Post # 1
Member
1626 posts
Bumble bee
I have been trying to talk myself into putting pen to paper and writing myself my first (well not my FIRST) novel that I will submit for publication. I have been so afraid that I will hit a block, or write a total piece of crap but today I’m deciding to just sit down and put pen to paper.
My Fiance has been trying to be encouraging but it gets a little frustrating when he says “Just sit down and write” and all I can think is “It doesn’t work that way damnit, its a little more nerve racking.”
Not sure what I’m looking for here, but just had to get it off my chest that this scares me. More than getting married, this horrifies me. What if I put all my effort into this, submit it for publication and I just get told to screw off or that I’m a terrible writer. I have spent years pursuing writing in some fashion or another and I don’t want it to get taken away once I actually jump into the big pond of writers where I will just be the smallest tadpole.
Sorry for my slight vent/rant but I’m here by myself and you ladies are generally great listeners when it comes to being scared. 🙂
Post # 3
Member
1363 posts
Bumble bee
You are an angel. You read my mind except I’m working on a sequel. While I should be looking for full time work (and I am trying, don’t get me wrong), Darling Husband insists I write my book instead. I can’t believe you posted this as just an hour ago I was searching the house for the first chapter of my part 2 that I lost and have to start over now.
I never thought I could post about my novel here. I thought it was against the rules and we would be promoting ourselves or whatever the term is!
You are right, i told Darling Husband the same thing. I have to be inspired to write. But I miss it so much, I cried last week and that’s when he put his foot down, lol
Please pm me anytime with thoughts/ideas/anything! YAY!!!!
Post # 4
Member
1626 posts
Bumble bee
I love you right now! Honestly I don’t think it breaks the rules we aren’t saying “Hey run out and buy my novel, here is the link” or anything like that we are saying we are scared which to me is totally legit. :P. I’m scared because I have to find an agent or I’m screwed in my genre because there are soooo many of us. I have given myself until next summer to get this thing finished but I’m just so horrified. I’m currently 400 words inand I just started 20 minutes ago so maybe I can do it 😛
Post # 5
Member
1363 posts
Bumble bee
You can definitely write it! However, hon, I plan to self publish. You must know who Nicholas Sparks is? He started his career by self publishing! If you don’t feel inspired one day, don’t beat yourself up. I have sticky notes of just one liners lying around and that’s how I get inspired, by putting them all together and then just going on and on! GAh! Why didn’t you post this sooner? LOL! I have to log off now but I’ll be back tomorrow!
Post # 6
Member
1363 posts
Bumble bee
Oh and I plan to self publish because finding an agent and then a publisher, is like finding a needle in a haystack. If you know who Richard Paul Evans is, he got his start by self publishing too!
Post # 7
Member
1363 posts
Bumble bee
And what’s your genre? So many questions I have now! LOL
Post # 8
Member
3482 posts
Sugar bee
Darling Husband and I both write for pleasure, but we definitely want to try and publish some of our stuff one of these days. True, it’s not easy dealing with the possibility of rejection when you’ve worked so hard on something, but I’m kind of used to that by now considering my background in the performing arts, lol. Darling Husband mainly writes short stories, so he’s thinking he might self-publish them as e-books anyway.
Post # 9
Member
1626 posts
Bumble bee
@Just_Squeeze: How much does it cost to self publish? From what I understand it can get expensive. Oh and my genre is fantasy/scifi. Although I am thinking of doing a reworking of one of the Grimm stories, kind of like Brom did with Peter Pan, but that will come after I finish this project. But there are just so very many of us getting noticed is going to be hard as hell.
Post # 10
Member
1363 posts
Bumble bee
@Corilee13: I’m sneaking in another reply while Darling Husband is in the shower, lol, he just got home. I will answer your PM tomorrow.
When I was THIS close to self publishing (apparently the editor loved my book but hell, I was paying for it so why wouldn’t he?) it was going to cost me 2K for 100 copies.
Later I learned an even cheaper way. You go to a printer. A good one. I have the name of a good one here in Ottawa. They bind it for you like a real book looks. You know, with the spine and all, but the graphic artist or artist for your cover is your expense. That route was more like $1000 for 100 copies.
What Richard Paul Evans did is made up some copies of a story he wrote for his daughters at Christmas. He then went around to mom and pop bookstores and asked them to please display the book in their windows. They did. Word of mouth spread that the book was fantastic and that’s when a publisher contacted him! He could then afford to hire an agent.
I love your genre! Mine is a tragi-romance. Love lost, found again and then lost again. A romance but a tragedy…hence tragi-romance.
Post # 11
Member
1626 posts
Bumble bee
@Just_Squeeze:Oh I totally wrote, but haven’t put the finishing touches on, a tragi-romance written in the epic poem style (much like The Lady of Shalott). I love that style. Much more realistic. I haven’t quite gotten it right though.
And 2000 isn’t too bad. I live in rural BFE Oregon though so I don’t know how well mom and pop store will promote my book though. Maybe if I found some bigger stores that were privately owned.
Post # 12
Member
3788 posts
Honey bee
I’ve been following this thread, and I wasn’t going to comment for fear of being flamed as a downer. But I showed this to my sister, who is an actual professional author whose debut novel will be available Spring 2013, and this is what she said:
“Take yourself seriously. Treat writing as a job and do the work. Make the time; write the pages. It’s the only way to do it. You will suck at first. No, really, you will. Keep going. If you really want to write, you will write. If you just want to talk about writing or to say you’ve written something, you’ll do those things instead. Keep publishing and the industry separate from the writing. Don’t even think about it until you’ve completed – and revised, multiple times – your novel. Do your research, and only self-publish if you understand what you’re getting into. Self-publishing is a LOT of work; you’re responsible for every facet of the book’s quality, and you won’t have much audience. If you really want to be published, a physical book in a bookstore published, stick with it until you get an agent. The internet makes researching the industry incredibly easy, but it takes years of dedication and effort.
Publishing 101: Money flows to the writer. Always. Even in self-publishing, you make a minor investment for copy-editing and cover art, but you earn a higher royalty on copies. Conversely, you publish traditionally and receive an advance against royalties, distribution, and marketing. Agents work on commission. You do not pay to hire them. They only get paid when you do. Paying someone a grand to literally print copies of your book is not the same thing as self-publishing.
The nice thing is it is within your control. You can do it if you want to! Writing is its own reward; publishing is just icing. Good luck.”
I hope this is informative. Basically, save your money and put that effort into writing and submitting. The rejections suck, but you need them to become better in that industry! Good luck!
Post # 13
Member
1626 posts
Bumble bee
@Amaryllis: You were not a downer at all. I think that was just the kick in the pants I needed. She is right, I need to write and not worry so much about what comes after I’ve written something. Thank you and tell your sister thank you. That advice is great, especially coming from someone in the business who knows what I’m getting myself into. 🙂
Post # 14
Member
1363 posts
Bumble bee
@Amaryllis: Cool! What does your sister write? Or should I wait until 2013 to find out? 😉
I believe in the power of desire. If I desire my book to be seen and valued, it will be. Just like if you desire true love, it finds you. Call me an idiot, call me a hopeless romantic, but I guess I’m just trying to be an upper!
Post # 15
Member
1626 posts
Bumble bee
@Just_Squeeze: I like that outlook 🙂 I finished my prologue! Whoop!
