C h a z z W r i t e s . c o m

See all my books at AllThatChazz.com.

10/18/2010 • 9:45 AM 0

Contest #2 Winning Post: Don’t Fear the Reaper

Image via Wikipedia

Chazz here. Writer and aspiring scriptwriter PA Melo wrote an interesting article on the future of publishing. He won the book Time Was Soft There by Jeremy Mercer. Here’s his article:

The future of book publishing is grim right now. From what I see, it’s on a path to destruction. However, it will change from the path it’s on once publishers realize they can no longer hope to make the current model sustainable. (The term “current” is misleading in this context. The publishing model has changed very little in a very long time. What is current is debatable because the state of publishing is in flux.)

In a recent Quill & Quire article, for instance, the Canadian publishing journal reported that book sales reps are becoming obsolete. One veteran sales person advised anyone who thought about getting into the sales side of publishing to “go learn how to build a website.” That’s good advice. And it’s also good news for the planet. Sending book salespeople all over with paper catalogues and then shipping tons of books all over the place isn’t an earth-friendly strategy. What made the article even more poignant was another reason book sales representatives were less useful: There are far fewer independent bookstores upon which they could even make sales calls.

When I talk to older relatives, they all say how resistant they are to reading books on screens. Most of those same relatives have never attempted to read a book on a screen. I sang a little “Don’t dear the Reaper,” to them in reply. No, dead tree books won’t disappear entirely, but if my family wants to buy them, they will have to pay a premium for them. Already I pay for audiobooks from iTunes at $9.99. I used to have to pay up between $60 – $70 for that privilege when I bought audiobooks on CDs. Now it’s on my MP3 or iPod and it’s cheap.

Right now, as the industry goes through its transition, there are still naysayers, but their voices are getting smaller and less sure of themselves. I’m convinced writers will be paid less and will have to write more. However, they will also have new opportunities to reach new markets and to market themselves. Publishers are in flux because they aren’t sure of their role anymore. Before they could point to their distribution networks. However, in a world where I can put up my own website and sell my own stuff, build my own fanbase and (some day) deliver my books to my readers immediately, I don’t need no stinkin’ publisher! (Or maybe I do. But the terms for my ebooks better get a whole lot more fair than what I’ve been hearing lately!)

I’m a novice writer. I’ll grow into this profession of writing and me and my peers think no more about reading onscreen than you do about putting on your seatbelt. I wish publishers were changing faster, but I’m sure that those who cling to old contracts and old business models won’t be around in a few years. Their role is being redefined. If they aren’t very careful, it will be redefined for them.

Our roles as writers is also being redefined. We’ll have to take less money up front just like musicians have had to do. (Now I hardly ever buy a whole album. It’s only the songs I absolutely want or nothing.) And we’ll have to take more responsibility for our own careers. I’m looking forward to the challenge!

(Chazz again. As I posted this editorial, I noticed one of the links below. E-book Sales Up 193% So Far This Year (mashable.com) seems to gel with Mr. Melo’s remarks.)

Mike Shatzkin thinks publishers should protect paper books (teleread.com)
Why book publishing needs the Silicon Valley way (publishingtalk.eu)
J.A. Konrath: eBooks And The Ease Of Self-Publishing (huffingtonpost.com)
EBook Pricing Goes Outright Insane (mikecanex.wordpress.com)
The Evolution of the E-book: When is a Book Not a Book? (gigaom.com)
E-book Sales Up 193% So Far This Year (mashable.com)
Amazon goes into battle with publishers over ebook prices (guardian.co.uk)
E-Books Sales Nearly Double in a Year, Trounce Harcovers In August (wired.com)
ebooks now at 9%, free book, kindle thoughts (ireaderreview.com)
Time to Adjust our Expectations (famousbloggers.net)
Finding Your Writing Voice without Losing Your Mind (psychcentral.com)
Retraining readers of an industry organ (fawny.org)

Filed under: publishing, Rant, Bookselling, Business, iTunes, publishing

10/08/2010 • 8:10 PM 0

Your Friday Afternoon Reward: publishing advice links!

Image via Wikipedia

Will Technology Kill Book Publishing?

Organize Your Writing Business by one of my favorites, agent Rachelle Gardner.

