Hello, dear blogging friends! I have had a full plate with no time to blog or read blogs for some time now. I won’t make excuses, whine, or pretend that I am busier than the rest of you. Goodness knows, we are all busy.
With all good intentions, I stepped back from my blog to focus on finishing my novel. Here is what I did about that thing called my manuscript. Squat. Zilch. Nada. Zippo.
But here are a few of the things I did manage to accomplish:
- Fixed the crisis in the Mideast. I got the nicest thank you note from the president.
- Solved the world hunger problem by whipping up several batches of my famous beef stroganoff. That stuff sticks to your ribs.
- Figured out why the Kardashians are popular. Oh, wait. That question will never be answered.
With all those heady issues resolved, I am happy to report that I am writing/editing again.
My novel was all but finished so why the heck wasn’t I taking it to the finish line? Why work so hard on telling the story and then leave it moldering, languishing, and mildewing in a file on my laptop? (Do computer files mildew?)
So, I dusted off my manuscript and with a fresh eye and renewed spirit, set about finishing what I started so long ago. I did a read-through and was thrilled to find out I didn’t hate it and want to throw the mildewed bather in the trash.
With the help of a dear friend, who has a keen eye for holes in the story and incongruity, I polished the sentences, added depth where the story was thin, and deleted stuff that just didn’t make literary magic. I am forever in her debt
Now the burning question is how to get the damn thing published. Agent? Self-publish? Assisted self-publishing? Running off mimeo copies of it and passing it out on the street corner? The whole process of getting published makes the writing part look easy.
Plagiarizing my own blog, I wrote this a long time ago:
“The discussions on self-publishing vs. traditional publishing and the changing industry are robust with good information. Just when I think “Ah ha! I have a game plan,” I read something else counseling that Game Plan B is better. Then I read another article with the advice that the sure-fire way to go is Game Plan C. And on and on it goes. Without sounding like I am whining (well maybe a little), I’d like to be adopted by someone who says, “Here honey, I’ll handle it for you.” Since being adopted is unlikely at my age, I’ll forge ahead on my own for now.”
Like in Mel Brooks movie, Young Frankenstein, I wish someone would hand me this:
Anyhoo, for those of you who have navigated the rocky road of publication, any advise for moi? If no advise, please stop by this blog for a cup of tea and a chat. I do miss you all.
Robin Coyle 
So glad you are back, Robin. I can always count on you to make me laugh. Don’t know if its a route you want to take but I self published using Blurb.
Love it when I make you laugh, Lynne. Tell me more about Blurb. I’m not familiar with it.
This is the site, Robin – http://www.blurb.com/ . I published in their 6×9 format for which they allow up to 440 pages. I was pleased with the soft cover product – mine is the full 440 pages and the cost price is $17.00 each. There are discounts if ordered in quantity. My book is essentially for family and so I like that I can buy individual copies so inexpensively. They provide personal store front space and shelf space in their online book store for those that want to promote.
Thank you! I’m off to check out Blurb.
If you have any questions, I’ll help if I can.
You are so sweet. I’m looking at the website now. I’ll be back with questions!
It sure looks like fun over here. I’ll be returning, if that’s ok. (I know. What else would it be?)
Of course it is okay! Stop by any time!
Just got back from my own month-long vacation. Are you taking parallel routes?
Sounds like it! I came back to blogging only to have it interrupted again to move my parents into an assisted living apartment. Life is full of bumps.
Yes, we’ve been having some bumps here, too. My father-in-law died in April, and my mother-in-law died the night after his memorial two weeks ago. It is surreal. I hope the move went well.
Oh gosh! I am so sorry you lost both in-laws! And so close together . . . tragic. The move went only okay. Very stressful on my dad and he landed in the hospital two days after the move. The good news is they discovered a heart condition thingy and are giving him a new medicine and he is feeling better overall.
That reminds me of the Zen story about luck. One can be considered lucky or unlucky only after subsequent events are taken into consideration. I’d say your father was lucky to have undergone some stressful event that landed him in the hospital so that he could ultimately be diagnosed and end up feeling better. I’m sorry that it must also have been stressful for you.
I’m a bit late to the party, but welcome back! It’s good to see you around here again! 😀
I’m in the process of polishing my second book and I’ve been looking into alternative publishing options. I published my first book through Kindle and Smashwords for the eBook version, and through Lulu for paperback. I’m pleased enough with Kindle and Smashwords, though I can’t say the same for Lulu. So I’ve been doing some research and found something called Lightning Source. It’s not free like other websites, but there are a lot of perks involved, and their book quality seems excellent. Plus they’re the only site through which a self-published writer can see their book in B&N and Borders.
