Tales from an Editor: Indie pub vs. Traditional Part 2

Good morning fellow bloggers.  can you believe there’s only 2 more weeks until Christmas?  That seems a little ridiculous…  Where has this month been going?

As promised, today’s “Tales from an Editor” continues to answer your questions about indie publishing vs. the traditional route.  Today’s post focuses on author behavior and some of the things you can do to make yourself stand out (in a good way or a bad way).

Indie authors looking for a traditional publisher do have it a little harder than non-published authors.  Why? Because certain indie-authors have given the group a bad name….because they lie.  So here are some ways you can set yourself outside of the assumptions if you’re an indie author looking for backing from a bigger company. (Again, these statements don’t apply to all indie authors or publishers, I’m just sharing my limited personal experience).

1. Don’t Lie About SalesThis gets indie authors in trouble a lot.  What you may not know is that publishing houses do have access to distributors’ sales figures.  If you tell us your book sold over 30,000 copies in the first week you can bet we’ll check those numbers.  If you’re book actually sold 5 copies, that won’t work in your favor, not because it didn’t sell, but because you can’t be trusted.

2. Do market research.  Just because you have a book for sales on Amazon doesn’t mean you’re a market expert.  Do some research on the competition, include numbers, ranking, and sales figures in your proposal.  We love numbers.

3. Be professional.  This goes for any author, but indie authors have an even bigger challenge: selling a publisher on something that already hasn’t sold.  Don’t complain about this one guy that gave you a bad review (and don’t stack your reviews either).  Explain why (in detail) you’re looking for traditional publishing after your indie venture.

4. Tell the publisher you’re submitting to you self-published. The first thing I do when checking a submission is to google the title and see if it’s already been published.  If it’s for sale somewhere and you didn’t bother to tell me that it’s an auto reject regardless of content.  Dealing with copyright issues, simultaneously submitted manuscripts, dead projects, it’s not worth it if the author isn’t upfront.

5. Don’t say your book is printer ready.  I’ve seen several self-published authors who claim their submission is “printer ready” which means all we have to do is send it off to the printer and market it.  This scares me and my acquisitions team.  Submissions are never, ever sent printer ready.  Even when you work with a best selling author the manuscript isn’t printer ready until several rounds of editing, and that doesn’t include the time spent working to brand, cover, and title it.

6. Don’t make demands in a proposal. Sometimes indie-authors seem to think the proposal is the place to tell the publisher what to do.  For example, one author said that in order for us to have her book (disregarding the part about this being a submission that was not yet accepted) we had to agree to print the text in blue.  If you know anything about printing you know printing in color (even text) is expensive.  This would double (or more) the print cost of the book.  Guess what pile the submission went in…

7. Be willing to collaborate, don’t just say it.  Indie publishing gives the author a lot of control.  Traditional publishing has a lot of moving parts, with a lot of people who specialize in a particular area.  Your opinion counts, absolutely.  But refusing to let the publisher change your book at all is a mistake, and makes you look like a diva.

8. Don’t get too attached to your cover.  Some covers are good, some aren’t.  Options are a good thing, don’t pass them up.

9. Have lots of social media.  One of the things we look for in potential authors is their current reach.  Blogs, twitter, facebook, all good things.

10. Don’t forget your contact info! This goes for all authors.  And is really more a pet peeve than anything.  When you submit, make sure you include valid contact information.

What to Read this Week: Holiday Mysteries

13542533Nothing says the holiday season like getting cozy with a blanket and hot chocolate, so why not get cozy this week with a cozy…mystery.  These choices will make you feel safe and sound while you’re finding bodies and solving crimes.  What better way to spend the holidays.

 

The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen: On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—well, actually, my true love, Darcy O’Mara, is spending a feliz navidad tramping around South America. Meanwhile, Mummy is holed up in a tiny village called Tiddleton-under-Lovey with that droll Noel Coward! And I’m snowed in at Castle Rannoch with my bumbling brother, Binky, and sourpuss sister-in-law, Fig.

So it’s a miracle when I contrive to land a position as hostess to a posh holiday party in Tiddleton. The village is like something out of A Christmas Carol! But no sooner have I arrived than a neighborhood nuisance, a fellow named Freddie falls out of a tree, dead…. Dickensian, indeed.

