Re: Erosion

In article <1144950393.050858.237400@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
obilon <lcgd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"I figured that you were more salesperson than writer. You just
confirmed it."

How in the world can you say something like that!!! Are you or were you
anything else besides a writer??? I am trained as a Graphic Designer
and an Advertising Designer and moved to Marketing and then Sales to
round out my experiences for my career.

I think you mistake Alma's point. It is becasue you
are--demonstably--someone who sells for a living, your approach
to many of the issues brought is much different than someone who
*isn't* in sales. It may surprise you to know that there are
people, who if faced with a choice between a sales job and
starvation, would probably shoose starvation as it would be less
stressful than starving while trying to sell. This is not to
denigrate salesmen, it is merely to point out that it is a job
specialty that is not for everyone--and that includes a goodly
proportion of writers.

Consider that writing is, by and large, a solitary activity and that
sales is, almost by definition one that involves trying to persuade
strangers to do something that might well otherwise have no interest
in doing. The presonality types in each area are likely to have
minimal overlap. This doesn't mean that someone with the talent,
skill and interest to write can't also have talent, skill and
interest in selling--you are an obvious example of someone who
strives to do both--but it should be no surprise that most
practioners of one or the other are likely to have little interest
in the other field.

Although I choose to work for a
living because I have a fmaily to support doesn't mean I am MORE a
SALESPERSON than a Writer. I see what type of gropup this is and I have
ideas that buck conventional wisdom.

There is a truism in thsi group that there are "nine and sixty ways"
of writing, and 'every one of them is right". It's an adaptation
from Kipling. You are suing a marketing method that may work for
you. If you are happy with your sales, then it's working. That
doesn't mean that it will work for any other given writer, nor does
it mean that it will work *on* *average* for writers in the
abstract. The 'received wisdom' is derived from the experiences of
many people about what works *on* *average*. Taht makes it a good
place to start, and things that don't work that way should be
examined carefully as there are known pitfalls that can be avoided.

Believe me, if it was all about
just simply writing the best book you can and then shopping it to death
around the agents and publishers then I'd be happy to do that but this
modern world is different and epublishing, audio publishing on the web
and the new model of POD where you can distribute on Amazon.com and go
to bookstores with a product is phonomenal.

AS people have noted...it's *not* a new model. It's been around
several years. It may be 'steam engine time' for this model, or it
may not. If you can make it work, your experience in just *how* you
make it work will be useful. If it fails for you (which is what
'received wisdom' predicts), then we will know the time is not ripe
for a massive paradigm shift in publishing. The make-or-break will
probably be if you can sell as amny copies as the typical first
novel froma traditional publisher and make as much money as the
typical advance for a first novel--and you really should subtract
the value of your time to doing the promotion from income side of
that calculation. For "phenomonal success" you'll need to do as
well as novel that earns out it's advance several times over.

I am not talking about
writing a book that is poorly written, unedited or unread but a
well-written book. A product to be proud of and the first consideration
is a good story. Perhaps not the best sellers you are writing (though I
don't know you and haven't seen you on the best seller list yet!)

The critical difference here is that a traditionally publsihed book
has been edited by someone other than the author. nearly 8every*
author thinks his own work is well written and good story. The acid
test is: what do other people think? In traditional publishing, you
can be sure that an editor liked the book enough to convince the
company he works for that the books is good enough that they can
make a profit selling it. This may not be very good in any critical
or even quasi-objective sense, but it does provide a reasonable
assurance that it's not complete and utter dreck.

Are there truly great works that have never been published becasue
no onne would buy them for publication? It is virtually certain
that this is so. Are there truly awful books that have been
publsihed? Without a doubt, yes. However, on average, books that
get pubslished are better than books that don't. part of the reason
for this is the vetting and editting process. Cut those out and the
odds of finding readable books drops. Get a chance to talk to an
editor some time and ask about the slush pile....

I was
listening to Robert Reford on NPR talking about how he bucked
conventional wisdom to open Sundance in Colorodo. He made a go of his
career by bucking conventional wisdom and it just confirmed what I am
doing. I wish I could have a construtive dialogue on writing and POD
but you all seem to just want to shoot it down because you have all
"been there, done that." I hope you don't miss out on the next big
thing for authors because it good just help your career,

Now this is just silly. It's like the old joke that the sure way to
make a million dollars in the stock market is to start with two
million. *If* you're famous to start with and have a lot of money,
you can afford to take a risk on an untried idea. I would point out
that it worked for Walt Disney, too. I don't follow Hollywood
personalities, but I've heard of Redford. If I heard he was
involved in some project, I might investigate to see if I was
interested. If I hear that some complete unknown is on some
project, there is no corresponding reason to look into it.

--
Hal Heydt
Albany, CA

My dime, my opinions.


.

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