Runboard.com
Слава Україні!

runboard.com       Sign up (learn about it) | Secure Login (lost password?)

 
Talira Greycrest Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Troll in Chains

Registered: 01-2018
Location: Waterfall City, Dinotopia
Posts: 22
Reply  Quote
Hello!


Hi everybody, I'm Talira Greycrest. I like to write fantasy stories and I hope one day to get a book published.

---
Breathe deep, seek peace
2/12/2018, 9:00 am Link to this post Email Talira Greycrest   PM Talira Greycrest Blog
 
Firlefanz Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Lady of the Land

Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 6984
Reply  Quote
Re: Hello!


Hi Talira,

welcome on board.

These days, all you need to do is to finish your stories, get them edited, buy a cover and self-publish. emoticon

I'm doing it. Not very successfully, yet, but I'm on my way. emoticon

---
- Firlefanz

Mystical Adventures
Firle's Blog
Firle's Books
2/12/2018, 10:52 am Link to this post Email Firlefanz   PM Firlefanz Blog
 
Talira Greycrest Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Troll in Chains

Registered: 01-2018
Location: Waterfall City, Dinotopia
Posts: 22
Reply  Quote
Re: Hello!


Is it safe to use self-publishing websites? I'm a little wary of those that say their publishing tools are free to use because you never know if what they say is true. I don't want to end up having to pay for something that I was told is free.

---
Breathe deep, seek peace
2/12/2018, 11:41 am Link to this post Email Talira Greycrest   PM Talira Greycrest Blog
 
Joxcenia Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Squire
Runboard staff member

Registered: 11-2005
Location: Whoosher House
Posts: 710
Reply  Quote
Re: Hello!


Welcome, Talira Greycrest!

You could check out what other Indie-Published authors use. I follow several authors who used to be traditionally published, and now Indie-Publish. I follow:

Bob Mayer
Lani Diane Rich
Holly Lisle

For starters.




---

2/13/2018, 4:53 am Link to this post Email Joxcenia   PM Joxcenia Blog
 
Firlefanz Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Lady of the Land

Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 6984
Reply  Quote
Re: Hello!


Talira,

Amazon (KDP) is totally safe to use and it's free.

I also use Draft2Digital - they are a distributor and I use them to get my books into iBooks,, Kobo, Nook, and Tolino (and a few tiny other ones). It is also free, but they take a percentage, which is fair.

In self-publishing, you need to do your research. And feel free to ask here - I've been on this journey for five years now.

People I read and follow:

Kris Rusch (former editor of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction), indie author, business woman
Dean Wesley Smith, indie author and publisher
Lindsay Buroker (SFF marketing podcast), indie author
David Gaughran, indie author and Amazon expert
Joanna Penn, indie author and consultant, weekly podcast

There are plenty of resources out there. Indie authors are quite a market factor by now.

---
- Firlefanz

Mystical Adventures
Firle's Blog
Firle's Books
2/13/2018, 10:55 am Link to this post Email Firlefanz   PM Firlefanz Blog
 
Talira Greycrest Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Troll in Chains

Registered: 01-2018
Location: Waterfall City, Dinotopia
Posts: 22
Reply  Quote
Re: Hello!


So, self publishing with Amazon is definitely free, is it, no matter what country you're in? How about self publishing with Lulu? Is that one free, too?

Besides rejection from publishers, another thing I've noticed over the past few years is that people who are already successful authors seem very reluctant to give a helping hand to a beginner. Out of all the authors I've either met or spoken to via email, only one agreed to read my work. The rest refused. I used to be a member of a group called Writers Victoria, but even they refused to read my stories.

---
Breathe deep, seek peace
2/14/2018, 1:41 am Link to this post Email Talira Greycrest   PM Talira Greycrest Blog
 
Joxcenia Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Squire
Runboard staff member

Registered: 11-2005
Location: Whoosher House
Posts: 710
Reply  Quote
Re: Hello!


IIRC, Lulu is free as well. They get their pay when you sell something. Though they all do have packages you can purchase, you don't have to if you don't want to.

