I'm finally published...

[mercs]

After ten years of working my way up through short stories, online novels, even comic book scripts and many failed manuscripts, I finally pushed ahead with my MG Fantasy novel Lyrian...

After some advise through absolutewrite and through some members on here, I finally put it in print with lulu. I now have several copies of my novel sitting in front of me that I will be giving to family and friends over the next month...

I can't wait to start spreading the word, and I know it's not published in its literal terms, but anyone who has been on lulu will see that a lot of their most popular authors do get contracts if they have the sales figures to match...

I'm setting myself a sales target of 5000 copies for this debut novel and I can't wait to start getting out there and showing my work. Who knows who might one day pick up a copy and read it!

But for now I'm ecstatic to have a copy in front of me and to know that in a few more weeks it will be there on my computer screen via amazon!

Start of a new adventure!!!

 

[DocFlamingo]

Outstanding!

 

[chopper]

Nice work!

I don't want to put dampeners on it, but 5000 is a massive sales target and will involve a heck of a lot of time & effort (& money) on your part.

Have a chat with Scarfy, or Marc Robson - see how they fared with their first projects.

Good luck

S

 

[Joey Sixknuckles]

Good luck! The hard work is just beginning!

 

[mygoditsraining]

All the best with your endeavours! That's a mighty target to set yourself, but keep pushing away at it.

(also, get your family to buy their copies*; if you can get it into a store and *then* get them to buy their copies from that store - even better - cheeky as Hell, I know but stores will take note of numbers sold and you will be able to improve your selling pitch in other areas)


*what else is family for, if not supporting you!

 

[Joey Sixknuckles]

(also, get your family to buy their copies*; if you can get it into a store and *then* get them to buy their copies from that store - even better - cheeky as Hell, I know but stores will take note of numbers sold and you will be able to improve your selling pitch in other areas)

And if you're were going to give them free copies anyway - why not give them the money to buy extra copies? *


*Don't tell anyone though

 

[mercs]

Cheers guys, I thought no one cared (argh!), but it turns out I managed to wreck the site and needed some help to correct things! the 5000 is a HUGE target and definitely a vast amount to try and achieve...

So far after a few weeks I have shifted the first batch of 20 books (hardly a huge start I know!) and currently the book is going through dispatch to be listed on all the amazons, barnes and noble, waterstones etc etc.

I am blessed in the sense that I have, what can only be described as, a monsterously large family. Two sisters (one married), two brothers (one married with two kids), my missus has a brother (married with one kid), two sisters. Then there's the 20-30 cousins that I am in contact with and the numerous aunts, uncles and other relatives that could be convinced if nagged!

As for them paying, sadly they have to! I gave a few away to close relatives, but I don't have the funds to give all of them a copy! I'll keep everyone up to date as the project moves along, but it just feels good to see my work in print at last!

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Tricky business mercs.

Remember the power of word of mouth for a project like this.

It might be more advantageous to give ten or twenty copies out to loved ones who will then be much more inclined to suggest their family and even their friends should buy copies. Make sure you sign a few for the close relatives and if you're feeling really keen number them. Their is always kudos in owning a signed and numbered first edition novel even if it's someone you've never heard of. They don't know if you're going to make millions in the future but as a punt on a new author some may give it a go.

Oh yes it'd be nice to think they were buying it for the content but lets face it people invest in new artists' work on just that kind of speculation so why not books.

When you've sold the first 5000 then you can be picky about who gets a freebie because by then you will be quite well read and able to choose.

Obviously keep 1-10 for the attic just in case

 

[Aoratos]

Very nice mate! Keep us up to date I'll be checking on amazon

 

[mercs]

You and me both Aoratos, it's 6-8 week wait to get on amazon.com, and for me with the distribution package about the same with all other sites. Every morning I check hopefully to see if it's there, but nothing yet...

TheEndIsNigh, I have been advised to give away a lot of free copies, it's just the financial restrictions currently. I'm not really in a position to give away more than a dozen a month, and so it has been hard in that sense...

