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Have agents and publishers become anachronisms?
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timellis
 05 Mar 2011, 08:20 #112471 Reply To Post
Here's the thing. I've become impatient with the palava of sending manuscripts etc out to agents and then waiting for God-knows how long for a rejection. What's the point?

I've published all my books (except two) on Kindle and had 62 sales within 4 days! So, who needs an agent or a publisher?

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=Tim%2BEllis

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=Tim%2BEllis&x=13&y=8

Yes, it would be nice to be published in the traditional way, and become a household name and rich into the bargain, but is it going to happen? - Probably not until pigs grow wings.

I'd like people to read what I've written in this lifetime, so I've decided to cut out the middlemen and get my books to the reading public.

Please feel free to disagree with me!
sulcus
 05 Mar 2011, 08:35 #112472 Reply To Post
I agree with you 100%. The traditional models for publishing are breaking down anyway. The whole thing is in a state of flux and yet to settle down to who knows what?

If one takes responsibility on one's own shoulders, for publishing and then promoting, then we have no one else to blame but ourselves if it doesn't work out. So we have no excuses and no hiding place.

Under the old system, the author's advance was a ridiculous method of remuneration. Most authors wouldn't earn it back through sales. But and here's the thing, under self-publishing, while you may make your original investment back, you are unlikely to make a workable living from it. If you can live with the fact you are unlikely to be a writer full-time (unless maybe you are in retirement with a nest egg anyway) then go for it.

There are wider issues of the reward of being an artist, and society's valuing of them, but I won't go into that here.
This post was last edited by sulcus, 05 Mar 2011, 08:38
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle

"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."
timellis
 05 Mar 2011, 08:54 #112473 Reply To Post
Quote: sulcus, Saturday, 5 Mar 2011 08:35
I agree with you 100%. The traditional models for publishing are breaking down anyway. The whole thing is in a state of flux and yet to settle down to who knows what?

If one takes responsibility on one's own shoulders, for publishing and then promoting, then we have no one else to blame but ourselves if it doesn't work out. So we have no excuses and no hiding place.

Under the old system, the author's advance was a ridiculous method of remuneration. Most authors wouldn't earn it back through sales. But and here's the thing, under self-publishing, while you may make your original investment back, you are unlikely to make a workable living from it. If you can live with the fact you are unlikely to be a writer full-time (unless maybe you are in retirement with a nest egg anyway) then go for it.

There are wider issues of the reward of being an artist, and society's valuing of them, but I won't go into that here.


I'm one of those retired full-time writers with said nest-egg! I'd like to sell my books for £100 each, but market forces dictate that I sell for less than £/$, which hardly reflects the sweat and toil associated with writing a book, but what the hell - it doesn't look like I'm going to become a gazillionnaire writing books, so I may as well get them out there rather than them sat on my hard drive.
sulcus
 05 Mar 2011, 09:33 #112477 Reply To Post
Quote: timellis, Saturday, 5 Mar 2011 08:54
Quote: sulcus, Saturday, 5 Mar 2011 08:35
I agree with you 100%. The traditional models for publishing are breaking down anyway. The whole thing is in a state of flux and yet to settle down to who knows what?

If one takes responsibility on one's own shoulders, for publishing and then promoting, then we have no one else to blame but ourselves if it doesn't work out. So we have no excuses and no hiding place.

Under the old system, the author's advance was a ridiculous method of remuneration. Most authors wouldn't earn it back through sales. But and here's the thing, under self-publishing, while you may make your original investment back, you are unlikely to make a workable living from it. If you can live with the fact you are unlikely to be a writer full-time (unless maybe you are in retirement with a nest egg anyway) then go for it.

There are wider issues of the reward of being an artist, and society's valuing of them, but I won't go into that here.