Should you want to try and go the traditional route, the books to purchase in the US are:

Writer's Market
Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2018
Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market 2018
Poet's Market 2018




Last edited by Joxcenia, 2/14/2018, 4:36 am


---

2/14/2018, 4:31 am Link to this post Email Joxcenia   PM Joxcenia Blog
 
Firlefanz Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Lady of the Land

Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 6984
Reply  Quote
Re: Hello!


Talira,
I would refuse to read someone else's work, at least in general. I have enough to do with my own stories and marketing. Don't see this as a lack of support. Those authors are simply protecting their writing time - which they must do if they make a living with their books.

You'll find lots of support in writing groups on FB. Just don't go in and demand it - people really dislike that.

I refuse to use Lulu, btw., for two reasons:

Their print versions are rather expensive and thus hard to sell. Their shipping prices are also rather high. CreateSpace or KDP Print work better for me.

And what's worse, Lulu cooperates with Author Solutions, the biggest company that's ... milking self-publishers for their money, to put it mildly. Most big publishers have a "side company" that they run with Author Solutions. Do not touch those with a three-foot pole.

---
- Firlefanz

Mystical Adventures
Firle's Blog
Firle's Books
2/14/2018, 8:13 am Link to this post Email Firlefanz   PM Firlefanz Blog
 
Talira Greycrest Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Troll in Chains

Registered: 01-2018
Location: Waterfall City, Dinotopia
Posts: 22
Reply  Quote
Re: Hello!


I don't use Facebook.

I live in Australia and, to be honest, I'd prefer to self publish rather than take my chances sending a manuscript to a publisher. I can understand published authors want to spend as much time as they can on their own work, but would it really hurt to take a few minutes to point a beginner in the right direction and give them some helpful tips?

---
Breathe deep, seek peace
2/14/2018, 9:27 am Link to this post Email Talira Greycrest   PM Talira Greycrest Blog
 
Firlefanz Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Lady of the Land

Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 6984
Reply  Quote
Re: Hello!


Honestly, why would they do that? Can you imagine how often they get asked that? I'm taking time here for you, and so far, you're still only complaining.

There are plenty of websites out there to get someone started in self-publishing. Lots of books, as well.

Google the resources Joxenia and I mentioned - there's a lot to be learned there. You have to educate yourself. Nobody can do it for you. Join Kboards at Amazon, you'll find help there, as well.

Living in Australia means that self-publishing really is your best option. There are few publishers there, and even less take fantasy.

Self-publishing is a business. It's a difficult mindset to gain for many authors. But as in a business, you're absolutely responsible for your own growth and your decisions. Do not blame others for not helping you. You are responsible for figuring it out.

---
- Firlefanz

Mystical Adventures
Firle's Blog
Firle's Books
2/15/2018, 5:26 pm Link to this post Email Firlefanz   PM Firlefanz Blog
 
Pastor Rick Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

The Reeve

Registered: 07-2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 2474
Reply  Quote
Re: Hello!


You can learn a lot here. We have practice sessions, and I know of at least a couple of people that read everything posted on this board.

---

Advertise Boards On TRDConceptsDE
2/15/2018, 8:15 pm Link to this post Email Pastor Rick   PM Pastor Rick Blog
 
Joxcenia Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Squire
Runboard staff member

Registered: 11-2005
Location: Whoosher House
Posts: 710
Reply  Quote
Re: Hello!


quote:

Talira Greycrest wrote:

Besides rejection from publishers, another thing I've noticed over the past few years is that people who are already successful authors seem very reluctant to give a helping hand to a beginner. Out of all the authors I've either met or spoken to via email, only one agreed to read my work. The rest refused. I used to be a member of a group called Writers Victoria, but even they refused to read my stories.



quote:

Talira Greycrest wrote:

I can understand published authors want to spend as much time as they can on their own work, but would it really hurt to take a few minutes to point a beginner in the right direction and give them some helpful tips?