I am actually planning on making a post about that pretty soon, so maybe that’ll be able to help you! 🙂
I’ll watch for your post! Have you heard of Virtual Bookworm Publishers. It looks super writer-friendly and the reviews I read are very favorable. Easier than Create Space.
I have yet to know the answer to your question about the publishing game. And, because I’m so durned smart, I’m going to wait to see what you do…and then copy it.
Welcome back!
You are durned smart. So, how about if you do it first and then I’ll copy what you do!
Nice to be back! However, I have two weeks of travel ahead of me and it may be hard to stay in the world o’blogging. Hey, how is your mom doing?
Thank you for asking. She is a lot better now that she has succumbed to wearing O2 every day. I am sure it ain’t fun to drag around that 50-foot tubing, but she’s trying to be a good sport about it.
While we’re on the subject, how are things on your end?
As of a couple weeks ago, my dad is now on O2 as well. He was totally bummed about it but is feeling better because of it. Mom’s mental condition continues to decline. She hauled off and hit one of the nurses so they put her on an anti-pyscotic which is helping with her anger and anxiety.
I moved them out of their house and to an assisted living apartment near my two sisters. It is so much better now that they are near lots of family.
Thanks for asking. It has been a rough time. But, I think things are settling in.
This sandwich generation is for the birds.
Lovely to hear from you again! Welcome back. I will be following your efforts at publishing with interest.
Nice to back at blogging and writing! I missed it. I’ll keep you all posted on this whole publish or perish thing.
So very good to hear from you again. I have missed your words and wisdom. Since I am published, I guess I can throw a couple of cents’ worth in.
I went the Kindle route, but I started at the other route. Having a publisher publish your manuscript is more fulfilling. I guess what it all amounts to is why are you wanting to be published? If it is just to be published, then Kindle is the way! You are in charge of it all. It goes as you see fit. Money? What’s that? It’s free to do, but your returns may not be good either. I have seen little from my publication, yet, I am happy with it being out there.
When Mr. Kevin Bufton published my four short stories into actual print, I languished in it. Still, very little money, but hey, it does feel right to have someone else tell you that you are good enough for them to take a chance on you.
Either way works, just depends on how important you feel the money is. Advertising is still the business of the paper world, I do believe.
Scott
Hey, Scott! Thanks for your two cents. I’d love to get the nod from an agent but I think I mostly want to hold my novel in my hands. I am seriously leaning toward self-publishing. Have you heard of Virtual Bookworm Publishing? It is highly rated and seems to be writer-friendly. I need to do some more reading up on it, but what I have read so far, I like. Especially that they infuse humor on their website.
Sounds great! Good luck!
Welcome back, Kiddo. Good to hear from you. 🙂
Hey, Tim! What’s happening in your world?
After a massive editing effort, working ASSiduously on getting my novel ready for re-release. Monday.
Hold everything. Amazon is having trouble converting the file. I may have to put this off. Ugh.
Ugh it right. Good luck with that!
OMG it’s so great to hear form you again. I’m afraid I cannot help you as I am in a similar boat. Perhaps those of us in similar situation can work through it together. 🙂
Yes! Great idea. Let’s form a support group!
I’m in.
Hey Robin, welcome back to the blogosphere! I myself am taking a break and will be back by September. Not because I’m working on world peace (I’m glad you’ve got that covered), and not because I’m working on my books. I’ve run out of ideas for now and getting tired of querying the 4 that I’ve written so far, with no success. Although I should give it a better try than send one query a month… Anyway, I’ve been taking the time off to enjoy my kids’ company this summer and it’s been refreshing (relaxing, not so much, but that’s what school is for!).
I can’t give you advice on which route to choose for publishing. I think the battle between Amazon and Hachette may influence us to go the self-published road eventually, since publishers are getting greedier and greedier, yet are doing less and less for writers. I’d definitely query agents first, then publishers directly, then decide if self-publishing is your option. Good luck!
So glad you are enjoying the summer! How are the boys? What grades will they be in in the fall? As much as I’d like to be picked up by an agent, the whole query process wears me out. I hate the idea of sitting around for weeks or month to only hear nothing or rejection! I have been doing lots of reading and found Virtual Bookworm Publishing. Their process seems very friendly toward the writer. Have you heard of them?
So nice to chat with you!
They’ve enjoyed their summer and are about ready to go back to school, in 1st and 3rd grade. Fun times, huh?
What I’ve found so far with agents is that they’re very subjective and picky about what they like. I’m going for picture books and mine are all funny so far, but those people want deep, touching stories. I wonder how the funny books get published. Maybe it’s querying to publishers, even though most of them say no queries (but they do read them, eventually). There’s also the problem of publishers doing very little promotion for you and having you do the heavy work, yet not paying you much. Tough world out there.