I'm one of those retired full-time writers with said nest-egg! I'd like to sell my books for £100 each, but market forces dictate that I sell for less than £/$, which hardly reflects the sweat and toil associated with writing a book, but what the hell - it doesn't look like I'm going to become a gazillionnaire writing books, so I may as well get them out there rather than them sat on my hard drive.


exactly, just so long as writers know what their targets and goals are in self-pubbing. They have to be realistic and yet forward thinking as well. Good luck with the sales!
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle

"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."
Marita Hansen
 05 Mar 2011, 09:40 #112478 Reply To Post
You've got quite a lot in there, Tim. Well done. Maybe I should consider doing something like this.
This post was last edited by Marita Hansen, 05 Mar 2011, 09:41
timellis
 05 Mar 2011, 09:47 #112479 Reply To Post
Quote: Marita Hansen, Saturday, 5 Mar 2011 09:40
You've got quite a lot in there, Tim. Well done. Maybe I should consider doing something like this.


Thanks. I recommend it, Marita. Is your avatar a young you? Glad you escaped Christchurch and Wellington!

timellis
 05 Mar 2011, 10:41 #112481 Reply To Post
Quote: sulcus, Saturday, 5 Mar 2011 09:33
Quote: timellis, Saturday, 5 Mar 2011 08:54
Quote: sulcus, Saturday, 5 Mar 2011 08:35
I agree with you 100%. The traditional models for publishing are breaking down anyway. The whole thing is in a state of flux and yet to settle down to who knows what?

If one takes responsibility on one's own shoulders, for publishing and then promoting, then we have no one else to blame but ourselves if it doesn't work out. So we have no excuses and no hiding place.

Under the old system, the author's advance was a ridiculous method of remuneration. Most authors wouldn't earn it back through sales. But and here's the thing, under self-publishing, while you may make your original investment back, you are unlikely to make a workable living from it. If you can live with the fact you are unlikely to be a writer full-time (unless maybe you are in retirement with a nest egg anyway) then go for it.

There are wider issues of the reward of being an artist, and society's valuing of them, but I won't go into that here.


I'm one of those retired full-time writers with said nest-egg! I'd like to sell my books for £100 each, but market forces dictate that I sell for less than £/$, which hardly reflects the sweat and toil associated with writing a book, but what the hell - it doesn't look like I'm going to become a gazillionnaire writing books, so I may as well get them out there rather than them sat on my hard drive.


exactly, just so long as writers know what their targets and goals are in self-pubbing. They have to be realistic and yet forward thinking as well. Good luck with the sales!


Thanks, Sulcus. Oh yes, I'm realistic - I'll have a second home in the Seychelles by the end of the year, and next year, well I like the new Jaguar XJS and...
Marita Hansen
 05 Mar 2011, 11:11 #112484 Reply To Post
Quote: timellis, Saturday, 5 Mar 2011 09:47
Quote: Marita Hansen, Saturday, 5 Mar 2011 09:40
You've got quite a lot in there, Tim. Well done. Maybe I should consider doing something like this.


Thanks. I recommend it, Marita. Is your avatar a young you? Glad you escaped Christchurch and Wellington!



Yes, it is a young me. I was twenty-two there. Got sick of the old avatar.

Forty in September

I'm from Auckland. But, my relatives in Christchurch are all safe. What happened in Wellington? I better check google.
This post was last edited by Marita Hansen, 05 Mar 2011, 11:13
timellis
 05 Mar 2011, 11:17 #112486 Reply To Post
Quote: Marita Hansen, Saturday, 5 Mar 2011 11:11
Quote: timellis, Saturday, 5 Mar 2011 09:47
Quote: Marita Hansen, Saturday, 5 Mar 2011 09:40
You've got quite a lot in there, Tim. Well done. Maybe I should consider doing something like this.


Thanks. I recommend it, Marita. Is your avatar a young you? Glad you escaped Christchurch and Wellington!



Yes, it is a young me. I was twenty-two there. Got sick of the old avatar.

Forty in September

I'm from Auckland. But, my relatives in Christchurch are all safe. What happened in Wellington? I better check google.


I could tell it was a young you because of the hair style and the dress style. Wellington had a tremor!
Marita Hansen
 05 Mar 2011, 11:34 #112491 Reply To Post
Wellington has loads of tremors, which is why I won't live there. It's the norm.
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