Twilight Times, the one that bought my novel, does both print AND e-books. The way the market is right now, I would not submit to a publisher that only does e-books. The truth is, I think e-book readers are just about to become friendly and convenient and not too far away from being affordable. Also, since you can buy an e-book for just a few dollars, I see e-books being a viable publishing technique in about a decade.

Right now, though, you need to get your book in print to get read. People will buy e-books, but I often hear that they only do this if there is also a print version available.

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Since I just sold my novel to an e-book publisher, I can unhesitatingly say...maybe.

Twilight Times, the one that bought my novel, does both print AND e-books. The way the market is right now, I would not submit to a publisher that only does e-books. The truth is, I think e-book readers are just about to become friendly and convenient and not too far away from being affordable. Also, since you can buy an e-book for just a few dollars, I see e-books being a viable publishing technique in about a decade.

Right now, though, you need to get your book in print to get read. People will buy e-books, but I often hear that they only do this if there is also a print version available.

Also, check out "Predtors and Editors" for ideas on who is going to screw you over.

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Thanks Christine. Does is TT a POD publisher? And if you don't mind my asking, what kind of marketing are you doing?

I say it that way because, IMHO, print on demand is not right for writers who truly want to be read. There is limited use for this if you've got a small audience in mind (say butterfly collectors), but on the whole DO NOT GO POD. This does not tend to "count" for being published. Also, POD books are EXPENSIVE. (And I really do mean that in all caps). Due to this, you simply aren't going to get anyone to buy them. I'm afraid I'm not going to spend forty or fifty dollars on a book, even if the person is a friend of mine.

It's a matter of having someone who'll actually market your book. POD publishers get paid for every copy they print. Conventional publishers get paid for every book they sell. POD services are employed by you to print your book, conventional publishers employ you to write a book they can sell.

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However, there should be a venue for someone who just can't find the right editor at the right moment. I guess my point is, if you believe in your book, but can't find an editor to accept it, or it can't get past the slush pile, what recourse is there other than self-publishing or POD?

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I'd say your best recourse is to write another bbook. If that sells, you have a much better chance of finding someone to take a look at the first one. If the second book doesn't sell, write a third. Did you think Stephen King got his first book published? In fact, most people write several books before they find one that can get published.

I agree with you in spirit on the rest, but the reality gets in the way. You see, YOU can believe in the book all you want but how do you sell it? Bookstores only buy through distributors and individuals can't sell to them. Do you have some means of getting your book to the public without going through a bookstore? Is your book even on amazon.com?

Some people think the internet will be the next great way for people to get their books out there without going through editors who quash their creative spirit (in the words of disgruntled artists ). Let's assume that people do start buying e-books (which, for various reasons, I think they might in the next few years). How do they know to buy *your* e-book?

There is true power in someone who has had success selling books saying, "This is a good book." There is no power at all in a writer saying of his own work, "This is a good book." Same words, possibly even the same enthusiasm, but totally different power. Credibility is essential.

I don't really want to discourage you by saying this. I really, really, really don't. I hope you do find success, but if you're really serious about becoming a writer I have to tell you this: It takes YEARS. Years and years and years and years and years. You have to get rejections from dozens of agents and publishers and you may not be able to sell you first book.

Keep in mind that it takes months for a query to be read, then as long as a year for the whole novel to be read once they ask for it, and there is no simultaneous submission to publishers. Agents, yes, but not publishers.

There isn't any problem with POD other than that people trying to get "published" tend to mistake it for things it is not. A POD service is just the printer of the book (not all publishers even maintain in-house printing capabilities, so that's one good reason not to offer POD services right there). They aren't publishing your book. You are.

The great appeal of POD to the writer looking for fast publication is also the great bane of POD books. There is no editor. Anyone can publish a POD book. The only way I can have any confidence that the book is worth anything is to read the entire thing, I have no guarantee that anyone else has done so in the process of getting it to press.

If I already know and trust the author of the book to write well, then I'll trust it to be good. But otherwise...no.

So most reputable publishers don't want to risk associating themselves in any way with POD services, because both writers (the life-blood of publishers) and readers (the...um food, as it were) will be wary of the POD label.

One thing I'll note. A lot of successful webcomics end up releasing a POD book sometime in their development. Not all do, but enough to be worth mentioning. In this case, most of them are already publishing their material electronically. The POD books are merchandise just like the t-shirts and coffee mugs (or, you know, whatever). They may (okay, almost always do) contain original material not published already, they may be only tangentially associated with the webcomic's story and characters (if any), they may be text rather than graphic narrative in content. What they all have in common is that they are published by a person with a great deal of existing success in connecting to the potential market.

It's not an invalid model at all. But it has nothing to do with the question.

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I guess my point is, if you believe in your book, but can't find an editor to accept it, or it can't get past the slush pile, what recourse is there other than self-publishing or POD?

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My answer to that is simple. Improve your writing. I know that I'm often neglectful of the whole submission game. But submitting manuscripts isn't the heart of becoming a great writer. Learning your craft, sticking with it, finding something to say, these are all much more important in the end.

