tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post3769693239738132307..comments2024-03-07T19:11:21.715-06:00Comments on Sandra Ulbrich Almazan: Speculative Fiction Author: Back on the Blog Chain: The New Publishing WorldSandra Ulbrich Almazanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15365908651235829765noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-84274885597663526432011-09-07T10:25:10.701-05:002011-09-07T10:25:10.701-05:00Your advice about thinking long term is spot on. ...Your advice about thinking long term is spot on. I think a lot of authors are going to be looking at things like e-rights as separate from their printed books. Publishers are resistant (as in refusing to give up e-rights) to this idea, but since e-books never go out of print, the paltry royalties they tie authors into are essentially forever. Print books go out of print and the rights eventually revert back to the author, but not so with e-books.Shaun Hutchinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01480241164653893038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-11568117549815958332011-09-05T18:40:52.935-05:002011-09-05T18:40:52.935-05:00I'm very late responding, but this is a great ...I'm very late responding, but this is a great topic. I also look forward to your self-published book. Thus far I've been fairly impressed by the books I've read that were published by the authors themselves, and I have no doubts yours will be likewise impressive. Good luck with getting it out to us and let us know so we can pick up a copy :)Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07823808700523297184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-90478345101740597112011-08-31T07:57:59.892-05:002011-08-31T07:57:59.892-05:00Love your thought out topic and your response! It ...Love your thought out topic and your response! It is really an exciting time, I think.Christine Fonsecahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16986034666903054819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-37954154969152209942011-08-30T10:47:35.471-05:002011-08-30T10:47:35.471-05:00Great topic this round. It's been interesting ...Great topic this round. It's been interesting to see everyone's take on it. Good luck to you! :)Abby Annishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543937393055900844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-91040379372039305662011-08-22T08:36:40.216-05:002011-08-22T08:36:40.216-05:00You're right about traditional authors being e...You're right about traditional authors being expected to market their books. The days when the publishers did it all for you are long gone. <br /><br />This is a great topic, esp as I am both traditionally and self published :DMichelle McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-36498932721936094922011-08-18T20:09:07.481-05:002011-08-18T20:09:07.481-05:00Hi, Sandra! Sorry I'm a bit late to your post!...Hi, Sandra! Sorry I'm a bit late to your post! My brain is a bit dead from starting grad school classes *facepalm*<br /><br />Anyway, your post sheds light on things I've been thinking a lot about. I know a few self-pubbed authors, and their dedication to their craft is just as fierce as writers going through the traditional publishing route. To me, it all comes down to personal taste. Not everyone wants to have a traditional publisher, and not everyone wants to self publish. And that's okay. <br /><br />It is pretty scary to think ahead right now, but I do have faith that publishers will get a grip on themselves, as well as embrace self-pubbed authors a lot more.<br /><br />Great post, and I can't wait to buy yours books! :)Amparo Ortizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05751368034351196820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-23659778648221940702011-08-18T11:38:43.170-05:002011-08-18T11:38:43.170-05:00Welcome to the chain, Jonathon! I look forward to ...Welcome to the chain, Jonathon! I look forward to reading your post.Sandra Ulbrich Almazanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15365908651235829765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-34204250886678216392011-08-18T11:38:12.378-05:002011-08-18T11:38:12.378-05:00Matt--yes, I agree that in the long run, giving mo...Matt--yes, I agree that in the long run, giving more control to the author should be a good thing.<br /><br />Katrina--I didn't sign up for WriteOnCon this year (I decided that my stories aren't YA), so it's interesting to hear that self-publishing is being discussed there too. <br /><br />I can see the appeal of letting editors and agents handle the business arrangements, but ultimately you're the one who has to make sure there are no nasty clauses in any contracts you sign. <br /><br />I sent a sample chapter to an editor last night, so I'm excited/anxious to see her comments.Sandra Ulbrich Almazanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15365908651235829765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-52090933301672453082011-08-18T11:32:15.429-05:002011-08-18T11:32:15.429-05:00Thanks for the welcome! I look forward to posting ...Thanks for the welcome! I look forward to posting my thoughts on the topic and expanding on points you and the other chainers have made.Jonathon Arntsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17366218140886892757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-32787363301244183502011-08-18T11:30:54.038-05:002011-08-18T11:30:54.038-05:00Tere, as a working mother, I find it hard to find ...Tere, as a working mother, I find it hard to find writing time too. I write on my lunch break and after my son goes to bed; sometimes my husband wrangles our son for a while so I can get in extra writing time. Somehow I make it work, but it takes a lot of discipline. But from what I'm seeing, even if you're traditionally published, you're still expected to help with marketing. Luckily blogging helps with that.Sandra Ulbrich Almazanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15365908651235829765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-76906128220768983752011-08-18T11:19:11.842-05:002011-08-18T11:19:11.842-05:00Great topic! I'm seeing it pop up all over Wri...Great topic! I'm seeing it pop up all over WriteOnCon the last few days, too. It's nice to see other writers embracing self-publishing and kind of paving the way. It won't be an easy decision for me if I do choose to go this route because I'm like Tere as far as marketing myself goes. <br /><br />I want to be a "kept" writer and let my future agent and editors take care of me. :) But on the other hand, I definitely see the appeal of self publishing, especially for seasoned authors like you who know what they're doing. The fact that you're approaching editors to polish your work makes me very excited to read your stories because I know they won't be like 95% of the stuff on amazon kindle that's just thrown up there like al dente pasta against the wall.