Top Ten Statements to Scare Off a Literary Agent

How Publishing Really Works: Reverse Vanity Publishing

Why Agents May be Opposed to Self-publishing

Raccah calls time on book publishers by theBookseller.com‏

Book Industry Problems

The e-Writer’s Place Writers Resource – 10 Tips For Writing Columns‏

Talking to Agents and Editors at Conferences

Literary agents open the door to self-published writers (alanrinzler.com)
Yes, You Can Make a Living as a Fiction Author (webupon.com)
Literary Agents Open the Door to Self-Published Writers (blogs.forbes.com)
Money Should Flow to The Writer, But Always? (gomestic.com)
Self-Publishing Expo: A Look Into the Future (teleread.com)
French publishers descry Wylie’s publishing venture (teleread.com)
Two views of the future of publishing (teleread.com)
Publishing Industry Blogs (writinghood.com)

Filed under: publishing, E-book, Literary agent, publishing, publishing advice links, self-publishing, Vanity press, Writers Resources

10/08/2010 • 10:22 AM 1

Writers! What’s Your Policy on Simultaneous Submissions?

Cover for an issue of Asimov's Science Fiction.

Image via Wikipedia

When magazines or editors say they don’t accept simultaneous submissions, I usually ignore them. Fortunately, most don’t ask for that anymore. If someone does ask for it, it can be okay if they get back with a yes or no quickly. Asimov’s Sci-fi asks for an exclusive, but they do get back quickly and I like them, so I’ll gladly honor their request.

However, when a magazine says they don’t accept simultaneous submissions and provide no indication when they plan to get back to you, I ignore that policy. Some magazines and journals can take up to a year (or even more) to get back to you. That’s unacceptable to me. If someone else accepts in the meantime, I’ll be sure to let other publications know right away. Most are okay with that. For instance, I submitted a piece to McSweeney’s and later had to withdraw it because the story was accepted elsewhere. McSweeney’s editors didn’t give me a hard time about that at all. In fact, they congratulated me and sent a nice note.

There is a fantasy magazine (if you’re submitting, you’ll run across it) that requires paper manuscript submissions only. Their policy rationale is that since formatting and submitting hard copy is such a pain in the butt, it decreases their submission rate. I’m sure that’s true. I object to their policy on a few counts, though. It’s not environmentally-friendly. It takes much longer to submit, but if my submission was electronic, they could reject it or accept it much faster as well. They’re inconveniencing me on purpose. Where else would you put up with that in life? They’re cutting down submissions with a guerilla tactic. There are lots of writers and we’re obviously expendable. Okay. I won’t submit at all where I don’t feel valued. Problem solved on both sides, I guess.

There are also lots of magazines to which I can send submissions, so that Luddite magazine might not be the loss they think they are. I’m in business. Electronic submission is efficient. Therefore, I’ll work in this century and they can stick to the last one. The irony is, if this magazine were to accept, they aren’t chiseling the text in stone. They’d immediately be looking for an electronic copy of the manuscript! If they worked like everyone else, they’d already have one. Enough.

The main reason I feel it’s imperative to make multiple submissions is, we, as writers, have already waited for publication long enough. There’s a long lag time because the slush pile for fiction is deep. I sympathize. I’ve worked a slush pile (more on that in another post.) But from the submissions side, the process takes so long that if you submit one piece at a time, your odds of dying before publication are excellent.

That was strident. What’s your take?

Libre Graphics magazine call for submissions (boingboing.net)
Submissions and the “Waste Basket” (motleyvision.org)
The Tin House Rules: Purchase Required (fastcompany.com)
No? Still No? Let Me Submit Again. [Magazines] (gawker.com)
Adding Article Submission To Your Marketing Strategy (ronmedlin.com)
How to Assess Blog Content Submissions (problogger.net)
Romance Publisher Accepting Novel Submission (suite101.com)
Alt Hist magazine submissions coming along nicely (marklord.info)

Filed under: magazines, writing tips, magazines, Magazines and E-zines, multiple submissions, publishing, simultaneous submissions

10/06/2010 • 7:34 PM 2

10 Reasons We Aren’t Writing Faster

Image via Wikipedia

1. We are hooked up to the Internet. (Did you know they have porn and wrestling kittens–or both!) on the web? Why would you make your dreams come true when there are distractions like that?

2. We don’t outline and we got fifty pages in before we hit a dead-end. Now what? Back up and go again? What if I hit another roadblock?

3. Coffeemaker broke and can’t afford Starbucks. We could afford one Starbucks flavored coffee…if we get that barista job.