Duck the Halls 17286833by Donna Andrews: The brilliantly funny and talented Donna Andrews delivers another winner in the acclaimed avian-themed series that mystery readers have come to love. A few nights before Christmas, Meg is awakened when Michael is summoned to the New Life Baptist Church, where someone has rigged a cage full of skunks in the choir loft. The lengthy process of de-skunking the church requires its annual pre-Christmas concert to relocate to Trinity Episcopal, where Mother insists the show must go on, despite the budget-related protests of Mr. Otis, an elderly vestryman.  Meanwhile, when Meg helps her grandfather take the skunks to the zoo, they discover that his boa has been stolen—only to turn up later during the concert slithering out from the ribbon-bedecked evergreens.

It’s clear that some serious holiday pranksters are on the loose, and Meg is determined to find them.  But before she can, a fire breaks out at Trinity, and Mr. Otis is discovered dead. Could this be a bit of nasty revenge from the now deposed Pruitt family? Or harassment from the Evil Lender? As Meg searches for answers she also races to finish all of her Christmas shopping, wrapping, cooking, caroling, and decorating in time to make the season jolly for Michael and the twins. (copy from Goodreads).

 

17214428Christmas Carol Murder by Leslie Meier: Lucy normally loves planning for the holidays, but this year, Tinker’s Cove has fallen on hard times. With so many residents struggling to make ends meet, Christmas festivities are a luxury some can’t afford. But the story’s not so bleak at Downeast Mortgage, whose tightfisted owners, Jake Marlowe and Ben Scribner, are raking in profits from everyone’s misfortune. Half the town is in their debt, so when the miserly Marlowe is murdered, the mourners are few and the suspects are many. . .

It’s hard to feel merry amidst all the yuletide chaos. Between her reporting duties at the Pennysaver and nightly rehearsals for the Christmas play, Lucy hardly has time to search for a killer–especially one whose victim left behind so many possible culprits. Scribner believes Marlowe’s ghost has come to warn him of his own impending demise, and when he starts receiving death threats, Lucy wonders if there’s more to the omen than the ravings of a bitter old pinchpenny. . . (copy from Goodreads)

Books I Should Have Read Sooner: Tess of the D’Urbervilles

9307653I am about 70% sure I am named after Tess Durbeyfield.  You see, this was my mom’s favorite movie back when the 1970-something version was released.  She loves it.  And she loves Tess (and hates “that one guy” “Alec or Angel?” “her husband” “which one?” “the terrible one” “which one?” <– best synopsis of the book you will ever read).  6336039Now, while she might insist I was named after Mother Teresa, I have my doubts.  While that’s a much nobler name sake, I feel, subconsciously, my mother named me after one of the last descendants of the long line of D’Urbervilles.  And  I’m not sure how I feel about that.

Thomas Hardy’s novel follows the poor soul Tess, Tess who fortune has decide to screw with in as many ways possible and never give a break.  Is it fate?  Is it nature? Is it God? Is it sin?  Well, that’s up to the reader to decide.  Tess is a likable enough character, a little on the naïve side, a little on the weak side.  She’s not quite as timid as Jane Eyre and not quite as witty as Elizabeth Bennet. In fact, her personality is almost nonexistent.   She is a child of nature living in a world of strict social morals.  And, apparently, these two things are incompatible.  At least that’s my interpretation.

Some people might say it’s just a love story.

But if that’s how you chose to read this particular novel you will be bored.  Out of your mind.  If all Hardy was trying to do was write a love story, he hasn’t done a very good job.  For those of you trying to decide if this book is going to take up your time, here’s the plot in a nut shell.  Tess Durbyfield is a country girl whose father discovers they are descendants of the ancient D’Urbervilles, so they send Tess out to make their fortune and snag a rich husband.  Plan goes terrible wrong (no spoilers) Tess winds up at a dairy farm, meets the love of her life, and things just get worse from there.

The story is unbelievable and melodramatic, but there are so many things going on under the surface of the text that it balances out.  I enjoyed the book (not crazy about the movie) and even at 330+ pages it’s not a slow read (compared to other Victorian era novels).  If you’re looking to expand your knowledge of the fabulous world of Victorian lit or just want to get started on some classics, this is one that isn’t too much to tackle.

