tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post2071634103535540869..comments2023-10-26T03:19:41.569-07:00Comments on Stephen Bodio's Querencia: Writers' WoesSteve Bodiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14434597061701369867noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-30119814341851805982009-01-18T16:31:00.000-08:002009-01-18T16:31:00.000-08:00I think you are both right.And Rachel-- looking fo...I think you are both right.<BR/><BR/>And Rachel-- looking forward to your book which I'll review here at least! (Would LB be too incestuous? ;-)Steve Bodiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14434597061701369867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-71583624096576977952009-01-18T11:14:00.000-08:002009-01-18T11:14:00.000-08:00As someone with a book coming out of H-M THIS spri...As someone with a book coming out of H-M THIS spring, the whole implosion freaked me out. Some laughed and said "don't worry! Now they'll spend time publicizing your book since they're not acquiring new titles." Baloney. That's not going to happen. They're going to spend their time looking for the next big commercial venture that will pay for their bad debt. If you don't have a blockbuster in you, forget it with the traditional houses these days.<BR/><BR/>Prairie Mary has it right when she says it's about publicity and distribution, the latter being key. We can't break into the distribution system, can only go around it.<BR/><BR/>Harrumph.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732486.post-91666763353597477632009-01-05T18:24:00.000-08:002009-01-05T18:24:00.000-08:00After a LOT of reading, thinking, doodling on the ...After a LOT of reading, thinking, doodling on the backs of envelopes and other high-falutin' intellectual activity, I have come to the conclusion that we're chasing the wrong rabbit.<BR/><BR/>What is it that publishers do? We think they are brilliant and discerning (ahem) but actually they only supply capital. The capital is supposed to pay for someone to edit, someone to do layout, someone to find illustrations and get permissions, do the advertising, and distribute. IT IS EASY TO GET SOMEONE TO SIMPLY PRINT THE BOOK. Lulu works.<BR/><BR/>The steps missing from most Do-it-yourself is professional level editing, layout, advertising and distribution. AN AUTHOR CAN PAY FOR THIS JUST AS EASILY AS ANYONE ELSE. It's nice to have a staff, but you can use contract labor, free-lancers. in fact, many publishers are NOT doing the above except for books they consider blockbusters.<BR/><BR/>We don't need more publishers. We need more people who know how to publicize and distribute. And the missing link from "publicize" is reviewers. WE NEED REVIEWERS!<BR/><BR/>Therefore, I'm glad you're doing it and I do a bit of it myself. Always put the title of the book in the title of the post so Google will pick it up. Then, if feasible, put a squib on Amazon. That will row the boat. We can do it for each other.<BR/><BR/>Sod publishers.<BR/><BR/>Prairie MaryMary Strachan Scriverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00538160009129822362noreply@blogger.com