alg | (no subject)

Good morning! I have been awake since six am, and wow! It is a beautiful day. I have the windows open, and there is a wonderful cold breeze blowing in. My bedroom window faces Manhattan, which means it faces the water, even though I can't see the water, and I get wonderful breezes -- although when it's freezing outside and the wind chill is, like, negative seventy-million, it's not so much fun.

(All I want this morning is a cup of coffee and a Danish. Wow, how bad do I want a Danish? Pretty badly. Instead I had a crescent roll. Not quite as good, but what's a girl to do?)

I want to thank again everyone who provided me with links and stories on Monday -- that was awfully nice of you guys and I really appreciate it! I am well on my way to recovering (especially now that my dentist has called in a new prescription for me, and I have much stronger painkillers, phew).

Now that I can focus for longer than 500 words, I am ready to write more about demystifying publishing.

I am really glad that these entries are helping y'all. And I am flattered that so many people are reading them -- I know I tend to be pedantic and long-winded, so it's amazing to me that you guys can get through these entries. *g*

I do want to remind you that these answers are by no means universal. Remember the first rule: Don't be an idiot.

Publishing is Hard!

Writing is an art, but publishing is a business -- and here are a few basic suggestions on how to navigate that business. Complete with explanations of various departments within a publishing company, and how they all work together to make your book. And, of course, my witty and charming commentary!

Thanks for reading; I hope this has helped at least some of you!

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm so excited, Annalou. Now you have to promise to read mind if I'll read yours. I'm going to put you URL in my list of recommended blogs.

Oh, fun!

Lynn

You are so cool!

Just thought I would let you know (if you didn't know already.) It is rare in this world that a person would give so freely and your kindness is priceless. Wow, I hope to work with you soon (that’s if you like my book:)

Thanks for all the information:)

Ana Luisa

thanks for taking the time to write this! I found it very helpful to see an overview without common sense explanations.

Aw, thanks! I'm happy this information's helped you. :)

You're welcome!

*grin* Thank you for this fabulous post! I started reading it yesterday when

jaylake posted it and came back as soon as work had a break. It's nice to learn what each department does.

As for the 'don't be an idiot' advice--my day job right now is working as an assistant in a corporate law office. I swear half the people on the phone have never had jobs of their own. Isn't it obvious that if you treat people badly, they are going to remember? We do the work anyway, but don't catch us prioritizing. If you have a choice between being the squeaky wheel or attracting flies with honey, why are you considering the first option again?

At any rate, before I rant further on why 'common sense' is worth its weight in gold and how I wish common courtesy was more catchy than the common cold, I'm just going to thank you. Thank you for putting in the time and effort to write this. I appreciated it and hope to incorporate it in the future.

Heh, it's funny how the most common admonition to toddlers bares repeating to all age groups: be nice.

Thanks again! :0)

I actually believe, as

pnh said above, that there is a time and a place for rudeness. Sometimes there is no other way to get through to people. Sometimes being nice doesn't work.

But I do firmly believe that one should always start out being nice. There is no reason not to. Give people the benefit of the doubt -- at least in public. No one knows that you're gritting your teeth while you're smiling, you know? There are enough people in the world who are going to hate you no matter what -- why go out of your way to make enemies??

Anyway, you're welcome! Thanks for reading, and for taking the time to let me know I've been helpful. :)

Thanks so much! I look forward to reading more! :)

*grin* Point! Just so long as you're yelling at the right person, that is a very good point.

Alas, anything I made would be stopped (and enjoyed) by Quarantine at the border.

Is an Aussie Care Package featuring Tim Tams (http://www.arnotts.com.au/products/TimTam.aspx) be acceptable?

Frankly, a nicely-worded email does the trick just as well as cookies.

As an author (my tenth book came out last month), I can tell you this is all spot-on and so very true. I have dealt with people in each of those departments and by treating them well, my life is easier, too. There is the occasional bad apple, someone who pulls a Simon Cowell on you just because they can, but overall, I would say that nearly everyone I have dealt with at the two houses I write for has been professional, kind and clearly doing this job because they love books.

Smart authors read blog entries like this and take it to heart, making it a point to learn everything they can about the business, both from their side of the fence and the publisher's. This is, in many ways, a partnership and if the author doesn't have a clue what happens once that manuscript is delivered, then it can only make things difficult.

I appreciate your honesty and know that you have done many authors a great favor in explaining the way this business works. It's an industry unto itself, without a doubt, but it's also one that I'd work in, even if they didn't pay me (though don't tell my editors that ;-)

Shirley Jump
www.shirleyjump.com

it's also one that I'd work in, even if they didn't pay me

You know, lots of people say that, but it's almost never true! Hee.

I'm so glad that even as a published author you find this helpful. Thanks so much for letting me know! :)

I have a 117,000 word novel written as an epic rap battle. Where do I sell it?

OMG TO MEEEEE!!!! You know I have a thing for rap battles.

That would be awesome, actually. Can you imagine? It would be like modern day heroic verse.

That's just what I said half way through the post!

Shirley! Fancy meeting you here!

Congratulations on your tenth book! I remember the labor pains of the first.

Writers can never get too much insight into the publishing process - unless they sell the family car and home and become publishers themselves. ;-)

Not that you need it, but Jessica will be in the chat room at our old stomping grounds on Saturday, May 13. It would be nice if you had the time to drop in at 9 P.M. ET. (Never did a shameless plug on another website before. It feels good.)

Back on track - I'm much more responsive to people who yell and scream at the dreaded day job when they preface it all with "It's not your fault." That takes off some pressure and I can do my job.

Hmmm! Maybe I should work for Pineapple Press. LOL!

JudyB

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You have a blog!

Way Soooo Cool!

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Store-bought stuff okay?

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Well said and so true

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