The next #sffchrons: Who decides what a book should be.

millymollymo

millymollymo

Automaton in disguise
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Is there anyone who'd like a soap box or spot of publicity for an hour who'd like to take part as a panelist alongside Alex Davis...?

Place: Twitter. (It's not scary) Planned date: 8-9pm on the 12th July

What a book should be: Well written. Yes. That's a given.
But we as writers write because...um.. we're insane? agents and publishers get involved for the money...no wait that's not right.
Agents do what they do because they love books and reading...
Publishers publish books because they like sharing stories with the world too.

Great. We should all be published.

But then...Money and that wretched marketing department.
'Well this is just the most awesome story, but we can't sell it.'

What's important to the reader, what's important to the writer appear to be the same thing.
If you've finished a novel, a story, a screen play or game narrative, what does it matter if it never sells?

As Jo has her hands full being super famous, I offered to 'run' an #sffchrons conveniently while she's away (She muttered something about being locked away in a cargo hold finishing the next book...)
Anywho.

Alex Davis has kindly been the first to answer the call for sacrifices...*ahem* panelists for this. Alex will have author, publisher and editor hats on, oh and and will just be getting over Edge-Lit so there is also the element of market awareness hat too. (No pressure Alex ;) )
 
Cheers - really looking forward to it! Best get all those hats lined up ready...
 
I am not really off being rich and famous, sadly. :) but I am on a lovely holiday so won't take part formally but, internet allowing, will try to drop past and say hi.

And thanks to Millymollymo for taking it on - I was utterly snowed under and not able to run it and glad to see someone else taking up the mantle for this one. :)

Any volunteers for a few others? ;)
 
Hi,

I'd love to, but I'm not on twitter, don't have a cell phone, don't text (don't get me started on how much I hate that whole thing), and my internet is dial up and works only when the farmer's electric fence across the road is off. I may be a bit anti-diluvian! Which reminds me - where'd I leave that old typewriter? Hammer and chisel?!!!

Cheers, Greg.
 
psychotick said:
Hi,

I'd love to, but I'm not on twitter, don't have a cell phone, don't text (don't get me started on how much I hate that whole thing), and my internet is dial up and works only when the farmer's electric fence across the road is off. I may be a bit anti-diluvian! Which reminds me - where'd I leave that old typewriter? Hammer and chisel?!!!

Cheers, Greg.
Click to expand...
Greg, I envy you. Oh the bliss of living without wifi and been contactable in all the places. To reach that level of inner calm I must resort to the almighty power of "Unplug". ;)
 
Jo Zebedee said:
I am not really off being rich and famous, sadly. :) but I am on a lovely holiday so won't take part formally but, internet allowing, will try to drop past and say hi.

And thanks to Millymollymo for taking it on - I was utterly snowed under and not able to run it and glad to see someone else taking up the mantle for this one. :)

Any volunteers for a few others? ;)
Click to expand...

you did such a splendid job getting the thing started.... Of course you deserve a holiday, oh almost-famous-and-may-one-day-be-super-rich-in-a-parallel-universe authoress. ;)
 
Hi Milly,

What inner calm? I don't text, twit or whatever else because I find it the most annoying, fruitless and utterly pointless activity on the face of the planet - and my thumbs are too damned big for the keyboard! I don't have a cell because I really don't want to be contacted by people when I'm out and about. I had to carry a cell for work and I utterly hated it. The damned thing rang all the time and my only release was pulling out the damned battery! As for broadband and wifi and all that crud, well I worked out how to use dial up, and now I simply don't want to have to learn something new!!!

No inner calm here! More like inner caveman!

Cheers, Greg.
 
Hmm. Is the discussion going to be focused on marketing stuff? Or more on the writing aspect?
 
Thad, as it's "writer" focused it's likely to be writery orientated. <- vague and ambiguous answer.
:D
Both elements are relevant, but as 'we' are all writers and I, as yet, don't know any career marketeers I suspect it will wander around the book / writing side. You can't write for the market, but perhaps more exploring the frustrations of that "good enough" ground. What should it matter if your book doesn't sell billions of copies? You wrote it. You like it. You should be proud you've written...several (in your case ;) ) Are we chasing a manufactured dream set up by marketing departments? Are you satisfied that you've written a beginning middle and end? Is that enough? Why should you keep submitting a novel to agents that only want to take a percentage of your blood sweat and tears?
Does the author decide "good's good." the editor you hired to get the agent? The Agent? The publisher sales team? The in house editor?

Is your story yours after the hired help, the 'make better because it won't sell unless...' the feedback from alphas, betas, and amazon critters have all had their say on the matter?

Is it still a good story then? Does it matter?
Who decides?
You? Or the money?
 
Not had anything published as yet, but if that's not an issue I'd be interested in being on the panel.
 
That's 8 to 9 p.m. in what time zone? I've never participated in a Twitter event before, so I'd like to try and contribute to the discussion if I can manage it.
 
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