Rant VIII: The Reckoning
- Thread starter Anonymous
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- boat people
Looks like June 30th is the drop dead date. All the licenses and fees come up for renewal on July 1, and it doesn't look like that's going to happen. The overnight lady at one of the hotels was pressuring me to get my application in over there, so that's what I'm going to do after work this morning. After going home to eat and change clothes, of course. Bad form to turn in an application while wearing the other guy's livery. 
So I'm nearly finished Dill's third adventure. But I've been thinking about something for a long time.
I'm honestly not happy being with my current publisher. I found communication with them very difficult at times, their idea of promoting is basically just spamming a bunch of Facebook communities, and my books aren't selling with them. I haven't made a single dime from my second book. They also publish through CreateSpace, something many self-published authors use. Which is fine in itself and getting on Amazon, but it's made it near impossible to get my books into other stores, like local ones such as Chapters. This is because Amazon owns CreateSpace and Amazon's business practices has pissed off many bookstores, especially little locally owned ones. And Chapters. So I can't seem to get my books on local shelves even on a consignment deal. I have stacks of my second book that I bought with my own money (at a decent discount) with the intention of selling them locally, which as I said, I haven't been able to do. So they've just been collecting dust for a year and a half.
At the same time, I honestly feel stuck where I am. I still own all the rights to my books and could pull out completely. But I doubt any publisher will be interested in selling the third book of a series. I also doubt any publisher would be interested in publishing new editions of the previous two books, which I'd like to do if I did change publishers. The fact that they haven't sold well - despite being well regarded - probably hurts me, as well. Hell, I don't even know if my current publisher will be interested in publishing the third book. Especially since the second hasn't sold well and there was a lot of drama because I got over-emotional over a few things that they threatened to pull it completely and cancel our deal.
So...yeah, I don't know what to do. I love writing Dill. And I know the people that HAVE read the books have greatly enjoyed them and praised my writing. But I don't know what to do anymore. It's such a weird, niche market that most people think is too weird to get into, anyway. It's never found its audience, even though I'm sure it's out there. But at this point, I really don't know what to do.
I'm honestly not happy being with my current publisher. I found communication with them very difficult at times, their idea of promoting is basically just spamming a bunch of Facebook communities, and my books aren't selling with them. I haven't made a single dime from my second book. They also publish through CreateSpace, something many self-published authors use. Which is fine in itself and getting on Amazon, but it's made it near impossible to get my books into other stores, like local ones such as Chapters. This is because Amazon owns CreateSpace and Amazon's business practices has pissed off many bookstores, especially little locally owned ones. And Chapters. So I can't seem to get my books on local shelves even on a consignment deal. I have stacks of my second book that I bought with my own money (at a decent discount) with the intention of selling them locally, which as I said, I haven't been able to do. So they've just been collecting dust for a year and a half.
At the same time, I honestly feel stuck where I am. I still own all the rights to my books and could pull out completely. But I doubt any publisher will be interested in selling the third book of a series. I also doubt any publisher would be interested in publishing new editions of the previous two books, which I'd like to do if I did change publishers. The fact that they haven't sold well - despite being well regarded - probably hurts me, as well. Hell, I don't even know if my current publisher will be interested in publishing the third book. Especially since the second hasn't sold well and there was a lot of drama because I got over-emotional over a few things that they threatened to pull it completely and cancel our deal.
So...yeah, I don't know what to do. I love writing Dill. And I know the people that HAVE read the books have greatly enjoyed them and praised my writing. But I don't know what to do anymore. It's such a weird, niche market that most people think is too weird to get into, anyway. It's never found its audience, even though I'm sure it's out there. But at this point, I really don't know what to do.
I am of two minds about this and both of them involve leaving the current publisher.
1.) I love the opportunities that self-publishing has provided. I've read a couple of great self-published books. The Martian started a serial blog and then became a book and then picked up steam. Self-publishing looks nothing like traditional publishing, which means you probably won't see your books in bookstores. That might hit you in the nostalgia nuts, but it can be very meaningful in other ways. It requires fostering your own community, though. You'd need to become savvy at promoting your own brand and fostering a community of your own followers. That itself can be a double-edged sword, of course, but at least you get to make your own opportunities. You can reach thousands of readers, maybe actually make money on your books. But you may never see them on the shelves of your local bookstore.
2.) Traditional publishing has its perks. They should promote for you. They should have connections to hundreds of booksellers. They are your marketing department, your editors, and your publisher. All you need to be is the talent. But the bouncer at the door is painfully picky. You might have to ask a hundred times to get into that club. Persistence is the password. You need to be indefatigable. But you are probably right. Your existing books will probably be of little interest. Dill's third book, and maybe all future books, will be self-published, probably. It will need to be something new to get you into the traditional publishing club.
