Comments on: Birthday Request to Readers: Publishing and Testimonials http://www.radicalparenting.com/2009/05/05/birthday-request-to-readers-publishing-and-testimonials/ Parenting From The Kids Perspective Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Vanessa Van Petten http://www.radicalparenting.com/2009/05/05/birthday-request-to-readers-publishing-and-testimonials/comment-page-1/#comment-2565 Vanessa Van Petten Fri, 08 May 2009 02:28:54 +0000 http://www.radicalparenting.com/?p=3864#comment-2565 Hi Celise This helps a lot. I know it is a bad thing to self publish in the traditional publishing houses. I probably should try some query letters and hope my blog and its following will help push me. Tomorrow I am posting my book idea to start the proposal because I have heard that helps. I am going to start writing and researching now in earnest per your advice. Thanks so much, keep me posted on your YA book! V Hi Celise

This helps a lot. I know it is a bad thing to self publish in the traditional publishing houses. I probably should try some query letters and hope my blog and its following will help push me.

Tomorrow I am posting my book idea to start the proposal because I have heard that helps. I am going to start writing and researching now in earnest per your advice.

Thanks so much, keep me posted on your YA book!

V

]]> By: Vanessa Van Petten http://www.radicalparenting.com/2009/05/05/birthday-request-to-readers-publishing-and-testimonials/comment-page-1/#comment-2563 Vanessa Van Petten Fri, 08 May 2009 02:24:33 +0000 http://www.radicalparenting.com/?p=3864#comment-2563 thank you! tomorrow I am posting my book idea, maybe this will help, would love any suggestions or if i can help you let me know! V thank you!

tomorrow I am posting my book idea, maybe this will help, would love any suggestions or if i can help you let me know!

V

]]> By: Vanessa Van Petten http://www.radicalparenting.com/2009/05/05/birthday-request-to-readers-publishing-and-testimonials/comment-page-1/#comment-2562 Vanessa Van Petten Fri, 08 May 2009 02:23:30 +0000 http://www.radicalparenting.com/?p=3864#comment-2562 Kathryn Thanks so much for this, yes now I am tapping everyone I know! Would be happy to talk to you about articles, just let me know, tomorrow I will be posting about my book idea.... Thanks for reading! Vanessa Kathryn
Thanks so much for this, yes now I am tapping everyone I know! Would be happy to talk to you about articles, just let me know, tomorrow I will be posting about my book idea….

Thanks for reading!
Vanessa

]]> By: Celise http://www.radicalparenting.com/2009/05/05/birthday-request-to-readers-publishing-and-testimonials/comment-page-1/#comment-2542 Celise Thu, 07 May 2009 02:55:26 +0000 http://www.radicalparenting.com/?p=3864#comment-2542 One last thing...a good place to look for publishers is Wordhustler.com. One last thing…a good place to look for publishers is Wordhustler.com.

]]> By: Celise http://www.radicalparenting.com/2009/05/05/birthday-request-to-readers-publishing-and-testimonials/comment-page-1/#comment-2541 Celise Thu, 07 May 2009 02:54:09 +0000 http://www.radicalparenting.com/?p=3864#comment-2541 To get into the big houses, like Simon & Schuster, you'll need an agent. If you try the smaller presses, you won't need an agent. Self-publishing is still considered to be a bad word in the publishing industry. Basically, if you haven't been published traditionally, then you haven't been "published". If you decide to do the agent search, you'll need to send a query letter first and they always ask about your publishing history. Mention the blog. Don't mention the self-published book. Best place to start the agent search is AgentQuery.com. There are also quite a few literary agents that blog, like Nathan Bransford. It would probably be a good idea to check out an agent blog to get a feel for what they're looking for. As for pitches, publishers/editors/agents, etc prefer the work to either be completed, or close to being completed. Just to be safe, you should probably do one or the other first, before submitting. The advantage for you, though, is your built-in platform and followers. At least this way, they'll know you'll be able to market/promote your book. Another thing to keep in mind is that whether you end up with a Big House or a Little House, you will do the majority of the marketing/promoting yourself. New authors don't get a big publicity push. In fact, if you get an advance, expect to use part of that for publicity. Also, an advance is considered to be an "advance against royalties." Meaning, if you get a $5,000 advance, you will have to sell $5,000 worth of your books before you see an actual royalty check. I'm not trying to discourage you, but this is what I've learned from studying the industry and reading blogs of traditionally published authors. I'm a self-published author as well and have decided to go the traditional route--again--with my YA series, but will hit up the small presses directly this time. No agent. Hope this helps. To get into the big houses, like Simon & Schuster, you’ll need an agent. If you try the smaller presses, you won’t need an agent. Self-publishing is still considered to be a bad word in the publishing industry. Basically, if you haven’t been published traditionally, then you haven’t been “published”. If you decide to do the agent search, you’ll need to send a query letter first and they always ask about your publishing history. Mention the blog. Don’t mention the self-published book. Best place to start the agent search is AgentQuery.com. There are also quite a few literary agents that blog, like Nathan Bransford. It would probably be a good idea to check out an agent blog to get a feel for what they’re looking for.

