PLEASE READ: info on publishers, queries, and agents.

Dragonchilde — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:26:02 -0700

Be sure and familiarize yourself with potential scams using sites like Writer Beware and Preditors and Editors. People do like to prey on writers, but the good news is that there is a whole army of people that are committed to fighting and stomping these scams into nonexistence. A word about copyrights: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58845 Short version: you don't have to pay money to get a copyright. NOW, on to the good stuff! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SELF PUBLISHING Amazon.com, one of our sponsors, has a self-publishing arm called CreateSpace.They have sponsored NaNoWriMo for several years, offering winners free proof copies of their novels. (No, we don't have details on whether that offer will be repeated this year - please don't ask. Information will be posted in Special Offers when it's available.) Here's the link: http://www.createspace.com One option is Lulu. It's free if you make your manuscript an E-book, and cheap if you want to hold a nice, shiny book in your hands. Here's the link: www.lulu.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ E-PUBLISHING I've looked around the web, and I haven't found a better source for info on E-publishers than Piers Anthony's site. Here's the link: http://www.hipiers.com/publishing.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SMALL PUBLISHERS Small publishers don't require that you have an agent or any prior sales. They are often open to submissions, and generally pay a decent commission but no advance. Here is a discussion of small, reputable publishers: Link: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42735 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LARGE PUBLISHERS To get a large publisher, you'll need to get an agent. To get an agent, you'll need to learn how to write a query letter. Here's a link on how to write a query: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59255 Here's a couple of sites where you can find reputable agents: http://www.agentquery.com/ http://www.querytracker.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TWO THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND BEFORE YOU SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE: (1) NEVER pay money to an agent or publisher. The only exception to this is when you are knowingly going through a self (or vanity) publisher. Even then, don't pay much. Money flows toward the author, not away. (2) GOOGLE your potential publisher/agent. Check them at Preditors and Editors, Hi Piers, and Absolute Write. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Best of luck, Wrimos!! Originally posted by The_McCalls on Nov 14, 2007 - 15:59

Re: PLEASE READ: info on publishers, queries, and agents.

Cutecat42 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 22:18:42 -0700

What exactly is a proof copy?

Re: PLEASE READ: info on publishers, queries, and agents.

Skgoa — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:04:24 -0700

A proof is a test print. It's a prototype, so you can make a last check for any errors (typos, formatting issues) before the actual print run begins.

Re: PLEASE READ: info on publishers, queries, and agents.

menard.ryan — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 07:06:36 -0800

Is there a way to use Createspace or Lulu to print only, without risking losing the ability to get an agent and publish through more traditional avenues later on?

lulu proof

anab — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:27:03 -0800

Yes there is. YOu just createa an account with them, upload your text following their instructions, choose a cover or create one again following their instructions, then order a copy to be sent to yourself.

Re: PLEASE READ: info on publishers, queries, and agents.

ceredonia — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 01:02:25 -0800

I FULLY support Lulu and would recommend them to ANYONE. I just discovered them a month ago, and used them to publish a huge fanfic my best friend and I wrote forever ago, and just gave it to her as a surprise gift. They do amazing work, and the site is really easy to use. Really afforable too, a 265-ish mass market paperback only cost me about $9, with a full-color cover. =D

Re: PLEASE READ: info on publishers, queries, and agents.

TulStig — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:02:41 -0800

Can I use the NaNoWriMo 'Winner' badge on the cover or inside my book?

Re: PLEASE READ: info on publishers, queries, and agents.

TulStig — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:03:20 -0800

[quote=TulStig] Can I sue the NaNoWriMo 'Winner' badge on the cover or inside my book? [/quote] OOps - should say 'USE' not sue...

Re: PLEASE READ: info on publishers, queries, and agents.

ReadySetWrite — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:53:37 -0800

I want to know the answer to this. I would love to have a little icon on my CreateSpace copy that says "Made with NaNoWriMo" or something like that.

Re: PLEASE READ: info on publishers, queries, and agents.

Dragonchilde — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:17:05 -0800

I'm honestly not sure. I'll have to ask!

Re: PLEASE READ: info on publishers, queries, and agents.

Dragonchilde — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:28:18 -0800

[quote=TulStig] Can I use the NaNoWriMo 'Winner' badge on the cover or inside my book? [/quote] You can use your winner badge anywhere you like. :) They're provided for your use and manipulation as needed.

Re: PLEASE READ: info on publishers, queries, and agents.

Dragonchilde — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:28:44 -0800

[quote=ReadySetWrite] I want to know the answer to this. I would love to have a little icon on my CreateSpace copy that says "Made with NaNoWriMo" or something like that. [/quote] Just to note, you can use the winner's badge, but you can't use our trademarked logo; that we have restrictions on, and it can't be used commercially. :)