23
Jul
The contract is signed, sealed and on it's way to Lyrical Press.
So now what?
I know I need to get myself an ITIN (Individual Tax Identification Number) from the IRS. The more I read, the more confused I get. Whee… such fun.
Then I have to register copyright in the US. It works differently in the UK. Copyright is automatic, but the burden of proof lies with the author. If you want to make sure, you can special mail your work to yourself, date stamped, naturally. Don't open it. If you intend to do more than one, make sure you know what the content of the envelope is.
I would suggest to mail it to yourself with the work's name as a reference on the mailing label. While this only proves the work was in your possession at a certain date, make sure you keep relevant information like drafts etc safe.
I'm printing off the original draft and stick it in an envelope with the final draft, as well as write the story to CD, and add a printout as well. A nice little archive box should do the trick, and I can put the contract in there too. 
While I wait for things to start rolling, I'll be working on the next book. This time a futuristic which I originally planned to submit, but I wasn't happy with the ending.
If you really want to keep up with my more personal stuff… you can head to Thinks to Keep, my personal blog.
21
May
Jesus, where the hell is everybody when they first deliver the typing paper? Where are all the "helpers" when those boxes full of silence come in? Blank. Both sides. No clues, no instructions enclosed on how to take just twenty-six letters and endlessly rearrange them so that you can turn them into a mirror of a part of our lives. Try it sometime.
-Larry Gelbart
"QFT!" As one of my friends would say.
(QFT = Quote for Truth)
I hate parties.
There is always the inevitable "How's the writing going?" from friends who know I write (in my spare time), or a question of "So what do you do when you're not at work?"
If you tell them you write books, the general reaction tends to be "Really?" followed by "Is it published?"
These days I don't say "No.", these days I say "Not yet."
However, conversations such as these tend to go in similar directions every time.
The response is, very often, "I'm going to write a book one day." or "I thought of doing that."
I usually smile politely and change the subject.
Thinking about it isn't doing it.
Asking why they don't write it now, you tend to get "Oh I don't have time, like you do."
Ahem.
My day has 24 hours, just like everyone elses. The difference is, I shut myself away a few hours out of those 24 and get on with it. I take the time. No one is so busy they can't find an hour a day where they can sit and write.
Do it instead of watching the soaps.
Do it instead of browsing the web.
Do it instead of watching a movie.
Do it instead of reading a book.
I'll quote Nike at you: Just DO it.
Then you get the "How hard can it be?" brigade.
Oh, writing a book isn't hard. Anyone can do it.
Writing a good book… well now, that's a little different.
Writing a book others want to read is damned hard, and don't let anyone tell you differently. If it were easy, everyone would be a published author.
Of course, the ones that really get my goat are the "Oh when I write my book it'll be a bestseller."
In. Your. Dreams.
Quite -if you pardon the pun- literally.
"When" won't make it a bestseller. And even if you write it, chances are you won't ever sell enough to make it a bestseller. There's only so many books that make it there. If you do, great! But don't tell me it's going to be a bestseller, unless you're actually writing it.
I don't know who coined the "Pre-published" term for writers.
It strikes me that the individual (or group) has a little confidence problem.
If you have a confidence problem, you better start growing a very thick skin, or get out now. Because it won't be all 5 star reviews when you make it. Heck no, there are going to be people who will hate your book, and tell you so.
Still, the term "Pre-published" is bullshit, plain and simple. You're either published, or you're not. There is no "Pre-Published". You might have a contract in your hand, but that isn't "Pre-published", it's contracted. Or maybe you have an agent. Then you're agented. And you are still an unpublished hopeful even with an agent batting for you — until the contract arrives. Anything else is unpublished, and that's that. And until your book hits the shelves (or virtual shelves) you are contracted, but not published.
Stop trying to make it sound differently, just deal with the reality.
Personally, I think "Contracted" sounds a damned side better than "Pre-published".
Next they'll call it "Publistically Challenged", or some such nonsense.
Anyway, if you want to write a book, there is only one way to do it.
Butt in seat, hands on keyboard.
Or BISHOK if you like that kinda thing…
6
Feb
It's up to you.
