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mary rosenblum
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Hello all!
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mary rosenblum
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Welcome to our Friday After
Hours.
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mary rosenblum
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This is our After Hours Forum,
with me, Mary Rosenblum, your web editor. Tonight we're talking about the
business side of writing. I've published seven novels (number eight will be
out next year) , more than 60 short stories, and will do my best to answer
any questions you have. If you're new here, remember that you need to click
on the 'Ask a Question' button or the 'word bubble' next to the red
question mark at the top of the screen in order to ask a question. Your
regular 'send' bar won't reach me! Or you can use /ask and type your
question into the regular send bar if that works better for you..
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mary rosenblum
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I hope you've all had a good
week, and I hope you had a chance to join us last night when I interviewed
Connie Shelton.
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mary rosenblum
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She did a very nice job of
presenting some sound publishing tips...
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mary rosenblum
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from the perspective of both a
writer and someone who started a successful publishing house.
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mary rosenblum
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If you missed our chat, you
can read the transcript in Surviving and Thriving...
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mary rosenblum
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Interview Transcripts.
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mary rosenblum
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We apparently had a shall we
say rude visitor last night.
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mary rosenblum
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We can't really lock someone
out of the system, alas, and the only way to make people like this...
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mary rosenblum
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go away is to ignore them.
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mary rosenblum
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You can do that.
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mary rosenblum
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If you choose to ignore them,
their comments will not show up on your screen.
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mary rosenblum
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I have the instructions for
the ichat plug in...
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mary rosenblum
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and I'll see what I can do for
those of you who use java.
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mary rosenblum
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By the way...there is a new
remedy for the security problems that block the ichat plug in.
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mary rosenblum
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If you click on the link on
the entry page, you'll find out how to allow ichat again safely.
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mary rosenblum
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Here are the instructions.
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mary rosenblum
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Click on the annoying person's
name in the list to the right of your screen.
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mary rosenblum
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. Click the open Menu button.
(The black triangle)
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mary rosenblum
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. Select users,
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mary rosenblum
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Select Ignore Messages from
User.
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mary rosenblum
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To allow that users comments
to show up again, do the same sequence, but select allow messages.
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mary rosenblum
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It allows you to carry on
conversations without the interruption of rude comments.
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mary rosenblum
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I'll post these on the
website.
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mary rosenblum
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Alas, as the website becomes
more popular, this type of circumstance will occur.
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mary rosenblum
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I guess we could call this
part of the business of writing, LOL.
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mary rosenblum
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This is our After Hours Forum,
with me, Mary Rosenblum, your web editor. Tonight we're talking about the
business side of writing. I've published seven novels (number eight will be
out next year) , more than 60 short stories, and will do my best to answer
any questions you have. If you're new here, remember that you need to click
on the 'Ask a Question' button or the 'word bubble' next to the red
question mark at the top of the screen in order to ask a question. Your
regular 'send' bar won't reach me! Or you can use /ask and type your
question into the regular send bar if that works better for you..
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mary rosenblum
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I wanted to talk about that
business side of writing, because if you want to take your writing beyond
the hobby level...
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mary rosenblum
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and work on making it at least
part of your income, you really do need to treat it like a business to a
greater or lesser degree.
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mary rosenblum
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And once you get beyond
writing one occasional piece when the spirit moves you..
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mary rosenblum
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it is very easy to lose track
of some important things such as deadlines, where a story has or has not
been, when your rights revert...
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mary rosenblum
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and details like that.
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mary rosenblum
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Then, there is the money side
of it.
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mary rosenblum
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If you plan to tell the IRS
that you are a self employed writer, you must behave as if it is a business
or they won't buy it.
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mary rosenblum
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I can't answer tax questions
(I'll try to get my accountant to visit with us again this year)...
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mary rosenblum
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but you do need to keep good
records if you plan to file as a writer.
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mary rosenblum
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If you are writing
nonfiction...
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mary rosenblum
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it's even more important to
keep records. You will send multiple query letters off for every project
you consider...
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mary rosenblum
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and you need to keep track of
where you sent those letters and how long it took to hear back, plus any
comments the editor gave you.
