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mary rosenblum
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Hello, all!
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mary rosenblum
|
The traffic gods were good to
me and I made it back from the Willamette Writers Conference in time for
tonight's Forum!
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mary rosenblum
|
I was quite impressed with the
conference. :-)
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mary rosenblum
|
I had well over forty people
at my panel on crafting the mystery.
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redraven
|
Anything interesting from the
conference for us?
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mary rosenblum
|
Not much, I'm afraid. I was
only there long enough to present my panel.
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mary rosenblum
|
They offer quite a bit...a lot
of agents attend, and members can sign up to pitch a novel or book length
NF or screenplay...
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mary rosenblum
|
and they even off 'pitch
practice' sessions with coaches...
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mary rosenblum
|
so that you can do a good job.
:-)
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mary rosenblum
|
They have quite a few
attendees from all over the country.
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neo
|
How long (how many minutes) to
pitch?
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mary rosenblum
|
Standard length, neo.
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mary rosenblum
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It's VERY short...I don't
recall how many minutes (like 2 or 3)...
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mary rosenblum
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but you can find it online
somewhere I'm sure.
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mary rosenblum
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Might be five.
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redraven
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Is the conference open or by
invitation only?
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mary rosenblum
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You buy a membership red.
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mary rosenblum
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It entitles you to the
weekend, lots of panels, and I gather, some meals, too.
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mary rosenblum
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It's very well done.
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wingedwarrior24
|
what is a pitch?
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mary rosenblum
|
A pitch is when you offer a
Hollywood producer or an agent or editor a very very brief...like a
minute...
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mary rosenblum
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blurb of what you want to sell
'em.
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randi-lee
|
You have to pitch pretty fast to
get it all out without falling over yourself, verbally.
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mary rosenblum
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Oh yeah...the practice is
really necessary.
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mary rosenblum
|
It's like 25 words or less.
:-)
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redraven
|
Cost?
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mary rosenblum
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Dunno, red, but most
conferences cost between one and two hundred dollars for the weekend, not
including hotel and meals.
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mary rosenblum
|
Some food here seems to be
included.
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mary rosenblum
|
This is our After Hours Forum,
with me, Mary Rosenblum, your web editor. Tonight it's 'Open Mike'…ask any
question on any topic! I've published seven novels and 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
|
The reason to spend the bucks
for a conference (or convention as they are often called)...
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mary rosenblum
|
is networking.
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mary rosenblum
|
The place is crawling with
editors, authors, and agents.
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mary rosenblum
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You CAN talk with these folk.
None of us bite. :-) Well maybe Harlan Ellison but I don't think he gets
out much anymore. :-)
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wolf122
|
Hi Mary! Just wanted to let
everyone know that the Midwest Literary Festival is taking place 9/10-9-11
in Aurora, IL
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mary rosenblum
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There you go. :-)
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mary rosenblum
|
Are you attending, wolf?
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mary rosenblum
|
It's a good idea to see who
will be there.
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mary rosenblum
|
Some cons are limited to a
single genre...
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mary rosenblum
|
others are very diverse.
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mary rosenblum
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This is one of the very
diverse ones.
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randi-lee
|
it is like a fast synopsis.
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mary rosenblum
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The pitch, yes, randi.
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mary rosenblum
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It's only designed to hook the
agent or producer, NOT to explain the entire story.
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mary rosenblum
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It's merely a concept.
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wolf122
|
The link is
http://www.midwestliteraryfestival.com/--it also shows what workshops they
are running
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mary rosenblum
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Thanks, wolf!
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wolf122
|
I haven't signed up, but will be
shortly
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mary rosenblum
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Definitely do it. :-)
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redraven
|
Does LR have a list of the
better conferences for beginners?
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mary rosenblum
|
No, but you can find all kinds
of conferences online with a bit of googling.
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randi-lee
|
Is it true that you should not
attend a convention unless you have something to pitch?
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mary rosenblum
|
Not at all!
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mary rosenblum
|
The benefit of a con is
twofold...you will get to learn a lot from panels on all aspects of writing
and publishing...AND...
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mary rosenblum
|
you will have the opportunity
to network.
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mary rosenblum
|
You chat with authors,
editors, publishers. Ask them what they have too much of.
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mary rosenblum
|
Ask them what they are looking
for.
