Monday, January 31, 2011
Revisions Again!
Once again, revisions, revisions, revisions. I really thought I had nailed THE VASE when I began submitting it to publishers. Now, on the verge of receiving professional edits, I decided to go through it again, from start to finish over the weekend, and I have made a lot more revisions than I thought I would have. Mostly words and sentences, but one or two paragraphs had to be completely revamped, to both sound better, and make better sense. I'm on page 223 out of 323 pages. So a hundred pages to go, and then the real editing begins!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Different Mode
Now that THE VASE is on track for publication, I will be in a different mode. Something I'm not really used to, but all writers will have to get used to it if they want to sell any of their books. I'm talking about marketing and promotion. I've never been a good salesman. I still remember when I was a kid I was asked to assist a friend in going door to door trying to sell newspaper subscriptions. Didn't sell a single one.
But with this media revolution of the computer and the internet, at least I won't be going door to door. It's the main reason I started this blog. For promotion. It's why I changed the name of the blog to THE VASE. I had a teacher's website already, and I'm promoting the book there, too. I have an author's website now on the Author's Den website, and I joined a Writer's Group.
It's kind of fun, come to think of it. That's about all I can do until the book is actually published and available for purchase. Then I'll link the purchasing sites, like Amazon or even the Virtual Tales site to the websites. I've already got Virtual Tales linked to my blog. I'll do what everyone else does and link it through the cover of the book.
Now there's another thought. What should the cover look like? I'm thinking I like the photo right here on my blog. I think that it would be a good cover, just by itself. Just a black and white photo of the vase with that same all black background - with a caption like the one I have there, or something similar. It works for me...
But with this media revolution of the computer and the internet, at least I won't be going door to door. It's the main reason I started this blog. For promotion. It's why I changed the name of the blog to THE VASE. I had a teacher's website already, and I'm promoting the book there, too. I have an author's website now on the Author's Den website, and I joined a Writer's Group.
It's kind of fun, come to think of it. That's about all I can do until the book is actually published and available for purchase. Then I'll link the purchasing sites, like Amazon or even the Virtual Tales site to the websites. I've already got Virtual Tales linked to my blog. I'll do what everyone else does and link it through the cover of the book.
Now there's another thought. What should the cover look like? I'm thinking I like the photo right here on my blog. I think that it would be a good cover, just by itself. Just a black and white photo of the vase with that same all black background - with a caption like the one I have there, or something similar. It works for me...
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Still Work Ahead
Now that an editor will be assigned to my book, THE VASE, I will be going through yet another round of revisions. I'm curious about that because I've gone through this manuscript literally dozens of times, revising and revising over and over again. But never with a professional editor involved. It will be interesting.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Gracious Publishers
I sent off the emails to the rest of the publishers who were considering my manuscript. All of them accepted the news with grace and wished me well. It just reminded me of how respectful people in publishing are. They congratulated me and expressed genuine good will toward me and my accomplishment of finding a publisher.
As I've found to be true in the teaching world, the publishing world is a wonderful bunch, and everyone involved has nothing but a willingness to be helpful to others who make their best effort in the business.
Of course I'm looking at it as a writer on the verge of publication. I will admit there was a spell early on when I felt less than encouraged. But that wasn't because of anyone cheating me. It was only a period of learning the ropes. That's true of any profession. You begin at the bottom and work your way up.
That's all.
As I've found to be true in the teaching world, the publishing world is a wonderful bunch, and everyone involved has nothing but a willingness to be helpful to others who make their best effort in the business.
Of course I'm looking at it as a writer on the verge of publication. I will admit there was a spell early on when I felt less than encouraged. But that wasn't because of anyone cheating me. It was only a period of learning the ropes. That's true of any profession. You begin at the bottom and work your way up.
That's all.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
New Look to Blog
I said in one of my earliest posts that when I signed a contract with a publisher to have one of my books published, I would change the name of my blog.
So today marks the beginning of a new era for me, because I am officially on the road to publication. It's no longer a blog in the bog, as I called it.
You may or may not remember that I originally named my blog The Swamp because I was in nowheresville in the publishing world. It's why I took on the handle Swampfox, which is an alias for an anonymous outcast. But I'm an outcast no more. Now that Virtual Tales has signed on to publish THE VASE, I have officially changed the name of my blog to THE VASE, and my name to who I am. Mr. D.
I figure to go with Mr. D. because I am a teacher after all, and my students might be reading this blog. Since they know me as Mr. D, well, that's who I am and who I will stay.
Welcome to THE VASE, and join me on my road to publication, as it is finally happening. I hope my fellow writers can share in this happy occasion, and find their own success, as well.
So today marks the beginning of a new era for me, because I am officially on the road to publication. It's no longer a blog in the bog, as I called it.
You may or may not remember that I originally named my blog The Swamp because I was in nowheresville in the publishing world. It's why I took on the handle Swampfox, which is an alias for an anonymous outcast. But I'm an outcast no more. Now that Virtual Tales has signed on to publish THE VASE, I have officially changed the name of my blog to THE VASE, and my name to who I am. Mr. D.
I figure to go with Mr. D. because I am a teacher after all, and my students might be reading this blog. Since they know me as Mr. D, well, that's who I am and who I will stay.