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mary rosenblum
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Start a record of your fiction
submissions.
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mary rosenblum
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Record the date you sent it
out, where you sent it, and the postage.
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mary rosenblum
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Record the date you heard
back, plus any comments you received. Or the sale of course. :-)
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mary rosenblum
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You will begin to find out
just how long each editor takes to return your work.
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mary rosenblum
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And often, if the editor takes
longer, it means a sale.
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mary rosenblum
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If you realize that this
editor usually responds in three months and it has been seven, you can send
a query.
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info
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what if you don't make more than
say a year at writing? Doesn't seem worth the effort to tell the government
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mary rosenblum
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Nah, probalby not, info.
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mary rosenblum
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But for those who do begin to
make multiple sales it quickly becomes an issue...
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mary rosenblum
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and even if you don't keep tax
records, keep those submission and response records.
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mary rosenblum
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If nothing else, it's a
marvelous road map of your progress.
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zubbycat
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What are the chances of actually
making a living writing only fiction?
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mary rosenblum
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Very very slender, zubby. It
just doesn't pay well.
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mary rosenblum
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If you write multiple series
for various publishers, you can earn a decent living, but you're...
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mary rosenblum
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looking at maybe 6 books a
year.
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mary rosenblum
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If you hit it big and become a
best seller, that'll do it, but that's catching the brass ring for sure.
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xana
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Isn't it illegal to not report
income?
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mary rosenblum
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It sure is.
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mary rosenblum
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But reporting income and
filing as a writer are two different things. :-)
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mary rosenblum
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Most fiction writers either
have some kind of day job...often they teach (like me for Long Ridge)...
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mary rosenblum
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or they write nonfiction to
pay the bills, or they have a spouse with a good job and health benefits!
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xana
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Shouldn't you be able to deduct
costs of writing from income whether or not you are a writer?
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beirdd
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well, If you aren't making a lot
of money, but (as I am) spending it, it could possibly be a tax benefit to
report it, as it will allow you to get back a little more from any other
income tax you had withheld.
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mary rosenblum
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I really can't answer tax
questions at all, but you can ask a tax professional about that.
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mary rosenblum
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ACtually, if you go back to
the Interview archives, you'll find my interview with John Caton, about two
years ago.
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mary rosenblum
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He's my accountant and
specializes in artists and writers. He answered a TON of questions like
these.
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janecj333
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or they just live like bag
ladies
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mary rosenblum
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Well, that sort of goes with
the job unless you have a rich family or spouse! LOL
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zubbycat
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how do you go about setting
realistic goals for yourself if you want to make a career of writing?
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mary rosenblum
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That's a very good question,
zubby, and it's one that is well worth considering if you want writing to
be more...
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mary rosenblum
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than a once-a-week hobby.
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mary rosenblum
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What you have to ask yourself
is first...how much do you need to live on.
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mary rosenblum
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Then you have to find a way to
make that money that allows you to write...
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mary rosenblum
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until you are making at least
some money writing.
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mary rosenblum
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That can take some time.
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mary rosenblum
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Most people already have a job
and enough family obligations that you just can't up and quit.
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mary rosenblum
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But I've had writer friends
who cut back to part time from full time...
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mary rosenblum
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where the family was willing
to take a cut in 'lifestyle'...
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mary rosenblum
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or split household chores and
each partner worked half time.
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mary rosenblum
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But these involve some serious
sacrifices.
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mary rosenblum
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Ask yourself what you really
want from you writing.
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mary rosenblum
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Do you really WANT a career?
Or do you just want to write and publish the occasional story...
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mary rosenblum
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maybe get one book published?
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mary rosenblum
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A realistic assessment of your
goals...your REAL goals...is not always easy.
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mary rosenblum
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YOu can end up feeling like a
failure because you aren't making your entire living writing and you're
publishing a couple of really good stories every year.
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mary rosenblum
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In nonfiction, set your income
goal.
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mary rosenblum
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What do you need to live on?