This statement could not be more true. POD folks offer a LOT of benefits as a result of setting up your titles with them...benefits that are GREAT for us Small Press Publishers (like not having to set a print run and pay all at once...being able to keep the titles in print and 24-hour availablity on Amazon...being on Amazon PERIOD...)

Here's an article on self-publishing that has some interesting numbers.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,923-2073717,00.html

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'd say your best recourse is to write another bbook. If that sells, you have a much better chance of finding someone to take a look at the first one. If the second book doesn't sell, write a third. Did you think Stephen King got his first book published? In fact, most people write several books before they find one that can get published.

I agree with you in spirit on the rest, but the reality gets in the way. You see, YOU can believe in the book all you want but how do you sell it? Bookstores only buy through distributors and individuals can't sell to them. Do you have some means of getting your book to the public without going through a bookstore? Is your book even on amazon.com?

Some people think the internet will be the next great way for people to get their books out there without going through editors who quash their creative spirit (in the words of disgruntled artists ). Let's assume that people do start buying e-books (which, for various reasons, I think they might in the next few years). How do they know to buy *your* e-book?

There is true power in someone who has had success selling books saying, "This is a good book." There is no power at all in a writer saying of his own work, "This is a good book." Same words, possibly even the same enthusiasm, but totally different power. Credibility is essential.

I don't really want to discourage you by saying this. I really, really, really don't. I hope you do find success, but if you're really serious about becoming a writer I have to tell you this: It takes YEARS. Years and years and years and years and years. You have to get rejections from dozens of agents and publishers and you may not be able to sell you first book.

Keep in mind that it takes months for a query to be read, then as long as a year for the whole novel to be read once they ask for it, and there is no simultaneous submission to publishers. Agents, yes, but not publishers.

I have some questions for you now. How many books have you written? How long have you spent on trying to get them published? What steps have you taken?

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In answer to the last questions, I've only written one complete novel, and a bunch of short stories, articles, etc. I've tried going to writer's conferences, speaking personally with an agent who liked the synopsis, and first three, but after I subbed it to him via mail, he turned it down with a "I don't want to go into the details as to why" kind of comment. I had a similar experience with an editor at a conference who told me to sub it to him because he liked it. He said that he didn't represent fantasy/scifi, but he certainly knew someone who did at his office and he'd pass it along. I heard nothing back. I tried submitting it to Tor who says absolutely NO SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS. Iwaited over a year to get it back with no comment. I read all the guidelines for numerous other publishers, the majority of which either wanted over 80,000 words (mine is around 60K), or said "no unagented submissions". I don't really know who to sub it to anymore. I have two other novels in progress that will be better than this first one, once completed, but I think my first one isn't all that bad--I've certainly had my share of readers say that they liked it and have read much worse books that somehow got published.

You know I read once in Writer's Digest about a woman who went out and sold thousands of books that she'd self-published. She worked her butt off selling them any where she could, out of her car, at conferences etc. After she'd made the efforts to sell that many, and could prove it, she got a big-time contract with a big-time publisher who bought the rights to that book. Yeah, it doesn't happen very often and just maybe it's because not many have the drive to do the work to get their book sold.

I know I don't have that kind of drive--or maybe I do, but I have too many other priorities.

There are a lot of approaches. Research the merits of each, and decide what works for you.

Okay, before we get into the "I'm not a short story writer" thing here, let's get one thing clear. I'm not suggesting writing short stories as an alternative to writing your novel. I'm suggesting it as an alternative to self publishing and then flogging your book on the street.

I'm a fairly competent writer who just cannot seem to get anyone in publishing to read my writing...unless it is a short story!

I was incredibly lucky to strike gold the first time I submitted a story to a publisher. It was picked up immediately and they have since put offers on two others, with a blanket request for first dibs on any new shorts I'd like to submit. They are both a traditional and e-publisher, but they only publish shorts in e-format, which can be a bit disheartening. What's worse is that aside from initial enthusiasm from the editor, I cannot seem to convince them that they should give my book a chance!

All that just to say that it is terribly difficult to get anything full-length looked at, nevermind accepted, at this point in time unless it is spot-on exactly what they want. It is a finicky business.

I actually feel fortunate to have my foot wedged in the door, even if I can't force it open all the way yet. Given patience, I may make a name for myself before I expire.

Unless you have a contractual obligation to give them first option on all your stories (and I can't imagine how a situation like that could happen with a legitimate publisher), you do have the option of submitting elsewhere. Let your highest aspirations guide your submission process, don't sell yourself short.

I am not afflicted with tunnel-vision. Because they like my writing enough to ask for more doesn't mean I think they are the only ones willing to publish me. I am, however, more than willing to deal with people (and yes they are legitimate) who respond in a positive manner within a reasonable timeframe.

I agree that it takes a lifetime to even approach mastering the writing process. After twenty years of laboring toward that goal, I have decided to approach the publishing field. Is it such a bad thing that I want to make a name for myself? I cannot be one of those who refuse the existence of audience. I am not so literarily noble that I don't want fame and fortune. Or at least recognition. I *must* be read, eventually.

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Are you giving up chances to submit to more visible and higher paying markets because your best stories are going to this one market?

Honestly, no. My best stories haven't been written yet, and I fully intend that my 'best' will improve until the day I am scattered over the Atlantic.