Comments on: Post-Publishing Letdown http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/ About the craft and business of genre fiction Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:50:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Bethany http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12868 Sun, 17 Jun 2007 11:29:29 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12868 But hey, isn't this a part of the "writing high?" You know, the excitement before the climax. And then it bursts. Want the high back? Well, you gotta work at it... and then again, you get to ride teh wave. :-) But hey, isn’t this a part of the “writing high?” You know, the excitement before the climax. And then it bursts. Want the high back? Well, you gotta work at it… and then again, you get to ride teh wave. :-)

]]> by: Gwendolen Gross http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12711 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:17:40 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12711 Whew! I'm glad you wrote that. Having been through two post-partums (kids and books both) and preparing for a third (book only!!!) I can really, really, really relate. You said it kindly, too. It's not that we're ungrateful, it's just a particular sort of experience........ Gwendolen Gross (because I have to: author of THE OTHER MOTHER) (ditto about the publicity stuff) Whew! I’m glad you wrote that. Having been through two post-partums (kids and books both) and preparing for a third (book only!!!) I can really, really, really relate. You said it kindly, too. It’s not that we’re ungrateful, it’s just a particular sort of experience……..
Gwendolen Gross (because I have to: author of THE OTHER MOTHER)
(ditto about the publicity stuff)

]]> by: Travis Erwin http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12697 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 20:50:28 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12697 Thanks for sharing your experiences and prepping me for the realities of the business. Life is always easier to handle when you know what to expect. Thanks for sharing your experiences and prepping me for the realities of the business. Life is always easier to handle when you know what to expect.

]]> by: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12694 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 20:07:17 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12694 Whew! I'm exhausted just thinking about all the promo. It seems like today there are so many ways to promo a book, you could easily make it full time. Web work, podcasts, blogging, MySpace, signings, mailings...yikes! No doubt about it, though. It's a great problem to have. :-) Congrats, Allison! Whew! I’m exhausted just thinking about all the promo. It seems like today there are so many ways to promo a book, you could easily make it full time. Web work, podcasts, blogging, MySpace, signings, mailings…yikes!

No doubt about it, though. It’s a great problem to have. :-)

Congrats, Allison!

]]> by: Marsha Moyer http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12685 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:55:40 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12685 One of the hardest things for me to adjust to was learning to balance being a writer (one who writes) with being a published writer (one who has written). Once the first book comes out, assuming you have others in the pipeline, it becomes a constant juggling act. One of the hardest things for me to adjust to was learning to balance being a writer (one who writes) with being a published writer (one who has written). Once the first book comes out, assuming you have others in the pipeline, it becomes a constant juggling act.

]]> by: Marsha Moyer http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12683 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:43:42 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12683 Actually, Eric, traditional publishers expect writers to be proactive in promoting their books. With my latest book, I provided the names of individuals and publications I wanted to be sent ARCs to review and booksellers and stores I wanted to visit; my publicists make the contacts and handle the arrangements. Independently of them, I've printed and mailed hundreds of postcards and emails for events and maintain (with the help of a webmaster) my own website. Each house does things differently, but in my experience most publicists are hard-working, overworked, underpaid, and under-acknowledged people who appreciate whatever writers can and will do to supplement their efforts. Actually, Eric, traditional publishers expect writers to be proactive in promoting their books. With my latest book, I provided the names of individuals and publications I wanted to be sent ARCs to review and booksellers and stores I wanted to visit; my publicists make the contacts and handle the arrangements. Independently of them, I’ve printed and mailed hundreds of postcards and emails for events and maintain (with the help of a webmaster) my own website. Each house does things differently, but in my experience most publicists are hard-working, overworked, underpaid, and under-acknowledged people who appreciate whatever writers can and will do to supplement their efforts.

]]> by: Eric http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12678 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:55:09 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12678 From all the descriptions it sounds like the ill feelings come from not having much to do when the book comes out -- or at least, not much control because everything is in the hands of the publisher. Makes me glad to be self-publishing... even if it means less distribution I'll have more than enough to do staying busy, and active with the finish book trying to promote and sell it (in addition to performing a lot of pub biz functions). I don't think I will feel quite so disconnected from the 'birthing' process so to speak. Is there a way for writers to be more involved with the book-birthing process through their publishers? Or is it pretty much hands-off, go away and wait for your royalty check? From all the descriptions it sounds like the ill feelings come from not having much to do when the book comes out — or at least, not much control because everything is in the hands of the publisher.

Makes me glad to be self-publishing… even if it means less distribution I’ll have more than enough to do staying busy, and active with the finish book trying to promote and sell it (in addition to performing a lot of pub biz functions). I don’t think I will feel quite so disconnected from the ‘birthing’ process so to speak.

Is there a way for writers to be more involved with the book-birthing process through their publishers? Or is it pretty much hands-off, go away and wait for your royalty check?

]]> by: patti http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12675 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:33:49 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12675 can't wait for my own letdown! can’t wait for my own letdown!

]]> by: Trish Ryan http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12674 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:03:58 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12674 Thanks for sharing your experience - I think the marriage analogy is great. It's so true: you spend months planning this gigantic party, celebrating your marriage or book, and then once the party is over, it's time to get to work because life moves and you have to move with it. Thanks for sharing your experience - I think the marriage analogy is great. It’s so true: you spend months planning this gigantic party, celebrating your marriage or book, and then once the party is over, it’s time to get to work because life moves and you have to move with it.

]]> by: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12673 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 13:50:38 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/06/14/post-publishing-letdown/#comment-12673 It sounds like a wild ride (with a long wait-time to stand in line to ride again)...but one worth taking. Congrats, Allison! It sounds like a wild ride (with a long wait-time to stand in line to ride again)…but one worth taking. Congrats, Allison!

]]>