As for pitches, publishers/editors/agents, etc prefer the work to either be completed, or close to being completed. Just to be safe, you should probably do one or the other first, before submitting.

The advantage for you, though, is your built-in platform and followers. At least this way, they’ll know you’ll be able to market/promote your book. Another thing to keep in mind is that whether you end up with a Big House or a Little House, you will do the majority of the marketing/promoting yourself. New authors don’t get a big publicity push. In fact, if you get an advance, expect to use part of that for publicity. Also, an advance is considered to be an “advance against royalties.” Meaning, if you get a $5,000 advance, you will have to sell $5,000 worth of your books before you see an actual royalty check.

I’m not trying to discourage you, but this is what I’ve learned from studying the industry and reading blogs of traditionally published authors. I’m a self-published author as well and have decided to go the traditional route–again–with my YA series, but will hit up the small presses directly this time. No agent.

Hope this helps.

]]> By: Judith Wilson Burkes http://www.radicalparenting.com/2009/05/05/birthday-request-to-readers-publishing-and-testimonials/comment-page-1/#comment-2496 Judith Wilson Burkes Wed, 06 May 2009 15:13:26 +0000 http://www.radicalparenting.com/?p=3864#comment-2496 Vanessa, I am not in the publishing business, but I will do what I can. We follow each other on Twitter and will RT your message and request as much as I can. Surely, with your audience and focus, there is someone out there looking for you! Vanessa,

I am not in the publishing business, but I will do what I can. We follow each other on Twitter and will RT your message and request as much as I can. Surely, with your audience and focus, there is someone out there looking for you!

]]> By: Kathryn Jackson http://www.radicalparenting.com/2009/05/05/birthday-request-to-readers-publishing-and-testimonials/comment-page-1/#comment-2484 Kathryn Jackson Wed, 06 May 2009 04:23:35 +0000 http://www.radicalparenting.com/?p=3864#comment-2484 Hi Vanessa, I hear you...and I sympathize so very much - I have also written a book...but I decided against self publishing and built a strategy to find a publisher...I assume you've tried contacting all of the publishers that produce similar literature to You're Grounded? Get in touch with them - call them, email them, create submissions that meet their criteria...and believe that one will offer you something. I am now publishing with Longacre Press in New Zealand and they are just awesome!! Alternatively some great sites with hints are www.publishme.co.nz , lulu.com or get your book onto www.changethis.com so people can vote to get you published!! Good Luck! PS if you want somebody to write in a new Careers Section on your website let me know! Hi Vanessa, I hear you…and I sympathize so very much – I have also written a book…but I decided against self publishing and built a strategy to find a publisher…I assume you’ve tried contacting all of the publishers that produce similar literature to You’re Grounded? Get in touch with them – call them, email them, create submissions that meet their criteria…and believe that one will offer you something. I am now publishing with Longacre Press in New Zealand and they are just awesome!! Alternatively some great sites with hints are http://www.publishme.co.nz , lulu.com or get your book onto http://www.changethis.com so people can vote to get you published!! Good Luck! PS if you want somebody to write in a new Careers Section on your website let me know!

]]> By: MePregnant http://www.radicalparenting.com/2009/05/05/birthday-request-to-readers-publishing-and-testimonials/comment-page-1/#comment-2477 MePregnant Tue, 05 May 2009 20:50:51 +0000 http://www.radicalparenting.com/?p=3864#comment-2477 <strong>Birthday Request to Readers: Publishing and Testimonials | Radical ......</strong> I wish for a publisher. Dearest Readers, It is my birthday today, May 5th and I was hoping to ask for a small gift from my readers. As some of you know, I....

Birthday Request to Readers: Publishing and Testimonials | Radical ……

I wish for a publisher. Dearest Readers, It is my birthday today, May 5th and I was hoping to ask for a small gift from my readers. As some of you know, I….

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