Joe Konrath: Has He Changed Your Life Or Not

[Robin O'Neill]

I'm helping someone who's never been published, but has life credentials/education/ mad skills/unbelievable platform that puts her way out of the norm. She figured out how to write a query letter immediately. Today she started the agent quest for her fantasy novel (which is wonderful and lyrical). In a reasonable world, she'll get immediate representation. Is this a reasonable world?

It'll be interesting to see what happens. If everything tradpub works in her favor, the book doesn't come out for 2 years. If she does it herself, it comes out next week (holiday weekend here).

I'll take a cup of instant gratification--just add water.

Robin

[NickSpalding]

I think Joe's more of an inspiration to authors with a back catalogue they're willing to self publish as an indie - rather than to new writers with only one or two projects who are looking to become authors.

While I admire his candor and honest way he tells all about his own experiences at self publishing - I think he needs to be wary of pushing self publishing to everyone. He has an established brand and I think he needs to remind folks of that while singing the praises of going it indie. I can see many getting the false idea that they can match that kind of success with no brand name behind them and no back catalogue. His success stems from the base he'd already established as an author using the traditional route of publishing. To give the impression that anyone can achieve those kind of sales is erroneous, but that's just my opinion

[NickSpalding]

Originally Posted by M T McGuire

I have no agent, but I'm in the UK. There are about 10 here who are prepared to take on sci-fi or fantasy and since I'm not famous for anything else, I think it's realistic to assume that nobody is going to take a punt on my book but me.

I don't know much about Joe but I'm following the e-book route (mainly) so it sounds like I need to check him out. Big time!

The simple fact is: if a book is a fantastic commercial piece of fiction, an agent will take a punt on it. If it isn't, they won't.

I think this is something people forget every now and again when they talk about the publishing world

[P.A.Woodburn]

It is too early for me to know. I just published my first novel. I was going to try the traditional route then two things happened--my ex-husband died and I read Joe's blog. When my ex-husband died I thought, well really how much time do I have left? Then I read Joe's blog, and I thought maybe I can do something with Kindle.

I remember thinking about a month ago--I would just love Joe Konrath to buy a copy of my book because he's like Oprah if he mentions anyone's book their sales go up like crazy. Funny, I am published less than two weeks, and Joe has bought my book. I don't know if he'll ever read it or mention it, and I'm not losing sleep over it, but he did buy it.

He was doing a promotion and promised that if we bought his book he would buy ours. I bought his and sent him an e-mail saying he would have to wait because mine was not out yet. He did buy it when it came out a few days later. One goal accomplished!

Ann.

[Robin O'Neill]

I don't want my life to stop because and agent isn't "swept away" by the first page of my novel. And, increasingly, that's what an author is judged by these days, just a page.

Admittedly some writers aren't signed because they're not very good. But some are quite good but still don't fall into the parameters of the business model.

The new publishing model is the niche market. Joe's niche market was alive and impatient for content. Other niche markets may not have kindles yet, or they haven't coalesced, or they might not exist yet.

There are traditional milestone firsts that writers have always dreamed of. Your first agent. Your first acceptance letter, the first time you hold your galley, the first time you hold a hardcover, the first time you get a call from Disney or your book is sold for a movie. All very nice and growing increasingly elusive as the real world changes.

Ann's right. You could die at any time. The clock is ticking for everyone.

[NickSpalding]

Originally Posted by Robin O'Neill

But some are quite good but still don't fall into the parameters of the business model.

I'd argue that quite good just isn't good enough - you have to be very good.

Very good means people will buy it and that's all the business model agents and publishers need.

Yes, it's subjective as to how well it will sell, but that's the risk they take when they take on a new author.

And it's fantastic for Ann that Kindle self-publishing exists. She has exactly the right attitude to the venture.

[Robin O'Neill]

I'm not going to argue with you Nick. I think you're stating the common wisdom very accurately.

Happy Independence Day.

Robin

[Mary McDonald]

I had been considering e-publishing, and my querying wasn't going so well, so I began following Konrath's blog and learning all I could. When I sent my last batch of queries out, and realized after I sent them, that I almost hoped they'd all be rejections, I decided that I was ready to epublish. It wasn't just about control, it was finding out that many published books only stay on the shelves for a few months before being pulled if they aren't huge sellers right off the bat. It was a depressing fact. If that's the case, I'd rather keep control and try marketing my book on my own.

Without Konrath's blog though, I'm not sure I would have done it yet. I might have waited until fall.

I don't want my life to stop because and agent isn't "swept away" by the first page of my novel. And, increasingly, that's what an author is judged by these days, just a page.

Admittedly some writers aren't signed because they're not very good. But some are quite good but still don't fall into the parameters of the business model.

Exactly! I put my first page up on WeBook's Page to Fame Back in April. It was just now rated by an agent. (anonymously) Said that 'the writing was good, but that opening with a dead baby would turn off readers and publishers.' Only problem is that if he'd been able to read more, he'd have learned I didn't open with a dead baby. Just a baby in peril. Big difference.

[NickSpalding]

Originally Posted by Mary McDonald

Exactly! I put my first page up on WeBook's Page to Fame Back in April. It was just now rated by an agent. (anonymously) Said that 'the writing was good, but that opening with a dead baby would turn off readers and publishers.' Only problem is that if he'd been able to read more, he'd have learned I didn't open with a dead baby. Just a baby in peril. Big difference.

I'd make sure you include up to the bit where we find out the baby isn't dead in any other samples you provide...otherwise, the guy has a point!

[Robin O'Neill]

I wrote a novel. The editor at Berkley said it started too fast. The agent said it started too slow.

I've had 15 books published by mainstream publishers. I don't know how to make that fix.

Robin

[LeeGoldberg]

Robin,

Listen to your editor, not your agent.

Lee

[Robin O'Neill]

Lee, I don't make vast sweeping changes on anything without a contract otherwise they'll have you running in circles and after you're done they can decide it's not for them after all.

I have a mystery making the rounds now. Someone at the agency made several suggestions. Some I took, others pertaining to a certain character I didn't. They don't know where the series is going and the changes aren't appropriate in the long term. Sent the revisions in. The woman writes back saying she's delighted with the changes I made to the character. I didn't make any changes. They, for the most part, don't know.

Robin

[jaxx6166]

I've been following JA Konrath and Lee's experiment. It's pretty neat actually to see how everything deconstructs. He's not so much a life changer to me as an inspiring underdog tale.

And J, your cover copy is absolutely amazing. I love it. You've made it onto my list.

[guyanonymous]

Originally Posted by Robin O'Neill

The woman writes back saying she's delighted with the changes I made to the character. I didn't make any changes. They, for the most part, don't know.

It's those extra perks that the publishers provide that make their cut worth it... /s

[carld]

I hit Google to find out who you were talking about, fascinating blog. Here's the URL for anyone else who doesn't know it already.

A Newbie's Guide to Publishing