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Which of course, delineate the way in which everyone is free to earn Profit. It has been suggested to me that I could bundle Sk8r Grrls into a sellable product. That there might indeed be an audience for it, like the success that Cathy is starting to reap for Headlights Girl. I dunno. I mean, I love to write and would love to make it a way that I earn my living... but... okay. I know I'm good at words. I know that I (somehow) have developed an actual fanbase here... but realistically. Do you all think I would stand a chance? I've made bits of cash for years writing this'n'that for local newspapers, selling a few scattered short stories in scattered minor markets. What is the opinion of folks whether or not I'd be able to actually make a go of it? | |
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Edeyn Hannah Blackeney |
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| Wasn't it Jim Henson who said, "Without faith, I am nothing," after all? No, wait, that was God... Sorry, common mistake to make... | ||
The Rules of Acquisition
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Comments
Good chance
TG books will always be a niche market but you certainly have talent. I'll be doing only minimal work for a week while I go on vacation to see my brother and attend a convention in San Jose. We can talk afterwards. :)
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
You won't know...
Unless you try...it's something you can do without giving up your day job at least...I think it becomes more of a case of what do you have to lose by trying? If there IS something to lose, is it worth the potential gain?
Sorry to be ambiguous, but I don't know how else to answer this. I could blow smoke, but that wouldn't help you.
Whatever you decide, we'll support you!
Hugs
Alexis
What Do You Have to Lose?
I've spent well over $3,000 in postage, paper, envelopes and SASE's sending queries, partials, and full manuscripts. I've received quite a number of positive responses, but no cigar.
The biggest risk is the high probability that you will become frustrated and fall prey to a scam. Some are quite well-developed and can cost you thousands. Before you start looking for literary agents take a look at "Preditors and Editors" a free online resource to help you avoid some of the scum. There are hundreds of fulltime operations fleecing frustrated authors on a daily basis.
Do you know how to write a query letter? A synopsis? A bio? Publishing is a business that treats amateurs with distain. If you don't say "Captain may I" they'll toss your manuscript into recycling faster than you can say "But, I'm really, really good."
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Money from Writing?
What are the odds? About thirty million people are trying to write fiction. Only about 2,500 writers make a living writing fiction. If you're one of the 2,500 the odds are quite good.
On the other hand, the next Rowling has to come from somewhere. If no one tried to be a writer no one would ever succeed.
The main question you have to ask yourself is "How good am I at taking rejection"? Rejection slips are part of writing. After more rejection than he could stand Stephen King tossed his manuscript in the garbage and quit the writing game. His wife pulled it out and sent it off one more time. Imagine his surprise when he received a letter offering him several hundred thousand dollars for "Carrie" his first published novel.
I've received several hundred rejection slips for my manuscripts -- and deserved every one of them. Writing is a science as well as an art. What is your educational background for writing? Can you present an impressive resume that would prompt an agent or publisher to request a copy of your manuscript?
Do you belong to a writing club? Are you willing to attend seminars? Are you willing to sell your own book? Are you any good at selling things? Do you have the financial capability to spend years writing with no (or little) income? Do you have the financial capabilities needed to send your query letters and manuscripts to hundreds of literary agents and publishers? Are you discerning enough to avoid publishing scams? Agent scams? Seminar scams? Editing scams?
Only you can decide what you want from your writing. Only you can set reasonable goals for yourself.
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
The meaning of success changes,
depending on one's definition of the word. Yes, I'm having a LITTLE success with Headlights Girl, but I don't envision it being any kind of breakthrough hit. It's made enough to pay Erin back, to bring a few dollars into Top Shelf, and to afford me a bit of notoriety. As for cash returns, my total take thus far, is a whopping 34 dollars and change. That doesn't take into account the books I've ordered from Erin, to give out to friends.
At present, all I have is a book signing at one Waldenbooks store. Yes they will be carrying the book on their shelves, but only at THAT store. The chances that any other stores will stock it are between slim and none, unless I get invited to do signing at other stores, depending on the success of this first signing.
I wish I had more inspirational words for your chances Edeyn, but all I've done is crack open a door. The more who follow what I've done, and who do the same, the better the chances for the ones who follow. MAYBE, someday, if the writing is good enough, which I don't think mine is, there will be a time when our genre will be accepted by the general reading public, and there will be a much better chance for a TG author to actually earn a living at it.
