Big city day

How did your day go?  Did you get a bunch of words on paper?

Big city book store took my books on consignment.  They are setting up a display of local writers and working on a promotion day in May when the valley folks run to the mountains to escape the heat.  Three other local writers arr involved.

As a team, four of us are working on places and events where we can promote (sell) our books and get acquainted with folks. 

I'll keep you posted.

Reading books about writing books as never been a favorite activity. BUT, I have gotten at least a nugget out of each book. Today I started reading MANUSCRIPT MAKEOVER by Elizabeth Lyon. Got three nuggets in the first two pages. I think this book will be of great help. I'll keep you posted.

Do you use the pod-a-sphere? Try WRITING EXCUSES.  And, I SHOULD BE WRITING,  with an emphasis on the older ones.

Now get to writing.

Coming Soon

How long does it take to write a book? Great question.  It takes as long as it takes. From first word in 1981 until the middle of February 2014 my first book was in the mill.  With the crash of the western market it was rejected and otherwise abused 45 times, with over 75% of those being the old familiar,  "Does not meet our needs at this time. Try us again."  20 of them said, "Liked it. No market, sorry." or something similar. 

It is now in the proofing stage with createspace.com.

Never give up.

SELF PUBLISHING

It has been a pleasure to search and communicate with various agents and publishing houses who, after reading a three page synopsis, have decided that my writing isn't worth their time. Having read many of these letters in the course of my research into writer-agent/publisher communications, there is no way a great book can be found. They all sound like the last story of that genre. SO, I have looked into self-publishing and now understand why it is taking off like crazy with authors and readers alike.

1. Books are much cheaper to produce.
2. Books are much cheaper to purchase.
3. Authors make more money.
4. Readers save more money.
5. With companies like Smashwords, I can do all the work and set up the book on line thru their service, have it go to a bazzilion outlets thru their distribution list, all for $0. If I purchase an ISBN from them for a nominal fee, my book also goes to two or three more monster sales points.
6. What have I got to lose? A few hours reformatting (Which they give me complete instructions to do) and a few Kilobytes of upload.
7. I can even do my own cover. (see previous post)

PS: a friend of mine is doing the same thing thru another outfit and spending $7,000.  The only difference is she will be able to get paper copies when she is willing to pay for them. Pub on demand added in other words.

Being extremely cheap, $0 is much better than $7000 spent to find out if my books have a market. If they do   pub on demand is still an option. How about researching truly self publishing and binding, as in do-it-at-home.

Time to go write.