In today’s Journal
▪ If you don’t read anything else
▪ Topic: On Being a Hybrid Writer, Part 2
▪ Daily diary
▪ Of Interest
▪ The numbers
If you don’t read anything else all day, read “In Y.A., Where Is the Line…” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/in-y-a-where-is-the-line-between-criticism-and-cancel-culture/. This sort of censorship crap makes me wonder what the hell is wrong with people.
If you would ever succumb to this kind of censorship, I suggest you drop your pen, close your laptop, and go find something fun to do other than writing. And if you choose to keep writing, gird your loins: jerks abound.
***
Topic: On Being a Hybrid Writer, Part 2
If you missed Part 1, you can see it HERE.
To continue briefly with the discussion I started re traditional publishers, I have two motivating factors:
One is the possibility that lightning will strike in the form of a large paycheck. Yeah, that would be nice.
Two, at the moment I’m not wanting to expend the effort to publish my own paperback version of my books. Nor do I get around well enough to sell them at personal appearances, etc. Those days are in the past for me.
If I can land a contract that will add the print aspect (and maybe audio), it will be a new revenue stream (or two) at the minimum.
And it’s all about negotiation, giving a little to get a little. I always have the option to just say “No” and walk away.
Ideally I’ll find a tradpub who will buy only paper (and/or audio) rights even with a low or non-existant advance). If so, I’ll be miles ahead of where I am now in both discoverability and revenue streams.
But if the publisher requires ebook rights as well, will I “trade” some percentage of my ebook royalties to get mass-market paperbacks out there? Yes. Of course.
But again, that would depend on the percentage of ebook royalties I would have to give up. And again, I always have the option of saying “No” and continuing my search elsewhere.
And finally, if lightning does strike and I have to trade one (of five) series for a large, life-changing advance, I will do that too.
The paperback run with a tradpub with that one series will enhance name recognition (discoverability) and the sales of my books that are not included in the contract.
Of course, I would never sign a contract that includes a “no-compete” clause or anything else that would impede my ability to continue writing in other series or writing other stand-alone titles.
Ideally too, I’ll find a publisher who can keep up with me, with or without pen names, given that I’m turning out a novel per month at the longest. (grin)
Of course, very rarely do we find ideal situations, and that’s fine too. But I’ve never been timid. In fact, I’ve always been one who, even in the face of overwhelming evidence that taking a particular path might turn out to be a bad idea, I weigh the cost vs. the possible benefit, then venture forth to find out for myself.
At the worst, I’ll screw up the negotiations and “lose” one book or even one series. But when you’re a prolific professional writer, there are plenty more where that one came from. (grin)
Either way, this whole thing should be a learning experience. And all learning experiences, positive or otherwise, turn to the good. For one thing, if you follow this Daily Journal, you will benefit from what I learn, mistakes or otherwise. And that alone makes it worthwhile to me.
***
Rolled out right on time at 3 a.m. and made my way to the Hovel. Had a comment on my “Hybrid Writer” topic and wrote the followup above, then scheduled both of them over on the big site for early June.
You lucky folks still get to bear witness to my insanity first. (grin)
To the novel slightly after 7. Just over 3000 words by 11 (with breaks) then a longer break to do a chore.
Back to the novel at 1.
Calling it at 2:30. A good day today.
My characters actually surprise me more today than they usually do. When I finished day before yesterday, I was in Chapter 13. This morning, my POV character tugged on my sleeve and had me write a new Chapter 1, 2, and 3. (grin)
Talk with you again tomorrow.
Of Interest
See “How To Create Free & Easy Book Marketing Images” at https://killzoneblog.com/2019/03/how-to-create-free-easy-book-marketing-images.html. This is invaluable.
Especially for any fantasy writers out there, see “St. Edward’s Church” at https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/st-edwards-church.
See “Are Real-Life Detectives Inspired…” at https://www.leelofland.com/are-real-life-detectives-inspired-by-agatha-christies-fiction/. I am reminded by this post of immersing yourself in your characters, of BEING your characters.
See “Free Fiction Monday: Hero Dust” at https://kriswrites.com/2019/03/25/free-fiction-monday-hero-dust/. In case some of the new subscribers haven’t heard me say it yet, you can’t do much better than to study the writing of Kris Rusch.
See “Everyone’s a Copywriter. Right?” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/everyones-a-copywriter-right/. I’m lookin’ at you, Dan. (grin)
Fiction Words: 4416
Nonfiction Words: 810 (Journal)
FTotal words for the day: 5226
Writing of Blackwell Ops 5: Georgette Tilden (novel)
Day 1…… 2494 words. Total words to date…… 2494
Day 2…… 3107 words. Total words to date…… 5601
Day 3…… 3076 words. Total words to date…… 8677
Day 4…… 1515 words. Total words to date…… 10192
Day 5…… 0731 words. Total words to date…… 10923
Day 6…… 1002 words. Total words to date…… 11925
Day 7…… 2492 words. Total words to date…… 14417
Day 8…… 4479 words. Total words to date…… 18896
Day 9…… 1252 words. Total words to date…… 20148
Day 10… 4416 words. Total words to date…… 24564
Total fiction words for the month……… 47644
Total fiction words for the year………… 206702
Total nonfiction words for the month… 20330
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 71550
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 278252
Calendar Year 2019 Novels to Date…………………… 4
Calendar Year 2019 Novellas to Date……………… X
Calendar Year 2019 Short Stories to Date… X
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 41
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 7
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 193
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31