Writers Will Understand

 

Writer Dilemmas I Can Relate To

More Writer Problems

 

Writer Dilemmas

 

I Have a Dilemma, and I Need Honest Feedback

Back in 2006 when I initially wrote The Battle Lord's Lady, aka The Battle Lord Saga, within two years after that I knew I was going to make the book a series of at least 4 volumes, maybe 5. (There will be 5. This Battle Lord's Quest will be released on October 30th.)

In addition, I also planned on a spin-off, closed trilogy I was going to call The D'Jacques Dynasty. Each book would feature one of Yulen and Atty's children, and how they found love.


My dilemma?

Duck Dynasty, the television show.

My husband walked into my office the other day while I was going through some of my computer folders, and saw this logo. (It's not my "official" one. I have Ash Arceneaux designing me a nicer one.) Anyway, he started laughing and asked if I was naming it after the TV show. No matter what I said, or how much I tried to explain, he didn't believe me.

So I've been wondering...should I change the title of the trilogy? If you've read my Battle Lord books, you've seen where I've "hinted" about a D'Jacques Dynasty long before the TV show took root. Or should I keep the name?

Comments and suggestions are dearly wanted.  Thank you!

I Haz a Dilemma

I have this great idea for a story.  It's an erotic sci-fi romance.  The only problem is, it's a menage.  As Linda Mooney, all my books thus far have been straight m/f romances.  This new idea (and it's a humdinger) doesn't have m/m or f/f, but let's just say there's more than "one partner".

So here's my question.  Do I write it under Linda Mooney, or do I assume another pseudonym?

Frustration, Thy Name is Deadline

There are few things more frustrating than to have a deadline, and you can’t write because your day job leaves you totally brain fried at the end of the day.

Hope this dilemma ends soon.

The Self-Publishing Argument

At my writer's group on Saturday, we had a new member.  A young gentleman who was not yet published, but looking into it.  He had decided, after extensive study, to go the self-publishing route because he had developed a very low opinion of ALL publishers, e-pubs included.  To him, why pay a publisher to put out your book when you could do it yourself and keep all the money?

I know I personally am keeping a watchful eye on what happens with the "traditional" pubs, especially the Big Six, in this day and time.  With all the hoopla going on regarding industry standards and changes.  And I will also admit that my first two books were with Publish America - a decision I don't honestly regret except for the length of contract.  (Hey, my mindset was that I was a crappy writer after being told this countless times.  And PA didn't charge me to pub, so...)

Anyway, back to the argument at hand: 

He was touting iUniverse, and explaining that for $600 he could get (insert list of options I really didn't pay attention to.)  His take on traditional was so condescending, I stepped in and told him how I was with two e-pubs, who also provided POD, and it didn't cost me a penny to become published.  In fact, they pay me.

He proceeded to ask what my royalty percentages were.  I honestly told him around 35%.  To which he replied, "In that case, you ARE 'paying them' to be published."

My reply was that my publishers not only provide my book in many different formats, but they also place my books in other third party venues such as Amazon, B&N, etc.  He said he could do the same thing with his books, but it would cost him $.

"It doesn't cost me to be placed in Amazon, etc.," I told him.

"Yes, it does," he said.  "You pay your publisher 65% of your royalties to do it.  Same thing."

"But a publisher already has a built-in readership," I explained.  "It drives people to their website, which allows me the chance to hook a reader into buying my book.  Not to mention I get a great cover and edits."

"I can also make a cover and have someone check for grammar," he continued.

In short, I felt like I was in the middle of a no-win situation.  No matter how hard I tried to justify being a publisher, he had at least two more reasons why self-pubbing was better.  I've mulled over it for two days now, and that's why I'm mentioning it here.

We meet again next month, and I'm wondering if this will come up again.  If so, what can I say to him further?  I know of at least three authors who have left their pubs and gone independent, creating their own 'publishing houses' and putting their books out on ARe/OmniLit and Fictionwise.

Pros? Cons?  Ideas?

For the Love of Writing - An Author's Dilemma

I guess you could say the blog today is directed mostly to other authors.

I have a book that was out with another publisher for nearly a year. It was sold on their website, and on Fictionwise for about 8 months. All in all, I was told I had sold a total of 46 copies of it (although on FW I had 36 reviews for it before it was pulled.)

It's a perfectly good novel. It's a fantasy romance that reads like a medieval, but takes place on an alternate world, and runs around 88,000 words. But, like I said, it's been "exposed" for a year already.

Should I try submitting it to another publisher? Or should I self-publish it and put it up on my website?

Any suggestions? I would dearly love some insight.

Thanks!