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Post by fingerscrossed on Nov 6, 2007 21:06:49 GMT
Hi all, Just wondering did anyone go to the writer's day in Pearse Street library last Saturday? I managed to drop in for a bit and was dying for a chat about a couple of the items, eg. the F-R-E-E writing method...
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Post by Shirley on Nov 6, 2007 21:09:27 GMT
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Post by fingerscrossed on Nov 7, 2007 10:42:36 GMT
Thanks Shirley, still trying to find my way around...
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Post by Shirley on Nov 7, 2007 12:51:51 GMT
There's a lot of info on this site alright! Great to have you here! You must tell us your experience of last Saturday when you have time.
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Post by katied on Nov 7, 2007 22:20:47 GMT
Check out my blog too. I wrote the day up!
I sent an email to Dublin City Libraries to say thanks for organising the great Writers' Day and they sent back the following.
<blockquote>We are planning to do another one next year - most likely the first Saturday in November. You may be interested in another couple of events we are planning - a session on crime writing and another on writing for children. These will be in Dublin but in association with the Verbal Arts Centre in Derry. The crime one will be at the end of January & the children's one in mid February. Dates are not finalised but keep an eye on our website as we will post the events there as soon as they are confirmed.</blockquote>
Kate
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Post by megan on Nov 7, 2007 22:36:38 GMT
FANTASTIC!!! Thanks Kate. And what a good idea to write and thank them. I will too.
I just read up the report on your blog. You took great notes on the day. There is great detail there.
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Post by fingerscrossed on Nov 8, 2007 20:08:09 GMT
Thanks Kate, I checked out your blog and finally found out what Patricia Deevy said at the start of her talk. The question that I was dying to ask but didn't have the courage to, was how come some first time writers can sell a book and get a huge advance on the basis of three chapters? I don't begrudge them, honest! It makes much more sense to me to cut my losses after three chapters and never finish if the story and writing are no good, but everyone in the industry says you have to finish the book first which makes no sense if it's not working. I think there's a secret parallel set of rules that aren't covered in the Writers And Artists. Eg. Any agent ever getting back to me about a manuscript they like, always makes contact usually by phone within a week. But everyone in the industry, including Patricia Deevy on Saturday says expect a long wait! Leah
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Post by Susanne O'Leary on Nov 9, 2007 8:36:43 GMT
I think you're right, Leah, there is a secret set of rules only publishers and agents know about. I think they sometimes 'smell' success in the mere idea of a story and are really sure that this will sell big time. In other cases, it's the author themselves who might be interesting, a celebrity or someone with an interesting job. The first three chapters might also be so sensational that they feel the rest will be a big seller and are prepared to give that author a lot of help with the writing/editing. But then the whole thing is not really about writing as we know it; the hard slog late into the night for many months, it's about marketing.
What sells a book? The cover, the blurb and where the book is exposed are usually the three most important things. Publishers have to offer big discounts to the bookshops to get promotions and prime exposure. A book that is lying at the back of the shop is not going to sell despite being the best written novel in the world. It's the buzz that matters and if they can create a buzz around a book, they have a seller.
I have never understood how the first three chapters of a first time writer can get such huge advances. But sometimes those stories are not true but a hype manufactured by publishers to create publicity.
In my own experience, My first two novels are not as good as my later ones and I feel I have learned a lot through writing and writing and writing and then editing, polishing and more editing and more polishing. I'm still learning and trying to improve. My next novel will probably win the Nobel prize (maybe before my son wins his Oscar)
Now to the long wait: this happens because everyone in the publishing house, from the editor to the sales team have to read it. Then they have a meeting to decide whether to make an offer. About six people have to read the book and air their opinion. And if the sales teamd don't think it will sell, they will oppose the publication.
It costs a lot of money to produce a book, the cover, the editing, the printing, the marketing all costs, not to mention the advance to the author and royalties. I don't know exactly how much it actually costs to produce and print, say 5000 copies of a novel (normal first print run in Ireland) but at guess it probably comes in at around 8000 euros. Then that has to be recovered and the book has to make at least five times that to make it worth while. Publishing is a business and a tough one and the people in that business have only one aim: to make money. Sorry to be so brutal, but that's the bottom line.
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Post by fingerscrossed on Nov 9, 2007 10:58:12 GMT
Thanks for that, Suzanne, it explains a lot. I listened to Eoin McHugh at the talk last week and found his honesty really refreshing. Books may be something magical for the readers and hopefully the writers, but to the publishers they're a clinical business. Sometimes after reading some of the really hugely hyped writers who've got massive advances I have become so perplexed trying to work out how they got it published at all! I don't mean to sound bitter, I'm just fed up trying and searching for the formula...
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Post by Susanne O'Leary on Nov 9, 2007 11:56:37 GMT
The problem is, once you find the formula, it changes. And your feelings are shared by thousands of great writesr who have to struggle like you (and me).
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