Someday, long after I've got tenure and my kids are a little older, I'll start writing again. Maybe I'll pass it around to the traditional publishers, but honestly I think I like the idea of trying the self-publishing route. Maybe it isn't for you, though. I say give it a shot with Dill 3 and then if it doesn't resonate with you, move on to the next thing and try that exclusive club again with whatever that next thing is.
I don't know the business side of the publishing industry, so some of our other authors can probably better advise you, but I really can't see any harm in communicating with other publishers, as long as you don't go around bad mouthing the current publisher - if anyone asks why you're looking to leave, just tell them that you're looking for more promotion and better communication. If they press further, bring up your concerns about being able to get your book into local brick and mortar stores.
I'm sure that there is a better publisher for you out there. It doesn't sound like they're promoting your books at all.
To be fair, I'm supposed to be doing some promotion, too. Which I've certainly tried. But I don't know any websites to promote on. I tried getting in touch with some comic sites but none of them responded at all.
GasBandit
Staff member
I'm not sure how applicable it would be to your situation, but the #1 resource I've had in growing my youtube channel has been reddit. Maybe a little schilling there in the right subreddits could help you catch on?
Tried. Didn't work. Tried posting in /books, /armadillos, and even /furries since some friends have said Dill would market well among that community (I haven't heard a single peep from a furry if that's the case).
But again, since I don't know Reddit that well, I had no idea what subreddits to even try.
In my experience Reddit tends to be pretty hostile to out-and-out shilling. If you aren't something of a known quantity in a given subreddit, it can be pretty tough.
Although, @ThatNickGuy did you give /r/noir a try?
Although, @ThatNickGuy did you give /r/noir a try?
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As it is with almost any community worth advertising in. When someone comes in here randomly and posts advertisements, which has happened a few times in the past that weren't automated and weren't out and out scams, we've raucously booted them out.
To make that work you have to spend time in the community, show your long term value by good contributions outside of your self promotion, and when you do promote make it naturally, rather than simply sticking it in people's faces.
Theres got to be guides on author promotion.
Yeah, the problem with that is that I don't have the time or patience to spend in every community like that. The only two places I frequent are here and Scott Keith's Blog of Doom (a wrestling blog; mostly Disqus conversations). And that's enough for me.
But being an author with books to promote is like writing a message in a bottle and throwing it into the ocean, but the ocean is made purely of other bottles. (That's an old Yahtzee comparison for getting noticed on YouTube. He's not wrong.)
Yeah, I'm not travelling anywhere to promote. I'm not even going to get a table at the upcoming Dartmouth convention (mostly tables populated with small-time artists and local comic retailers). Don't much see the point.It may be a little late for this year, but if you want to try to market to the furries, Anthrocon in Pittsburgh is the place to be.
Fun fact: The Westin is also the hotel MLB uses for visiting teams. So you sometimes end up with a lot of confused ballplayers and announcers...
With their promoting only by spamming Facebook and their manufacturing being via CreateSpace, you'd really be better off just self-publishing because that's pretty much what's already happening, except you get the smallest cut of the profit at the moment. I'm not saying that's what you want, but between sticking with these guys versus doing it yourself, they don't seem like the better option.
Dave
Staff member
https://www.reddit.com/r/writing/ has a thread specifically for shameless self promotion. Not sure how effective it is, but every little bit helps.
Welp, worth a shot. I posted on there.
I'm no expert of course, but this seems like the sort of thing they should be helping you with.
Like many others here have said, I don't think it would hurt to look around for another publisher and you have a very plausible and non offensive reason to give when they ask.
The entire reason? No, but a nice safe answer.
Did anyone else watch Survivor last night? WTF is wrong with people! I'm so mad at that guy.
Yes. That poor guy. What the other guy did was beyond offensive. I'm sitting here stewing.
I took a chance on another retailer, this one did have one review. The shirt arrived today. It cost about $5 more, but it is still one fifth the price of the one from the Team USA website.
Does this guy only do Team USA? Every time this event comes I want to get Mr. Z a Team Taiwan jersey and a new hat (since he lost the first hat I got him, grrrrr...)
Perfect! ...looks like I'm doing very early birthday and/or Christmas shopping today.
Dave
Staff member
So if I get my bonus this year (which is still up in the air) my plan is to travel down to Texas to meet my biological father as well as my 4 siblings. Found out that my wife will not have the vacation time to go with (her business got bought out & she lost almost a week of vacation in the transition). So now I either get to put up with a pissed off wife and go on vacation by myself - over our anniversary weekend of all things - or not go at all. Or she goes but doesn't get paid for that time and maybe she gets in trouble at work for missing days.
Get her a 3 day round trip ticket?
I'm a Patriots fan.
....we cannot be friends anymore.
Or maybe we can if we talk about past Super Bowls.
