Comments on: The Real World Book Deal Descriptions http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/ DEVISING A SYSTEM FOR REMEMBERING EVERYTHING Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:45:00 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: themagicmountain http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-196416 themagicmountain Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:53:01 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-196416 I used the phrase, "enforced Top Ramen diet" in a conversation several weeks ago, with no memory of it coming from somewhere other than my own genius. Then I came across this article again, which I read last year. Falling off my chair with laughter a second time was worth the bruise to my pride. I used the phrase, “enforced Top Ramen diet” in a conversation several weeks ago, with no memory of it coming from somewhere other than my own genius.

Then I came across this article again, which I read last year. Falling off my chair with laughter a second time was worth the bruise to my pride.

]]> By: KSM http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-194036 KSM Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:56 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-194036 Even understanding that it may not be popular in this crowd, I have to stick up for Jeremy Lassen because I searched the internet for hours before I found what I sought---in his post. The numbers are there. I'm sure a lot of aspiring writers read that and think, "7,500 books doesn't seem like a lot," but I think they've never tried to sell a first novel. Or a book of Little League raffle tickets. At least with the raffle tickets, your friends and family aren't expecting a freebie... I also believe that it is the tendency of writers to overestimate the profit of the publishing machine as compared to the per-hour income of the writer. Sure, offices, computers, editors, graphic artists, paper, ink and binding all cost money, but one of the biggest expenses for all print media these days is transportation. You know how, when you move, you always want to put your books in smaller boxes because they're heavy? Well, shipping is by the pound, and even on large-scale commercial rates, shipping all those books first to the distribution center and then on to the store level is expensive. Readers aren't likely to find you on Amazon (where they pay the shipping, and usually a lower price for your book) unless they know about you, so getting your books into stores where they can be discovered by after-dinner and rainy Saturday browsers is critical to the entire process. Even understanding that it may not be popular in this crowd, I have to stick up for Jeremy Lassen because I searched the internet for hours before I found what I sought—in his post. The numbers are there. I’m sure a lot of aspiring writers read that and think, “7,500 books doesn’t seem like a lot,” but I think they’ve never tried to sell a first novel. Or a book of Little League raffle tickets. At least with the raffle tickets, your friends and family aren’t expecting a freebie…

I also believe that it is the tendency of writers to overestimate the profit of the publishing machine as compared to the per-hour income of the writer. Sure, offices, computers, editors, graphic artists, paper, ink and binding all cost money, but one of the biggest expenses for all print media these days is transportation. You know how, when you move, you always want to put your books in smaller boxes because they’re heavy? Well, shipping is by the pound, and even on large-scale commercial rates, shipping all those books first to the distribution center and then on to the store level is expensive. Readers aren’t likely to find you on Amazon (where they pay the shipping, and usually a lower price for your book) unless they know about you, so getting your books into stores where they can be discovered by after-dinner and rainy Saturday browsers is critical to the entire process.

]]> By: Adam Coronado http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-154772 Adam Coronado Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:23:20 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-154772 Shit! I think I'm Joe Wannabe! Shit! I think I’m Joe Wannabe!

]]> By: Becklet http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-54018 Becklet Tue, 03 Apr 2007 11:12:39 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-54018 Guys, I typed, 'How much can I get paid for this crappy crime novel I'm sitting on?' into Google and got this article. Fell off my chair laughing and then did the Maths (or Math for you yanks). Dollars don't mean a hell of a lot to me but when I converted it into Sterling and realised how much money you were actually talking about I was shocked! So tell us what we all really want to know... Having written the book, how do we get the 'Shut up' or 'I'm getting the next round' deal? Or in fact any deal at all? Guys, I typed, ‘How much can I get paid for this crappy crime novel I’m sitting on?’ into Google and got this article. Fell off my chair laughing and then did the Maths (or Math for you yanks). Dollars don’t mean a hell of a lot to me but when I converted it into Sterling and realised how much money you were actually talking about I was shocked! So tell us what we all really want to know… Having written the book, how do we get the ‘Shut up’ or ‘I’m getting the next round’ deal? Or in fact any deal at all?

]]> By: Becklet http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-54019 Becklet Tue, 03 Apr 2007 11:12:39 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-54019 Guys, I typed, 'How much can I get paid for this crappy crime novel I'm sitting on?' into Google and got this article. Fell off my chair laughing and then did the Maths (or Math for you yanks). Dollars don't mean a hell of a lot to me but when I converted it into Sterling and realised how much money you were actually talking about I was shocked! So tell us what we all really want to know... Having written the book, how do we get the 'Shut up' or 'I'm getting the next round' deal? Or in fact any deal at all? Guys, I typed, ‘How much can I get paid for this crappy crime novel I’m sitting on?’ into Google and got this article. Fell off my chair laughing and then did the Maths (or Math for you yanks). Dollars don’t mean a hell of a lot to me but when I converted it into Sterling and realised how much money you were actually talking about I was shocked! So tell us what we all really want to know… Having written the book, how do we get the ‘Shut up’ or ‘I’m getting the next round’ deal? Or in fact any deal at all?

]]> By: Aj http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-54016 Aj Tue, 23 Jan 2007 17:51:15 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-54016 I want to write a book but my speling is bad I want to write a book but my speling is bad

]]> By: Aj http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-54017 Aj Tue, 23 Jan 2007 17:51:15 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-54017 I want to write a book but my speling is bad I want to write a book but my speling is bad

]]> By: John Scalzi http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-54014 John Scalzi Mon, 01 May 2006 23:41:38 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-54014 An escaltor usually means that if you reach some goal (for example, a certain sales goal, or you're nominated for a major award, or whatever), some sort of bonus kicks in. You shouldn't assume that you'll be able to reach your escalator. Count only the money you know you're contracted to get. An escaltor usually means that if you reach some goal (for example, a certain sales goal, or you’re nominated for a major award, or whatever), some sort of bonus kicks in.

You shouldn’t assume that you’ll be able to reach your escalator. Count only the money you know you’re contracted to get.

]]> By: John Scalzi http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-54015 John Scalzi Mon, 01 May 2006 23:41:38 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-54015 An escaltor usually means that if you reach some goal (for example, a certain sales goal, or you're nominated for a major award, or whatever), some sort of bonus kicks in. You shouldn't assume that you'll be able to reach your escalator. Count only the money you know you're contracted to get. An escaltor usually means that if you reach some goal (for example, a certain sales goal, or you’re nominated for a major award, or whatever), some sort of bonus kicks in.

You shouldn’t assume that you’ll be able to reach your escalator. Count only the money you know you’re contracted to get.

]]> By: Love - Clueless in Boston http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-54013 Love - Clueless in Boston Mon, 01 May 2006 18:16:58 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/2004/09/08/the-real-world-book-deal-descriptions/#comment-54013 Okay - I'm about to sign my first 'deal' and I don't know whether it's bad, shitty, 'meh' or whatever. But I was told to look up what an ESCALATOR is (as it relates to book publishing), and I can find nothing. So, do you have any THOUGHTS to share on this, oh writing gurus? (I have LOVED reading through these tidbits!!) Okay – I’m about to sign my first ‘deal’ and I don’t know whether it’s bad, shitty, ‘meh’ or whatever. But I was told to look up what an ESCALATOR is (as it relates to book publishing), and I can find nothing.

So, do you have any THOUGHTS to share on this, oh writing gurus?

(I have LOVED reading through these tidbits!!)

]]>