tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post9190235602223705267..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: From Self-Pubbed to ContractBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-37653716390357167762011-03-24T15:02:08.684-04:002011-03-24T15:02:08.684-04:00Tom, I didn't think 'move on' necessar...Tom, I didn't think 'move on' necessarily meant "abandon" the current book. It just means, don't get stuck focussed on this one. Work towards the next project at the same time.Ailsahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02824021953575422303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-9540273439798302462011-03-21T00:24:36.840-04:002011-03-21T00:24:36.840-04:00Wait a second... the author wrote the book, believ...Wait a second... the author wrote the book, believes in the book, has self-published the book, has devoted countless hours self-promoting the book, pushing the book through new media to wherever they can reach... and you're all advising it's time to "move on" from the book to another brand new start-from-scratch project? That's awful, awful, awful advice, terrible advice, particularly if the market for the book is growing, even by tiny, tiny, incremental degrees. Yes, of course, work on the next book, never stop writing... but abandon the first? If the author feels the market and potential for it is tapped, yes, absolutely; and if the author is not working on another book because of the first, than yes, absolutely... but abandon it completely? In this day and age of direct sales? You're all still working from a 20th century business model, methinks.Tom Hoefnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03664208997837635067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-64476664776847475592011-03-18T09:02:14.318-04:002011-03-18T09:02:14.318-04:00What K.L. said, as well as move on and become prol...What K.L. said, as well as move on and become prolific. Work towards putting out two full-length novels a year, every year. Market, write, market, write, hustle, hustle, hustle, always forward.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-43514099799325452222011-03-18T05:14:33.724-04:002011-03-18T05:14:33.724-04:00that should read "they will find you." ...that should read "they will find you." lol <br /><br />5 am, no coffee. What do you expect?K.L. Bradyhttp://www.authorklbrady.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-77258648990784653942011-03-18T05:12:33.427-04:002011-03-18T05:12:33.427-04:00As a self-pubbed author who was picked up by a big...As a self-pubbed author who was picked up by a big six house, my best advice to you is, DON'T send it back out to agents. <br /><br />Do put it on Kindle AND Smashwords. <br /><br />Do continue to market this book online. <br /><br />Do start your next project. <br /><br />I know from experience that if you make the sales, get great reviews, and an editor thinks it can be profitable on a larger scale, they find for you! :) And you'll have no trouble getting an agent with an offer in hand. <br /><br />But it's time to move forward...K.L. Bradyhttp://www.authorklbrady.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-60821143813700137712011-03-18T00:10:40.963-04:002011-03-18T00:10:40.963-04:00Quite by happenstance, I stumbled across a writer ...Quite by happenstance, I stumbled across a writer who published a POD book; the writer had also made her book available in numerous formats on Amazon and Smashwords. I ordered the POD book. When it comes to books, my palate is very hard to please -- and this was a genre I don't even like (paranormal romance). And yet here's this unknown who can write circles around the published author of the softcover book I can't even bring myself to finish. <br /><br />So whenever I hear stories like this one, I think, "Gosh, what a crying shame this person didn't get an agent." :)Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17964273930628647763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-51567784276193641172011-03-18T00:08:50.347-04:002011-03-18T00:08:50.347-04:00POD is a good step, but as many have commented, th...POD is a good step, but as many have commented, this should really be going to the Kindle, Nook, etc. By stopping short of pushing widely, the publisher could be just as convinced that the author doesn't understand social media, self-advertising, etc.<br /><br />If the author hasn't registered on Kindle Boards (http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/board,60.0.html) and similar outlets, I would recommend it. There are a lot of indies there that are willing to help and give great advice - including guides on how to format your eBooks. Cheers and good luck!Rex Jamesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02110714906372459985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-8091041073543225602011-03-17T21:49:06.712-04:002011-03-17T21:49:06.712-04:00There's much buzz about self-publishing. I lo...There's much buzz about self-publishing. I love the advice to move forward. If the book has been successful or well-received, this is an opportunity to sell the next while people still remember it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-59016425997899664472011-03-17T18:44:48.229-04:002011-03-17T18:44:48.229-04:00Why wouldn't this person epub on Smashwords an...Why wouldn't this person epub on Smashwords and Amazon?<br /><br />And why would not our esteemed blogger advise the person, or indeed her readers, to do so in these circumstances?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-11778433312964383522011-03-17T16:03:11.712-04:002011-03-17T16:03:11.712-04:00I agree with the above… start writing your next bo...I agree with the above… start writing your next book, but don’t stop marketing the first one. The experience you will have gained will go a long way, if you do get a publishing contract. “We” hear it all the time, first time authors need to market, and push their own book. Why pass on an opportunity to do that with your POD book.