I don't like being overly snarky, though sometimes I might be.
I don't want to go and offend anyone, but I also have my own opinions. If others don't agree with them – fine. Live and let die. Or something in that vein.
The topic of this post is content, and what your content says about you, the author.
Believe it or not, it says a lot.
The topics you choose tell your readers where your mind goes to wander, where it tiptoes through fields of daisies, or tapdances through minefields. (The latter is to be avoided, you tend to end up minus some limbs.)
Personally, I prefer to tiptoe through minefields, but hey… that's me.
The crux of the matter is this: What you post is out there for all to see. Once it's out there, you can't take it back. Even if you delete it, some search engine probably already archived it someplace you can't demolish — even if you want to.
And don't for one second think no one will see your unfortunate outburst. When you query an agent or a publisher, if they consider to take you on — they will research you. They'll see all that dirty laundry you hung out, rummage through your virtual drawers and navigate around your Pr0n collection. (I call 'em hunks, my other half calls it my dirty little secret. HA! What does he know…)
Anyway, what I'm saying is, people see what you write and they judge you by those posts. They'll form an opinion about what you're like. How well they may get on with you, or work with you.
If you post stuff you wouldn't want your boss to see — then don't post it.
Don't deceive yourself – any publisher / editor / agent out there is pretty much a potential boss.
They look at it with a far more critical eye than any employer ever would, because while you might never set foot out of an office - having a book out there is rather different.
There is marketing to consider. Image.
Your image can be ruined before you even get noticed, and rebuilding it is a tricky business.
And Image is important. Sure, you can pretend to be nicey-nice and all that, but that just makes you a bit bland in my opinion.
You can have opinions, we all do, but if you post it, then be rational about it, and don't jump on people if they comment and disagree with you.
Some things (and I've seen stuff like this) are just a total no-no.
For instance, if you query a sweet historical with a publisher, yet on your blog you rant and scream about how the genre sucks, and is only read by imbeciles — you think they want to work with someone who doesn't believe in their own book? Or who insults their entire readership? Them?
Not bloody likely.
(I'm being very nasty and harsh above, that isn't reflecting how I feel about sweet historicals or it's readers, it's just an example — before someone comes and hits me over the head with a brick, or something!)
Or hey, go all political! It's not like anyone cares, right? Then add religion into the mix and you've found an almost guaranteed way to offend half the population. (While the other half likely agrees with you.)
As I said, I prefer to tiptoe around in my minefields. I have my own opinion, obviously, and it may (or may not) mesh with other people's opinions. But why take the chance? I don't need to ram it down their throats, they don't need to know what I think about how well a president or prime minister is doing, or whether I do or don't like the church. Keep that stuff private, or among friends. Not out there, for all to see (and judge). There are plenty of neutral topics, blog about those instead.
Keep it light and informative. Research anything you present as fact – or else it will likely come back to bite you in the ass.
If you have a writing blog, treat it as such. Stick to topics about writing, or writing life. If you mix business and pleasure, don't go into too much detail. In both cases, be aware of your audience and consider your topics carefully.
Your content is your marketing tool. If it would impact negatively on your career – then don't put it out there.
Ah. Now look what I've done.
I've put my opinion out there, for all to see!
(I tend to avoid writing about any of my real hotbuttons though…)
Obviously you don't have to take this advice, especially since I'm not always sticking to it either, but maybe it'll give you some food for thought.
There are many blogs out there where the authors rant about every topic imaginable. It gets kind of boring, you know? And they aren't doing themselves any favors, either.
I mean, if you were a publisher — would you want to work with someone who explodes on the page every two seconds?
I know I wouldn't.
So consider what you post, before you hit that publish button.
4
Feb
One of the most asked questions in my critique group (and most other places where writers linger and mingle) is "Should I have a website?"
The answer isn't as simple as you might think.
It isn't a simple yes or no.
In fact, it's not the right question to ask.
The real question is: Should you have a web presence.
Then the answer is a resounding "Yes"
Confused?
Isn't a website the same as a web presence?
What if I have a blog? Is it also a website?
It may be confusing terminology, but it is really very straightforward.
