tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post6732852495395755597..comments2024-03-18T06:16:18.802-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: For the Authors Guild & Other Legacy Publishing PunditsJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-60087543151889472042014-08-10T13:00:38.712-05:002014-08-10T13:00:38.712-05:00The American writers commenting don't know how...The American writers commenting don't know how lucky they are. My Spanish publisher pays royalties ONCE a year. But then forgets to pay anyway...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-29770393609022520752014-08-10T12:58:48.350-05:002014-08-10T12:58:48.350-05:00The American writers commenting don't know how...The American writers commenting don't know how lucky they are. My Spanish publisher pays royalties ONCE a year. But then forgets to pay anyway...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-58186736407047545232014-08-10T10:09:44.730-05:002014-08-10T10:09:44.730-05:00They might look to the excellent Society of Author...They might look to the excellent Society of Authors in the UK. I'm an American, but I'm a very happy SoA member. I've never considered joining the Authors Guild.Dorothy Zemachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17513482214360788147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-51163762238797200922014-08-08T09:23:03.511-05:002014-08-08T09:23:03.511-05:00I'm an author, so I chafe at the "reserve...I'm an author, so I chafe at the "reserves against returns." <br /><br />My son owns Bakka-Phoenix Books (oldest sf/f bookstore in the known universe) and his position is that without the ability to return unsold copies, he'd be less likely to take chances on new and less-well-known authors.<br /><br />Truth is, we're both right: the reserves against returns now protects publishers and the big box booksellers from bad business decisions, like ordering hundreds more copies than they know they can sell just to make the displays look good. (Indie stores don't do this; buy indie!) <br /><br />Why are the authors the only ones charged for returns? Why aren't the cover artists, the typesetters, the sales people, the editors, even the support staff, also dinged for returns?KatyDoesWritehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02351958504622328496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-17247693080587661072014-08-07T10:02:24.136-05:002014-08-07T10:02:24.136-05:00I have published with two smaller presses, besides...I have published with two smaller presses, besides the books I have self published (and made far more money on, by the way). Press #1 pays monthly, but 7 months after the sales are made--including the ebook sales, which they are paid for after 60 days. Once I earn at least $50 on a book, minus any returns that have been made in the past six months, I get a check. If two books earn that much I get two checks (because apparently their accounting department is clueless.) I will probably never get my rights back to these books because they don't offer rights unless you sell fewer than 25 copies *in a year*. If I want them back before then, I'll be paying through the nose, in addition to buying the paper copies at my author price (%60 off cover price). For 4,000 copies. Yeah. They didn't even sell 4000 paper copies of the books. Since I don't think I'll be making $30K off those books even if I could unload all of those paper copies, I'll cut my losses for now and try again in a few years. I'd rather work on promotion for new books that make me real money.<br /><br />Publisher #2 only does POD and doesn't have books in stores, though they could if they raised the print prices a little like Dean Wesley Smith says. They pay every month on whatever they were paid from the various retailers in the previous month, which means I get paid about 90 days after the sale is made. I make far more money from them than from the publisher who has actual print distribution. I can actually get my rights back whenever I want them back, but I've committed to 2 years from the last book they put out since they did do actual editing and have done actual promotions for me. And I get paid MUCH better per book than my first publisher. I'm letting them earn back some expenses on the books (That started out as serials on their site) and then I'll rebrand and re-release them.<br /><br />I still make way more on my own though, so I'm definitely sticking with self publishing from here on out.Heather Justesenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16585046213575146355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-87554421398287407972014-08-05T20:18:37.397-05:002014-08-05T20:18:37.397-05:00The Authors Guild hasn't responded yet? I'...The Authors Guild hasn't responded yet? I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you!Mattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-24059227935840057802014-08-05T16:00:41.206-05:002014-08-05T16:00:41.206-05:00Excellent post. 100% agree with everything you'...Excellent post. 100% agree with everything you've said.Michael J. Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06892162383465544899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-79304057449392527912014-08-05T06:00:57.256-05:002014-08-05T06:00:57.256-05:00You guys got it all wrong. It's called a "...You guys got it all wrong. It's called a "guild" for a reason and not a "union". Guilds exist to keep membership low and prices high. If they could go a step further license writers they would. So, of course, they support traditional publishers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-74687545242566173742014-08-05T00:14:59.125-05:002014-08-05T00:14:59.125-05:00My I suggest another change to publishing which th...My I suggest another change to publishing which the AG should be aggressively pursuing in publishing contracts:- transparent print runs and transparent accounting for author's royalties on same. <br />Not to mention plain language subsidiary rights clauses or none at all.<br />J K Rowling buying back her digital rights is proof enough of the fact that no publisher can be trusted to account for the kind of coin those rights of hers are worth. And she only got 10% or less of what her publisher has made I bet - paid six monthly.Christine Leov Lealandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14602178094709108299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-89639302367634642222014-08-04T15:44:10.828-05:002014-08-04T15:44:10.828-05:00Joe:
