A Cautionary Tale for the Aspiring NovelistFrom: warrenadler.com | May 17, 2010
It has always been difficult for an aspiring novelist to get published by a traditional publisher. By novelist, I mean those who write mainstream novels that do not fall into any genre slot. The revolution in publishing and the b... Read more at
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Traditional publishing is lost, at present. Change is already here, and NYC and other trad publishing centers are cranking boring and poorly executed materials: no proofing, no sense, no drama, bad continuity.
In fiction and nonfiction.
Author publishers can have these errors, too, but they, we, don't claim to be the great leaders, while yet lost, following a form that no longer suits the day, nor can be maintained, as they lay off and fire those who can proof, and find sense, and encourage drama, and notice the gaps of continuity.
The 1930s are over, but the traditional goals of that day are still here, dragging, dragging, dragging.
I make more sales with ebook fiction than paperbacks of the same. I write materials that have too many multi-ethnic characters, too much sex, and characters who are too deeply layered.
Well, I like character. My friends and family have deeply layered characters. I like sex, whether its in action or merely thought. And most everyone else does, too, although they pretend otherwise. I rather have my characters have character-driven sexual action than murder after graphic murder.
But that makes me in my own niche triangulated between Zane and D. Gabaldon and E. Bronte. They don't know what to do with people like us, who aren't writing stereotypes.
Plus, few trads let you have control of your covers, your full story text, its layout style, and like eighty-ninety percent of the income your work generates; the rest folding back into software, marketing, etc.
The trads can give you a huge push, but they also can pull you out of the bookstore and make your book disappear all in the same year, because they have someone else's book product to move. I've seen that.
Is that worth it?
"Eragon," I'm told, was author published, if that's true, that's good. A long shot but a hit just the same.
And plenty of authors who've gone the trad route are generally "unknown" names. Not to be rude but I've heard of the "War of the Roses," but not your name, Warren. But, now I do. Most don't put themselves out there, like S. J. Cannell and J. Patterson.
But what, to me is most important is to it, those of us who actually write, who actually complete a book, and edit it until it gleams like fine silk, and publish it into the minds of world get paid, by income and requests for "more...."
Most actors and musicians don't make enough to live off, perhaps, writers should understand that most of us fall into that, as well. But, while others have steadier incomes, they'll never be able to do what we do, or get into the innermost feelings of others as we do.
--Neale Sourna at LinkedIn, Affiliated Authors
