Posts filed under ‘STRUGGLING TO GET IT PUBLISHED’
STRUGGLING TO GET IT PUBLISHED: REVISITING DUOTROPE
I had promised to return to the purpose of this blog, writing and publishing, to relay knowledge gained in having my work published, and on more occasions that I like to recall, rejected. So with this article I shall return to that purpose. But my mind is disrupted by the state of our beloved country. Need I say more?
Now, on to Duotrope, one of the most useful tools a writer can use to get his work published. If you have a piece you desire to publish, please give the site a look. You will be more than satisfied.
Duotrope is a website discussed in the past. I wish to renew that discussion and provide new information.
At one time Duotrope was free, a great source for finding publishers. A few years ago they began charging $50/year to use their service. That small price is more than worth the benefits provided to help you find a home for your work. They provide publishers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. They provide a survey for you to characterize you work and zero in on publishers who may in interested in publishing you. When you initially check out the site, you are allowed limited use to explore the value they provide. Duotrope constantly upgrades the information they provide so the list of publishers remains current.
A new feature, offered in addition to the published work, is the category of visual arts. With this new addition you are able to search for sources to publish of your art; magazines etc.
Duotrope is an essential tool to those writers and artists wanting a chance to expose their work to the world.
Here is a link to the site.
STRUGGLING TO GET IT PUBLISHED: MARKETS AND AGENTS
This piece is a sample of upcoming posts to this blog.
The following is a list of websites to help writers find markets and agents. In the future I will discuss each site in more detail, but I thought I would offer this piece for writers to explore these sites, if they want, on their own.
First, I am sad to say that one of my favorite sites to explore the validity of markets and agents no longer exists. The site is Preditors & Editors, a site I have looked to over the years for their opinion about markets and agents. They will be sorely missed.
Now let’s deal with markets.
To my mind, Duotrope is the go-to site for seeking markets for fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Once free, it now charges 50$ a year to use it. Although there are some that argue about the fee, I think, for the service they provide, it is well worth the cost. This site is a fantastic search-engine to find markets specific to your work.
Here is the site:
https://duotrope.com/index.aspx?bp=search
Here is a site to find markets for science fiction and more. I have yet to become acquainted with it, but I will before I report on it.
http://www.ralan.com/index.htm
Now for agents.
In my opinion, this is the site to first visit when seeking an agent. The site is for the Association of Writers Representative. You can search the site for your specific genre and be connected to the agent’s site. You should never have to pay an agent to read your work. With the agents associated with this site, you never will. They have taken a pledge of honesty.
Here is the site:
Next is a site devoted to the writer to query other writers about their experience with publishers and
agents. Great place to check on honesty.
Here is the site:
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/activity.php
Finally, here is a site to use to see an agents background. I will discuss this site in greater detail in a later post.
Here is the site:
http://www.agwentquery.com/default.aspx
I hope this helps my fellow writers on their journey to publication. As promised, a more extensive look at each site will follow. I want to help my fellow writers to be where they want to be.
STRUGGLING TO GET IT PUBLISHED: AGE AND TECHNOLOGY
I’m going to, here and now, establish a new term: The Crossover Generation of Writers. You are the very first to witness the birth of a movement, for however brief, will soon be dead along with this blogger. But not too soon.
What am I talking about, you may ask? I’m familiar with that response when I try to explain something.
It is this.
When I attended college as a biochemistry major, all science and engineering majors carried slide rules, the current device for calculations. I still have my bamboo-beauty still nestled in a drawer. Later after I graduated, around 1970, I knew someone who purchased one of the first calculators for around $100. The device could add, subtract, multiply and divide. That was it, with no memory. Today credit-sized calculators, which can do far more, and solar powered are given away. I got one years ago. Do you
What the theme of this piece is the progression from preparing a piece to be published on a typewriter, using correction tape to now submitting manuscripts on the internet. Unless you have experienced that transition, you cannot fully appreciate the impact technology has had on the writer that has lived through that transition. When unable to hire those familiar with the latest technology of publishing and marketing, those of a certain age (I) are lost.
I belong to a host of online organizations providing opportunities to publish and sell your work. All, I feel, are legitimate. Personally, I’m not immersed in the current technology and methods of publishing, distributing and selling my work. My focus is in writing, yet I realize the need for modern technology to be successful, to embrace both writing and the rapidly evolving technology of publishing and marketing of your work.
At times, I find the options beyond my comprehension and ability. Therefore, The Crossover Generation of Writers is born today. I am the first, but not only member.
Writers of advanced wisdom and experience, what do you think about this? Do you agree and identify?
STRUGGLING TO GET IT PUBLISHED: THE SMALL PRESS
Between major houses and self-publishing there lies an alternative which is the subject of this piece.