4. We chose the wrong point of view from the start. We did not realize this until we hit the climax on page 326.

5. Kids, job, sleep…minor, dispensable obstacles en route to glory.

6. Best friend got published. Instead of writing, it is necessary to run in circles around the house cursing god, fate, Random House…not necessarily in that order.

7. Writer’s Block. Urk! It is now necessary for us to attempt a bank robbery for new content. Could also solve #3 if our getaway works out.

8. Depression. Cold, paralyzing depression. “Why haven’t I won a Giller by now? Or at least published?”

9. False starts. Your agent tried a few publishers and dumped you. The acquiring editor took you on with glee (and then immediately switched over to educational publishing.) The journal that was going to feature you went under. Close calls are part of the writing deal.

10. Laziness. Yeah, I said it. Laziness.

Kitten Massage Update: Kittens Now Cats [Video] (jezebel.com)
“Distraction,” Simplicity, and Running Toward Shitstorms (43folders.com)

Filed under: getting it done, publishing, Rant, Rejection, publishing, Writers Resources, writing

10/05/2010 • 10:10 AM 0

Reasons We Aren’t Published by 25

1. We overslept and underwrote.

2. Because the Man wuzz keepin’ us down, man! Also, weed.

3. Cabbage Patch Kids and comic book obsession. Also, heroin.

4. We were chasing other dreams. Idol didn’t work out.

5. Kids. Good trade there.

6. We got distracted with the regular job so we could do exotic things…like eat. And not live under an overpass.

7. We thought living under an overpass and too much alcohol was bad. Turns out, it was research.

8. For girls, boys. For boys girls. Also, multiple variations of those two factors.

9. What we thought was good when we were young writers was not good.

10. Face it. When we were in our 20s, we just didn’t have anything to say yet.

BONUS:

We didn’t write enough. We’re catching up now, aren’t we? Right? Right? Okay, go write.

Publishing Your Own Comics: An Assessment & Guide (brighthub.com)
Knopf Buys 4 Great Pages For $2.5 Million (huffingtonpost.com)

Filed under: getting it done, Unintentionally hilarious, Creating, excuses not to write, procrastination, publishing, writing

10/02/2010 • 2:10 PM 0

Contest #1 Winner Announcement

JEFritz won Kevin Smith‘s graphic novel Cacophony (art by Walt Flanagan.) Find her blog here.

Thanks, JEFritz, for supporting Chazz Writes and congratulations! It’s a great book. (Regular readers know I love all things Kevin Smith and I’m even seeing him in person next month!)

Thanks to all those who sent left comments, linked to the blog, discovered the blog or just sent me nice notes on Twitter. If you’re disappointed, please don’t be. Contests #2 and #3 are still open! Submit a book review or write a short essay and let us in on your thoughts on the future of publishing (pretty wide topic, so take liberties if you like as long as it’s about writing, publishing or editing.)

I want into the draws! Take me to the contest rules, Chazz!

Filed under: Contest announcement, book review, contest winner, Graphic novel, Kevin Smith, publishing, Walt Flanagan

09/29/2010 • 9:53 PM 0

Author Websites

I’m not much on preamble, but I’m really excited to share some really helpful stuff in tomorrow’s blog. We’re talking about the book business, yes, but we’re really working on improving the project that is you (and me!)

Tomorrow I’ve got a couple of stories for you about networking. The word has a bad spammy vibe. That’s unfortunate because the traits of an excellent networker serve anyone who wants to promote their book, their business and simply connect with people to enrich their lives. Good networkers are good at life. I’m going to introduce you to a guy who is excellent at connecting at people—a master, in fact. That’s the preview. Don’t sleep. Stay giddy. Tomorrow’s blog could really help you. It’s helping me.

Tonight I want to take a moment to discuss author websites. To get there, I’m going to tell you what a smart buddy of mine said a few years ago. We were talking about investments. I was worried about what to invest in. His reply was, “It’s less important what you invest in. It is essential that you invest.” Don’t suffer from paralysis by analysis.

I thought about that lesson earlier this year when I was talking to an aspiring author. I told her how I was working on this website. She said she knew it was important for her to establish a web presence and get a fan base going. However, she hadn’t started and it seemed she had no plans. What was holding her back? She was concerned that editors and agents would look at her site and find it lacking. Her theory was that they might like her manuscript, but if they didn’t care for her website, the deal would be sunk.

She was waiting for…actually, I’m not sure what she was waiting for. I guess she was waiting for the time to be right, or for the energy to be higher or to develop a ton of content that was perfect. Unfortunately, if you want a book deal some day, the best time to start your website would be years ago at the Internet’s inception. Second best time? Now.

