Finally found the stability needed to make a stab at finishing my book. Its been so long, I felt a review was in order. I reviewed and tweaked chapter 1 and I feel good about it. Chapter 2 is next and I pray I can get in a groove to continue/complete. Please pray.
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awesome - supporting you in prayer
 
Independent books AKA Indie Book Market is a bit larger than the publishing house book market.

The Harry Potter series being part of the indie section...and that is a huge chunk of change.

If it weren't for that... publishing houses have the lion's share. Because promotion of books is a full time gig. As well as protecting the intellectual property rights of your work. (People will steal your electronic book and sell it as their own) happens a lot.
Think about paying for translation into other languages and audiobooks. Expensive but increases sales. Spanish and French at least.

Five to six years of heavy promotion of a book and the bulk of the dollars is gone... unless you have another. Then there's a slight up-tic in the sluggish sales if the original. Because then you become known as an author.
The third book ensures your position as an author.
And what I hear most from the indie authors is that they are sick of a book by the time they get it to market...then the promotion is work too.
Going back to a publishing house isn't so bad any more. You have an established fan base (which they really appreciate and gets you a larger contract advance) and they take care of a lot of stuff.
Now a $200K check and done with a book doesn't sound like a good deal on the surface...but for all the work a book takes in getting ready for market and publishing and promotion...it actually is a great deal.

Which is why a book agent is a great way to go. Good ones are almost impossible to find. Lots of schmucks out there and a lot of schemers. (Like your editorial experience)

Almost all this stuff is done online today.

But if your writing has a unique style and great composition and popular subjects... you can get a good agent. They have a goal though..."you wrote one...you can write five more. "
They want you to churn out the books. And that percentage they get from every book...they actually earn it. They negotiate better contracts and better paydays with every book. One and done book writers? Don't expect much if you can get one.
Trilogies...walk through the door of an agent's office with three books? Hey...he will even bring out the good k-cups for the kurig and bring out some (store bought)snacks to go with.
When you come back with another trilogy two years later as they are gearing up the promotion of your third book for sales...he will take you out to a nice lunch and explain your book signing tour...fan bases...fan clubs...going into fan fiction sites to say "hi".
That sort of thing.

Getting the picture? You become a writing slave...but that is the life of a writer.
 
praying for you. self-publishing has apparently come a long way. i don't know much about it, but...i have friends of friends who have gone that route, they're satisfied, etc.

other than that...praying, keep us posted, please. :-)
 
Well, to insert (graft in) extra material, I had to find an exit point from the existing story line. I found and edited such and am satisfied with it. Now I have to write/review the extra material. Then I have identified where and how to blend the new material back into an entry point to the existing story line in order to continue the book to completion. This was harder than I expected, but quite doable.
 
There are a ton of sites that are for independent writers to upload portions of their books for people to read (like a chapter or two) and then if you want to read the whole book you have to purchase the book.

Wattpad is one site famous for indie writers. Actually I read books there all the time. Successful writers there always end up with book deals and several ended up with movie deals too. Although I personally think that the movies sucked...not enough budget for them to be good...but I guess that they did OK...their books, where OK, aren't that great to begin with.
And the people get to read it and tell you their thoughts on it. The best of the independent always creates a fan base. These fans will get you a fat publisher's check.

So...

Did you know that Harry Potter was rejected by several publisher's before going independent? J.K. Rawlings was an unheard of writer at the time. So they didn't even think about giving her a check or a deal. That was a huge huge mistake.

So let us know where you post up your book and we can watch it.
 
daninthelionsden said:
Finally found the stability needed to make a stab at finishing my book. Its been so long, I felt a review was in order. I reviewed and tweaked chapter 1 and I feel good about it. Chapter 2 is next and I pray I can get in a groove to continue/complete. Please pray.
Click to expand...
Okay, praying. Good for you. Stick with it~ :)
 
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