<br /><br />Off to read Matt's post!Katrina L. Lantzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06871272394922775923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-68644328240775629172011-08-17T19:25:29.427-05:002011-08-17T19:25:29.427-05:00I finally got my post up, even though I screwed th...I finally got my post up, even though I screwed the whole thing up. Oh well.<br /><br />I think you make several good points, Sandra. It's hard to know where things will end up after publishing settles down, but I think in the long run more control going to the author, and a better share of the profits is a good thing. We'll have to wait and see how it all shakes out.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-77901485398075962662011-08-17T14:37:13.144-05:002011-08-17T14:37:13.144-05:00Sounds like you're making the right decision f...Sounds like you're making the right decision for you. I understand the lure of self-publishing, the desire to see your words in print, but I have enough trouble finding time to write. If I had to be my own publicity department, too, I probably wouldn't be selling (or writing) very many books.<br /><br />Good luck with whatever you choose!Tere Kirklandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13562750950130316280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-20983572219600420682011-08-15T21:32:04.978-05:002011-08-15T21:32:04.978-05:00Thanks, Briane and Michael!Thanks, Briane and Michael!Sandra Ulbrich Almazanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15365908651235829765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-49793818576427844322011-08-15T16:39:49.441-05:002011-08-15T16:39:49.441-05:00I can't wait to read your book and as soon as ...I can't wait to read your book and as soon as you have some promo stuff on your website I would be happy to add it to my sidebar on my blog to help you get the word out :)Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-22740939826960545832011-08-15T11:32:37.358-05:002011-08-15T11:32:37.358-05:00Interesting -- I look forward, first, to hearing w...Interesting -- I look forward, first, to hearing when you publish and I'll be among the first to buy your book.<br /><br />People planning on being an author should keep in mind that (like many creative fields) it's hard to be self-sustaining, income-wise. One of the editors at Cracked.com broke down his $30,000 (I think) advance for a book, and decided it was about $7 an hour for the work he'd put in. An article I read said the average author earns $27,000 a year -- but I think that's pulled way up by the J.K. Rowlings' of the world.<br /><br />So if the allure of a big publisher is making big bucks, more power to you, but even with the help of Big Pub, you may still need the day job, and that's where I opted (like you, Sandra) for indie publishing -- because I get complete control over it, trading off a big name for doing what I like.<br /><br />As for having the book available in more than one format, my wife is a voracious reader, and she reads mostly on her Kindle, but she's had me print up PDF copies of books that are available only that way, and she'll buy hard copies; she chases down the authors she likes. Corey Doctorow also makes his books available in a variety of formats, which helped me discover him. That's something to think about, too.Brianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01616494058636881575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-71301287290795762592011-08-15T09:58:13.768-05:002011-08-15T09:58:13.768-05:00Exactly, Sarah.Exactly, Sarah.Sandra Ulbrich Almazanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15365908651235829765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-48702081716293338752011-08-15T09:57:03.743-05:002011-08-15T09:57:03.743-05:00Thanks for the idea, Anna, but then I'd run in...Thanks for the idea, Anna, but then I'd run into the same problem I'm trying to avoid--two parts of the series available in different places. Also, a publisher might give me a contract that would prohibit me from doing such a thing. Check out this link: http://kriswrites.com/2011/08/03/the-business-rusch-deal-breakers-continued/Sandra Ulbrich Almazanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15365908651235829765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-83572999278155006792011-08-15T09:53:40.462-05:002011-08-15T09:53:40.462-05:00The best and most reasonable advice I've seen ...The best and most reasonable advice I've seen so far is to hold off on Traditional publishing for the next few years. Because, yes, it will still be around after all the upheaval settles down, but we don't (nobody does) know what it will look like then. It's very likely that some publishing companies will fail and go under while other survive and no one knows which ones will fail and which survive. You don't want to be caught in the middle of a publisher going bankrupt. <br /><br />So the advice is to self publish for a few years until everything in publishing settle to a new norm and then take it from there. Most likely the best way to be an author in the future will be to traditionally publish some books and self publish others.Sarah McCabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10985261436020635823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18714294.post-15805424009052064972011-08-15T06:02:05.541-05:002011-08-15T06:02:05.541-05:00Why not publish Twinned Universe traditionally, an...Why not publish Twinned Universe traditionally, and a few months after its release, offer the prequel as a self-published ebook on your author website? That will keep the momentum going, and give your readers something to gnaw until your next masterpiece releases...Anna Bankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04216213561070725760noreply@blogger.com