Authors have other reasons for not reading the works of others ... especially of those they don't know ... and that is for the same reason traditional publishers ask their authors to not read fanfiction ... they can be sued for stealing or plagiarism.

Have you joined Zoetrope? It's owned by, Francis Ford Coppola.

Zoetrope Workshops
https://www.zoetrope.com/


Holly Lisle also has a forum on her website: https://hollyswritingclasses.com/

She has a free flash fiction course (3 emails): https://hollyswritingclasses.com/index.php?page=free-flash-fiction-class

Free Five Day Fiction Writing Class: https://hollyswritingclasses.convertri.com/find-your-fiction-writing-mojo


Absolute Write Water Cooler: https://absolutewrite.com/forums/forum.php




Last edited by Joxcenia, 2/16/2018, 1:00 am


---

2/16/2018, 12:59 am Link to this post Email Joxcenia   PM Joxcenia Blog
 
Firlefanz Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Lady of the Land

Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 6984
Reply  Quote
Re: Hello!


Writers Victoria is not an author support group, even if they have a forum. It's a business, and they make money by having authors pay for their services.

(I have a coaching business for writers, but I still support people for free here and on Facebook.)

It would be worthwhile to resconsider your opinion about Facebook. There are dozens of groups where support is totally free (not always helpful), and some where you get business news first. It is also one place to market and find readers.



---
- Firlefanz

Mystical Adventures
Firle's Blog
Firle's Books
2/17/2018, 6:05 pm Link to this post Email Firlefanz   PM Firlefanz Blog
 
Talira Greycrest Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Troll in Chains

Registered: 01-2018
Location: Waterfall City, Dinotopia
Posts: 22
Reply  Quote
Re: Hello!


I can understand now why other authors don't want to read my work, they don't want to get in trouble for stealing or copying things that other people have written.

---
Breathe deep, seek peace
2/18/2018, 9:06 am Link to this post Email Talira Greycrest   PM Talira Greycrest Blog
 
Joxcenia Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Squire
Runboard staff member

Registered: 11-2005
Location: Whoosher House
Posts: 710
Reply  Quote
Re: Hello!


quote:

Talira Greycrest wrote:

I can understand now why other authors don't want to read my work, they don't want to get in trouble for stealing or copying things that other people have written.


Especially when they didn't steal or copy it. I had an idea for a novel that I didn't share with anyone, and Stephen King came out with a novel with the same exact idea. (Twin in the brain.) I got the idea from a "Ripley's Believe it or Not" episode. And I guess he did as well. His story is completely different from mine, but they both had that big reveal. (I've not read his book, nor seen the movie. Once I discovered he used my idea, I decided to avoid them should I try and finish mine. Once I've written mine, I'll read/watch his.) I was two-thirds of the way through the first draft. I may go back and finish it at some point. It isn't like there aren't other stories that all have the same ideas, but told very differently.



Or, perhaps Stephen King's idea came from this:



Plus, they could "copy/steal" without realizing they're doing it. I had a dream about a young woman who lived in a lab. She was used for 'parts' and as a 'surrogate' for her clone/twin. I turned the dream into a short story. Years later I realized that my dream came from an episode of "Sliders":

“My Brother's Keeper” - Season 4 Episode 19 - (Original airdate: 4/2/1999)
http://sliders.wikia.com/wiki/My_Brother%27s_Keeper

And then years after that I watched a movie with the same idea:

The Island - PG-13 - (2005)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399201/

I still may edit the story and finish it at some point to publish.




---

2/19/2018, 2:20 am Link to this post Email Joxcenia   PM Joxcenia Blog
 
tryingtowrite Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Knight

Registered: 03-2007
Posts: 1356
Reply  Quote
Re: Hello!


Welcome! Good luck with your publishing which ever route you choose.

---
I'd procrastinate now, but it would be easier tomorrow.
A fantasy tongue twister: Sputtering silver sliver Sphinxes spit splinters.
2/21/2018, 1:31 am Link to this post Email tryingtowrite   PM tryingtowrite
 


Add a reply





You are not logged in (login)