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Bass-ackwards into the unknown!
Sep. 13th, 2006 07:53 pm
Well, after a decade of being ignored and abused by editors (and yes, Bax, I know they don't MEAN to) I've decided to say chuck it and self-publish.
Actually, I decided this almost a year ago. But I'm slow to start things, and AFRAID about putting my writings out where anyone can see them, and also there are a number of things I've been waiting for, that are stuck on center, not moving-- so I'm going to have to work around or something.
The first step was reformatting Books 1 and 2 in some format more reasonable to send to the Copyright Office. On my next free workday I'm going to drop the files off at the local office supply place and have them print copies for me. Then it's off to copyright. In the past I ran all my copies on my own laser printer, but (for obvious reasons) it's clapped out by now. Rather than try to hand-feed it through all those pages, or buy a new printer and destroy that right off, I'm just going to pay to have it done.
The second step is contacting someone to do the cover art. I'm going to go with Susan Van Camp if I can afford her- and I probably can; she's above fan art prices but not much.
I might have Ms. Van Camp do the whole cover to my design, or not. I'm not sure about that yet.
Once those steps are done, I can put together Books 1 and 2 on Lulu.com and have them ready to go.
Then I need a website- actually, I'd like to have one now, to get started. I intend to put the individual chapters out there under a Creative Commons License, meaning.. well, read up on it if you're interested. What it means is that the individual chapters will be free. Full downloads from Lulu will be cheap, and the hardcopy will also be available there.
I'm probably being stupid putting the chapters out for free. I don't know; comments on that appreciated. Of course it would be trivial for somebody to pirate them, but I don't care; I want readers more than I want sales. Besides, those who like it will want the hardcopy, I think.
I figure by making it so blatantly easy to pirate, nobody will want to. Why should they?
Of course lots of people make their money by selling free government publications and services, too. That action I would come down on if I could; you can have it free, but no selling. Seems fair, to me anyway.
Actually, I decided this almost a year ago. But I'm slow to start things, and AFRAID about putting my writings out where anyone can see them, and also there are a number of things I've been waiting for, that are stuck on center, not moving-- so I'm going to have to work around or something.
The first step was reformatting Books 1 and 2 in some format more reasonable to send to the Copyright Office. On my next free workday I'm going to drop the files off at the local office supply place and have them print copies for me. Then it's off to copyright. In the past I ran all my copies on my own laser printer, but (for obvious reasons) it's clapped out by now. Rather than try to hand-feed it through all those pages, or buy a new printer and destroy that right off, I'm just going to pay to have it done.
The second step is contacting someone to do the cover art. I'm going to go with Susan Van Camp if I can afford her- and I probably can; she's above fan art prices but not much.
I might have Ms. Van Camp do the whole cover to my design, or not. I'm not sure about that yet.
Once those steps are done, I can put together Books 1 and 2 on Lulu.com and have them ready to go.
Then I need a website- actually, I'd like to have one now, to get started. I intend to put the individual chapters out there under a Creative Commons License, meaning.. well, read up on it if you're interested. What it means is that the individual chapters will be free. Full downloads from Lulu will be cheap, and the hardcopy will also be available there.
I'm probably being stupid putting the chapters out for free. I don't know; comments on that appreciated. Of course it would be trivial for somebody to pirate them, but I don't care; I want readers more than I want sales. Besides, those who like it will want the hardcopy, I think.
I figure by making it so blatantly easy to pirate, nobody will want to. Why should they?
Of course lots of people make their money by selling free government publications and services, too. That action I would come down on if I could; you can have it free, but no selling. Seems fair, to me anyway.