As for me, I really want to work at creating things with my hands, or my computer. Visual art & crafts. I’m so burned out of writing for work and need to create something visually attractive. No clue what yet!
Getting published is a quandary and the changes of being picked up by an agent seem so low, I almost don’t want to bother.
What kind of work do you do?
1st and 3rd graders are so much fun! Why, it was just the other day my kids were that age. Poof! They are 23, 25, and 27. How the heck did that happen?!?
I do freelance writing for business, mostly marketing and communications materials. I’ve been in the marketing field for almost 15 years and I’m really burned out. Fortunately I also tutor French, which is a lot more fun. Unfortunately French is not popular in San Diego so the opportunities are few. I’d like to do more translation work if I can find some but people don’t want to pay anything since they think they can get things for almost free. It’s really sad how downhill the cost of skilled labor has gone.
I imagine there is much more need for Spanish tutors in San Diego. Speaking of the cost of skilled labor, Our daughter lives in San Diego now and works for a PR firm. She has a pretty decent salary, but the cost of living there is about killing her!
San Diego isn’t a good place to live long-term. The salaries are mediocre and the cost of living is very high. I wish I could leave where I have more work opportunities but unfortunately I’m stuck here.
Nothing very sage to say. My vote would be to just go along the route that feels like the best possibility of success for you. I try the traditional publishing ways first, but that’s not always the best.
It feels like the odds of getting picked up by an agent and then publishing house are grim And if you do get picked up, they make the writer do most (if not all) of the marketing, unless you are Stephen King!
Alas, I’m not near the publishing stage yet. And while I lean toward the indie route, I haven’t ruled out querying a manuscript when it’s ready. One of the things I’m seeing more frequently is the hybrid approach, which usually begins with the indie route.
It’s great to hear that you’re working on your manuscript again, and I hope we’ll be seeing more of you in the blogosphere!
I would have sworn you had published already. I was going to ask you for your advise. Sounds like we will be going through the process together. It feels good to be back writing (editing) and you know, I finally can see an end to the writing endeavor. At many points, I thought, I’ll never be happy with this darn thing! At some point, you just have to say, “Enough is enough!” And then hope it is good enough!
I am planning on making way for blogging in my little world again. So nice to talk to you again!
Welcome back! As Dr. Who would say……..”First things first; but not necessarily in that order!”
Love that! That Dr. Who is one clever guy.
You rang the tea bell? I heard it all the way over here! I prefer mine with a teaspoon of sugar, no cream…please!
No witty words of advice as I am only publishing short stories. I met up with a very generous friend who self publish several books and then created three more collaborated works to give other writers an opportunity to get published. We each paid a nominal fee per story submitted to cover costs of editing and publishing. It’s my baby step towards being publishing.
The compilations aren’t complete yet, waiting on a few more stories but four of my stories have been completed and are approved. It shouldn’t be too long before it gets published. This guy gets a lot done in very little time. He’s only been a writer for less than two years and has five children’s books, and three non fiction already published.
Ooooh . . . lovely. The tea is on!
If your friend can do it, heck, I should be able to do it, right!? I am envious.
He certainly thinks outside of the box and has had quite some success. The first one was a learning curve…as expected but now he seems to have everything down. If you’d like some feedback on self publishing, let me know and I’ll private mail you.
I’d love to have some feedback on self-publishing! robincoyle@gmail.com. Thanks Mrs. P!
Oh Robin . . . I’ve missed your wit!! I’d adopt you 🙂 Welcome back, kid!
Ha! My wit. Jamie, the world was a better place without my blathering! But thanks!
Hey Miss Robin. Good to read ya again. I’m afraid to say that I’m in the exact same spot you are in, and the muck is thick in here. 😉 I have a finished novel and I’m at a total loss as to which route to take for publishing. I suppose I could send out queries and wait until I receive a dozen rejection letters before I go it on my own. Like you, I don’t look forward to the work it takes to self-pub, and no matter how many times I’ve edited it with my critique group, paying an editor is still a must. So, here’s what I’m doing. I’m holding off until the end of the year. Why? Because I’m attending a pretty large writer’s conference in October and plan to gather info there. I hope to make my decision on which route afterward, which could mean another year before my mind is made up though. 😛 Maybe you’d like to meet me at the conference? It’s just a hop, skip and a jump for you over to Florida, right? Good luck, and check out my blog when you can. I’m still trying to decide on a title for the finished product. I should have a post up about before the morning is out.
I’ve been in contact with a copyeditor and she is willing to take my book as a project. It will be rather expensive, but worth every penny. As you know, when you are so close to something, you can’t see typos, grammar issues, whatever. Also, I trust her to offer copy changes. I’d love to go to the conference with you! What is the name of the conference? I went to a Writer’s Digest conference two years (?) ago and got a lot out of it. I’m off to check out your blog post. Nice chatting with you!