In the end, all I can say to you, is TRY! One never knows who the reading public might embrace, thus making them the "overnight sensation" of the literary world. Hundreds of authors get rejection notices, every day from countless publishing houses. Publishing through a 'print-on-demand' venue has the advantage of getting your book published, but it's a long way from that to a New York Times bestseller.
Basically, you roll the dice and take your chances. Also, it doesn't hurt to have a big mouth and to not be afraid to put yourself 'out there', self publicizing your own book.
That's how I got my signing. _I_ had to set up the signing. _I_ had to contact media. _I_ had to get posters printed and put up.
Erin started all this, by trusting me, by putting up the money to get the book published through lulu, by going international with it, and by getting it listed on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com, but all the rest, _I_ had to do. I hope for the best, but I am not kidding myself. It's likely that this will end with the one signing. I might sell some books through this, but I seriously doubt it will lead to my making a living writing.
Whatever you decide to do, I am with you, hon. You've got the talent and you certainly know how to promote yourself. In the end, it all depends on you. If you never try, you'll never know. I'll stand with you if and when you decide to 'go for it' Edeyn, for whatever that's worth.
Huggles and love from,
Catherine Linda Michel
As a T-woman, I do have a Y chromosome... it's just in cursive, pink script.
Don't Sell Yourself Short
Conventional wisdom holds that bookstores NEVER have book signings for self-published books, especially the chains like Waldenbooks. You've accomplished a great deal by proven that CW wrong.
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Making a career of writing
Making a career of writing fiction is probably one of the hardest things to accomplish. There are millions upon millions of people who want to be there, but only a few actually make it. In that, it's a lot like becoming an actor/actress or screenwriter. You not only have to have a superior product, to make it shine above the rest, but a large helping of luck, and nigh infinite patience and preserverence. And once you do make it, you have to keep on making it to make a career of it. But that is only for making it big. It's a much easier thing to get a product out there, and make a bit of cash off of it, but it won't set you free from your day job. This is why so many book writers are also professors, journalists, columnists, etc...
I have no doubt you could supplement your income by putting sk8tr grrls into print, or continuing on with the webcomic (and putting that into print as well; not to mention possible merchandising. I'd love to have a Sk8tr Grrls fridge magenet, or poster, for example.
Finding a big publisher though? I dunno about that. Most publishers would be pretty wary of such a niche genre, particularly from a first time novelist (though your having been published elsewhere, even if it wasn't fiction, would help you find a publisher in general). The best route for Sk8tr Grrls, I think, would be the YA market, particularly with a publisher who likes to do the 'self discovery' stories, and publishes some 'gay youth' books and the like.
If you really want to break into professional writing, I would try to start out with short stories. Try to get published in anthologies and some monthly/quarterly fiction journals. Maybe also try submitting articles (non-fiction) to magazines and publications that have to do with your interests. Things like that to build up a resume. Publishers are very wary of novel submissions from someone who has nothing published. The other benefit to all this, is it'll give you a lot of practice, let you stretch your skills out, and let you get familiar with a lot of different styles, and with which the way publishers of various kinds work. It would get you used to dealing with the 'key holders' like editors, literary agents, and the whole process in general. Also, like Angela suggested, I would look into joining a writing group, and be prepared for a lot of rejections along the way. It also wouldn't hurt to look into some night classes on creative writing, or anything to do with the whole process of idea -> published book. You might learn something, and if the course gives a certificate of any kind, it would look good on a resume, and show the publishers/agents that you're serious.
Self-published works (like using lulu) won't really help you get an agent, or a publisher interested, but if you make it past the initial pitch, it might help to have other examples of your work there, and you could mention whatever success you had with the self-published book. Also, if you haven't checked out Snark's blog ( http://misssnark.blogspot.com/ ), do so. She has lots of great tips, and Q&A's, on how to get published. The blog's finished now, but it's a gold mine of information.
Yound Adult Market
Young Adult authors receive a smaller percentage of smaller pie. They normally get 6-8% of the sale price, while adult authors get 10-15%. Young adult books usually sell for less than adult books. Because of this you will find there are fewer literary agents involved in young adult than adult.
The good news is a Young Adult book is normally about 45,000 words while a adult novel is about 80,000.
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
You certainly have the talent
I say go for it.