A blog, a website, a facebook page, a myspace place, Livejournal… any of those is a web presence. I don't count Twitter among those, btw.
A website is a static entity. Most "websites" you find are what web developers and savvy internet users refer to as "Cobwebs".
A cobweb refers to an unchanging, dead site. It goes up, and never gets modified. It's static. It's… dead.
Why should your visitors return? What is the point of having a page that never changes? (Or gets only minimal updates, maybe once a year.)
Most writers are far better served by having a blog. Blogs, while they can also be static if you never post anything, allow visitors to interact with the blog owner. (There are also tons of abandoned blogs out there. It's by no means a surefire way of being on the cusp of technology.)
Most blogs allow you to have a fixed page, or articles. Use those for static content, like book listings, useful link collections, biographies etc.
Use your actual blog posts to update your readers. Be that a new book release, a sale, an agent who signed you, an appearance, a contest, or maybe just what you had for breakfast this morning.
Keep it lively. Think of topics that might interest your readers. Maybe post a snippet of a WIP sometimes. That kind of thing.
Keep it interesting and you'll have people coming back. That's what you want. Build up a following.
Static webpages are a thing of the past, the web has evolved way beyond those, so really you don't want a webpage – you want a place where you can interact.
There are other considerations that go hand in hand with building a web presence.
Should you have your own domain?
The domain is the bit after the http://, in case you're confused.
Yes, you can certainly have a web address of iamagreatauthor.blogspot.com. Nothing wrong with that.
There are cost considerations too. A domain needs to be paid for. (About $10/pa for a .com). That's not a hell of a lot, now is it?
Then you need to consider your image. Do you mind if your "free" host (where your blog lives) puts adverts on your pages? (Most do, and they won't ask what they can put on your page, they just slap it on there.) What if that free host goes bust? It happens. Are you prepared to lose all your hard work and words of wisdom and find a new place for it? (Which you then have to set up and configure.)
If you write under the name Joan Smith – would you prefer if your readers found you via joansmith.com?
Another thing about those free hosts…
I am betting NONE of the writers who host their blogs on wordpress.com or blogspot.com / blogger.com ever read the terms of service.
Well, on those two your content is safe. It still belongs to you. I haven't really checked any others (I don't use them), but it behooves you to read those terms and conditions carefully.
For instance, a while back I posted about a "Buyer beware" when it comes to terms and conditions, after I read About.com's terms — which state anything posted on their site belongs to them and their affiliates. So make sure you read carefully before you sign on the dotted line, or you could find all those articles you write, snippets you post — belong to the service who is hosting your blog / webpages.
Hosting your own isn't as hard as people think, nor is it all that expensive.
You can get started from as little at $3 a month and often the hosting company will throw in the cost of the domain. (Beware on that, too, but I'll explain in a little bit. Bear with me.)
If you want your own, and want to host a blog, but you're not comfortable with installing it yourself, then look for a host who offers something like "Fantastico" which is a script that does it for you.
If you write erotica — make sure you choose a host who doesn't mind "Adult Content". Yes, I know it's a writer's site, not a porn site, but 99% of hosts out there will class the site of an erotica writer as an adult site. All it takes is one visitor to email your host and complain — and you will be minus a web presence because you violated their terms and conditions. (The same goes for free hosting — double check! If not sure, ASK!)
On that "Free" domain thing…
Domains cost very little to register. I would always — ALWAYS — register the domain myself, not let some webhosting company register it for me.
Why?
Because it's not hard to do, but if the hosting company registers the domain in their name (instead of yours) then it's their domain (not yours) even though you might think it is. And if you don't like it there anymore, and want to move, that super domain you found and which is associated with you — might not belong to you. Then you're faced with a domain name dispute and that's messy.
What's more, if you register your domain yourself, you often get the option to add privacy on it. That's important, because any domain out there is registered with a full address, which people can look up via a "Whois" service.
(Godaddy.com offer privacy registration, their domain panel is straightforward and they are good to work with.)
So unless you have a postbox, or you don't mind every stalker knowing where you live and what your phone number is — go for private registration.
Another thing on domains: Good, short, meaningful .com domains are practically gone.