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mary rosenblum
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And keep track of your income
as your increase your sales and work your way up the pay scale in the
nonfiction market.
|
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mary rosenblum
|
This is our After Hours Forum,
with me, Mary Rosenblum, your web editor. Tonight we're talking about the
business side of writing. I've published seven novels (number eight will be
out next year) , more than 60 short stories, and will do my best to answer
any questions you have. If you're new here, remember that you need to click
on the 'Ask a Question' button or the 'word bubble' next to the red
question mark at the top of the screen in order to ask a question. Your
regular 'send' bar won't reach me! Or you can use /ask and type your
question into the regular send bar if that works better for you..
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xana
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Once you get a story or book
published, it's easier to set goals to write more
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mary rosenblum
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Oh, Xana, that is the TOUGHEST
part of writing.
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mary rosenblum
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You will never have as
difficult as time as you do before you publish that first piece.
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mary rosenblum
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It is SO hard to believe in
yourself when you have no confirmation that you're any good!
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andi
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I haven't figured my goals out
yet. I am getting second thoughts. Is that usual
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mary rosenblum
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I have second thoughts all the
time, andi!
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mary rosenblum
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I've tried VERY hard to quit
writing entirely on a couple of occasions now.
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mary rosenblum
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Never works, sigh.
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xana
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A mutually supporting writing
group can help
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mary rosenblum
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Absolutely.
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mary rosenblum
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And you have to market
yourself.
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mary rosenblum
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When you have something in
print, write to the local writers conference and tell them you want...
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mary rosenblum
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to be on a panel.
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mary rosenblum
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They'll probably put you on
one.
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sailor
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Mary, you're an established
writer. Why would you still have second thoughts?
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mary rosenblum
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Oh, my goodness, sailor!
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mary rosenblum
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It seems so simple when you
haven't published.
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mary rosenblum
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Publish and it's clear sailing
from there.
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mary rosenblum
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ha!
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mary rosenblum
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You just find that there are
higher bars beyond that one. :-)
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zubbycat
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How do you separate writing as
an art from selling your writing as a business?
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mary rosenblum
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Nice question, zubby.
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mary rosenblum
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I have a terrible time with
it. I'm a lousy sailsman and have to work at it.
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mary rosenblum
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Let the artist do the writing
and then make the business person take over.
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janp
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but after the first pub piece
there comes the quandry; can I do as well or surpass on the next one. :-)
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mary rosenblum
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Oh yes. :-) That is always the
vulture that wants to sit on your shoulder after...can I do better than
this?
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info
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what do you do when you are on a
panel?
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andi
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what happens when you're on a
panel?
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mary rosenblum
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The panel will have a topic
and you should have some connection to it.
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mary rosenblum
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It might be a panel on
juggling writing life and a day job...
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mary rosenblum
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or breaking in...
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mary rosenblum
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or on some topic that you know
something about.
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mary rosenblum
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You and the other panelist
discuss the topic and field quesitons from the audience.
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mary rosenblum
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They're a lot of fun.
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mary rosenblum
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And they get you some name
recognition among readers.
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mary rosenblum
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I pick up a lot of new readers
doing panels at cons. I work hard at doing a good job. :-)
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andi
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it sounds very competitive work
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mary rosenblum
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Writing is highly competitive
but most writers are NOT competitive, andi.
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mary rosenblum
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By that confusing statement I
mean...
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mary rosenblum
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that lots of writers compete
for very few slots in the publishing world..
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mary rosenblum
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But for all that, writers are
a supportive and friendly group.
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mary rosenblum
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We help each other, we help
new writers... there's much less backbiting than I've seen in many other
professional group.
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sallyk
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What do you do if you think
you're running low on ideas?
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mary rosenblum
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Read things, Sally. :-)
Fiction or nonfiction.
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mary rosenblum
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Something always clicks for
me.
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andi
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i go slow. i's like to see a few
before being on one
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mary rosenblum
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Oh ,you should.
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mary rosenblum
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I keep pushing and pushing
people to go to writers conferences.
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mary rosenblum
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They are an invaluable chance
to meet writers and editors, to network, to make friends.
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sallyk
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Did you ever feel nervous about
"coming out" as a writer?
