tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post1882871529559353334..comments2024-03-18T06:16:18.802-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Guest Post by Stephen LeatherJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger278125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-33114681258233013802012-02-01T12:53:26.808-06:002012-02-01T12:53:26.808-06:00"I’m sure you remember the UK – we’re the guy..."I’m sure you remember the UK – we’re the guys whose nuts you pulled out of the fire sixty-six years ago, for which many thanks!"<br />Stephen - as a fellow Brit I think youre being a bit of a kiss arse there.johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-80923707349895826982011-07-05T21:21:41.769-05:002011-07-05T21:21:41.769-05:00I loooove your cover. Was it a flat fee or are yo...I loooove your cover. Was it a flat fee or are you giving your daughter royalties? Either way, I'm hesitant to read the book in case it's not as good as the cover.Michael Matewauknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-31043107919448206622011-05-29T10:10:06.444-05:002011-05-29T10:10:06.444-05:00Your 10,000 hours has some merit, but there are pl...Your 10,000 hours has some merit, but there are plenty of authors whose stuff seemed to get more crappy once they passed six or ten books. I wonder why that is.<br /><br />Norm<br /><br />http://www.normcowie.comNorm Cowiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16686763415358589497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-76874952502673495462011-05-23T13:41:54.404-05:002011-05-23T13:41:54.404-05:00Okay, yes, quality control is an important issue. ...Okay, yes, quality control is an important issue. <br /><br />But I love that he spent pages talking about the importance of writing as a craft and then named his protagonist "Jack Nightingale". <br /><br />Christ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-53587433046497942272011-05-22T09:55:27.130-05:002011-05-22T09:55:27.130-05:00You know that ten thousand hours thing applies to ...You know that ten thousand hours thing applies to book cover design as well, right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-6254480917728239922011-05-19T16:56:49.474-05:002011-05-19T16:56:49.474-05:00I started out reading this post thinking "I w...I started out reading this post thinking "I want to be you" and getting all inspired, and then got to "But just because you’ve run a marathon doesn’t mean you should be running at the Olympics", and now I'm back to feeling rubbish again! Still, brilliant post; I'll bear that in mind!Steven D. Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08413630014732734412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-53945613092164332832011-05-19T05:54:04.002-05:002011-05-19T05:54:04.002-05:00@SE Gordon - I do think that we are mainly on the ...@SE Gordon - I do think that we are mainly on the same page! I think we both appreciate good writing and are aware of how hard it is to produce quality work. But I would disagree with you about taking care not to upset Indie writers. They are not my market, and I think that is part of the problem, ie some writers spend too much time talking to and selling to other writers. I really don't care what any Indie writer thinks about my opinions on publishing. I am entitled to my opinions. I do care that readers like, and buy, my books. I have sold more then three million paperbacks and 250,000 eBooks and I think only a very very very small percentage of those readers were Indie writers. I want readers to like me, not writers!<br /><br /><br />@ Chris No, it doesn't bother me. I totally agree with one of the previous posters in that writing is like running a marathon - it doesn't matter what anyone else is doing, it's all about one's own performance. The more good thriller writers there are the more the market will expand and that can only be good for me. A good writer is hard pushed to do two books a year, a reader can devour a book in a few days. So no, I don't see other writers as competition. Re Joe not getting published until his ninth - no, that doesn't mean that his early work was bad. I'm not saying that. I'm half way through Draculas and the writing is as good as anything I've read in years. I have to say I would struggle to write to Joe's standard. I have read a lot of very good Indie books. But in my opinion they are the minority. I didn't do the blog to attract attention, Joe wanted me to do a guest spot and I thought my take on quality might provoke some interest. Which it did. I had no other motivation other than to entertain :-)Stephen Leatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08179238880325952527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-50933602381894156282011-05-18T15:15:02.997-05:002011-05-18T15:15:02.997-05:00I agree that most indie novels aren't "go...I agree that most indie novels aren't "good," however we want to define that, but to say that 2% are good is absurd, IMO. Maybe only 2% are great, but I'd say at least 10% are "good." And I'm as picky a reader as you'll find. I read a lot of indie books, too.Moses Siregar IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14054458331242370871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-55868336910568501092011-05-18T13:29:53.393-05:002011-05-18T13:29:53.393-05:00This is an interesting discussion, but makes one f...This is an interesting discussion, but makes one faulty assumption:<br /><br />Being published does NOT equal quality.