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Random thoughts

Addison

Auror
The problem I have with this publications thing is that the path of Traditional Publishing has been laid out, paved and worn to a gloss over the last century and more. Everyone knows how that system works. The selfie path is.....I don't think at this stage it's new but there's so many avenues.
The traditional path: you get an agent (most of the time), the agent and writer find a publisher, they get a contract and the book gets published.
The selfie path: you write a story, you edit/revise, you think of a design and you search companies to find the best publisher. There's no telling which are real and which are scams. So this avenue has been carved out with all the hills and turns but it's still getting the asphalt spread and signs put up.
 

taiwwa

Scribe
But they won't, unless it is one hellava story that is selling hand over fist.

So you're saying your goal then is to get an advance and then...not deliver?

Traditional publishers are utterly flooded with manuscripts. Agents barely have the energy or attention to give an author ten pages of read. The selfie path has been made much easier by the internet. As I said, internet ebooks first, traditional publishers can repackage them (in dead tree format with pretty graphics and binding) at a later time if there is sufficient interest.
 
So you're saying your goal then is to get an advance and then...not deliver?

Traditional publishers are utterly flooded with manuscripts. Agents barely have the energy or attention to give an author ten pages of read. The selfie path has been made much easier by the internet. As I said, internet ebooks first, traditional publishers can repackage them (in dead tree format with pretty graphics and binding) at a later time if there is sufficient interest.
No, What I'm saying is why on earth would a big house pay thousands for a book that people have already read for 2$ a pop?

I run a business and in business that makes absolutely zero sense. I'd never pay top dollar for anything that everyone has already seen. I might, however, contract that person for their next big idea.
I've only heard of one or two self pub books that go on to become paper books. Just because I've not heard of it does not mean it never happens, I'm just saying that is not an egg someone should/can count on.
Be realistic in all things and live a happy life. :)
All the best of luck.
 

Addison

Auror
What is it with dogs and dead toys? My dog has gone from the puppy dog look, dropping the thing in my lap and barking at me so I would play. How in the heck can I, or even he, play with a three-inch long tail of a toy. A toy in which only the tail has survived?

And now he has retreated to his throne. Which is the top of the pillows and back of the sofa by the window. He just has his front paws on top, his head resting between them while his rear-end has sunk into the pillows.

Dogs. Gotta love 'em. :D
 

Guru Coyote

Archmage
Tails are the only thing about toys that count. Especially if they are tall tails. I tell a tall tail from time to time myself. As such, I totally resonate with your dog. My sofa needs more pillows.
 
1)What is it with dogs and dead toys? ..
2) And now he has retreated to his throne. Which is the top of the pillows and back of the sofa by the window. He just has his front paws on top, his head resting between them while his rear-end has sunk into the pillows.

3) Dogs. Gotta love 'em. :D

4)How in the heck can I, or even he, play with a three-inch long tail of a toy. A toy in which only the tail has survived?

1- IDK, Addison, My Nai guards his decapitated sock monkey like it is part of the crown jewel collection. Mind you, he has a whole two boxes stuffed to overflowing with every toy conceivable, some are even in duplicate if he really, really likes it. Sadly only one sock monkey, dressed like a duck, carrying an Easter Egg, was available when I got him, or I'd replace Mr. Headless Monkey-Duck. AKA - "Dunkey."

2- I was told by our dog's trainer that dogs will seek the highest ground available to show their dominance within their "pack," IE your family. My Nai won't do the back of the sofa sitting unless I'm asleep or someone is at the door. Not that I'd care much if he did want to sit there. So long as he knows who the boss is it's all good.

3- Pets have been proven to improve quality of life, lowering Blood Pressure, reducing risks for things like Heart Attacks and Stroke, you get more Exercise if you have pets that you have to walk a few times a day, and they help relieve Stress! :D So, live long friend, enjoy your pets, shower them with love, and maybe, buy a your pup a new tailed toy. ;)

4- Have you considered duct tape and a long stick?
 
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Jabrosky

Banned
I notice that a large proportion of the fantasy books that appeal to me are self-published. I'm not saying self-published books are necessarily higher quality than traditionally published ones, but it seems easier to find books with interesting subject matter in the self-published section. Anyone else experienced this?
 

Addison

Auror
I think it's because the publishing companies are...what they are. Let's say your story is a big juicy piece of foot, your favorite food. You've cooked it to perfection, garnished it beautifully, placed it on a great plate and everything. Then you present it to a critic or such before you serve it to the customer (the reader). The critic in this case is the publishing compnay. They look at it, they taste it and give their opinion. As it's their restaurant you're serving in, you have to do what they say, or they do it themselves. They take off the mint leaf garnish. They change the swirls of sauce into stripes, the re-make the meal to fit their tastebuds while still sticking to your initial recipe. Then they present it.

That's what publishers do. The go in and decorate, re-decorate, so when the book hits the shelves it stands out with their company's flair. This often includes making/editing the inside flap. The description. Whatever you might have had that would appeal to more preferences was been wiped out.

So it's not the writer's fault, it's the publishers. At least for the initial book sales, then the word-of-mouth helps the story appeal to the readers who were, in a way, edited out.

....Now I believe I'm steering more for self-publishing than traditional.
 

Guru Coyote

Archmage
I partly agree with Addison. I think it's simpler though: Publishing companies are, by their very nature as a large entity, rather cautious when it comes to 'interesting topics.' You might call it somewhat conservative.
They need to consider the potential of a work to appeal to a large audience, and not so much to their own tastes. They are not buying for their own enjoyment, but for the assumed taste of a maximum number of buyers.

So, what we as readers might find 'interesting' or 'appealing' might be limited to a fairly small group of people, while what a publisher need is something 'everyone' will want to read. And as readers tend NOT to be a homogenous group - not everyone likes the same things - you can guess where this is going: Lowest common denominator.

(Ok, the thought was simple, only the words I expressed it in... weren't. Oh my. Coffee!!)
 

SeverinR

Vala
Are you saying big companies want the books to change new stories to their ideals and become new binding on the same old story?
Or the big companies don't take a chance on a unique story sticking to the more "normal" stories?
 

Addison

Auror
I think its how human characteristics bleed into the company's methods. Not everyone likes change, lots of people prefer things a certain way etc.
 

SeverinR

Vala
"County rummage sale group on Facebook, Man selling various shovels, rakes and hoes, all leaning against a wood fence.

I had to post on his ad.

"You can line up your shovels, get your rakes together, no problem, but when your hoes get together, theres gonna be a fight. Hoes just can't get along."

:D
 
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Jabrosky

Banned
I was just watching The Scorpion King 2 on Blu-Ray, and I found the female lead's straw feminist act intolerable. I'm all for female warriors in fantasy, but I'd prefer they be taken for granted in their respective setting instead of loudly proclaiming that they're rebelling against oppressive gender roles. I find that latter theme trite to the point of unpalatable.
 

Guru Coyote

Archmage
I was just watching The Scorpion King 2 on Blu-Ray, and I found the female lead's straw feminist act intolerable. I'm all for female warriors in fantasy, but I'd prefer they be taken for granted in their respective setting instead of loudly proclaiming that they're rebelling against oppressive gender roles. I find that latter theme trite to the point of unpalatable.

One of the rules I made for myself says: "Show the society as it could be, not point fingers at what you think is wrong."
 

Gryphos

Auror
Why do monarchies still exist? It's the twenty first century for crap's sake; we should have abandoned that archaic tradition long ago.
 
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