I've also got to give my copy to the british library as requested. I had it already to send etc. and someone contacted me on another site to ask for a signed copy. As it's someone who helped me a lot along the way, I sent them my last copy and now I'm awaiting another batch to come along...

It's going to be a long and bumpy road, and either it will die a fast death or it may continue to tick over and maybe reach my ideal target for the project...

 

[Gary Compton]

I'm interested to know whether you get a trade price from Lulu to enable you to buy books from them and sell them yourself.

The reason I ask is that I have 5 websites selling kitchens, gifts, football souvenirs and general stuff and I get 250,000 hits per year across all.

I would be happy to put your book (and anyone elses) on all the sites and if anyone buys I will forward the order/payment onto you so you can despatch it direct. You'll need a paypal account.

I'm happy to help as I intend in the next 12 months to publish my own book and sell it through the internet/Ebay/Amazon/etc.

A couple of tips if you can get stock, contact the biggest Ebay sellers of books, give them a margin and offer to despatch directly to their customers. They sell it, and you get it out there.

Do what Scarfy has done and get into the ribs of the local bookstore managers.

I dont think you'll make money this way, however it may lead to bigger and better things. (Mark Robson as an example)

I've got book printing costs down to 67p per book, full colour embossed cover. If you sell 5000 on this one then the next one you'll make money. By the way you need a website. Let me know if you need help!

This time next year you'll be a millionaire!!!

 

[Yahzi]

I finally put it in print with lulu.

I hate to rain on your parade, but you are not published.

What you are is printed. Which, let's face it, is a pretty big accomplishment. Everybody says they want to write, but how many people actually finish an entire novel? You can legitimately call yourself a writer.

You should be proud of what you've accomplished. But you should also not misrepresent it to others or to yourself. I say this as a fellow printed author. It's disingenuous and disrespectful to the people who did manage to break in the old-fashioned way.

Also, I guarantee you will not sell 5,000 copies through lulu. Long before you get to that mark some mainstream publisher will notice and buy the book. Consider two facts: 1) 500 copies of a self-published book is a best seller. 2) Only %10 of traditionally published books earn out their advance. So any self-published book that sells 1,000 copies is going to look mighty tasty to a traditional publisher - and by the time you sell that many books yourself, their distribution net is going to look pretty tasty to you, too.

As for waiting to get on Amazon... I think lulu now puts everything on Amazon automatically, regardless of your distribution package. I went with the free package, didn't even get an ISBN, and my book is available on Amazon.

 

[Yahzi]

Also - did you enter this in the War of the Words contest? One of the benefits of being printed and not published is that you can still enter contests like this.

Check it out, and send them your first 3 chapters. (I would post the link but I guess I can't yet - just google for War of the Words New Rules and Regulations)

 

[mercs]

Yahzi, I'm not so sure about there still being a stigma. If it is professionally done, then it's hard to distinguish between a self published and published. I could have gone down the traditional route, and yes sure I admit my way is a huge shortcut, but I just wanted to get a book printed/published and work on it. In no way do I mean to try and muscle in on what others have achieved straight out, but for me it is a big jump forward from the short stories/submissions/rejection piles I've been amassing for a decade now...

as for the 5000 mark, that is a huge target as I said. In fact very few on lulu have ever reached that target -something like 200 books- and so I'm aware of the implications if that does happen. It's something to aim for -the dream scenario!

As for lulu, they do the absolute bare minimum if you don't get a distribution package. They list it on amazon.com's database, but it's permanently out of stock etc. I bought the basic package which means it's listed on 100s of sites and is at least out there and available...

Gary, I think it is possible to get a trade price, plus of course I can buy the book for nearly half the price myself. I do have a website that I'm currently constructing for my work and sure I'd love to hear what you are doing as of course getting the work scene is more important than making money at this stage -I'm resigned to making none on this project!

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Yes, yes I certainly understand these sentiments.

If you have something that you feel needs doing then do it know I say.

