how do you publish a novel?

[desk]

so, let's say i write the great american novel. how do i get it published? obviously, this will be a masterpiece, so do i just submit it the various publishing companies and wait for a telephone call? or is it impossible for an unknown to get published without doing some special favors?

all the places i've checked online seem to be scammish like.

 

[narzy]

best way is to self publish on http://www.lulu.com you retain 80% of the sales and its print on demand.

 

[EyeMWing]

If you're DAMN GOOD*, the major companies will publish you straight off. Otherwise, look into smaller publishers. Worse comes to worse, submit short pieces to Reader's F'ing Digest and other literary mags. After enough of that crap, some publishers will actually bother to read it.

Print-on-demand is a better idea, these days IMO

*Damn good: Sh!tty, mass-market-appeal writing

 

[desk]

well, my writing will, most likely, change the very depth of human emotion and bring about a revolution in the american literary landscape, so i assume that the major companies would publish me.

but, let's say, everyone was too stupid to realize the true magnificence of my work. how do you actually make and money when you publish yourself? i imagine you can't just go up to barnes and or noble and tell them to carry your novel.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: desk
well, my writing will, most likely, change the very depth of human emotion and bring about a revolution in the american literary landscape, so i assume that the major companies would publish me.

but, let's say, everyone was too stupid to realize the true magnificence of my work. how do you actually make and money when you publish yourself? i imagine you can't just go up to barnes and or noble and tell them to carry your novel.

I remember one of the self-pub companies has a partnership with B&N to list your stuff on their website. I just can't remember which one.

 

[desk]

anyone know how much money people make writing novels? is it like in the billions?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Yes, billions. People don't realize that Stephen King is the real owner of Microsoft and Bill Gates is just a hired, penniless front man.


Or back in the real world, it's like acting and music: most writers barely scrape by, many / most work other day jobs to pay the rent.

 

[narzy]

LuLu is tied in to amazon.com self advertisement will make your novel successful, you can also order copies for yourself and sell them at your local bookseller.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Billions rofl? As far as I know only one writer has made billions and that is the author of Harry Potter. Maybe a few others have too that I don't know about.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: LordSegan
Billions rofl? As far as I know only one writer has made billions and that is the author of Harry Potter. Maybe a few others have too that I don't know about.

Textbook companies, I'd assume, make a few trillion dollars every semester.

 

[desk]

well, i was kidding about billions (obviously). but i wonder how much the big writers (crichton, rice, king, etc) get paid per book. i would assume it's in the hundred's of thousands.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Originally posted by: desk
well, i was kidding about billions (obviously). but i wonder how much the big writers (crichton, rice, king, etc) get paid per book. i would assume it's in the hundred's of thousands.

It's in the millions easily.

 

[desk]

Originally posted by: LordSegan

Originally posted by: desk
well, i was kidding about billions (obviously). but i wonder how much the big writers (crichton, rice, king, etc) get paid per book. i would assume it's in the hundred's of thousands.

It's in the millions easily.

nice.

*starts looking for real estate in the hamptons*

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: desk

Originally posted by: LordSegan

Originally posted by: desk
well, i was kidding about billions (obviously). but i wonder how much the big writers (crichton, rice, king, etc) get paid per book. i would assume it's in the hundred's of thousands.

It's in the millions easily.

nice.

*starts looking for real estate in the hamptons*

you do realize there's no market for autobiographical homo-eroticism don't you?








I already tried that angle.

 

[desk]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: desk

Originally posted by: LordSegan

Originally posted by: desk
well, i was kidding about billions (obviously). but i wonder how much the big writers (crichton, rice, king, etc) get paid per book. i would assume it's in the hundred's of thousands.

It's in the millions easily.

nice.

*starts looking for real estate in the hamptons*

you do realize there's no market for autobiographical homo-eroticism don't you?








I already tried that angle.

well, crap.

oh..wait....i got it! you can write a story about me and i'll write one about you!

ok, what are you wearing?

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: desk

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: desk

Originally posted by: LordSegan

Originally posted by: desk
well, i was kidding about billions (obviously). but i wonder how much the big writers (crichton, rice, king, etc) get paid per book. i would assume it's in the hundred's of thousands.

It's in the millions easily.

nice.

*starts looking for real estate in the hamptons*

you do realize there's no market for autobiographical homo-eroticism don't you?








I already tried that angle.

well, crap.

oh..wait....i got it! you can write a story about me and i'll write one about you!

ok, what are you wearing?

PM me!

 

[Subterranean Homesick Alien]

Originally posted by: desk
well, i was kidding about billions (obviously). but i wonder how much the big writers (crichton, rice, king, etc) get paid per book. i would assume it's in the hundred's of thousands.

Creighton, Rice, and King's novels do not exactly fit the bill of literature that will, as you say, "change the very depth of human emotion and bring about a revolution in the American literary landscape." Those authors are part of the small group of blockbuster bestsellers who make millions by writing novels that have a wide, mass-market appeal, i.e. the lowest common denominator.

If you really want to write the proverbial Great American Novel, read and study some of the true literary greats that are still publishing today. Phillip Roth, Cormac McCarthy, Don DeLillo, Joyce Carol Oates, and E.L. Doctorow are just a few of what most literary critics agree to be the Great American Authors living today.