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mary rosenblum
|
Take notes! :-)
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mary rosenblum
|
And this is one way around the
'agented only' rule.
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mary rosenblum
|
You chat with Ms. Editor. She
tells you she really wants solid coming of age novels.
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mary rosenblum
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You mention politely that you
have one, a half-aboriginal kid on a trek across Australia to find his dad.
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mary rosenblum
|
She says, hmmm, she'll look at
it.... and the house only takes agented ms and you don't have an agent.
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mary rosenblum
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BUT...you are now entitled to
mail her the ms with a letter...'thanks for asking to take a look at this.
I sure enjoyed chatting with you at the aby conference'.
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mary rosenblum
|
And you're in without an
agent. :-)
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wingedwarrior24
|
do they accept on the spot?
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mary rosenblum
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That's as much as they'll do,
winged...agree to look at it...and NEVER EVER thrust the pages at the
editor.
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mary rosenblum
|
She/he does NOT want to schlep
it home on the plane!
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redraven
|
How can a beginner get an agent?
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mary rosenblum
|
Offer that agent a story
he/she thinks he/she can sell, red. That is the ONLY way.
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randi-lee
|
That is good, to get in without
an agent. I guess by the same token an agent there may ask you to send them
something too.
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mary rosenblum
|
Yep, although they keep a very
low profile. Unless they offer to meet with people...
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mary rosenblum
|
you will only know someone is
an agent if another writer tells you. :-)
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mary rosenblum
|
They are there to meet with
clients and don't want to be mobbed.
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wolf122
|
I will be attending a pitch
session, and they want a 1000 word writing sample--what sample would you
use, i.e. the first part of a short-story, the first page of a novel, etc.?
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mary rosenblum
|
Wolf, write a scene that is
utterly dynamic...that does powerfully, the sort of thing your novel will
do.
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mary rosenblum
|
Think of it as a short short
and try for a scene that out of context like that makes sense and is
incredibly powerful in dialogue, action, and visuals.
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wingedwarrior24
|
what does an agnt charge?
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mary rosenblum
|
It used to be 15% of your
gross, might be 20% now, I don't know.
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mary rosenblum
|
You only pay when the
publisher pays you...which is why agents only take...
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mary rosenblum
|
on clients whose work they're
pretty sure they can sell. :-)
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
This is our After Hours Forum,
with me, Mary Rosenblum, your web editor. Tonight it's 'Open Mike'…ask any
question on any topic! I've published seven novels and 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..
|
|
redraven
|
How do you find an agent that is
interested in what you have
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mary rosenblum
|
A conference is your surest
route. Ask writers who write what you write who their agent is.
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mary rosenblum
|
You might even get a reference
from that author if you have been hitting it off.
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mary rosenblum
|
Failing that, go to
www.aar-online.org which is the Association of Authors representatives
website...
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mary rosenblum
|
and see who handles what on
their contact list.
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mary rosenblum
|
Agents do specialize.
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mary rosenblum
|
You want an agent who handles
what you write.
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mary rosenblum
|
Big agencies like William
Morris or Richard Curtis have associate agents who cover all the genres.
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wingedwarrior24
|
need a different agent for
different genres?
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mary rosenblum
|
Depends on the agent.
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mary rosenblum
|
Some will sign a limited
contract to handle only a single genre, but most want to handle all you
write.
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speckledorf
|
Another way to get agent info,
along with publishing info, crits and a whole host of things is to find an
online group in your genre. Of course, just check out the group
carefully:--)
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mary rosenblum
|
Yes, but...don't listen to
everything everyone says.
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mary rosenblum
|
May I remind you that you
don't know if that enthusiastic writer recommending the fabulous agent in
Montana is really a happy and rich writer...
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mary rosenblum
|
or maybe the agent himself?
Hmmmmm?
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mary rosenblum
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If an agent is NOT a member of
the AAR...just don't go there.
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mary rosenblum
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No matter what excuse you
hear.
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redraven
|
How can you check the agent's
credentials?
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mary rosenblum
|
Go to preditors and
editors...an online rating of agents, publishers, and editors...
|
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mary rosenblum
|
but first check the AAR
website and see if he/she is a member.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
This is our After Hours Forum,
with me, Mary Rosenblum, your web editor. Tonight it's 'Open Mike'…ask any
question on any topic! I've published seven novels and 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..