After all.... and it soon will be

 

[Yahzi]

Yahzi, I'm not so sure about there still being a stigma. If it is professionally done, then it's hard to distinguish between a self published and published.

It's not a stigma. Plenty of self-published books are better than plenty of actually published books.

But it is a different process. No independent editor has selected your work for publication. Despite the deficiencies of independent editors and their often random picks, it's still a hurdle you haven't crossed.

I'm always careful to tell people that I'm printed, not published.

my way is a huge shortcut,

No, it isn't. Your way is a path to a completely different destination.

That's my point about misrepresenting yourself to others and yourself.

The destination you've reached is a worthy one. It might even be the wave of the future. But it's not the same one you set out to reach 10 years ago.

They list it on amazon.com's database, but it's permanently out of stock etc.

My Amazon page says my book is in stock, from LULUPRESS, which has a 94% positive rating.

I tried to search for your book on Amazon, but "Lyrian" gave me so many hits I couldn't find yours.

 

[Gary Compton]

I hate to rain on your parade, but you are not published.

Absolute load of rubbish. Off course you're published! The difference is you are the publisher and the author at the same time.

Look at Mark Robson on this forum. He sought out a printing company, put together the book including the cover art work. He printed, marketed and distributed his series and sold...wait for it! 50,000 books. He was snapped up by an agent and the rest is history (Check out his forum on this site)

As we are coninually told, publishing is subjective. Another man's passion is someone else's poison. You might not get an agent because you've not been lucky enough to find one who enjoyed your work enough.

It's not to say it isnt great and very readable.

Look at all the rubbish on the bookshelves, what's the story there. They say it has to be wonderful, better that 100% but there are still 100's of books that are crap - They are trying to brainwash us into beliving they are right. When in reality no one is - there is no exact template.

I'd say go for it 5000 is nothing. If I was a published author and only sold 3000-5000, I'd be questioning the commitment of the people behind the book.

In a few years the traditional publisher will be dead and the new proactive, self motivated, driven author who publish their own work will fill the bookshelves.

GO FOR IT. DONT BE PUT OFF!!

 

[mercs]

Blimey Gary, one step at a time lol! As I said I tried a few times with agents and I was told that my writing was good, they enjoyed my style and script, but something didn't click etc. I just wanted a copy to give to my friends and family. I wish I could show you the phone call I got today from my niece in America when her copy arrived, that's worth more than a publishing contract to me!

5000 is the dream number as it opens a few doors. If I see 43 copies, 170 copies, 941 copies etc. then no one cares. It would be the death of the book as why should a publishing house or agent give a second look if the public didn't. 5000 is a number that says there's something here...

And I will have to check up this Mark Robson and ask for some tips, as 50,000 is more than what many publishing houses manage! That's phenomenal!

 

[Ursa major]

I believe Mark is on holiday (and researching his next book) at the moment, but he has a sub-forum in the Author's forum if you want to check it out.

 

[Ian Whates]

mercs, many congratulations on the book coming out and I really hope it does well for you.

As a small press publisher myself (www.newconpress.co.uk), I would offer a word of caution about being overly ambitious on the sales side. If you do sell as many as 5,000, that's fabulous, but please set out to achieve this in a series of stages and don't be too disappointed if reality doesn't quite live up to expectation.

I've published books with stories from authors you may have heard of, including Brian Aldiss, Christopher Priest, Stephen Baxter, Alastair Reynolds, Pat Cadigan, Gwyneth Jones, Ken MacLeod etc etc, and I would never dream of printing anything like that many copies or indeed expect to sell that number.

Yes, as mentioned, Mark Robson has sold a fabulous number of his initial series of books, but Mark was aiming at a very specific market, writing YA fantasy novels, and Mark is phenomenal when it comes to selling and promoting, particularly when aided at events by the rest of his family, who work very smoothly as a team. Mark is very much the exception, not the rule.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not trying to be a killjoy and dampen your enthusiasm; you take every scrap you have and throw it behind the book... I'd just hate to see you end up being disappointed because you were aiming too high.