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mary rosenblum
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Do you mean letting people
know I"m a writer, sally?
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sallyk
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Yes
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mary rosenblum
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Well, the really HARD time was
before I'd sold anything.
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mary rosenblum
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I decided that by golly I
WOULD be a writer and I worked hard at it. But when you say 'I'm a
writer'...
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mary rosenblum
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the first question is always
'Oh, what have you published?".
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mary rosenblum
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Gulp.
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mary rosenblum
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By the way, I NEVER ask
someone that. :-)
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mary rosenblum
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BUT..
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mary rosenblum
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there is a creepy other side
to that question that really caught me by surprise.
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mary rosenblum
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A WHOLE lot of people out
there...many thousands...
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mary rosenblum
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know who I am.
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mary rosenblum
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They think they know what kind
of person I am.
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mary rosenblum
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They have made judgements
about me....many of them incorrect of course!
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mary rosenblum
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And they feel that they know
me. I have never met them.
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mary rosenblum
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Most of them are very nice
people and I love my fans.
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mary rosenblum
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But I have met a few creepy
ones, too.
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mary rosenblum
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It's something to keep in
mind. You ARE in the public eye. I occasionally get...
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mary rosenblum
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fan letters that come to my
private home address.
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mary rosenblum
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It's pretty easy to find out
where someone lives in this day and age.
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zubbycat
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Before you get published, how do
you handle all the people who think you are crazy for thinking it's
possible?
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mary rosenblum
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You just tell yourself they'll
have to eat their words eventually.
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mary rosenblum
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Like the English teacher I had
in highschool who very kindly told me I'd...
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mary rosenblum
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never be a professional writer
and if I wanted to write, I should study Journalism.
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mary rosenblum
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I sure wish I had her address.
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mary rosenblum
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I could send her a REALLY BIG
box of books and magazines, heheh.
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geezer
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That's what pen names are for.
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mary rosenblum
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Yes, if it bothers you that
people will pry into your personal life, use a pen name.
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mary rosenblum
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It really doesn't bother me.
Was a bit of a shock when I realized just what 'public figure' means..
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mary rosenblum
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but I kind of get a kick out
of it when someone at the PO asks me if I'm 'Mary Rosenblum the writer' .
:-) The ego enjoys the stroke.
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kems
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are pen names frowned upon in
any aspect?
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mary rosenblum
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Not at all, kems.
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mary rosenblum
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Oh, if you use your initials
and you're a woman...
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mary rosenblum
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you will probably catch some
snide remarks that you're trying to pretend to be a male writer.
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mary rosenblum
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But that's about it.
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xana
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How do you keep yourself from
inadvertently stealing some idea you read about years ago and forgot about?
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mary rosenblum
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You can't steal ideas, xana.
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mary rosenblum
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An idea is worthless on its
own.
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mary rosenblum
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I routinely give the exact
same story idea to workshop students...
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mary rosenblum
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and everybody writes a
different story.
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xana
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I meant someone's story line
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mary rosenblum
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Well, if its real close,
people might think you copied....but if you read at all..
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mary rosenblum
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in the genre you write in,
you'll know what's current.
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mary rosenblum
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And all plots have been done
at least 1000 times.
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mary rosenblum
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You do it your way with your
characters and it's a fresh story.
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mary rosenblum
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I'm doing a SF piece that is
the old Grimm's fairy tale 'The Snow Queen'...same story in a SFnal venue.
:-)
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mary rosenblum
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I'm using that story quite
intentionally.
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zubbycat
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What is the best way to pick a
pen name? Any suggestions?
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mary rosenblum
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Pick one you like, zubby.
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mary rosenblum
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I use my birth name in
mystery: Mary Freeman.
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mary rosenblum
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If I was going to write
romance, I might pick a flowery and romantic name. :-)
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xana
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I'm sure Grimm won't sue! ;-)
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mary rosenblum
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LOL, probably not.
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kems
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how do you submit when you want
to use a pen name?
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mary rosenblum
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Well, in ms format, you always
put your REAL name and address in the upper left hand corner of the first
page...title page if it's a novel..