<br /><br />Publishers are in the business of finding what sells. Why else are there 5 million Twilight clones out right now? Are you saying that they're all expertly written? Or maybe the 15 million Harry Potter clones that have come out since the success of that first book are all amazing, Shakespearean works of art. (Never mind that the first book wasn't particularly well-written, and Rowling used adverbs like she bought them in bulk.)<br /><br />Even Joe wrote NINE books before Whiskey Sour got picked up. Are you saying his previous nine all sucked? Funny -- many of them have been best-sellers on Kindle.<br /><br />Instead, he ended up having to write a marketable book (worrying about silly things like what would sell and how to sell it) before he got picked up.<br /><br />I don't disagree that a lot of crap will get put out onto the ebook store, but really, why does it bother you? Does it bother because you worked hard on your passion, and now everyone can do it without going through what you went through?<br /><br />Do I wish they had some quality control for ebooks? Sure, why not. Maybe they could have some sort of certification you could submit to (for a moderate fee) that would allow your book to be edited, and stamped with some sort of "Quality" stamp or something.<br /><br />But I, for one, don't want the gatekeepers. For every five bad books they keep out, they keep out a good one. And your assumption that they let the good ones through is erroneous, at best. They let through the marketable ones, plain and simple.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04570340821679002851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-32613397201649669362011-05-18T12:41:09.635-05:002011-05-18T12:41:09.635-05:00Personally, I would be embarrassed to publish some...Personally, I would be embarrassed to publish some of the indie novels I've read recently, but I do commend the authors for realizing their dreams. As you said, that's the beauty of e-publishing. Catch an error? Go back and fix it. That's your responsibility as an indie author.<br /><br />BTW, it was the Big Six that published Dragon Tears, arguably Dean Koontz's worst novel ever (and I'm a fan). It didn't matter that I could not find typos or grammatical errors; that book sucked! I haven't seen an updated version, for to do so would require a complete overhaul (sorry Mr. Koontz).<br /><br />S.E. Gordon<br />http://segordon.blogspot.comScott Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11276077650234517880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61352566731446071032011-05-18T11:57:03.826-05:002011-05-18T11:57:03.826-05:00# Bad Indie Books
98% of all indie books are bad?...# Bad Indie Books<br /><br /><i>98% of all indie books are bad? Really?</i><br /><br />That sounds about right to me. If that upsets some of the people here that's too bad. They need to get over it and fix the problem rather than feel they've been insulted. <br /><br />So far of the indies I have read it was easy to see why the vast majority were unable to get picked up by an agent. Most of them sucked. Either there was no editing, the story telling was confusing, it was too long, too wordy, or the writing sounded childish.<br /><br />I have to admit that the first one I put out was just as bad. <br /><br />Here's a difference though, when I realized that the book needed editing I pulled it offline, hired a professional editor, fixed the whole thing, then put it back online. I learned from the mistakes and changed to make things right. Thats the advantage of ebooks and POD, you can fix the problems on the fly.<br /><br />For some reason, a lot of indie authors just leave their crap there in its original crappy format and don't try to fix it. Or maybe they just don't realize its crap because all their friends tell them its great. <br /><br />If we are afraid of pissing people off by telling them their writing sucks and needs work, then we are simply encouraging people to fail. Even the best authors out there write crap sometimes, the difference is that most of them don't try to publish crap until they've made an effort to fix it.<br /><br />If we are to succeed as indie writers we really need to focus on writing expertly, and be willing to admit mistakes and quickly fix them, you know "Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome".<br /><br />Do that and your books can be in the 2% that don't suck.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152540665352170999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-55605644209046677332011-05-18T09:58:22.214-05:002011-05-18T09:58:22.214-05:00The reality is that most new authors can only expe...The reality is that most new authors can only expect to make ~$5,000 for their first novel (this is especially true for Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror), and it will take years to find an agent, let alone see the work published. Meanwhile these new authors will be working a full time job, and hoping one day for their "big break."<br /><br />Or, as J.A. Konrath has so generously illustrated, they can put their future in the own hands, write several novels in the span it would take to publish one traditionally, and if they are successful, get picked up by an agent or continue going it alone (big choice). With more and more self-pubbed novels getting picked up by the Big Six, I'm not just blowing smoke here.<br /><br />Let me take this one step further: at best, today's publishers are parasites.<br /><br />Without the authors, they have nothing. Nada. Zilch.