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Post by zionsrodevos on Aug 11, 2011 13:18:27 GMT -5
Hi everyone,
My name is Robert. I've been looking for a writers place where I can feel at ease and talk with people. I got a message telling me about this site and decided to come check it out.
Since I love cats and kittens the kitten reading was a very good sign too me.
With the free time I can manage to set aside for writing I work on my first novel. I finished the first draft and am about one fourth of the way through the first revision. I am planning to self publish once I have it ready for publication. If this happens to be something that is discouraged here please let me know now and I'll just move along to another site. I have commissioned a cover and am working with people who are helping me get the story ready.
I enjoy playing computer games and they tend to distract me from writing. Most recently I am playing Myst Online which I like because it is mostly exploring and puzzle solving and doesn't have fighting in it.
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Lily
Administrator
Posts: 2,197
Joined: May 2011
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Post by Lily on Aug 11, 2011 14:05:19 GMT -5
Welcome, Robert. I'm sure you'll like it here. And as for self-publishing, no way do we condemn it. Heck we're realists and in this day and age it's about the only sensible way to go. You'll see quite extensive advice and information about self publishing on the Resources, and the All About Publishing boards. To tell a writer he should go the "traditional" route querying agents is unrealistic in the changed world of publishing. And a new writer has about as much chance of landing a good agent, as he has of winning the lottery. However, even if he does beat the staggering odds, agents only find publishers for about fifty percent of their clients. Whereas, if a writer queries publishers directly, which we advocate here, when they say "yes," he's in. Also, agents don't always land contracts with the major publishers. They deal with smaller houses as well. So the deal you end up getting via an agent could be quite disappointing. Especially considering the very very long time it takes to get that far. Self publishing puts you in complete control. What's not to like about that? As for the cover, you can save a ton of money by designing one yourself. It's really not that difficult and quite fun once you get onto it. Or, you can get an artist for free -- they're happy to work for the credits -- via sites like these: www.artwanted.com/mb/view.cfm?Cat=5www.deviantart.com/
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Lily
Administrator
Posts: 2,197
Joined: May 2011
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Post by Lily on Aug 11, 2011 15:18:05 GMT -5
I'd also just like to add here that agents only injected themselves into the process, as middle-man, in fairly recent times. Stephen King, for instance, did not have an agent for his first book. Neither did so many other famous and successful authors. An agent never was "necessary" as is touted like gospel on so many writer's forums. There's also a thread here you might enjoy, Robert, about self-publishing success stories. Of course, you'll never hear about those on some of the other writer's forums. That would go against the grain of their tunnel vision ideology. wherewritersmeet.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=333
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Post by zionsrodevos on Aug 12, 2011 7:23:58 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome and information.
The book I am working on is a YA fantasy and I want a dragon on the cover which is why I didn't look for a cheap solution for the cover. The book will do well once published and so I will make back the money on the cover.
The part about agents only getting involved in recent times I had not heard before. Do you know when they became middle men between authors and publishers?
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Richard
Member
Posts: 610
Joined: July 2011
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Post by Richard on Aug 12, 2011 10:28:40 GMT -5
Welcome, Robert.
Congratulations on your novel. Looking at your blog it seems you were influenced by Anne McCaffrey for your story. I never read the series, but a close friend has and they recommended it.
As for self publishing, look around the forum as there are a number of resources/links to help with various aspects of that, as well as marketing and promotion.
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Post by zionsrodevos on Aug 12, 2011 14:51:17 GMT -5
That has been one of my worries that my story or the dragons in it would be too close to Anne McCaffrey's. I think I have managed to keep it from seeming like a copy of her books.
I am liking what I have seen so far in the way of resources here.
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