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
predators
and editors
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redraven
|
Preditors? !!!
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mary rosenblum
|
Scammers who pretend to be
legit agent or publisher and end up charging you a lot of money for 'fees'.
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mary rosenblum
|
That's a growth industry, red.
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mary rosenblum
|
A lot of naive people are
dying to be published.
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wolf122
|
Besides a winning smile, what
else should we bring to a conference?
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mary rosenblum
|
Decide what you want to
achieve.
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mary rosenblum
|
Do you want to meet and
network with writers in your genre?
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mary rosenblum
|
Find out what panels they're
on and go meet 'em.
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mary rosenblum
|
Attend panels by editors who
might be interested in your book.
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mary rosenblum
|
Sign up to pitch to an
agent...good experience even if you get a no ultimately.
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mary rosenblum
|
Do more panels.
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mary rosenblum
|
Introduce yourself to anyone
in the writing world whose name you recognize. :-)
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randi-lee
|
I have an opportunity in January
to pitch to Donald Maas (hopefully I will have something to pitch with). I
know he is a big NY Agent, is he a good agent that you know of?
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mary rosenblum
|
He's an excellent agent,
although you'll probably work with one of his assitants if he takes you
on...even his original clients are getting stuck with assistants mostly
these days. :-)
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mary rosenblum
|
He's busy promoting his book
and doing workshops.
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mary rosenblum
|
But it's a very solid
agency... you'll be fine with anyone there.
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redraven
|
If writing a NF book, must it be
complete first?
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mary rosenblum
|
Yes, red.
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mary rosenblum
|
You have no track record.
|
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mary rosenblum
|
A million people are 'writing
a book'.
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mary rosenblum
|
A handful will actually finish
it.
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mary rosenblum
|
You have to prove that you can
do it well before you can sell on assignment.
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mary rosenblum
|
Yes, there are a few
exceptions to that, but they're very rare.
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redraven
|
A contract is an excelent
stimulant for finishing
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mary rosenblum
|
Won't happen red.
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mary rosenblum
|
A contract means they have put
your book on the schedule.
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mary rosenblum
|
if you do NOT finish it costs
the publisher LOTS of money.
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redraven
|
Only my death would keep me from
finishing it with a contrac
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mary rosenblum
|
publisher doesn't know you,
red. Publisher knows LOTS of other people who are not like you. Believe me,
they learned this the hard way.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
This is our After Hours Forum,
with me, Mary Rosenblum, your web editor. Tonight it's 'Open Mike'…ask any
question on any topic! I've published seven novels and 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..
|
|
wingedwarrior24
|
a begginer with no insight on
craft writing a first novel, what's the chance of getting an agen to push
it?
|
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mary rosenblum
|
All that you need, winged, is
a book that agent thinks he/she can sell.
|
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mary rosenblum
|
If you write a good book that
will sell, it doesn't matter if you are a newbie. So was Rowling!
|
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sallyk
|
How can I find out what to
charge for ghost writing?
|
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mary rosenblum
|
Sally, you'll have to contact
some ghost writers and ask them.
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randi-lee
|
The workshop here sponsored by
ARWA who I am with is bringing him in and he is allowing us to pitch to
him.
|
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mary rosenblum
|
That happens a lot. THAt's
what the WW conference is doing here...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
they bring in the agents and
set up the pitch sessions.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
What happens is that the agent
will either tell you that no, this isn't for him...
|
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mary rosenblum
|
or he'll take it to look at
later (the synopsis/chapters)...
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mary rosenblum
|
and you'll hear yes or no at a
later date.
|
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randi-lee
|
is the only way you get a
contract now for x many books is if you are Stephen King or someone else
famous?
|
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mary rosenblum
|
Not at all...
|
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mary rosenblum
|
a new writer in New Mexico
with about two short stories published sold three books to Tor just
recently.
|
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mary rosenblum
|
Two were not yet written, the
first was.
|
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wingedwarrior24
|
do you know of any writing
exercises to gain exp.?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Oh winged, yes! Write. Write
some more. Write some more. Write some more.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
And in between read. Analyze.
Now write some more, trying to do what that good author did. Okay do it
again. Again. One more time....