Stitching Update for the Week

I’m getting very excited for the Christmas season this year.  Not only does it mean I’ll have this major graduate paper out of the way (Tess of the D’Urbervilles, an indepth look at how the religious men Tess comes into contact with influence her faith and her demise at each phase of her fall and the relationship between spirituality, faith, and Victorian morality, if you were wondering.  I’m excited about my topic…) but I’ve also decided to not do Christmas crafts this year, which has taken so much pressure off the month leading up to the holiday.

I also get a week long company holiday before.  I’ve never had a paid holiday before…after almost 9 years of working in retail I’m used to the holidays being overtime time.  Not relaxation and family time.  I know it’s probably a stupid thing to get excited about…but it’s really gotten me in the Christmas spirit.

IMG_0475Almost done with the second row!  Second page row out of three!  Which means the whole design is almost done.  This sunflower is coming into being much quicker than the ear and will probably be finished by the end of the week, with just a couple days for sky background and then, ladies and gentlemen, we will start on the final page block and the design will be finished.

IMG_0476

But I could really just stop now and it would still look spectacular.  I wish this picture were better though.  Apparently when I take a picture with one had while trying to drink a mug of coffee with the other things don’t line up like I planned… At least nothing was spilled.

For those of you who are working on Christmas crafts this year, what are you doing?  Post a link to your pics if you’re blogging it, which is an easy way to get entered into my Christmas Giveaway! Just 18 more days to enter.

Tales from an editor (a.k.a. things no one taught me in college): The age old battle indie vs. traditional, part 1

Today’s post is one that sits close to my heart and one that I feel like I have more information on than some of the other topics I want to write on.  As a former indie-author myself I know about the indie  process and now that I’m actually working in the trade publishing industry I’ve seen the other side.

And, ladies and gentlemen.  There is a difference.

A lot of differences actually.  Which is why I’m splitting this topic up into several parts.  Now, because I know this is a subject that many writers have their own opinions on I want to preface this series by saying these are just my personal observations.  I speak from experience, but only my experience.  Feel free to share your comments and questions in the comments.

If we’re going to start somewhere, it might as well be at the beginning. Here are a list of the questions I had as an indie-author going into the process several years ago and the questions I didn’t have answers to then, but do now.

Q. Does self-publishing mean no publisher will ever look at my book again?

A.  No.  Some publishers don’t like working with indie-authors, but self-publishing doesn’t exclude you from the traditional option.  Harsh reality is, few self-pub books ever  do well enough to make much of a difference and we work on them the same way we work on an unpublished submission with a few differences.  It is, however, easier for us to work with an unpublished book because everyone is starting from the same place. (*side note* When applying for my job my now boss found a copy of my book online.  It’s why I got my job).

Q. If I go with a traditional publisher does it mean I give up all my opinions?

A. No. And yes.  This question is a tricky one.  From my experience with a foot in both worlds there is a big difference between indie and traditional pub in terms of focus.  Most first time indie-authors (myself included) are author focused: what kind of cover fits my vision, what title do I like, what kind of copy do I think sounds good, what reviewers do I know, what will an editor do for me.  Traditional publishing is reader focused.  What cover make people want to not just read, but pay for this book.  What key words need to be on the back cover.  What questions should the title answer.  What title and cover concepts are currently selling.  How do we edit to make this book an experience for the reader.  Your opinions matter, but if your cover won’t sell and your chapter layouts is a nightmare for a reader who isn’t you…you can bet it’ll get changed.  But that’s why writers go to publishers.

Q. Doesn’t traditional publishing pay a lot better?

A. Sure.  If you’re Suzanne Collins, Stephen King, or Neil Gaiman.  Publishing, as we all know, hasn’t been doing as well as it has in the past.  If you’re a first time author with no sales history but a good book and a good platform you might get your book accepted, but don’t expect an advance.  Especially not one in the 5-6 figure range.  Authors get royalties for writing a book that sells, an advance is the publisher saying we know it’ll sell at least this much.  Book doesn’t sell? You don’t get paid.  Just like with indie-publishing.