<br /><br />They want to get authors on the cheap, and pay nothing so they can make their millions, and go about it business-as-usual like they have for decades. But now the playing field is even, and they are in big trouble, because the people are empowered (i.e., they do not need them anymore--thank you, Mr. Konrath!).<br /><br />For what they have done to my mother, there is no way I would ever touch traditional publishing. And if I want my books in bookstores, I'll put them there myself (John Grisham did this, among others). By being in control of my own career, I'm certain I can do it better. Quality writing is paramount to me; don't make assumptions about indie authors just because they carry a certain label.<br /><br />In truth, I am happy for your success, but you should also admit that you are not the norm.<br /><br /><br />S.E. Gordon<br />http://segordon.blogspot.comScott Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11276077650234517880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-56723272347151411792011-05-18T09:57:31.548-05:002011-05-18T09:57:31.548-05:00People might also want to put authors like Amanda ...People might also want to put authors like Amanda Hocking (who reads this blog) into the same category, to which I say, the more power to her. Writers like Amanda are connecting with readers, and pouring out their hearts. They're young, and will improve over time. Who are we to say that they don't deserve to take chances, and reap the rewards if they succeed?<br /><br />To improve as writers, I would offer the following generic advice:<br /><br />1. Write every day (practice, practice, practice!)<br />2. Strengthen verbs and nouns<br />3. Use adverbs and adjectives sparingly<br />4. Remove everything that does not help convey the meaning/imagery in the sentence<br />5. Revisit books on grammar<br />6. Reread your favorite authors, and emulate the things they are doing right<br />7. Avoid cliches<br />8. Activate your verbs<br />9. Surround yourself with writers who are better than you<br />10. Believe that you can become a better writer, and pursue this at every opportunity<br />11. Sacrifice TV time for writing time<br />12. Disconnect yourself from the Internet while writing<br /><br />This is just off the top of my head; it's not meant to be a comprehensive list. Of course, knowing and doing are two very different things. One must be willing to incorporate these things into their processes in order to succeed.<br /><br />I realize that this is getting long-winded, so let me wrap this up:<br /><br />Like you, my mom is a writer, and went the traditional route, publishing 6 historical novels under the pen names Anita Gordon and Kathleen Kirkwood. Back in the early '90s, she won the Golden Heart Award for her first novel, The Valiant Heart, and was immediately picked up by Berkeley/Jove. She is a talented writer, but unlike you, did not meet with success. Her first editor wound up getting caught for embezzlement and fraud (luckily my mother got all the money owed her), and subsequent editors made incredibly bad decisions that impacted the quality of the book (by this I mean forcing her to add intimate sex scenes where she did not feel they were appropriate in order to sell more books, undercutting the themes of the book, offering bad suggestions for the direction of the plot, etc).<br /><br />Ultimately she was dropped, and left the establishment awestruck at how incompetent they were. I remember one of her books, a historical romance set during the Civil War, was not approved because "Civil War era pieces aren't selling right now." Never mind that she had an original and compelling idea. When Spirits Touch was never written because my mother did not have the craft, it was because Berkley got in the way.<br /><br />(continued in next post...)Scott Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11276077650234517880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-64554214146740462912011-05-18T09:55:42.288-05:002011-05-18T09:55:42.288-05:00Mr. Leather:
I hear you, I really do. I appreciat...Mr. Leather:<br /><br />I hear you, I really do. I appreciate that you took the time to give readers a different perspective on publishing. I do not disagree with the assertion that there's a lot of garbage out there.<br /><br />But you're not doing yourself any favors here.<br /><br />If your theory is true (1 in 50 self-pubbed works are worthy of being published), and most people who come here are indie authors, then you've probably pissed off 80-90% of them, not a good idea if you're trying to promote your work.<br /><br />My initial reaction when I got to the end of your post was, "Why in the world would I buy his book?" But I suspect that was not your intention, and I believe you truly want others to give traditional publishing a shot because there are still some genuine environments out there that help nurture a fledgling writer.<br /><br />Fair enough.<br /><br />Since then, I've visited Amazon, and checked out your work. Nice covers, looks intriguing--I'll check it out later.<br /><br />You mention that indie authors should be more interested in improving as writers than the money. While this point has some merit, what you fail to recognize is that most of us would give our right arm to be a full time author, but it's just not feasible. The overwhelming majority of us hold down a full time job while forging ahead part time. This means waking up at 4:00 AM every morning to squeeze in a couple hours of writing time. Arguably, some are not as far along as others, and are taking a big risk by putting their work out there because they feel strongly about what they have written, but haven't developed their technique.