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Get the drift? :-)
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
That is literally ALL there is
to it.
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beirdd
|
I heard of an awesome offer that
was made for a first book recently. The book is titled
"Historian" I believe.
|
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mary rosenblum
|
Oh, I'm smiling. You always
hear of those 'awesome' offers and they do happen.
|
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mary rosenblum
|
I knew an Oregonian reporter
some years ago who got a 50,000 advance for his first novel, a thriller.
|
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mary rosenblum
|
BUT...while it may happen to
you and that is VERY cool...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
don't expect it to, and don't
feel like a failure when it does not...
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mary rosenblum
|
because it isn't likely, but
who doesn' think it will happen? All of us do. :-0
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
-)
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
This is our After Hours Forum,
with me, Mary Rosenblum, your web editor. Tonight it's 'Open Mike'…ask any
question on any topic! I've published seven novels and 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..
|
|
roe
|
Carol HIggins Clark recommended
an agent to me. Said she is just starting out, I checked her out and she
isn't listed on aar and preditors and editors has agency listed but nothing
available should I trust it
|
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mary rosenblum
|
Well, if she's new, roe, she
may not have joined yet, OR the website may be updated only once a year. If
you don't see anything bad about her, try it.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Just read the FAQ section on
the AAR website you know what is and is not a good author/agent
relationship.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If this doesn't feel right,
say no thanks.
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redraven
|
Would it make sense to hire an
inexperienced agent?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Well...maybe...it's better if
you know a bit about them.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If they worked for a big
agency and now want to strike of on their own...that's great.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You win...you get good
connections and a hungry young agent.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If they are Joe Nobody who has
decided he wants to be an agent...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
and doesn't know anybody in
New York, not good.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Editors ignore ms sent in by
people like him.
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mary rosenblum
|
Or they at least get to them
last.
|
|
randi-lee
|
I entered a contest awhile ago,
didn't even get an honorable mention. But I don't feel bad about it because
an author in Georgia I know who has had two books published, didn't get an
honorable mention either. So no, does not mean it wasn't a good story or
book it means it wasn't what they were looking for.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Contests are TOTALLY
whimsical.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
The judge for that year
chooses what he or she likes.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Never consider them to be a
standard of quality -- neither a win nor a loss.
|
|
tkat_2
|
I saw Stephen King's Biography
on A&E. He worked hard to get where he is now. High School English
teacher by day, Mystery/ Horror writer at night.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Oh, t, we ALL do. :-)
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
There isn't a successful
writer out there who hasnt busted our butts to do what we do and has
usually been pretty poor in the process!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Whoever got the idea that
writing was an easy job???? LOL
|
|
catydorr
|
how far can an author go before
they need to seriously start looking for an agent--
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You only need an agent if you
are dealing with a NY publisher or Hollywood.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Learn to read contracts for
the small press and magazine markets.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
SFWA has a good sample
contract online SFWA
contracts
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If you don't need an agent,
don't get one.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Why pay 20% of your gross to
someone for no reason?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
This is our After Hours Forum,
with me, Mary Rosenblum, your web editor. Tonight it's 'Open Mike'…ask any
question on any topic! I've published seven novels and 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..
|
|
wolf122
|
At conferences, are they looking
mostly for novelists? What about pitching short-stories?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You can do that, too, wolf.
There are fewer short story editors than novel and book length editors, in
general.
|
|
wingedwarrior24
|
my first rejection came with a
note and the first page of my story. any reason for sending the page?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Did you send a disposable ms? The
editor was making sure you knew which story was being rejected.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Saved him writing out the
title. :-)
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Many authors have multiple
submissions at a single publisher.
|
|
redraven
|
RE: Dana Awards The fee for
reading is a turnoff. Comment?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
YOu have to decide if the
contest is worth it. Many have fees. If you get published, if it's a
prestigious award, if you get some notoriety, the fee is probably worth it.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Glimmer Train charges, but
publishing in GT is a big deal.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Fees are how many contests
fund their expenses and the prizes.
|
|
catydorr
|
Great I don't feel so far behind
then--all this talk about agents
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If you're not looking at NY
publishing, you probably won't need one.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Most agents won't handle small
press contracts.
|
|
wingedwarrior24
|
Do hard covers always come
before pappeback?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Not at all, winged.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Often, a house will publish
the book first in hardcover...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
to get better quality reviews
and because smaller sales numbers can get you onto the NY Times Bestseller
list.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If the book does pretty well,
they'll either lease out the paperback rights...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
to another house or publish
themselves if they also publish paperback.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Or a house may publish only in
mass market or trade paperback...