But if you're just looking to be a millionaire, then read the mainstream novels and imitate what they do. Our culture seems to have a thirst for imitation, just look at the proliferation of reality shows on television.

Even still, good writing requires a lot of hard work so it's not easy money. And, to answer your original question, you'll have a better chance of staying out of the publisher's slush pile by getting yourself an agent. Get yourself a copy of the current Writer's Market to learn more about publishing a manuscript.

 

[quizzelsnatch]

Originally posted by: Subterranean Homesick Alien

Originally posted by: desk
well, i was kidding about billions (obviously). but i wonder how much the big writers (crichton, rice, king, etc) get paid per book. i would assume it's in the hundred's of thousands.

Creighton, Rice, and King's novels do not exactly fit the bill of literature that will, as you say, "change the very depth of human emotion and bring about a revolution in the American literary landscape." Those authors are part of the small group of blockbuster bestsellers who make millions by writing novels that have a wide, mass-market appeal, i.e. the lowest common denominator.

If you really want to write the proverbial Great American Novel, read and study some of the true literary greats that are still publishing today. Phillip Roth, Cormac McCarthy, Don DeLillo, Joyce Carol Oates, and E.L. Doctorow are just a few of what most literary critics agree to be the Great American Authors living today.

But if you're just looking to be a millionaire, then read the mainstream novels and imitate what they do. Our culture seems to have a thirst for imitation, just look at the proliferation of reality shows on television.

Even still, good writing requires a lot of hard work so it's not easy money. And, to answer your original question, you'll have a better chance of staying out of the publisher's slush pile by getting yourself an agent. Get yourself a copy of the current Writer's Market to learn more about publishing a manuscript.

i'm pretty sure you left out tom clancy?

 

[Mr Nate]

Try Amazon Shorts.

 

[Subterranean Homesick Alien]

Originally posted by: quizzelsnatch

Originally posted by: Subterranean Homesick Alien

Originally posted by: desk
well, i was kidding about billions (obviously). but i wonder how much the big writers (crichton, rice, king, etc) get paid per book. i would assume it's in the hundred's of thousands.

Creighton, Rice, and King's novels do not exactly fit the bill of literature that will, as you say, "change the very depth of human emotion and bring about a revolution in the American literary landscape." Those authors are part of the small group of blockbuster bestsellers who make millions by writing novels that have a wide, mass-market appeal, i.e. the lowest common denominator.

If you really want to write the proverbial Great American Novel, read and study some of the true literary greats that are still publishing today. Phillip Roth, Cormac McCarthy, Don DeLillo, Joyce Carol Oates, and E.L. Doctorow are just a few of what most literary critics agree to be the Great American Authors living today.

But if you're just looking to be a millionaire, then read the mainstream novels and imitate what they do. Our culture seems to have a thirst for imitation, just look at the proliferation of reality shows on television.

Even still, good writing requires a lot of hard work so it's not easy money. And, to answer your original question, you'll have a better chance of staying out of the publisher's slush pile by getting yourself an agent. Get yourself a copy of the current Writer's Market to learn more about publishing a manuscript.

i'm pretty sure you left out tom clancy?

Yes, Clancy is up there with Creighton, Rice, and King in the mainstream group, not the literary. Same goes for J.K. Rowling.

If I sound snobbish, it?s because I am. Most English Lit majors tend to have strong feelings on the subject.

 

[desk]

Originally posted by: Subterranean Homesick Alien

Originally posted by: desk
well, i was kidding about billions (obviously). but i wonder how much the big writers (crichton, rice, king, etc) get paid per book. i would assume it's in the hundred's of thousands.

Creighton, Rice, and King's novels do not exactly fit the bill of literature that will, as you say, "change the very depth of human emotion and bring about a revolution in the American literary landscape." Those authors are part of the small group of blockbuster bestsellers who make millions by writing novels that have a wide, mass-market appeal, i.e. the lowest common denominator.

If you really want to write the proverbial Great American Novel, read and study some of the true literary greats that are still publishing today. Phillip Roth, Cormac McCarthy, Don DeLillo, Joyce Carol Oates, and E.L. Doctorow are just a few of what most literary critics agree to be the Great American Authors living today.

But if you're just looking to be a millionaire, then read the mainstream novels and imitate what they do. Our culture seems to have a thirst for imitation, just look at the proliferation of reality shows on television.

Even still, good writing requires a lot of hard work so it's not easy money. And, to answer your original question, you'll have a better chance of staying out of the publisher's slush pile by getting yourself an agent. Get yourself a copy of the current Writer's Market to learn more about publishing a manuscript.

see, that's kinda what im torn about. i would like to write a book that is comparable to crime and punishment (by dostoevsky)....not really a lot of action, but a very raw look at human emotion/psychology. but im thinking that won't sell well in today's world of short-attentioners.

so, i don't know if i should just give in and write something that is equivalent to a crichton book. meaning, it would be written on an 8th grade level, have obvious plot lines, and have constant action/suspense to keep the reader interested.

hmmmm....maybe i could do both, and just have a pen name for the crappy commericial stuff. i figure i'll crank a book out every few weeks, so i should have more than enough time to write both.

 

[dartworth]

lulu.com