Welcome to THE VASE, and join me on my road to publication, as it is finally happening. I hope my fellow writers can share in this happy occasion, and find their own success, as well.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Premise for THE VASE
One of the points I made in my queries for THE VASE is that there is a completely unique and original idea incorporated in the storyline. But I have never said just what it is in my blog. So now that a contract is signed, and THE VASE is on the road to publication I will reveal just what is so original and unique about it.
My novel, THE VASE, features actual video recordings from antiquity! But how can that be, you may ask, since the technology of making recordings wasn't invented until the late 1800s, right?
Well, that’s right. Thomas Edison managed to record sound onto tin foil wrapped around a spinning cylinder. People my age remember our first experiences with like devices as spinning vinyl discs we called records. But spinning technology is nothing new. Potters make vases by spinning clay on what they call a throwing wheel, and it's been done since way back when. And a lot of those vases have grooves encircling them. Yeah, grooves like in vinyl disks.
Since the technology involves electromagnetic fluctuation, powered by electricity, does that mean in ancient times, it wasn't available? Certainly not, as we all know that Benjamin Franklin proved that electricity is a natural occurrence, and scientists also know that electromagnetic fluctuation is another natural phenomenon. With the greatest source of electromagnetism being the sun, and since magnetic storms have bombarded earth throughout history, my story includes a natural recording of events onto spinning vases during periods of unusual solar activity that penetrated our atmosphere.
It begins with the accidental release of an ancient recording during an unusual geomagnetic storm focused over the Middle East. Imagine the history that could be recorded onto spinning ceramic vases throughout time. It's the idea a few publishers found intriguing, and now Virtual Tales has bought in. Look for THE VASE soon.
My novel, THE VASE, features actual video recordings from antiquity! But how can that be, you may ask, since the technology of making recordings wasn't invented until the late 1800s, right?
Well, that’s right. Thomas Edison managed to record sound onto tin foil wrapped around a spinning cylinder. People my age remember our first experiences with like devices as spinning vinyl discs we called records. But spinning technology is nothing new. Potters make vases by spinning clay on what they call a throwing wheel, and it's been done since way back when. And a lot of those vases have grooves encircling them. Yeah, grooves like in vinyl disks.
Since the technology involves electromagnetic fluctuation, powered by electricity, does that mean in ancient times, it wasn't available? Certainly not, as we all know that Benjamin Franklin proved that electricity is a natural occurrence, and scientists also know that electromagnetic fluctuation is another natural phenomenon. With the greatest source of electromagnetism being the sun, and since magnetic storms have bombarded earth throughout history, my story includes a natural recording of events onto spinning vases during periods of unusual solar activity that penetrated our atmosphere.
It begins with the accidental release of an ancient recording during an unusual geomagnetic storm focused over the Middle East. Imagine the history that could be recorded onto spinning ceramic vases throughout time. It's the idea a few publishers found intriguing, and now Virtual Tales has bought in. Look for THE VASE soon.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Being Published
Being published is not the end all. That's why it's not wise to jump at the first contract that is offered. Hopefully, you did your homework before submitting to publishers in the first place. What I would recommend is to at least check the P & E site for any publisher to whom you are considering sending your manuscript and see what they have to say about them. If P & E does not recommend them, you can bet that they are not a publisher to whom you want to submit. When I was on my own submitting THE VASE, I systematically pored over that list on P & E and did not submit to any of the ones who were not recommended.
But, there is another factor. It's one that I was not too concerned about, but maybe I should be. The main reason, I believe, that publishers will not be recommended is because they are vanity publishers. You know, the Self-Publishers, the Subsidy Publishers, and any other type of publisher that charges the author fees to be published by them. Then there are the other types that don't call themselves that, but still they charge fees. They just mask those fees as some kind of charge that they justify for whatever reason.
The bottom line is that you don't want to pay to get published. Not even for editing, and not even for marketing. And this is the other factor. If you have to find your own editor, as I was asked to do with the first publisher who offered a contract, that is a red flag. And the next thing, and possibly a very sticky topic, is marketing. Most, and maybe even all of the small, independent publishers will require the author to have some kind of role in marketing his/her book. But if the publisher has a hand in it, too, at least you won't be on your own.
It's a team effort. Find out if the publisher has a marketing plan. Check their website and see if they have a marketing specialist on their staff. If they do, that is a good sign. Better yet, go to the bookstore and see if any of their books are on the shelves. That's the best sign of all.
But, there is another factor. It's one that I was not too concerned about, but maybe I should be. The main reason, I believe, that publishers will not be recommended is because they are vanity publishers. You know, the Self-Publishers, the Subsidy Publishers, and any other type of publisher that charges the author fees to be published by them. Then there are the other types that don't call themselves that, but still they charge fees. They just mask those fees as some kind of charge that they justify for whatever reason.
The bottom line is that you don't want to pay to get published. Not even for editing, and not even for marketing. And this is the other factor. If you have to find your own editor, as I was asked to do with the first publisher who offered a contract, that is a red flag. And the next thing, and possibly a very sticky topic, is marketing. Most, and maybe even all of the small, independent publishers will require the author to have some kind of role in marketing his/her book. But if the publisher has a hand in it, too, at least you won't be on your own.
It's a team effort. Find out if the publisher has a marketing plan. Check their website and see if they have a marketing specialist on their staff. If they do, that is a good sign. Better yet, go to the bookstore and see if any of their books are on the shelves. That's the best sign of all.
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