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mary rosenblum
|
because the cautious reader is
more likely to shell out 6 or 11 bucks for a new writer...
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mary rosenblum
|
than 20.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If they decide that the book
will mostly likely do well, they'll publish in both hardcover and mass
market...
|
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mary rosenblum
|
that is how my next SF is
coming out, but it's Tor's market leader.
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|
redraven
|
Couldn't a good agent negotiate
a better contract?
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mary rosenblum
|
Yep. That's why you want a
GOOD agent!
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Mine is a bear about foreign
rights and erights. I love her! Took her three months to back Tor down on
Foreign rights.
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|
megger
|
For those of us who don't know,
what's a disposable MS?
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mary rosenblum
|
Ah...in this day and age of
cheap printers and expensive postage...
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mary rosenblum
|
it is often cheaper to send a
ms to throw away than to include return postage.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
That's how I do all my short
fiction now. You write 'disposable ms' on the first page and include a
business sized envelope for acceptance or rejection slip.
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randi-lee
|
My sister used to do freelance
copy editing for many NY publishing houses. She has a horrible time getting
them to pay her and one never did. Do writer's end up with the same
problems from publishing houses?
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Yeah, I"ve heard the
freelance copyeditor blues! It's a reality.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
If you're with a NY house, you
have an agent and it's that agent's job to make sure you both get paid on
time.
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mary rosenblum
|
Don't worry. They are GOOD at
that job!!!! LOL
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|
geezer
|
How closely connected are
publishers to their subsidiaries? Say if I were rejected by Thomas Nelson,
would it be worthwhile to submit to W? Do the editors overlap?
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|
mary rosenblum
|
The imprints are utterly
separate, geezer.
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mary rosenblum
|
But in a small house, the
editors probably have lunch and you're more likely ...
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|
mary rosenblum
|
to see an 'in house' consensus
about your book. :-)
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Do submit to different
imprints.
|
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mary rosenblum
|
Let me explain how an
acceptance works.
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mary rosenblum
|
The editor reads your book.
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mary rosenblum
|
He/she thinks it is dynamite
and tells you she wants to buy it.
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mary rosenblum
|
That usually means it's for
sure sold...BUT...not always.
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mary rosenblum
|
She has to take it to her
boss...the senior editor who has to approve it.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Now ideally she did this
before she wrote you.
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mary rosenblum
|
But it still has to be brought
up in a general sales/marketing meeting...
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mary rosenblum
|
to be placed on the schedule
and generally strategized.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
It is remotely possible that
it will be shot down there after all.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Your editor has to fight to
get your book placed 'higher' on the house list...
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mary rosenblum
|
that means it will get more
attention from the sales staff...
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mary rosenblum
|
when they do the rounds of
Barnes and Noble and the other stores.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
So your editor feels
passionately about your book and is willing to fight.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Now your book may be right for
the house, but it really doesn't connect with this particular editor...
|
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mary rosenblum
|
but when you send it to
another imprint a different editor reads it.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
SHE loves it.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
However, you generally cannot
resubmit to a different editor in this immediate imprint.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
This is our After Hours Forum,
with me, Mary Rosenblum, your web editor. Tonight it's 'Open Mike'…ask any
question on any topic! I've published seven novels and 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..
|
|
randi-lee
|
When a publisher pays up. Do
they send the money to your agent, you or the agents part to them and yours
to you. If the agent gets it all how do you know if they are ripping you
off or not?
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|
mary rosenblum
|
This is why your agent is just
a bit more important than choosoing your spouse, randi.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Yes, the check goes to
him/her, and you get a check from that agent...
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|
mary rosenblum
|
along with your tax forms.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
So you do NOT want some yahoo
you know nothing about...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
not to mention the fact that
the agent probably can't get NY editors to read submissions if he's a
nobody.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
And guess what?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If you break up with that
agent, money for any book that agent neogiated continues to go to him/her.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
So make it a civil breakup!
