Sep 18, 2010

Wannabe Writers #34

Wannabe Writers is an internet writing group. Everyone is welcome to join. It's a place to meet other writers, ask questions, and get feedback. Click here to find out more about how it works.

Where I am in the writing process: Unpublished. Right now I am currently working on finishing my novel Glitch.  (Ugh!!!  Been working at it for over a year now!)  After I finish I plan to enter a short editing phase and then try submitting to agents.  If that fails I've been giving some thought to self-publishing.  Just a thought. 

My current problem(s):  So remember last week when I was struggling with whether or not I wanted to keep working on the current draft of my novel Glitch or use a previous draft.  I thought on it (probably too much--this sort of stuff keeps distracting me) and decided that I am going to keep working, until I finish, the current draft of my novel (the newest one).  If I keep flip-flopping like this and deciding to make such major changes...I WILL NEVER FINISH.  Let's face it; I've never finished anything.  So--and even if I might want to merge the two versions of my novel into one super-awesome one--I won't be giving myself more work that ultimately keeps me from completing my goals. 

My question this week: What are you thoughts on e-publishing?  Everyone wants to get published through a major publishing house and see that final hard-copy in their hands and top the best-seller charts.  But what if that's just not in the stars for you---would you ever go the e-publishing route?  I mean e-readers are starting to pick up popularity...

5 comments:

Miranda Hardy said...

This has been a debate lately. I have a published friend who fears turning his books into an e-book, but he knows where technology is headed. More e-books have been sold recently than ever before. I think it's in a current authors best interest to pursue one, really.

amber d* said...

I've thought about e-publishing and self-publishing, but as of right now I wouldn't do it. For me personally, it'd be like I was cheating my dream of getting published. But please don't think I think that of people that do self publishing or e-publishing - it's just not my thing as of right now.

From one writer who never finishes anything to another - don't give up. I've been working on the same novel for 2 and a half years and it will see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Witless Exposition said...

Congrats on picking which draft to work with! Those really can be agonizing choices.

As far as the e-book thing goes, I think it all depends on how much you want to personally put into the advertising of your book. I think there's a much greater possibility for success with self-publishing now than ever before. However, a lot of the details that a publishing company might set up for you would be all on your shoulders.

So I guess it really comes down to how much hands-on control of the process you want.

Danielle said...

I would definitely go the e-book route. My mom had an e-book published but it was also printed in paper back, so just because you go that route doesn't mean you won't ever hold the hard copy book in your hands. I have a kindle and I am obsessed with it, I buy so many more books because they are cheaper and I find a lot of books that I probably would never come across in a bookstore.

Lorelei Bell said...

First of all, finish the book. Once you do, and before you edit, let it sit for a while before coming back to it. You know it way too well, and might miss something.

Self-publishing and eBooks are not always the same. There are some eBook publishers out there who are not a self-publishing at all. You must do a lot of looking into both before you even consider one. The self-publishers who charge you more than $400/$500 are going to take your money and run. Check the warning sites on publishers before you get into such things. Look around at who has done what.

I self-published my first one with Infinity Publishing for $400. That was a flat rate, andy one can get. They give you the chance to look through the first copy, you have 40 free changes, so you must make sure what you give them is as near as perfect as you get.

I'm going with a totally free self-publisher who has decided to publish my vampire novel in eBook format as well as soft bound. But they say they do not take anyone's books. I'm still waiting on what happens with mine, so I can't comment on their work as yet.

Don't become too obsessed about getting a book published that you wind up having too many mistakes in it. If you can afford a good editor, get one. Agents are the keepers, but they will not take someone that they think who won't make them a good return. They're all in it for the money. Believe me.

Anyway, good luck, and if you have questions, come by and ask. My Gmail is at my blog. If I can't answer it, I'm sure I can think of someone who can.