<br /><br />Nothing is ever written in stone, your POD book might sell to a house one day. But keep going full steam ahead. Being stagnant doesn’t solve anything. If you’re not moving forward—always—then nothing will change.<br /><br />I wish you the best of luck…Jeff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667419764890599092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-73140983350240477902011-03-17T15:06:01.550-04:002011-03-17T15:06:01.550-04:00Why don't you electronically self-publish this...Why don't you electronically self-publish this book on Smashwords and Kindle? <br /><br />It can be done cheaply, and if you've got some positive word-of-mouth going, that would make the book available to those who want it. It opens you up to the possibility of going viral.<br /><br />Also, it doesn't stop you from moving on and writing another great book.jjdebenedictishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16950592240599703771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-86514671564333511092011-03-17T14:07:25.950-04:002011-03-17T14:07:25.950-04:00Most self-pubbed success stories I've read rev...Most self-pubbed success stories I've read revolve around authors having many ebooks available. It seems that the days of witing one novel a year are long gone. If only I could type with more than two fingers at a time...Sean Thomas Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02145218775529432161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-35074012887801294612011-03-17T13:12:58.501-04:002011-03-17T13:12:58.501-04:00I agree that this author has reached the point of ...I agree that this author has reached the point of needing to concentrate on the second book, but wanted to add that since she's already done the POD route, she might as well all create an e-version to sell on Amazon. If it sells well, that can only help.Kristin Laughtinhttp://kristinlaughtin.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-87466122741091923162011-03-17T12:40:24.485-04:002011-03-17T12:40:24.485-04:00I've yet to hear a truly convincing argument a...I've yet to hear a truly convincing argument against self-publishing, as POD or eBooks. It would seem logical that a writer get as much experience in the arenas of publishing and marketing as they can, to make them stronger authors.<br /><br />As publishers, which would you prefer - an untested and unproven writer with a passable manuscript, or a writer who's spent several years managing their own books from concept to realized publication?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06877068666532953249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-39611641010450689742011-03-17T11:53:03.304-04:002011-03-17T11:53:03.304-04:00Couldn't agree more with you comments. She nee...Couldn't agree more with you comments. She needs to move on to her next book and quit angsting over the first. I also wonder if it would be a help, when she queries on the new book, if she were to mention her success with the POD book?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-40874263285861986632011-03-17T11:38:30.754-04:002011-03-17T11:38:30.754-04:00I know a lot of authors going the self-pub route t...I know a lot of authors going the self-pub route these days, and I admire them. I'm even a fan of a few. <br /><br />Your advice about moving to the next book is absolutely essential advice. It seems a lot of people want to be published authors and want to hit it big with one book. And that's not how it works unless you are very, very lucky. <br /><br />Most published writers who aren't this lucky are usually at least two books ahead of the book they are currently writing. Same thing goes for most self-pubbed authors I know. In other words, they know when they finish the book they are working on where they are going with the next book.ryan fieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361694356025572544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-20838197831923551552011-03-17T11:35:18.448-04:002011-03-17T11:35:18.448-04:00There really are no rules in this business. My fir...There really are no rules in this business. My first NY contract came on a series that started as an online-only serial.<br /><br />However, moving on is important--not always easy, but best for your career. I would suggest using that self-published book as a springboard for your career--with the next story.Kate Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05486916548114546095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-17257866343841609462011-03-17T10:48:31.747-04:002011-03-17T10:48:31.747-04:00You always have to keep moving forward in this bus...You always have to keep moving forward in this business. <br /><br />I agree with your statement - "I think you're doing yourself a disservice by not moving on from this book." <br /><br />I hope the author takes it to heart.Loree Huebnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09845600356878587780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-19030113646500826692011-03-17T09:55:48.411-04:002011-03-17T09:55:48.411-04:00So...when writing the dreaded query letter for the...So...when writing the dreaded query letter for the second book, would the author simply include a blurb such as "I have previously published [First Book Title] POD with rave reveiws and great sales figures and feel confident that this manuscript is even stronger"?Lorendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02090195014205397231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-45544120303257648362011-03-17T09:41:11.772-04:002011-03-17T09:41:11.772-04:00I think you’re doing yourself a disservice by not ...<i>I think you’re doing yourself a disservice by not moving on from this book.</i><br /><br />That right there says it all.Lydia Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15328254761920829040noreply@blogger.com