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|
wingedwarrior24
|
any plans on being an agent?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Nah. I"d have to live in
NYC and you couldn't pay me enough!
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Sorry!
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Sally...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I had to check something for
you.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
One of my guests is a ghost
writer.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Marilyn Strube. I'll be
interviewing her on 9/22 so you can ask her about ghostwriting then. :-)
|
|
wingedwarrior24
|
do you ever meet an agent face
to face?
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|
mary rosenblum
|
Of course. My agent takes me
out to VERY nice restaurants to do business whenever we're at the same
convention.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If I have reason to visit NYC,
I'd see her then, too.
|
|
randi-lee
|
So, it isn't like breaking up
with a spouse. You kill them and feed the to the pirahnas in the Amazon. If
you don't have a good breakup with an agent then you better hope those
pirahnas are still hungry.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Yeah, but first you have to
get the agent into the Amazon...don't forget, they deal with the NY
publishing world. They are VERY pirhana savvy!! LOL
|
|
wolf122
|
Where could we start looking to
get short stories/novellas published in anthologies?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
YOu have to look for open
anthologies, wolf.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
I post them in new market
listings when I hear of them.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
If you belong to the pro
writer organizations you may find them in the newsletter market lists.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
You can hunt around online.
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|
randi-lee
|
There are many anthology
contests that are legit.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Yes and there are many
anthologies that are simply markets.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Let me explain how it works.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
The editor goes around at cons
(one of the business reasons I go!)...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
and solicits established pros
to promise a story for an upcoming anthology.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
When he/she has enough
'names', he sells that anthology to a publisher...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Now probably, he/she only has
enough 'names' for half to 2/3 of the book...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
so the antho is opened. That
means it's advertised for submission to anyone.
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|
mary rosenblum
|
The pay is not usually great
for original work, but you get royalties, too.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Some of my antho stories are
still in print in the antholgoy and still earm me a check every year. Free
money.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
So there is a market for new
writers in those anthologies.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
They don't make the market
indexes because they are only open for a few months, typically...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
while the editor 'fills in the
gaps' in the book.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You hear about them at cons,
if you hang out with other writers.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
This is our After Hours Forum,
with me, Mary Rosenblum, your web editor. Tonight it's 'Open Mike'…ask any
question on any topic! I've published seven novels and 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..
|
|
redraven
|
Any anthologies of humorous
stories?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Anthologies of everything!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
A tip.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
A couple of editor friends
think the original anthology . is the next big fad.
|
|
wingedwarrior24
|
your collection of short
stories, synthesis and other virtual realaties...can you explain how that
came togaher?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Sure, winged.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
THe editor of Arkham House,
James Turner, wrote me a letter and said...
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|
mary rosenblum
|
he'd like to put together a
single author collection of my fiction.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I sent him everything I had
published up until then...stuff that had cleared the first rights and could
be republished...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
and he selected the stories he
wanted in the collection and edited them.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
This is what is called a
single author collection. A lot of book collectors buy it.
|
|
owlybear
|
so does that mean you get
royalties for each printing of the anthology or if they use it for another
anthology book you'd also get royalties for that...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
For a regular anthology, owly,
the book earns royalties...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
and the editor divides the
royalty according to the length of your story among the contributors.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
For a single author
collection, of course, I get all the royalties. :-)
|
|
sallyk
|
Is the "original
anthology" like the one you described?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
An original anthology is a
collection of stories from different authors, but they are original, ie yet
unpublished, stories.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
A lot of anthologies are all
published stories put together from different authors with a theme.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
They pay less, but since the
story has already been published, it's free money. :-)
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I have a story in an original
antholgoy in fantasy (Modern Magic) coming out...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
and another in an original YA
anthology...a novelette there.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I have had a LOT of stories in
regular anthologies.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Many of my short stories have
been in three or four different antholgies as reprints.
|
|
wingedwarrior24
|
do you know how James came about
with this idea?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Several publishers do this.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Arkham House.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Golden Gryphon.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Fairwood Press.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Even the big houses do it on
occasion.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Big houses as in Random House,
Penguin-Putnam, etc.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
amazon.com is about to start
offering short fiction for download at their site...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
original work.
|
|
sallyk
|
Why do they think readers will
go for this?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Go for what, sally?