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mary rosenblum
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and that's who gets the check!
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mary rosenblum
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But you the type the Title and
below that you type By Joan Penname.
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mary rosenblum
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And the book is published 'by
Joan Penname', but your name is on the contract.
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xana
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I have several pen names; I sort
of adopt the personality of that pen person when I write under her name
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mary rosenblum
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Cool!
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mary rosenblum
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But let's look back to the
business of writing for a moment here.
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mary rosenblum
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Your success and failure in
the world of publishing is measure in terms of numbers...
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mary rosenblum
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numbers of sales, which
depends on the number of your readers.
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mary rosenblum
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So if the readers who love
name A don't know you're also name B...you may have poorer numbers than you
might otherwise have.
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janecj333
|
speaking of mysteries, I know you
have a sf novel coming out. Was your previous novel (mystery?) and was it
published recently?
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mary rosenblum
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The last one out was Garden
View, and yes, a mystery, the final one in a series I had with Penguin
Putnam. Since then..
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mary rosenblum
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I've been indulging my short
fiction obsession.
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beirdd
|
I've been using my own name, and
recently found out that there are a couple of other writers / famous people
who have the same name and publicize it... is there a problem with that?
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mary rosenblum
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That is a problem, beirdd.
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mary rosenblum
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A good problem if that person
is a very popular writer! :-) Sometimes only an initial...
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mary rosenblum
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separates writers, but for
example, a friend of mine, Phyl Karr, writes as Irene Radford..
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mary rosenblum
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because another Phyllis Karr
publishes fantasy and Phyl didn't want to be confused with her.
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geezer
|
In the library, the people seem
to look at the center of the stacks first then work their way to A and Z.
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mary rosenblum
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There are strategies like
that, geeze.
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mary rosenblum
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And of course it makes a
difference because that is where your book goes.
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mary rosenblum
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Eye height is perfect!
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mary rosenblum
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Bottom shelf is not perfect!
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mary rosenblum
|
This is our After Hours Forum,
with me, Mary Rosenblum, your web editor. Tonight we're talking about the
business side of writing. I've published seven novels (number eight will be
out next year) , more than 60 short stories, and will do my best to answer
any questions you have. If you're new here, remember that you need to click
on the 'Ask a Question' button or the 'word bubble' next to the red
question mark at the top of the screen in order to ask a question. Your
regular 'send' bar won't reach me! Or you can use /ask and type your
question into the regular send bar if that works better for you..
|
|
xana
|
They look at the middle SHELVES
and then work up or down
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mary rosenblum
|
Yep. But of course, every
story is different and as we go more to amazon.com type sales...that's all
out the window.
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zubbycat
|
Is it okay to publish in several
different genres under the same name? For example, a historical novel and a
mystery novel published under my real name?
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mary rosenblum
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Absolutely, zubby!
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mary rosenblum
|
If I was to start over, I
wouldn't use a different name for mystery.
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mary rosenblum
|
But I started with a cozy
series and I was afraid my SF fans would be disappointed with the 'softer'
books...
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mary rosenblum
|
but they weren't. :-)
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mary rosenblum
|
So now I just use the Mary
Freeman to let readers know what they're getting...mystery or SF.
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mary rosenblum
|
If I were to say, write
thriller or westerns, I'd just use Rosenblum.
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mary rosenblum
|
YOu do need to have some
organization, too, in terms of things like clips and reviews.
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mary rosenblum
|
You never know when you'll
want that glowing review of your story or book.
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mary rosenblum
|
YOu need to save 'em.
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mary rosenblum
|
And I have always operated on
a 'cast your bread upon the waters' system.
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mary rosenblum
|
When I get asked to come speak
to a readers group, or a school class, or teach a local writers workshop...
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mary rosenblum
|
I do it.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
It's nice if they pay
something, but I do it anyway.
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mary rosenblum
|
More readers!
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|
mary rosenblum
|
The more exposure you have the
more people look for your work.
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sallyk
|
Do you ever analyze your income
in terms of active vs. passive streams?