Q. If I use a traditional publisher the work is offer once I turn in my manuscript?

A. No way.  Authors are expected to be networking and promoting all the time.  We give you outlets and connections to do this, indie-publishing you do it yourself.  Either way, you work well after the book is written (that’s the easy part), a traditional publisher just gives you more resources.

Stay tuned next week for how to handle the transition from indie author to traditional!  Don’ forget, only 20 more days to enter the giveaway!

Giveaway Sunday!

In place of what to read this week I have an announcement.

In honor of the blog being around for a year (give or take a few months) I’m doing a Christmas giveaway.  Initially I wanted to give away a bunch of handstitched bookmarks but with everything that’s gone on this year I haven’t had time to make them.  So you’ll have to make do with a $20 Amazon gift card instead.

So, here are the details.  The winner will be announced December 23rd (I was going to do December 25, but I want to keep that day isolated for family/church/holiday fun time.  Besides, this way you can get a last minute present for yourself).  I will contact you and ask what email address or twitter account you want the gift card sent to.  (If you don’t respond by January 1 I’ll pull another name).  The winner will be drawn randomly out of a box of some kind, or a bag, or a hat, however the spirit moves me.  Or possible a Christmas stocking, that’d be cool.

Here’s how you can be entered to win:

1. follow this blog anytime from December 1 to December 22 (1 chance)

2. follow me on twitter anytime from Dec. 1 to Dec. 22 (1 chance)

3. Be my friend on Goodreads (1 chance)

3. Comment on a post published anytime from Dec. 1 to Dec. 22 (1 chance per post)

4. Like a post published anytime from Dec. 1 to Dec. 22 (1/2 chance per like)

For those of you fabulous people who already follow, tweet, and read well, just tell me so in a post and you get your 3 extra chances.  You’ve got 22 days until the giveaway! So help inflate me sense of self-worth, it is the holidays after all :)

(relatively) Recent Release Reviews: NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

When I first started this book I told myself, no matter what, I would not compare this book to a Stephen King novel.  Unfortunately after several references to Shawshank, IT, and the True Knot it was fairly obvious Hill wasn’t distancing himself from his father’s legacy, which made it impossible for me to do the same.

Oddly enough, I started reading NOS4A2 the same time I started reading Doctor Sleep and (while a review of Doctor Sleep is coming soon) I ended up putting The Shining sequel on the back burner because I was drawn into the world of Christmasland and didn’t want to leave to see what was going on with Danny Torrence and the True Knot.  In this particular instance of comparison, Hill has outdone his father with a book that not only stands on its own but seems to surpass the master of the genre, with a book that is a must read for horror fans.

Vic McQueen has special gift.  She can create inscapes, she can escape into a new world of her own creation and use it to find what’s been lost or what she needs. 17881924 Getting around in these inscapes is dangerous though, and  Vic runs into the master of inscapes Charles Manx, who brings children into the world of Christmasland where they never have to grow up…but they never get to be children again either.

Years later Manx is out for blood…and Vic’s son is on the top of the list for a trip to Christmasland.

Hill has created a fantastical world here.  A world where people can create worlds of their own if they’re just creative enough to get there.  With these worlds contrasted with the harsh reality of the adult (“real”) world Hill creates an almost believable reason for why Manx wants to take the children away.  He is a villain, and a type of vampire, but Hill leaves just enough doubt in your mind that you’re wondering whether or not there’s more to his story…

Hill has also done a fantastic job creating characters.  Vic is a bad ass heroine who is willing to move (or create) heaven and earth to save her son.  Manx is a villain that’s evil without remorse.  And the cast of characters that support them are so beautifully written and creatively 17202851damaged they feel real even though we know they only exist in Christmasland.  While the characters are fantastic the pacing was sometimes difficult to get through.  At almost 680 pages there are sections that drag, and drag.  With a universe this complex its easy to see why it needs he explanation, but it’s hard to keep a book of this length interesting all the time.  Know what you’re getting into before you start and you won’t be disappointed it.

Just like The Nightmare Before Christmas this is a holiday book that can’t quite decide what holiday it needs to celebrate.  The perfect read for Halloween to keep you scared of falling asleep, and the perfect read for Christmas to get you in the spirit and feeling grateful for the family you have.
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