Book Deals
I think it is in the January issue of Writer's Digest that Tom O'Connor wrote What's the Deal? The subtitle reads:
In the wake of recent squabbling on one of WD's forum threads, I think I understand now that hobby writers don't want to receive this kind of information. They prefer to live wrapped in their candle-scented, rainbow-colored clouds of white veiled visions of writing or being a writer. More often, probably, of being an Author. For my own reality check, I dangled this issue before the crowd of usual suspects in a chatroom last night. If any wanted to live in the mirage, they didn't speak up. The rest firmly favor realistic views. That's what's offered in "What's the Deal?"
Here's the truth about advances, foreign rights and what to expect with the sale your first book.
In the wake of recent squabbling on one of WD's forum threads, I think I understand now that hobby writers don't want to receive this kind of information. They prefer to live wrapped in their candle-scented, rainbow-colored clouds of white veiled visions of writing or being a writer. More often, probably, of being an Author. For my own reality check, I dangled this issue before the crowd of usual suspects in a chatroom last night. If any wanted to live in the mirage, they didn't speak up. The rest firmly favor realistic views. That's what's offered in "What's the Deal?"What the majority of writers can realistically expect from the sale of their first publishing deal are low advances and little support from their publisher as they go back to their day jobs and start working on their next book. But understanding the marketplace can work to new authors' advantage, keeping them writing and creating opportunities down the road.
[books]
5 Comments:
What is your opinion on the right of first refusal?
I'd charge a lot for one, but pay little. Oh, wait. Did you mean do I believe in it, like fairies?
That shouldn't be news to anyone but the most doggedly egotistical and/or clueless. I don't know from the how-to market, but in fiction, even successful books tend to go in and out of print. Factor in first novels, which don't have built-in readership, and the odds of instant fame and fortune become exceedingly remote.
That said, I do hope that a combination of a) self-promotion, b) sequels and c) belated good luck will result in my own first novel going past a first printing, even if that second printing comes years later, in connection with a sequel. Which is pretty much what that "understanding the marketplace" phrase suggests, at least to me!
clueless That pretty much describes most noobs. I don't mean this to sound derogatory, either. We were all beginners at one time. It seems that creative writers, especially those who want to birth novels, know the least about the book publishing industry, which is incredibly complicated already and in the throes of upheaval as electronic and self publishing rise to threaten the existence of traditionally published tree books.
"electronic and self publishing rise to threaten the existence of traditionally published tree books"
And traditional publishers will have no one to blame but themselves. Put publishing back in the hands of creative people not multinationals and accountants.
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