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mary rosenblum
|
Active versus passive streams,
sally?
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mary rosenblum
|
I suppose you could call sales
'active' and royalties 'passive'.
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mary rosenblum
|
I get a fair chunk of my
income from work I wrote some time ago...
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mary rosenblum
|
either in terms of anthology
sales or reprint sales or royalties.
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sallyk
|
Right...new material vs.
royalties on existing work
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mary rosenblum
|
Yes, I do.
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mary rosenblum
|
Royalties are VERY nice.
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mary rosenblum
|
So are anthology, foreign
rights, movie options, and reprint sales!
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mary rosenblum
|
Your inventory is
forever...which is why you do not sell all rights.
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sallyk
|
Is there a balance point that
you try to active between them
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mary rosenblum
|
No. The larger your passive
income, the less you have to sell though. :-)
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zubbycat
|
If you are looking at writing as
a career, is it a good idea to pitch your book to the editor/publisher as a
potential for a series or should you just sell it as is and then let them
know you could make it a series later?
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mary rosenblum
|
I always include a proposal
for at least one more book.
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mary rosenblum
|
In the genres where series are
the norm...fantasy and mystery...
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mary rosenblum
|
I'd pitch three books if you
want to sell a series. One should be finished...
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mary rosenblum
|
and have pretty thorough
synopses for the next two.
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xana
|
What are some of the no-nos in
tooting your own horn?
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mary rosenblum
|
Being obnoxious!
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mary rosenblum
|
There's a big difference from
being modest but enthusiastic about your work...
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mary rosenblum
|
and being arrogant.
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andi
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I didn't understand your comment
about passive incime the less you have to sell
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mary rosenblum
|
Well, if you're getting, say,
a steady 10,000 a year in royalties you have that much less to make by
selling your new words.
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mary rosenblum
|
And I WISH I was making that,
LOL.
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mary rosenblum
|
That's bestseller level
royalties!
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zubbycat
|
How do you break into the
anthology market?
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mary rosenblum
|
This is a good topic because
it's a nice way in for new writers, but they're hard to find in the market
lists.
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mary rosenblum
|
This is how an anthology
works.
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mary rosenblum
|
The editor goes to big name
pros and asks them to commit to the anthology.
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mary rosenblum
|
Then he takes those names to a
publisher and sells the anthology. the publisher counts on the names to
sell a reasonable number of books.
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mary rosenblum
|
Now he has maybe five or more
slots open...a lot of writers don't do short fiction and it can be hard...
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mary rosenblum
|
to fill an antholgy with
names.
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mary rosenblum
|
So those slots are open.
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mary rosenblum
|
But they don't usually end up
in the printed market lists because they open and close unexpectedly.
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mary rosenblum
|
So you watch the online lists.
You might find them advertised in the professional newsletters...MWA's or
SFWA's or HWA's.
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mary rosenblum
|
Or RWAs.
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mary rosenblum
|
The best way to find out is
make friends at cons.
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mary rosenblum
|
Writers tell each other when
an anthology is open.
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mary rosenblum
|
But many of the anthology
editors do open the antholgy on the online market lists...so keep an eye on
'em.
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ltsonya
|
so if we find a magazine that
only buys all rights we should stay away from that?
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mary rosenblum
|
Okkkay...here's a catch 22 for
you.
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mary rosenblum
|
I won't ever sell all rights
because I resell my work many times.
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mary rosenblum
|
BUT...I have an established
name.
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mary rosenblum
|
When I was breaking in, didn't
have a sale yet, had a story that had been rejected by the big mags...
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mary rosenblum
|
would I have sold all rights
if someone had offered?
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mary rosenblum
|
Probably.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Would it have hurt me?
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Probably not.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
I have written many many
stories since and many better than anything I wrote when I was starting
out.
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mary rosenblum
|
So I would have lost that
story for good but gained a sale.
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mary rosenblum
|
You have to ask yourself...is
the sale worth giving my story away for good?
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mary rosenblum
|
If you think the story is
really good, don't do it.
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mary rosenblum
|
I've sold some stories four,
five, or more times.
