I got "a call" today...

Message

#1 Post by **Vandal** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 5:37 pm

but not THE CALL.

I had five agents and interns on a conference call from NYC today to talk about my udated novel. I thought this was it.

But they passed.

They were very nice about it, saying what a great movie it would make and what a wonderful story it is. The voice and tone don't align (whatever that means.)

But I'm a rookie and it shows, apparently.

The lead agent recommended that I "workshop" it around. We'll see.

There's still a chance The Memory Box will see the light of day, but it's closer to the trunk than the bookstore at this point.

Anyway, I've been busy with novel two, with 50K in the can and moving right along. I think it's better. In fact the agency that just passed would like to see it when it's done.

This is a crazy business.

On the brighter side, I hope you like the Timeline® promos. Please play when September rolls around.

Back to the keyboard I go.

MarleysGh0st · #2 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:01 pm

Sorry about the news, Vandal. Don't give up!

Vandal wrote:On the brighter side, I hope you like the Timeline® promos. Please play when September rolls around.

Is that you!?!?

Bob Juch · #3 Post by **Bob Juch** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:30 pm

If you don't sell it, please let me read it. I might be able to sell the film.

T_Bone0806 · #4 Post by **T_Bone0806** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:36 pm

Don't give up, pal. I like "The Memory Box". I really do.

I will not be the only one who does. I just know it.

silvercamaro · #5 Post by **silvercamaro** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:51 pm

Oh, Vandal, this was so close. Please feel encouraged, rather than discouraged. Keep working on the second novel, and either continue to submit The Memory Box, or recognize that a lot of "second novels" were actually written much earlier than the first one published and count on yours reaching the public just a little later.

We believe in you. The publishing industry cannot resist the collective will of the BBs forever.

T_Bone0806 · #6 Post by **T_Bone0806** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:08 pm

Holy crap! I just saw your avatar. Where did that come from? It made me snort very loudly.

kayrharris · #7 Post by **kayrharris** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:14 pm

Keep up the good work!

Don't get discouraged. These things take time. I have faith.

Here's Fanny! · #8 Post by **Here's Fanny!** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:22 pm

I like that you follow up with saying that you're already working on the next one.

I don't know if you've ever read Stephen King's "On Writing" but I can't remember how many rejection slips he said that he got before something was accepted. Way more than I could have handled.

Neil Gaiman has also said the same thing.

That's pretty good rejection company!

Here's Fanny! · #9 Post by **Here's Fanny!** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:23 pm

Also, there's been Timeline promos? I hadn't noticed. Ha!

#10 Post by **littlebeast13** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:26 pm

Aw dammit! It was a mighty fine story, too....

Well, here's hoping Novel #2 comes to fruition much easier. I will still hold out hope that Aja Holloway becomes a household name someday....

lb13

#11 Post by **littlebeast13** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:27 pm

Here's Fanny! wrote:Also, there's been Timeline promos? I hadn't noticed. Ha!

Well, I hear the ones on the weekend have been quite lame.....

lb13

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #12 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:27 pm

I'm very sorry. Have you thought about self-publishing the book?

#13 Post by **Vandal** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:49 am

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:I'm very sorry. Have you thought about self-publishing the book?

No, for several reasons.

Yog's law: Money flows toward the writer (the only place a writer should sign a check is on the back).

So-called vanity presses such as Iuniverse, Authorhouse and many others provide little (if any) editing and charge way too much for their books. They make money selling books to the author and his immediate circle of family/friends.

No distribution. Brick and Mortar book stores won't stock 'em because these publishers provide no discounts or returns. Sure, they may be available on Amazon, but Amazon recently changed how they deal with Print-On-Demand houses. You can put nearly anything on Amazon.

A "self-published" book does not even count as a publishing credit. Trust me, I could have sent my story into one of these houses a long time a go and had a copy in my hot, little hands. Authors are easy targets because rejection is part of the process and rejection stings. Some company comes along and offers you a hug and a cookie and a chance to play Author: The Role-Playing Game. Wanna play?

It's an empty promise. YouTube is filled with people who call themselves recording artists.

There is a reason most manuscripts don't make it to commercial publishers:

Spoiler

They're not good enough.

So what's an author to do?

Move on. Learn the craft. Write a better book.

SportsFan68 · #14 Post by **SportsFan68** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:48 am

I had thrown it out to the universe that I would be reading my own personally-purchased copy within a year.

Rats!

Good luck!

DadofTwins · #15 Post by **DadofTwins** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:53 am

Vandal wrote:
PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:I'm very sorry. Have you thought about self-publishing the book?
No, for several reasons.

Yog's law: Money flows toward the writer (the only place a writer should sign a check is on the back).

So-called vanity presses such as Iuniverse, Authorhouse and many others provide little (if any) editing and charge way too much for their books. They make money selling books to the author and his immediate circle of family/friends.

No distribution. Brick and Mortar book stores won't stock 'em because these publishers provide no discounts or returns. Sure, they may be available on Amazon, but Amazon recently changed how they deal with Print-On-Demand houses. You can put nearly anything on Amazon.

A "self-published" book does not even count as a publishing credit. Trust me, I could have sent my story into one of these houses a long time a go and had a copy in my hot, little hands. Authors are easy targets because rejection is part of the process and rejection stings. Some company comes along and offers you a hug and a cookie and a chance to play Author: The Role-Playing Game. Wanna play?

It's an empty promise. YouTube is filled with people who call themselves recording artists.

There is a reason most manuscripts don't make it to commercial publishers:

Spoiler
They're not good enough.
So what's an author to do?

Move on. Learn the craft. Write a better book.

As one who has self-published, I'm chiming in to agree with Vandal. The average self-published POD book sells 150 copies, and the author usually buys about 100 of those.

I bought 75 of mine. I gave away 15, sold another 45, and have 15 left in a box in my bedroom. Total net cost, roughly $100. Not as bad as some of the stories I've heard, but not great.

But then again, for me writing is a hobby (as you can probably tell). Professionals like Vandal could write me under the table and still have words left over. If you're serious about writing as a career, get good enough so that publishers will pay to print your work.

Flybrick · #16 Post by **Flybrick** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:59 pm

Vandal, I'm so sorry.

I agree with you on the self-publishing.

Have you tried for an overseas market? Specifically, I'm referring to the UK. My stuff, although non-fiction not a novel (got one of those, too!), couldn't even get a foot in the door as you did with your agent roundtable.

There are many (relatively speaking) niche Brit publishers who will talk to an author directly.

Then, once it's in print, you might try sending a copy to US agents (damned expensive way to do it from experience!) who can see that somebody else took a risk, so it might not be such a risk after all to them.

Fairness clause: I'm still 0 for about 10 US agents with this approach, but I think I got really close with one fairly big agent.

I'll try again when my second book come out next year.

Keep trying!

WWTBAM Bored

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