There is no right time, the energy will never be high unless you concentrate on the task and realize perfection is an illusion. Strive for excellence. Reject perfection. Universal acceptance of all you write isn’t any more realistic than is expecting every editor and agent to clamor for your manuscript.

The only time to avoid working on your web presence is when it’s cutting into your writing time. Do not sacrifice your writing time for your website. That’s the caveat. Otherwise, ditch the excuses and start up. Start small if you like and you can choose to update weekly instead of daily. You can choose to upgrade later. Just begin. As with your manuscript, something is better than nothing.

It’s less important what you do. It’s more important that you do.

BONUS:

Tomorrow, in Part I of the networking story, I’ll also introduce you to an awesome author I met at Word on the Street in Toronto. Her name is Sue Kenney. You can check out her website at www.suekenney.ca. And yes, her website is great!

How To Get Published, Part 11: What Comes Next (blogher.com)
DIY MFA: What Happens Next – Wrap Up (Part Eleven) (stirrup-queens.com)
Not So Obvious (or Rejections Are Fun!) (thesplinteredmind.blogspot.com)
New writers take the Internet route to reaching readers (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Finding Your Writing Voice without Losing Your Mind (psychcentral.com)
Interview with Children’s Author Donna McDine (blogcritics.org)
How to Do A Content Audit of Your Website (tjantunen.com)
The 9 Worst Ways to Use Twitter for Business (hubspot.com)

Filed under: Publicity & Promotion, publishing, web reviews, Writers, author websites, publishing, writer blogs, Writers Resources

09/22/2010 • 11:00 AM 0

My God! Even More Writing Advice Links!

Jane Friedman’s blog at Writer’s Digest.

If you’re a writer, you must read this.

She also includes the best links she finds each week for even more great advice.

A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing: The Changing Face of Publishing‏

A full-time thriller writer makes predictions about the future of publishing.

How Publishing Really Works

(Good blog, irresistible title)

Why Writing for Your Readers is a Bad Idea (wordsforhirellc.com)
On Beefing Up Your Novel (advancedfictionwriting.com)
How to Write (Better): Author Branding and Unmarketing in the Publishing World (blogher.com)
The Trouble With Mid-Career Advice (whatever.scalzi.com)
Top 10 Things That Would Make the Writing World a Better Place (chuckpalahniuk.net)
Book Marketing, the Authors Marketing Powerhouse, Announces Writing Contest for Authors (prweb.com)

Filed under: publishing, web reviews, writing tips, jane friedman, publishing, writer, Writer's Digest, Writers Resources, writing

09/13/2010 • 10:01 AM 1

Author Platforms: “Resistance is Futile!”

Cover of "Get Known Before The Book Deal:...

Cover via Amazon

It used to be that writers didn’t have to have a platform. Now they do. Resist at your peril because (cue weird Borg voice):

“Resistance is Futile!”

There are too many ways our attention is fractured. You must appear in more than one medium to gain attention for your main medium, your book.

What is a Writer’s Platform?

There are many routes to take, but the anchor of your media empire should be your blog. From your blog, all the other branches of your interests expand. If you don’t have a blog, people won’t find you.

Why is a platform so useful?

I once ran into a fellow who was trying to sell me something. I asked for his website address. He looked at me with resentment and said he wasn’t convinced a website was necessary. All his competitors had websites so I could compare my buying options at my leisure. This poor guy thought he could make a living off impulse buys. People don’t buy most items on impulse anymore. With a search engine it is very easy to research your purchases and buy when you feel you are ready. More and more, people are buying online. In an age of Ferraris, this guy was still in the buggy whip business.

But what about platforms for authors specifically?

If you aren’t published yet, your agent or publisher will want you to have a blog, preferably one that’s already established. Even better, a popular blog with a lot of subscribers anxious to buy your book. Your publisher will have a publicist. In my experience, you’re crazy to depend on the publisher’s publicist to do that much for you. Even publishers have recognized this and are putting more and more of the promotion and publicity duties upon authors. Increasingly, publishers are about their distribution network and less and less about everything else.

What are my platform options?

Podcasting, vlogging, Twitter, teaching, guest blogging, public speaking, teaching, subscriber newsletters, Facebook, Linked In, Four Square, media appearances, magazine articles, and radio interviews.

All of the above starts with blogging.