I had decided I was going to become an independent publisher, but I was going to do it properly. I was going to get a copy-editor, a designer and typesetter, the works. When I added it up and worked out my margins, they were skinny to say the least. When I mentioned it to a friend she said 'Run by me again why you're not going to a publisher.' I mumbled something about creative control but my argument crumbled very quickly. The irony being, I'm not writing literary fiction or anything else that can be a hard sell. It's mainstream, summer reading, commercial fiction. So should I give up my dream of being my own publisher? Should I trust that someone out there will get what I'm trying to do with this series and start looking for them?
Ho about publishing one from the series on www.authonomy.com?
I don't know if it's okay to mention it here seeing as how it is a site provided and run by Harper Collins, but I thought I'd mention it.
You can upload a book, get it reviewed and build a name for yourself on the online community there.
Obviously this will require an investment in time and effort in terms of becoming involved in the online community there, but it seems to be a well developed network.
If this is successful then you have developed a professional background to fill the gap in your CV.
Victoria, I also have a big hole in my book proposal, just like you I have no professional background, but I won't/can't let that stop me.
I don't think an agent will ignore my proposal simply based on the professional background info.
If he does, then I believe it will be his loss, and someone else will simply pick it up and read it.
Having a professional background might help, but not having one doesn’t necessarily mean that things are harder. Besides, everyone has to start from somewhere.
What was it that a blog here on the website said? Feel the fear and do it anyway.
Christopher, thank you for your well-considered answer. And you should never apologise for an answer being too long when it's to me. That's exactly the sort of detail I was hoping for. I have, as you say, thoroughly researched both avenues, including the costs of a print-run of 5000. It's quite a scary prospect simply because you might just end up with 5000 books, nowhere to store them and a debt of 10-15,000 pounds. Eek!
And it's not as if I mind some criticism and changes to my work. Actually having to rewrite the end differently like Ian Phillips wouldn't sit too well, but I know that there are still issues with book one that I just can't see and will be picked up by the hawkish eyes of a professional editor. Part of me welcomes the professional input.
But my book proposal just makes me cringe. The lack of professional background is a big hole in my submission and I can't even take the short story route. My lovely short story tutor at Cardiff Uni - Lynne Barratt-Lee - smiled kindly and said 'You really are a novelist, aren't you!' I try to cram too much into my short stories and it's obvious I would have rambled on for at least another few thousand words given the chance. It's not something I can fix. I just don't do short!
Jennifer, marketing is a bit of an issue for me. This book needs very, very careful marketing. I would go with almost any sensible suggestion made, but the bigger problem is getting that far. I need an agent and publisher to take the risk first.
Adrian, niche is what I do have, but it's quite lonely there on my assets list.
Louise, The Alliance of Independent Authors tagline is 'The only nonprofit organisation for the self-publishing writer.' It's a fairly recent thing that self-publishers have been described as Indies and the term doesn't apply to those who have only published e-books, but if you have published paperbacks yourself, the posh term for it is Independent publishing... apparently.
I have looked at small publishing houses before, but the lack of distribution is a real problem. Agents are the way to go, I think.
I'm going to spend more time on my book proposal and see if I can present it in a way that will hook someone who doesn't mind taking a risk! Thanks for your help, everyone. Vxx