As far as the major publishing houses are concerned, most cannot be approached unless you have an agent and the agent makes the contact. But acquisition of an agent is not an easy task. An aside, for those writing in my genre, science fiction and horror, the major house, TOR, does accept unsolicited manuscripts. I read an article not long ago in which writers talked about obtaining an agent. In almost every case it was ‘I know someone, or I have an agent. Let me talk to them.’ You get the idea. Yet I’m still naïve enough to feel if your work is good, something good will happen. I could be labeled either a dreamer or an idiot, been called both by those who know me.
The far-end of the spectrum from the top houses is self-publishing. I’ve dealt with this topic in past posts, and will surely again in the future. What typifies my thoughts on self-publishing is an ad I see constantly in Writer’s Digest. In the photo accompanying the ad is a middle-aged woman with short gray hair sitting cross-legged on a mound of earth in the middle of the great outdoors, I can only assume there must be a Starbucks within Wi-Fi distance. She has her arms raised triumphantly while gazing at her laptop nestled in her lap. The ad proclaims, ‘Write anything. Publish everything.’
Really?
I don’t know if this woman is supposed to have just finished writing a classic, or just sent off the classic to be published. ‘Write anything’ I have no problem with, but ‘Publish everything’, give me a break. Does everything written need to be published, especially by someone unencumbered by the process of discovering if what they write is publishable? If you feel everything you write, that is not exposed to scrutiny, is publishable, you can stop reading now.
If you are still reading and feel the product of your mind should be self-published, please, please, please have someone other than your mother or your spouse read your work with a critical eye and who will be gentle, yet honest, with their opinion. Join a writer’s group or seek an online critique. I’ll these options in future pieces.
The purpose of this article is to discuss small presses, and now I will focus on that topic. There are a multitude of small, legitimate presses you are able to approach directly. I was fortunate enough to be accepted as an author by Melange Books. They provided help in editing, designing a book cover and distributing my book to online sellers, Barnes & Noble and Amazon, all free of charge. There are a host of publishers out there that want to publish good work, but do your homework. As with any industry, there are those that are less than honest.
My favorite source of publishing opportunities, Duotrope, https://duotrope.com/, is one place to begin your research. There are many other resources, but I find Duotrope the most complete and easiest to use.
At the same time, I must caution you that all small presses may not have the best interest of the writer in mind. As with any business, there are the unscrupulous and the scams abound.
Do your homework!
In past articles I have discussed Preditors & Editors, http://pred-ed.com/pubagent.ht, and Absolute Write Water Cooler, http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/. Both are fantastic and constantly update their information. Preditors & Editors provides information on publishers, along with agents. This is a site you must use if you want to publish your work and do not want to be taken due to an ego trip. The site provides recommendations and warnings of the unscrupulous.
Absolute Write Water Cooler offers writers’ experiences with publishers and agents. This site is a must if you plan to publish. If you search the internet for a specific publisher or agent, often some of the first references will be from Absolute Writer. Always check these comments by writers who have used these sites and provide first-hand information on their experiences. Both Preditors & Editors and Absolute Write Water Cooler and places you should investigate while seeking to publish your work, and they are FREE.
Good luck fellow writers.
STRUGGLING TO GET IT PUBLISHED: WRITER’S RESOURCES, ALSO, WHAT LIES AHEAD
As I stumble through the maze of trying to get my work published, I run across websites that may be helpful. I’ll let you be the judge on how helpful they really are, but I’ll share them.
Next week, I will perhaps make many enemies and maybe one or two friends.
My new series, Rant & Raves, will take a personal look at retirement for that is where I am now. I find the process not difficult and share my ‘insight’.
Most of my enemies will come from the gurus lecturing on how to retire with no worries, the term ‘snake oil’ comes to mind. This will be a personal journey, not meant to be chiseled in stone, merely etched in sand. But having gone through the process, i.e. living to this point, I feel the need to share my ‘wisdom’.
Anyone wishing to ease that retirement from my first life, my writer’s life is still in process, look below.
Here are some links where you may purchase my work.
Melange Books
http://www.melange-books.com/authors/walttrizna/index.html
Barnes & Noble.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/walt-trizna?store=book&keyword=walt+trizna
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=walt+trizna
STRUGGLING TO GET IT PUBLISHED: PUBLISH YOUR POEMS
I either stumbled upon site or they stumbled and found me. However it happened, it was to my benefit and became the new home for some of my poems and, if you have the poetry addiction, I encourage you to give them a try and follow them.
