Crowdfunding.

[anthorn]

Has anyone here heard of Inkshare, Publishizer, and the like? What are they like? Are they just another form of vanity publishing where instead of putting up the money yourself you get other people to do it?

I'm curious and very interested in what Publishizer seem to be offering, but I don't want to risk my chances with publishing houses like Orbit or Tor, and I think this might do that. They say they have publishers interested in the works on their site, but they don't say which ones. The most likely thing is that they're more indie publishers rather than larger ones. And what happens when you've reached your goal? You're just going to have to publish on Amazon anyway, right?

 

[aThenian]

Has anyone here heard of Inkshare, Publishizer, and the like?

I don't know about them, but have been wondering about Unbound, which now has a digital list - if anyone knows anything about them.

Crowdfunding generally seems to be easier if you have a reputation somewhere already - i.e. an existing network/community you an tap into, or if you are doing a non-fiction project where you are likely to tap into a group of people interested in that subject. Difficult for new fiction I reckon. On the other hand, whichever route its hard creating an audience for new fiction.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Crowdfunding generally seems to be easier if you have a reputation somewhere already

IMO Really it's for products, not creative works. I'd go for it to get a gadget launched, never to pay for getting book edited or a film made, I think that's almost false.

 

[Lex E. Darion]

There was another thread where Inkshare was talked about - @Jo Zebedee posted a link to a forum discussing them (apologies to Jo if it wasn't you, and have no idea where the thread was!)

 

[aThenian]

IMO Really it's for products, not creative works. I'd go for it to get a gadget launched, never to pay for getting book edited or a film made, I think that's almost false.

I don't see why it's false? Films and books needs funding, and some people are happy to get involved in funding them. Hopefully it means a wider range of voices are heard. Better than leaving it all to Hollywood/the big publishers?

 

[anthorn]

I'm kind of unsure if I'll do this. I think I might because it's all going to end up on Amazon anyway, and I can't really afford to have a professional cover or editing done.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

I don't see why it's false? Films and books needs funding, and some people are happy to get involved in funding them

Book Publishing: maybe (very much maybe), but perhaps selling an eBook copy and promising a free upgrade to Professional Edited version if X copies sold is more honest than tradition "crowdfunding". Never to write a book or have one edited or cover produced.

Film Production: If the script, story boards, director, producer and short concept trailer video etc made public. Not to write a screenplay or make a trailer.

Otherwise it's vulnerable to fake snake oil salesmen.

On reputable "crowd funding" / "kick starter" sites there has to be a prototype gadget (way more expensive than self publish & professional edit costs) AND a video (just as expensive as trailer for a film).

The more I think about it, less justification I can see for crowd-funding a book (even the publishing), play script or film. There is SOME argument in favour of "crowd funding" the PRODUCTION of a Play or Film, if the creative content is fully and freely published FIRST (that gives nothing away actually).

 

[Ray McCarthy]

and I can't really afford to have a professional cover or editing done.

It's about equivalent to what the majority of Pay TV users pay to Sky or Virgin in a Year. You need to be as poor and unemployed as me to not be able to afford those and even I probably will get both done for one title this year. If it's any good, it will pay for edit/proof/ cover for about 10 more of my stories.