<br /><br />Also remember that there are people attached to these works, and they would not bothered telling their stories if they did not feel passionate about them. Just last night an author in my writers' group was upset because a comment was made on Amazon that her e-book contained tons of errors. She actually received an e-mail from Amazon directly (since when were they involved in quality control?) stating there were typographical errors, but did not point out where they were. The writer asked for our help because she couldn't see the errors. <br /><br />So I purchased a copy, because that's what we do--help fellow writers. I read the first few pages, and discovered lots of little things: inconsistent use of commas, minor punctuation (that I missed the first time), etc. But grammar was not the biggest offender here. Adverbs needed to be pruned, and overall the language needed to tightened. A few of the descriptions were vague or cliche. When she realized that some of the comments may have been justified, she was distraught. She had put her heart into the book and full trust in her editor, and didn't realize there was still a lot of work to be done.<br /><br />For some this would be a mortal wound, but admirably she has scraped herself off the ground, and committed herself to cleaning up all the errors, in order to provide the best work she is capable of. You cannot ask for a better opportunity to grow as a writer.<br /><br />Keep in mind this was not one who intentionally tried to embarrass themselves; they're human beings, too. All she ever wanted was to entertain people with her writing, to find that one soul who would felt as passionately about her story as she did. Was it wrong to provide a less than ideal manuscript for .99? Not at all. She took a risk, put herself out there, and gave it her all. She should be commended. In the end, some were willing to look past the errors because they got hooked on the story. Sure it probably won't win any awards, or become a bestseller, but I do not sense that was the motivating factor.<br /><br />(continued in next post…)Scott Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11276077650234517880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-73102227356833175122011-05-18T06:36:14.485-05:002011-05-18T06:36:14.485-05:00I couldn't agree more. As one YouTuber made a ...I couldn't agree more. As one YouTuber made a video about, the Amanda Hocking story was perhaps one of the (sadly) worst things that could ever have happened to e-publishing because now the market will be saturated with sub-par products. <br /><br />Regardless of how good you are with words, writing is ultimately a business. <br /><br />That said, I wanted to scream at one of my friends recently. She put up a short story on Amazon Kindle. First of all, there was no cover. Second of all, it didn't appear to have editing, and it NEEDED IT. BAD. <br /><br />Worse yet, it was only eight pages long and priced at $2.99 (but in her defense, she said that for some reason it wouldn't allow her to put in 99 cents for the price listing.<br /><br />I spent a few hours going over it yesterday and sent it back to her in the hope that she'll get a cover up for it and at least consider my edited version, because I could barely read through what she sent me without cringing.<br /><br />The idea was absolutely fantastic. The language, not so much.<br /><br />I understand the importance of putting up quality work, which is why I spend literally hours on everything I do. This is only for my first actual novel. I did write one before that as well as numerous short stories and poetry and other essays throughout the years.<br /><br />I have to admit that I didn't understand yet what commitment to the craft truly means until embarking on this journey. And if I have to delay the release for more edits, so be it. <br /><br />Lately, I'm always catching one thing here or there that's off or cringe-worthy.<br /><br />Anyway, I'd say it's an accurate statement that for every eBook published, fifty more bad ones rise up. After reading a post on Caleb Warnock's blog, I also have to agree with his theory of publishing this year:<br /><br />THE ONLY WAY FOR AN INDIE AUTHOR TO STAND OUT WILL BE THROUGH NARRATIVE VOICE.<br /><br />And it's already happening. I only wish I'd heard of all this long before Amanda Hocking. <br /><br />Everybody scramble now and hold tight to your genitals!! Terrible writers will soon end up kicking you in the balls.Peter von Hartenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18261556877931711673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-4240573253402740042011-05-18T05:29:15.197-05:002011-05-18T05:29:15.197-05:00"But for every good Indie book I see, there a...<i>"But for every good Indie book I see, there are at least fifty bad ones."</i><br /><br />98% of all indie books are bad? Really?Moses Siregar IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14054458331242370871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-35256187387812920712011-05-17T22:26:06.822-05:002011-05-17T22:26:06.822-05:00@SE Gordon So if I say your work is wonderful, yo...@SE Gordon So if I say your work is wonderful, you'll buy my book? Sorry, I don't work like that. I'm not saying ALL Indie books are awful. There are some fabulous Indie books out there. What I said was that the vast majority are bad. That's the truth, or at least the truth as I see it. Joe's books are great. I'm a big fan of John Locke's. I've just read a book called Abattoir by MK Carver that I think is great. But for every good Indie book I see, there are at least fifty bad ones. I would hope that an Indie writer would read my post and perhaps give some thought to improving their craft rather than thinking "I'm not going to buy Leather's books because I don't like what he said." :-)Stephen Leatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08179238880325952527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-92200997278360278602011-05-17T20:14:14.433-05:002011-05-17T20:14:14.433-05:00Mr. Leather:
Why in the world would you disparage...Mr. Leather:<br /><br />Why in the world would you disparage self-published books, here of all places, where the majority of readership is indie (including Mr. Konrath), and then turn around and promote your book? Do you really think we would purchase it after hearing that most of what we produce is crap, and in a sense, not 'real' books?<br /><br />Just a thought.<br /><br />S.E. Gordon<br />http://segordon.blogspot.comScott Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11276077650234517880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-59565300476905508142011-05-17T12:27:53.791-05:002011-05-17T12:27:53.791-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.D.C.Gallinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15792631712630091428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-79526418130594360322011-05-17T12:16:00.521-05:002011-05-17T12:16:00.521-05:00Taking it to heart what Stephen Leather said. I h...Taking it to heart what Stephen Leather said. I have a blog, fiveaweekfiction.blogspot.com, that contains my fiction writing and nothing else. If anyone wants to critique it, please be my guest. I welcome constructive imput.Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05943200236354061663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-88449658586408025792011-05-17T10:43:27.641-05:002011-05-17T10:43:27.641-05:00@DC Gallin. Nope, I didn't use any personal c...@DC Gallin. Nope, I didn't use any personal connections to get my large advances. I had already had three books published by Collins (now Harper Collins) after being picked off the slush pile. Then I got an agent on the back of my fourth book, The Chinaman, and that's the one that got the big advances. Yes lots of journalists do well as writers and get large advances but that's because they hit their 10,000 hours while working! There are plenty of new writers getting large advances still in the UK - Google Matt Hilton or check out his Joe Hunter series on Amazon. He was a cop when he did his deal. Things might well be different in the US. <br /><br />I admire your faith in natural selection - I'm not so optimistic. I can't help but wonder how many Woody Allens and Martin Scorseses are going to come out of YouTube. Or how many great artists are going to be produced by Pop Idol.Stephen Leatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08179238880325952527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-52786062273699235332011-05-17T10:06:34.600-05:002011-05-17T10:06:34.600-05:00Hi Stephen,
A first advance of 100 000 is not the...Hi Stephen,<br />A first advance of 100 000 is not the average. Of course that helps to kickstart a career in writing. But you started as journalist, which probably gave you the connections so badly needed to get that kind of first advance and gain entry into the traditional world of publishing. Most authors recently published seemed to have had a connection with the media.<br /><br /> The unknown, unconnected author receives an average advance of 3000 pounds, which means no one will ever hear about the book, because the publisher simply didn't invest enough in the first place to advertise it.<br /><br />So for the first time 'unconnected' author it is probably better to self publish provided she or he<br />pays someone for objective feedback, copyediting etc...<br /><br />I probably haven't heard about your self published work because I don't normally read thrillers although if we met and you said hey, read my book I would! I'm also not really into bestsellers to be honest. Of course it is fantastic when a writer can reach so many people and commercial fiction has its place, but I like to read books that change the way I perceive the world. Books like that don't necessarily sell in huge numbers or it takes a long time for them to become known. This could all change now!<br /><br />The great thing about art is that it is so subjective and the old system was just too unfair. Who knows how many great works of art were lost in the 'slushpiles' of the industry. A word that really sums up the industry's attitude towards the hand that fed them.<br />Who knows how many creative hearts were broken, how many illusions shattered that way. Writing is such a lonely profession and one has to give up so much living to write for long periods of time. So now, with a bit of luck and persistence, we can all succeed! It is a much more natural selection.<br /><br />I'm sure you are a great writer in your genre and you sound like someone who passionately loves his work! Isn't that so lucky, to be passionate about ones work and to be able to make a living too? <br />For the first time I have been able to support my family of six through art alone, thanks to self-publishing, social media and a bunch of fantastic and supportive readers.<br />I love it!<br />Warmest wishes DC GallinD.C.Gallinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15792631712630091428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-89382071369183826012011-05-17T06:53:27.744-05:002011-05-17T06:53:27.744-05:00@Stephen L.