They refer to their site as ‘Promote Yourself’ and they give you every opportunity to do just that. Even if you’re not a Robert Frost or Billie Collins or even a Delmore Schwartz, if you have a poem you want the world to see, give them a try. If they publish your poem, it will be accompanied with a fitting picture or photo. They have a large following and you’ll get feedback as to how many enjoyed your work with the number of ‘likes’. If you do not write poetry but like to read what other ordinary people are writing, also give them a try. Remember, those that were once ordinary, upon getting exposure, can become extraordinary.
I want to thank the Sims for their hard work and dedication to the art of poetry.
Here’s a link to their site.
Here are some links where you may purchase my work.
Melange Books
http://www.melange-books.com/authors/walttrizna/index.html
Barnes & Noble. Com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/walt-trizna?store=book&keyword=walt+trizna
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=walt+trizna
STRUGGLING TO GET IT PUBLISHED: ABSOLUTE WRITE
Previously, I introduced you to the helpful site for writers, Preditors & Editors, where you can go to investigate the reputation of agents and publishers. This site provides the chance for writers to avoid making poor decisions while attempting to get their work published. This present post concerns another extremely helpful site with the same purpose, Absolute Write.
Absolute Write is a popular and important site to use when approaching the publishing industry. Many times, when you search the internet for a specific agent or publisher, a reference made on Absolute Write will be one of the first hits. This site deals exclusively with opinions of writers telling of their experience using agents and publisher. You can follow a thread of conversations about agents or publisher you may be interested in contacting and see how other writers felt about their interaction with these individuals or businesses. Anyone can read, but to make a comment you must join, which I highly recommend and which is free.
Here’s a link to the site:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/
Here are some links where you may purchase my work.
Melange Books
http://www.melange-books.com/authors/walttrizna/index.html
Barnes & Noble. Com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/walt-trizna?store=book&keyword=walt+trizna
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=walt+trizna
STRUGGLING TO GET IT PUBLISHED: PREDITORS & EDITORS
You’ve spent endless hours giving birth to your baby; you’ve finished your novel. Now that effort is ready to enter the world of publishing. Be careful, do your homework. You may not believe it, but another major, perhaps greater, effort is about to begin.
Tell you a story. I once had my novel, The Beast Awaits, accepted by a small publisher. Excitement poured for every cell of my body, then I did my homework and you know what hit the fan. I went to Preditors & Editors and found they recommended staying away from this publisher. The reason, their contract took away a great deal of the author’s control. My novel remains unpublished, but at least I’m not in a situation that would be detrimental to my work. Once you are ready to publish, Preditors & Editors is one of the go-to sites before signing on the dotted line.
Getting your work published can be a little tricky to say the least. More posts will follow concerning where to look when choosing a publisher or an agent. Stay tuned.
Here’s a link to Preditor’s & Editors:
http://pred-ed.com/pubagent.ht
After some thought, I’ve decided to add, at the end of every post, links to sites where you can find my work. I hope my faithful readers, along with first-time visitors, will take a look.
Melange Books:
http://www.melange-books.com/authors/walttrizna/index.html
Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/walt-trizna?store=book&keyword=walt+trizna
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=walt+trizna
STRUGGLING TO GET IT PUBLISHED: ASSOCIATION OF AUTHORS’ REPRESENTATIVES
For those of you seeking a publisher, one of the first steps might entail finding an agent. For many publishers, the only way to approach them is through an agent. Agents are, to a great extent, the gatekeepers for publishers. They make their money from a percentage of the income generated by your book so an agent will not take on a book unless it has potential. If you don’t make money the agent doesn’t make money.
As in every profession, there are members who are less than honest. First, you should NEVER, NEVER, EVER, EVER pay for an agent to read your work. If the agent has a reading fee run like hell. Another more the nebulous con is that the agent agrees to represent your book but suggests that it needs edition. This could be a valid suggestion. However, the problem arises when the agent suggests and editor with which they have a prearranged agreement. With the suggestion of an editor, this could be an honest evaluation or a scam. I strongly suggest you do your homework. That’s where I hope to help the writer by a series of posts giving you sources where you can check on the reputation of agents and also publishers.
This initial post will introduce you to the Association of Authors’ Representatives (a.a.r.). This organization has a strict set of standards which their members must follow. One, of course, is not charging a reading fee. Use the link I have provided to explore the organization. You will find you can query by genre, agent’s name or agency. This is a useful tool in your search for an agent. Next: Predators & Editors.
STRUGGLING TO GET IT PUBLISHED AND MARKETED: SLOW DOWN
In the past, I have shared with you comments made by Brooke Warner in her blog published by the Huffington Post. Recently, she posted another article about publishing which I feel poses some important points. In this article she contrasts the difference in the timeline between traditional publishing and self-publishing and lends tips on why it is important to slow down in these efforts.
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