Unless you have a name like mine, you'll likely find your name is not available as a .com.
There are other extensions available, but the first one people look for is a .com, so if you can get a great one — grab it now. Even if you don't use it right now, keep it registered. Because when you are ready to use it, and possibly need that domain… it may be gone.
Yes, it's a lot to take in, a lot to consider.
But ask yourself this:
Do you want freedom, no ads, and a domain name that never changes and which you can build on? Or will you be happy with what you can get from a free provider?
It's up to you, but I hope I've given you an idea of what is out there, and that it's not as daunting as it seems if you follow a few simple rules:
- Register a domain yourself
- Protect your privacy
- Read the terms and conditions
- Be aware of what you need, and get hosting accordingly (bought or free)
That's pretty much it.
I'll harp on about the content of a blog some other time. Because that's important too.
P.S. I'm not a Godaddy affiliate, I just like their service.
P.P.S If you come across "Myhosting.com" as a registrar… don't even think about it. If I could award them a -10 for ease of use and competence, I would. I am currently in week 5 of trying to get a domain away from them. So far, it's still sitting there, over two months after registration, and I can't do anything with it. AVOID them at all costs, it's the worst experience I've ever had with a registrar — and I've used plenty of them.
27
Nov
…has as many thorns.
There is currently a lot of uproar about Harlequin Horizons, Harlequin's Self Publishing venture.
RWA, SFWA and MWA are all on the barricades about it.
Harlequin have now changed the name of it to DellArte Press, and I expect at least one of those three organizations to roll over and that's the last we hear of it.
How do I know?
Because I've seen it before. 10 years ago, Simon and Schuster pulled some stunt that had RWA go haywire. They threatened to remove S&S from their "approved publishers list". Just like they are doing with Harlequin now.
The thing is, back then, S&S just laughed at them.
I'm guessing HQ are doing the exact same thing. They might have changed the name, but the rest? Nah. I doubt any of it will change.
Besides, who are the organizations hurting with this threat?
The publisher?
Not bloody likely. The publisher couldn't care less about whether RWA etc approve of them. Why should they? You think the average reader knows, or cares, whether the book they are reading was written by an RWA/SFWA/MWA member or not?
You think a publisher cares whether you're a member or not when you submit to them?
You think they'll get any less submissions because they aren't approved by the organizations?
No.
In fact, make that a HELL no.
They are a mainstream, big name publisher. This is business, and they aren't going to let some organization dictate to them what they can do.
Why should they? Would you?
The real pain being inflicted is to those authors who write for HQ, because their coveted "Published author" tag would be null and void, plunging them back into the realms of the "Unpublished", as far as RWA is concerned.
Freaking idiots. Seriously. The whole thing is a farce.
So, Harlequin changed the name of the venture. Will that make it all right? It's still the same company, it's still their product. Does a name change make it all go away?
Not in my book.
A rose by any other name, as the title implies.
It remains to be seen what happens, but ultimately, I doubt the hullaballoo will have much effect on Harlequin's new venture.
And why should it?
If it were your business — would you let them influence you? With something that has virtually no impact on you?
Do I agree with what HQ is doing?
No.
And yes.
It's up to them what they want to do. Their main lines are still the same, not self published.
They aren't forcing anyone to go this route, and it's "Buyer beware" in a big way. If people do their research, then they won't walk into such traps.
I do agree that it shouldn't be done under the Harlequin banner, though, as that's misleading.
However…
The only one hurt by RWA/SFWA/MWA dropping a publisher from their "approved" list…. is the author.
The very individual paying the dues.
Way to go.
22
Jul
It's difficult, loving a story and it being rejected.
I feel like I'm missing the boat, which is probably not the case.
I feel like my writing sucks, which is perhaps not the case either.
Will it ever happen for me? Who knows. It might.
The fact is, if I don't keep sending out queries, it will definitely not happen. That's the only constant of the process.
Of course I get jealous of others selling their books. It's natural to be envious, when it is something you want yourself.
Are they better writers than I? No. They are different writers.
They have different stories to tell.
Alas, we continue.
Oh, I haven't heard back from the two contests yet.
Fingers crossed.