Once more I thank you. First, because years a...Joe:<br />Once more I thank you. First, because years ago your advice helped me avoid some problems. Now, because these great suggestions would make the AG a super organization benefitting all writers.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11560755679498126758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-4856431525583982392014-08-04T15:32:38.957-05:002014-08-04T15:32:38.957-05:00While I understand that the whole returns process ...While I understand that the whole returns process is like a giant locomotive that publishing has a hard time figuring out how to quit, the electronic sales are as immediately accountable as the vendors allow. And that's quick, even for the slow ones.<br /><br />For the life of me I can't figure out why Big 5 can only manage to pay for digital sales twice a year. Even if the generous one week returns for Amazon digital sales is accounted for, a monthly pay for e-sales should be entirely possible. <br /><br />And I love your additions, Joe. They should do it...immediately! And then maybe the Indies will join, too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11111612317795472200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-18998060605710183982014-08-04T09:22:00.486-05:002014-08-04T09:22:00.486-05:00@Frank Dellen - what a great idea and example, tha...@Frank Dellen - what a great idea and example, thanks!adanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00710750989853277203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-62729517410779725502014-08-04T09:15:49.966-05:002014-08-04T09:15:49.966-05:00Much can be said against the Society of German Wri...Much can be said against the Society of German Writers (Verband Deutscher Schriftsteller, "VS" in short) but they managed to establish a contract template as an industry standard. There's room in that template for individual royalties but the rights reversion default is ten years, for example.<br />So there's a lot less legal dispute in Germany.<br /><br />I'd think something like that would be a top priority for any organisation that claims to have the interest of writers in mind.Frank Dellenhttp://www.prosaschleuder.denoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-64728077804796402452014-08-04T09:08:03.769-05:002014-08-04T09:08:03.769-05:00Hi Joe, Using the only email address i could find ...Hi Joe, Using the only email address i could find for you, linked to your newsletter offer, I've sent you an exchange of correspondence I had between the AG's Sandy Long and myself some weeks ago. Help yourself! (It was too long for these comments)<br />Dinah Lee KüngDinah Lee Küng, "A Visit From Voltaire," "Love and the Art of War" and seven other novels.http://www.dinahleekung.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-81443019524212120852014-08-04T03:07:53.430-05:002014-08-04T03:07:53.430-05:00This is great, Joe. It's astonishing to read y...This is great, Joe. It's astonishing to read your criticisms. <br /><br />I'd like to add a suggestion. I'm a British author who lives in France and sells mainly in the UK and the USA with smaller sales worldwide. <br /><br />I'm not the only author like this. So I'd like to see an organisation which represents authors world-wide which is how writing and the market is increasingly operating. <br /><br />Martin Lakehttp://martinlakewriting.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-89596677562664160012014-08-03T20:08:35.314-05:002014-08-03T20:08:35.314-05:00I look forward to seeing the Authors Guild respond...<i>I look forward to seeing the Authors Guild respond to these points.</i><br /><br />Don't hold your breath, Matt.T. M. Bilderbackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10543827916764604918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-37579784759562442002014-08-03T19:16:32.492-05:002014-08-03T19:16:32.492-05:00I look forward to seeing the Authors Guild respond...I look forward to seeing the Authors Guild respond to these points.Mattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-27385879536077537002014-08-03T11:28:47.696-05:002014-08-03T11:28:47.696-05:00The Author's Guild should be sued by members a...The Author's Guild should be sued by members and ex-members for not representing most of the membership, misrepresenting itself, and conflict of interest. $900,000 a year in dues elevates the Author's Guild to higher responsibility levels and accountability.Walter Knighthttp://www.waltknight.yolasite.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-63997474763091413522014-08-03T08:42:21.550-05:002014-08-03T08:42:21.550-05:00Personally I think the health insurance is a huge ...Personally I think the health insurance is a huge issue and one of the reasons I'll probably join RWA. And one of the reasons I'll keep my day job until I have lots of money saved. Being required to buy it now and cover your family that is a huge amount of money. anything that would give me better coverage for less money would interest me greatly.<br /><br />I just published my first book, and while I'm doing decent, there is no way it would even cover any insurance premium.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08750425379922238031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-82940292310082571212014-08-03T08:27:55.678-05:002014-08-03T08:27:55.678-05:00I disagree about half-year royalty settlements. In...I disagree about half-year royalty settlements. In fact I think this is such a good idea that the publishers ought to expand it - and pay their executives' salaries only twice a year. For last year's work.<br /><br />What's good for the goose, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-24277847501215490132014-08-03T07:41:24.480-05:002014-08-03T07:41:24.480-05:00Joe, I'd like to add that small self-published...Joe, I'd like to add that small self-published authors in particular, but really all writers, not be required to be selectively exclusive, apart from other authors, to be part of Kindle Unlimited. It's a small thing, but important to writers like me. Thanks!adanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00710750989853277203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-79762278037430806392014-08-03T04:32:37.334-05:002014-08-03T04:32:37.334-05:00I have visitors this weekend so this has to be sup...I have visitors this weekend so this has to be super quick, but, in case there is any doubt, I'm happy to assist the AG in any way in terminating their partnership with Author Solutions, and warning their members and authors in general about the exploitative practices of the company. (I don't need to be paid either.)<br /><br />And CJ already has a list from me :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-42644605378679900912014-08-03T04:17:23.098-05:002014-08-03T04:17:23.098-05:00In as much as AG has failed us in this regard, has...In as much as AG has failed us in this regard, has anybody else compiled a list of third parties who can help an indie author bring a new book to market?Axel Blackwellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-9265920820179772712014-08-03T04:00:32.407-05:002014-08-03T04:00:32.407-05:00Maybe rename it the author's geld?Maybe rename it the author's geld?Axel Blackwellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-88940431467032284402014-08-03T02:52:53.180-05:002014-08-03T02:52:53.180-05:00could you joe share the reasons you cant tell trap...could you joe share the reasons you cant tell trapped authors step by step how you got out of your contracts with rights reverted. It would be so helpful if y ou could tell us, or at least tell us why not. Did you have to sign a no-tell contract or?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com