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andi
|
if they want to have all rights
wouldn't that tell you it's a good seller
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mary rosenblum
|
A lot of lazy ezines are
asking for 'all rights' just because they don't know how to write a
contract.
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mary rosenblum
|
I is not something I
recommend.
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mary rosenblum
|
That person can now do
anything he/she wants with your work.
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mary rosenblum
|
BUT...are you a terrible
person if you do it?
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mary rosenblum
|
No.
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ltsonya
|
in writing fiction you might
want to resell a story, but do you think it's the same thing for
nonfiction? since there are so many slants you can have on one idea, does
matter as much to sell all rights?
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mary rosenblum
|
There's a good sized reprint
market in nonfiction, lt.
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mary rosenblum
|
That's what I buy for the LR
site mostly.
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mary rosenblum
|
Now if you write for the
newspapers, they DO take all rights... it has to do with syndication and
they are their own universe.
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xana
|
I seem to recall the creator of
Rudolph the Red Nosed Raindeer made about or bucks total from that song.
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mary rosenblum
|
Oh, those stories are legion,
xana.
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mary rosenblum
|
Ken Kesey, author of
'Sometimes a Great Notion' made nothing when it became a boxoffice
blockbuster movie.
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mary rosenblum
|
He had sold the movie rights
when he signed a boilerplate contract.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
the publishing house got it
all.
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|
geezer
|
How are fiction sales in other
countries?
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mary rosenblum
|
They're good, geeze.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
I publish in a lot of
countries. I'm very popular in Germany for some reason. :-)
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Maybe the name? LOL
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andi
|
boilerplate contract?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
the standard contract a big
publisher offers you.
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mary rosenblum
|
It's why you have an
agent...to fix it.
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|
info
|
if a mag wants all rights,
couldn't you make your own contract that states they can have all rights
for x amount of time and then it reverts back to you?
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mary rosenblum
|
I strongly suggest you limit
the rights, yes.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Some magazine just won't take
the piece, but others will settle for first world rights.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
They have no business asking
for all rights.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
It's considered unethical in
the profession.
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|
janecj333
|
it's hard to believe it's legal
for a publisher to earn the income that should have gone to the author
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mary rosenblum
|
YOu sign a contract, you
should read it first.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
You are agreeing to do that.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
He was a novice author and
naive.
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|
zubbycat
|
Why would they want all rights
anyway? It seems to me that it is just another way the rules are set up
against the writer!
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|
mary rosenblum
|
I don't think it's nefarious.
The big houses don't do it...it's the marginal ezines that do.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
I think the editors don't have
a clue what to ask for is all.
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zubbycat
|
If you sell all rights on a
short story, can you still take those characters and write a novel about
them or have you lost them for good?
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mary rosenblum
|
You've lost 'em for good,
zubby.
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janecj333
|
the govt makes all kinds of
ruling prohibiting certain business practices...thise seems like a good
candidate for a change
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mary rosenblum
|
You know, Jane, there is a
certain amount of responsibility required here. The contracts are...
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|
mary rosenblum
|
weighted to the benefit of the
publisher, but if you don't understand a contract..
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|
mary rosenblum
|
and I don't understand a NY
publishing contract!...then you should not sign it.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
If you sign it, you're stuck
with what you've signed.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
You take it to a lawyer or
someone who can decipher it for you.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
NEVER sign anything you cannot
understand.
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|
sailor
|
What online lists show open
anthologies?
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|
mary rosenblum
|
It varies, sailor.
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mary rosenblum
|
Depends on where the editor
posts it.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Try all of the ones that show
up on google. :-)
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sallyk
|
What are the best ways to keep
up with market knowledge?
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Subscribe to the professional
journal or newsletter for your preferred genre, sally.
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mary rosenblum
|
Read Writer Magazine or
Writers Digest.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You can become an associate
member of most professional organizations...
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|
mary rosenblum
|
and a full member of Romance
Writers of America.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
YOu get their newsletter.
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|
kater
|
what does an agent do?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Kater, an agent goes over the
publishing contract and makes changes in YOUR favor...