|
|
starr r
|
Curiosity: Were they by
invitation only, or did you sub?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
The modern magic anthology I
submitted to, starr.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
The YA anthology is invite
only and closed. They aren't taking any open submissions.
|
|
wardg
|
is amazon only talking to
publishers or individual authors?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You'll have to wait until they
announce the program to find out what is actuall going on,ward...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
what I heard is that it's a
way for prospective readers to sample your work...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
before they buy your book, and
it's only open to authors who have books on amazon.com...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
and the download will cost
49cents.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
That is the last I heard...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
we'll all know when it
actually debuts!
|
|
sallyk
|
Original anthologies (vs.
novels)
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I gather a lot of people are
getting back to reading short stories, sally.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Once upon a time, it was a
HUGE readership and got supplanted by TV mostly.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
There seems to be a swing back
to short fiction. Not enough time for a novel? Shorter attention span? Me,
I'm a sort story writer. I'm happy. :-)
|
|
wardg
|
i can't imagine amazon trying to
be a publisher
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Well, it got pitched to me as
a promotional tool for the author. That's the value to me, not the actual
sale of my story.
|
|
wingedwarrior24
|
how good of an authour do you
have to be to have audio tapes?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You just have to find an audio
book company to publish you.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I think that is going to be a
growth market, with all the ipods around.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
If I wanted a new career, I'd
start getting books into mp3 format...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
and marketing to the huge and
growing ipod market.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
(hint hint, you entrepreneurs
out there!)
|
|
janp
|
Short stories; supermarket
checkout line fare?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Who knows, janp.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
The literary marketplace does
move and change.
|
|
wardg
|
is there an emerging market in
reading your own works? even shorts?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I don't know of any market
short of promotion, ward.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Some authors do read their own
work if they sell an audio verson of their book.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Depends on how good areader
you are and your voice, mostly.
|
|
wingedwarrior24
|
my memmory is not that great,
how will this affect me writing a novel?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
My memory isn't good enough to
depend on as I craft a universe, people it with lots of characters and
carry a plot, winged!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You should SEE my files of
notes, timelines, details, new words, slang, place names, locations...etc
etc etc!!!!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
LOL
|
|
redraven
|
do you use paper files or
electronic or both?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I keep my character lists,
timelines, world details, and the like as files, so I can have them on my
screen along with my ongoing chapter for quick checking.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I keep photos, maps, drawings,
books, articles, etc in a big, messy box in my office while the novel is in
progress.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I might hang a map on the
wall, if I need it.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
My friend, Joan Vinge, papers
her office walls with maps, pictures, timelines, all kinds of visual aids.
|
|
vic
|
wrote a novel set in 1998,not
sold yet,do i update present?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Well, if you want it to be
contemporary, yeah I would.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Having to stop and use a pay
phone is sure gonna date you.
|
|
wingedwarrior24
|
how did you find your way to LR?
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I got invited, winged.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I met another instructor at a
small conference and she suggested that I might enjoy teaching and gave my
name to LR.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
They called me.
|
|
wardg
|
so writing isn't a job or a
craft, it is a life style
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
For those of us who do it as
our primary career, yes, ward, it is.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You don't just do it and leave
the office and go do another life.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You really do live it.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
It's not a good day job.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I rather think it's an
excellent life....
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
but I'm not sure any of us are
'normal'. LOL
|
|
wardg
|
it sounds like the total
immersion learning theory applied to story creation
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I know a lot of pro writers.
We all think about what we're doing all the time. We do live it. We do many
other things, but underneath it all, we live it.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You don't have to be that way
to become a writer. :-)
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
But if you end up writing
seriously...you'll live it.
|
|
wardg
|
it sounds like fun actually
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I think so. I SURE dont do it
for the money!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Well, this has been a fun
Oregon hour!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
You all asked some great
questions!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I"m doing the conference
on Sunday but should be back for our casual chat...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I have three novel critique
sessions in the afternoon, but wrap up early and no rush hour!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
It's the same time as this
forum, but on Sunday...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
we just hang out together and
talk writing.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Do join us!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Have a good weekend all!
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
See you Sunday.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
I'll post this in the usual
place...
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Writing Craft: Forum
Transcripts.
|
|
mary rosenblum
|
Bye!
|