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Posted: January 3

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HOW PUBLISHING WORKS: Your questions answered by folks in the industry.

`PinkyMcCoversong Jan 3, 2013 Professional Writer

HI. You may not know this but there are several traditionally published authors in your midst. I'm one of them. And I'm hoping that some of the others here will help out with this thread. (Hello =vglory, `zebrazebrazebra, =futilitarian, ^neurotype.

I had a similar thread a while ago that is no longer post-on-able and I encourage you to take a look at it before asking your questions. But I know not everyone will and that's fine. Just don't blame me if I copy/paste. HERE IS THAT THREAD:
[link]

I'm bringing this up again because I'm seeing a combination of:
1. Questions about publishing strewn all about. (It would be more helpful in one place.)
2. Misinformation being spread through a) bad advice and b) rumors taken as gospel.
3. General negativity toward traditional publishing and traditionally published authors.

So, please, let's clear some stuff up! Let's get some information out there! I'm here to share my experience, and I know others will, too!

Here are some basic rules:

Do ask me (and other participating authors) about novels, poetry, authors, literary journals, agents, editors, resources, publicity and any of the bits and bobs that come with the job.

Do ask me (and others) about the publishing journey as an author/poet/starving artist, and ask about things an author does on his or her way to being published.

Don't slam living authors. Dead authors are fair game, but try not to be too tacky, okay?
Don't ask me about my personal finances, that's just rude.

CAVEAT: I know considerably less about self-publishing, but I can find a lot of information. There are a few folks on here who can, as well. SO! That.

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~Atlasrising 2 days ago

i just sent off my first query to an agent. it's for a book i've completed entirely, writing, cover, illustrations, page texture and decorations, text format.

I had it self-published through createspace, and it's available on amazon with an isbn#

Fairy Wings
there are samples on my deviantart front page.

Even though it's available as a completed book, i'd like it fully published and on the market.

do you think an agent or publisher is interested in a book that is totally complete? or do publishers want room to work with for their own selling props.

I'm willing to make minor editorial changes, but the format is finished entirely. i'm hoping that will be enticing since all the work is done, but i'm worried about something, and i don't know what.

I've never pursued publishing a book before, even though i have several made already.

Another thing is, I've included in my queries links to my deviantart page assuming that it would be easier to show them images of the completes pages through links rather then sending jpeg files. I'm not sure if that is a good tactic.

thanks for any input..

^neurotype 2 days ago Hobbyist General Artist

I'm a bit confused as why you didn't ask about this sooner.

The other dudes have nailed the key stuff about queries (above all, don't give agents links or attachments unless they ask for them), but as far as your work goes, there are some design choices that hinder appreciating the work. Also, it's hard to figure out what age range you're targeting; you said you would only make minor editorial changes, and I could see the expectations from publishers being a problem there. So as =vglory said, if it's really about sharing your creative vision, self pubbing is the route for you.

`PinkyMcCoversong 2 days ago Professional Writer

You can still share your creative vision when you traditionally publish. It's not like they take that away from you.

^neurotype 2 days ago Hobbyist General Artist

Drat, I meant to echo what =vglory said, but as it turns out I'm not her

Anyway, what do you mean publishing isn't a soulless entity that eats EVERYTHING and makes it into mass produced whatever????!?

Okay, I'm confused as to why people think publishers would pick them up unless the publishers saw something in the direction they were already going.

`PinkyMcCoversong 2 days ago Professional Writer

Pretty much that. I think that when people self publish to preserve their creative vision, they are either exceedingly paranoid about editors mangling their work (not a thing) or have no faith in their vision to begin with.

^neurotype 2 days ago Hobbyist General Artist

I was gonna point out 'fight the Man' type conspiracy theorists, but I figure that falls under paranoia

`PinkyMcCoversong 2 days ago Professional Writer

it does.

^neurotype 2 days ago Hobbyist General Artist

stop winning damnit

=star-blazer 2 days ago Professional Writer

While this isn't for every agency out there, many agents will not look at or sign to books that are previously self-published (this means vanity presses, self-publishing companies, or POD printing-- or even online publications [such as on dA]). And even if you didn't mention in your query it was previously self-published (which I hope you did not), agents will research and see if it was previously published or not. It's just a head's up and perhaps why you haven't heard back if it's been past their query reading/response time-- that or your query letter wasn't properly formatted (as this here), which is, indeed, how and why most manuscripts are rejected.

`PinkyMcCoversong 2 days ago Professional Writer

I actually think it's better to be up front about having self published. In which case, you might add a few stats if it sold well.

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HOW PUBLISHING WORKS: Your questions answered by folks in the industry.

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