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|
mary rosenblum
|
and then spends lots of phone
time arguing about who gets what. :-)
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|
mary rosenblum
|
With the publisher, I
mean...not with you.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
YOu only need one if you sell
to a NY publisher or Hollywood.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Small press contracts are
generally straightforward, but if they are NOT, don't sign it until you're
sure of what you're signing.
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|
andi
|
that takes a lot of trust.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Trust in whom, andi?
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|
xana
|
Don't a lot of the contests
declare they have all rights on anything submitted?
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|
mary rosenblum
|
I don't know, xana.
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mary rosenblum
|
Not the big ones... if they
publish, they're using First Rights.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
I don't think I'd submit to a
contest that wants all rights.
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|
andi
|
a lot of trust for your agent I
have a hard time with trust
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Well, andi, your agent only
makes money if YOU make money. :-)
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|
mary rosenblum
|
So believe me, they are
squeezing the publislher for all they can get.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
They have YOUR best interests
at heart financially.
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|
tory
|
Took me a long time to wrangle
info from a contest. Said submissions were their property. What they meant
was they wouldn't return copies. They FINALLY answered my questions and
said authors retain all ownership but submission gives them the right to
use it one time on line.
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mary rosenblum
|
Didn't you send me that one?
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|
tory
|
Yes, before they answered me.
:-) Thanks for your help
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|
mary rosenblum
|
It was confusing...but they do
that 'property' thing so they don't have to return 'em...
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Usually contests only want to
publish winners once.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Many don't publish at all.
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|
lapart
|
can an agent get you an offer
before the book is finished?
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Not likely if you're a newbie,
lapart.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
many people start novels.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Many fewer finish 'em.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
If you sent a query to an
agent and it was a real hot property with a time...
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|
mary rosenblum
|
limit that made it good only
if it was published soon...it might happen.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
But not at all likely.
|
|
xana
|
like PhDs
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Yep! LOL
|
|
zubbycat
|
Do contest wins really help you
sell or would it be better to just send the story to magazines where you
will get paid if accepted?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Zubby, mostly they don't.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If you win the Writers Digest
or Writers of the Future contests...yes, you'll get a bit of notice.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
And some contests just help
new writers get published...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
a publishing house may offer
publication of the book that wins their contest...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Glimmer Train's contest is one
of those.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
They help you.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
But most contests don't get
you any professional attention.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Judges of contests pick what
they like.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
They're very whimsical.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Well, this has been a fun
Oregon hour.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
None of this was stuff I knew
when I sold my first story.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I learned a some of it the
hard way. :-)
|
|
andi
|
what about an understanding
between the publisher and your agent you don't know about.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
andi they're not working
together!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
At least not a reputable
agent.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Which is why you choose an
agent who belongs to teh Association of Authors Representatives.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
The more you know about the
business side of writing, the fewer mistakes you'll make.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
It's really embarassing to
realize that you just sold a story for an antholgy and it may be out before
the rights revert to you!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
No...scratch
embarassing...it's terrifying!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Keep those records!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
And yes I have done that!
|
|
robastor
|
What does that mean?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
'Well, I sold a story to
Asimovs and the contract said that they had first NA rights and I couldn't
publish it for six months after it appeared in print...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
and the anthology published
sooner than I thought...about five months past the pub date for Asimov's.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I had to write the editor and
ask for a release for it.
|
|
janecj333
|
is there a site where we can
read your first published story, Mary?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Let's see...that was 'for a
price'.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
It's not online anywhere,
jane.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I should put some of my older
stories up on my website once in awhile.
|
|
sallyk
|
Was the Asimov's editor very
unhappy?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Nah...he gave me a good
scolding though.
|
|
janecj333
|
I would sure love to see
it...might be very educational :)
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I"m not even sure i have
an electronic copy of it...was working on an Apple IIG back then.
|
|
andi
|
Mary do you know what
international pay coupons are for?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Return mail if you send
submissions out of the country.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
International reply coupons.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Pain in the backside.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Join us this Sunday for our
casual chat.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I've got a dog match, but will
try to be back on time!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
See you then, all.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Have a great weekend!
|