Thanks for the advice I'll keep th...@Stephen L.<br />Thanks for the advice I'll keep that in mind when I'm on the other side of the reviews.<br /><br />JosieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-71614757844053473342011-05-17T03:18:25.249-05:002011-05-17T03:18:25.249-05:00I reserve the right to publish anything I want at ...I reserve the right to publish anything I want at whatever skill level I have achieved.<br /><br />That is the beauty of this ebook revolution; I get to publish anything I want. <br /><br />ANYTHING!<br /><br />And, so do you. <br />That's cool. <br />It really is. <br /><br />It is amazing that people can express themselves in this new way. Really, it's amazing!<br /><br />If someone "throws something up" online, GOOD FOR THEM. They're following their dream or at least their ambition. <br /><br />If their effort is not perfect in your eyes, it doesn't take away from your effort. You are not diminished by someone doing something similar at a different skill level. <br /><br />You might make an argument about the crowded marketplace and low quality turning people off from indie books.<br /><br />To me, that's like saying, "I'm going to stop going to the library because there are too many books to sort through and some of them aren't any good."<br /><br />There have ALWAYS been more books than any one person could ever hope to read. The marketplace has always been crowded.<br /><br />I've come across plenty of published books that I find so dull I don't even manage the first 100 pages.<br /><br />But, somebody liked the book or it would have never made it to the shelf.<br /><br />Maybe it was you that liked it! How cool! We disagree about a book. Thank God for that or we would all be the same which would be boring.<br /><br />There are lots of books, some people will like, some people won't like, and some will be a dream come true for the author regardless.<br /><br />For me it comes down to this:<br /><br />Do your best. Encourage others. Spread the word about books you like. Keep writing. Learn. Grow.<br /><br /><br />Veronica<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Choice-Consciousness-Conscious-Living-ebook/dp/B004RH4BNE/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1302198375&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow"> The Choice for Consciousness: Tools for Conscious Living, Vol. 1 </a><br><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Homo-Spiritus-Sessions-Vol-ebook/dp/B004XZSYS8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=books&qid=1304362448&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">The Homo Spiritus Sessions, Vol. 1, </a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Homo-Spiritus-Sessions-Vol-ebook/dp/B004ZLDH78/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_3" rel="nofollow"> Vol. 2</a>Eloheim and Veronicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13516061229820200875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-58234494076536562412011-05-17T02:59:15.620-05:002011-05-17T02:59:15.620-05:00@SE Gordon and DC Gallin - How does being with a ...@SE Gordon and DC Gallin - How does being with a traditional publisher help a writer develop? For a start you are part of a team that is on call for advice and support for every stage of the book - from developing a treatment, writing, editing and marketing. Most writers do have input into the cover, SE Gordon, i certainly do! But the biggest help is the payment of advances where a writer gets a big chunk of cash up front which gives him/her the freedom to concentrate on writing and not have to worry about how the bills are to be paid! That's something that isn't discussed much, but most established writers were helped by the fact that they were given a big advance at the start of the careers. That meant that they could write full time and develop their craft without being tied to a job. I was a journalist on the London Times when I wrote my breakout book and the fact that I got a £100,000 advance in the UK and $350,000 from Pocket Books in the US meant I could give up the day job and write full-time. That's the reason I don't begrudge my publisher their share of the profits - they backed me when I started out, it's only fair that they reap the rewards now!<br /><br />@DC Gallin - I'm surprised you're not aware of Private Dancer in Thailand - I self-publish there and sell 6,000 copies a year, plus another 4,000 or so out of Singapore! Also Bangkok Bob and the Missing Mormon, which I also self-publish there as a real book. You'll see them both at any Asia Books or Bookazine store.....Stephen Leatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08179238880325952527noreply@blogger.com