In today’s Journal
* Quotes of the Day
* I love a good argument
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
I love a good argument, and I have two to report today.
Re a point made in the first item in “Of Interest” today, I am an indie publisher, and I don’t believe traditional publishers make the lion’s share of book sales. The author of the article points out (correctly) that “The majority of the cover price of a book goes to the retailer—the book store—and the distributor.”
I agree. The assertion is indisputable. So I would never say the publisher takes the lion’s share of book sales. However, I will say (also accurately) that the traditionally published author does not get the lion’s share as the indie published author does.
But what’s far worse, traditional publishers buy all rights to the work for the life of the copyright. And for that reason alone, I would never go back to a traditional publisher.
If any of you know of a traditional publisher who does not buy all rights and/or offers a reasonable (or any) rights-reversion clause, please enlighten me.
And in reply to my comment on “On Murdering 22,000 Darlings” (at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/on-murdering-22000-darlings/), one respondent wrote
“That’s like saying ‘just cross the road. If you don’t get run down, you’re safe’.
“Many times readers reach the end of such a book and say, sometimes in reviews, that 22,000 (or however many) words could certainly have been eliminated and made it a much better book.
…
“Thus, just as with mechanical systems and software, the book should be ‘tested’, and perhaps by someone who does this for a living and is aware of the needs involved.”
I replied:
“With respect, first, you are laboring under possibly the most prevalent myth of all the myths about writing fiction: That all potential readers will like what a particular agent or editor or publisher likes.
“Second, your comparison doesn’t stand up. A mechanical system or software are ostensibly important. A novel, on the other hand, is just a story, nothing but a few hours’ entertainment.
“What about all the readers who do NOT believe those words should be cut? Or who might have enjoyed the story in its original form back before it was rewritten so much to please other people that the original authorial voice is gone?
“Anyone who sets out to ‘find’ something in any story that needs to be ‘fixed’ will do so. But most readers don’t do that. Most readers simply expect to be entertained. Those, not some critic, are the audience for my westerns, SF, crime and action-adventure stories and novels.
“Then again, if you’re a writer, do whatever works for you. Won’t affect my bottom line.
“I will continue to tell the story my characters give me. After all, they, not I, are living it. I trust my creative subconscious enough not to second guess it with my own critical mind, never mind allowing others’ critical minds into the mix.
“And I’m just not arrogant enough to pre-judge what other readers will like or dislike or to force my personal tastes on them. If readers are involved in actively considering how many words should be cut (or any other writing considerations), then they aren’t engaged in the story anyway, and that is the writer’s fault.”
As I said, I enjoy a good argument.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
See “How Much Money Do Authors Actually Earn? ” at https://countercraft.substack.com/p/how-much-money-do-authors-actually.
See “Making Better Magic Systems, Lesson 6” at https://mystorydoctor.com/making-better-magic-systems-lesson-6/.
See “What’s In A Name?” at https://killzoneblog.com/2021/05/whats-in-a-name.html.
See “Talked to Southwest Writers Tonight” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/talked-to-southwest-writers-tonight/.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………………… 600 words
Writing of Wes Crowley (novel, tentative title)
Day 1…… 3089 words. Total words to date…… 3089
Day 2…… 3871 words. Total words to date…… 6960
Day 3…… 5202 words. Total words to date…… 12162
Day 4…… 2900 words. Total words to date…… 15062
Day 5…… 2530 words. Total words to date…… 17592
Day 6…… 3543 words. Total words to date…… 21135
Day 7…… 3563 words. Total words to date…… 24698
Day 8…… 3961 words. Total words to date…… 28665
Day 9…… 3880 words. Total words to date…… 32545
Day 10… 4022 words. Total words to date…… 36567
Total fiction words for May……… 58223
Total fiction words for the year………… 429502
Total nonfiction words for May… 14180
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 99040
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 528542
Calendar Year 2021 Novels to Date…………………… 8
Calendar Year 2021 Novellas to Date……………… 1
Calendar Year 2021 Short Stories to Date… 3
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 61
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 217
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31
Disclaimer: In this blog, I provide advice on writing fiction. I advocate a technique called Writing Into the Dark. To be crystal clear, WITD is not “the only way” to write, nor will I ever say it is. However, as I am the only writer who advocates WITD both publicly and regularly, I will continue to do so, among myriad other topics.