I was teasing about the conference being a simple trip for you, Robin, but I’d love to see you there. It’s the Florida Writer’s Conference. Here is a link to the info on workshops and speakers and such.
http://floridawriters.net/2014_FWA_Conferences.html
No, I know California to Florida is not easy, but I am always up for an adventure!
YEAH!!!! SHE’S BACK!!!! We missed ya in the blogosphere.
And I missed being around the blogosphere!
Hey Robin – thrilled to see you’re back, you’ve been missed. Plug away at making those decisions…they’re not easy ones. xx
Polly! This feels a bit like a high school reunion, what with seeing and talking to old friends. The whole publishing thing is overwhelming. I hope I can muddle through. The thing I keep telling myself it is better to do SOMETHING, rather than sit around and wonder what to do to get my manuscript published. It won’t happen that way!
heh-heh…so true! More like a high school reunion all the time and all the better for it. The ‘way to publish’ maze is more than tricky…the publishers don’t know what to do so are resorting to slagging off indies. The indies are I a state of disarray as one vies with another and each are accusing ‘vanity publishers’ (beware of them,everyone). Then there are the self published, lauded by some and vilified by others. Heaven help us! No-one has the answer! Just multitudinous questions!
As you know, the publishing industry is, and has been for some time now, in flux. The changes are happening faster than anyone can keep track of. So many options. I just keep waiting for Random House to wise up and give me a call.
I wish I had advice for you, but I’m in a similar boat. My manuscript for my second novel is currently in an agent’s hands on an exclusive read. I have no doubt she’ll reject it (because my pragmatism dwarfs my optimism), but I’m getting antsy. After her 8 week holding time with it I must decide whether to just keep querying or self-publish it. I never used to think I’d Indie publish, but now I’m not so sure. But I have a lot to learn if I go that route. Decisions, decisions…
Good luck with whatever you decide. Glad to hear you’ve reached that point. Yay!
Were your ears burning? Audra and I were just talking about you! And philosopher mouse of the hedge gave me a link to your blog. May I email you? You are the go-to gal for us to look up to! May I email you a few billion questions?
Certainly you can email me. I’m always eager for a billion questions. 😉
(Can’t promise to have the answers but I’m always happy to try!)
You are so gracious. I’ll start off with a million questions so I don’t overwhelm you.
Haha, deal.
Hi Robin.
Hi right back atcha!
Welcome Back. The Best of Luck !!
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
Thanks, David! So glad you stopped by!
Yea – it lives! Young Frankenstein could really kick start a phrase.
Do you read any of these blogs for ideas/hints? Might be worth checking in on them from time to time – or reading archives
Roxie – new publishing house!
http://roxieh.wordpress.com/about/
http://jennifermeaton.com/2014/06/23/how-to-publish-topic-2-do-i-want-a-big-six-publisher-and-why/
These writers have fought their way through and talk about their efforts – some have series on publishing and writing or discussions in comments about different directions for publishing
http://kourtneyheintz.wordpress.com/aboutme/
http://carrierubin.com/page/3/
http://jmmcdowell.com/
Hey, Phil! Thanks for taking the time to give me all those links. I follow (well, when I was reading blogs) many of the blogs you cite. I must renew my relationship with those folks. It is better to learn from others rather than try to forge a new path. How are things in Texas!?
JM’s blog with comments from Carrie + others seemed to have quite a discussion earlier in the year about publishing – but I can’t find my bookmarks. Most people wouldn’t mind a quiet email SOS for help?
Summers been mild until this week, but about ready to storm now. Glad you got a break – life needs to be lived – and all this will be waiting when the weather gets bad. Excited about your book! (save those darn bookmarks somewhere so I could find them when needed…arrrgh)
I emailed Carrie and she graciously gave me all kinds of good advice/information. I’ll reach out to JM as well. Good idea. Enjoy what is left of the summer!
I have no words of wisdom. Haven’t reached the market phase yet but nice to see you back. 😀
Hello, Tess! I love your new picture! It is nice to be back. Hope you are well!
Honky-dory. Cannot complain. Busy. Happy. Healthy. Hopeful.
~(~_*)~~
I’m going to have to dust off my librarian thinking cap and dig into the self publishing info. It’s definitely gained momentum. I’ve missed your wicked humor, my friend. Just what did the Prez say?
He invited me over for a game of basketball.
Wicked humor, you say? You should see what I deleted!
I thought about you the other day.. Wondered where you’d gotten to.. Welcome back! You’ve been missed!
Hey there Apple Junkie! So good to hear from you! How is school going?
Schools over.. I’m officially an adult! So sad!
Good for you! Welcome to the adult world. We are so happy to have you join us!
Thank you! I will do my best!