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Hi there, just joined and need some quick advice! (In: Members Lounge)
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leelee700
Joined: Oct 09, 2006
# Posts: 50
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Posted: 2007-Jun-03 17:31
Hi everyone. Wondering if I can get some advice? OK, here's my question:
I spent around a year and a half writing a book. It's a book in the traditional sense and I planned to get it sold to a traditional book publisher (not self publishing, but a real publisher that pays advances and commissions) and become a published author. After finishing the book, I sent it out to a couple of agents and they were not interested. Now, I realize that I haven't even scratched the surface as far as promoting the book and sending it out to agents or publishers, but the thought struck me that it might be a better idea to convert the entire book to a website or add to an existing website. I figure I can create about 600 web pages if I convert the book into HTML pages.
With that much content, the website would do well in the search engines and probably have a good chance of earning some nice ad revenue (maybe google adsense). So what would you guys do? Convert to website or continue and try to get it the book published in the traditional sense?
THanks.
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JQ
Staff
Joined: Mar 11, 2001
# Posts: 2755
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Posted: 2007-Jun-03 19:12
What is the book about? If it's a fiction novel, I'd say no. But if it has a focused topic that people would actually search for, then it might work.
If you put the entire thing on the web, then I think you'd lose any chance of getting a publisher. And if you're already giving it away, who'd want to buy it?
Another alternative would be to put up enough for the site to be useful to people (not just an advert) that would entice them to want to buy the book. You could hook up with one of those on-demand publishers to sell copies at no risk to you (e.g., no up front costs and no inventory to manage).
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SportsGuy
Staff
Joined: Aug 30, 2002
# Posts: 3600
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Posted: 2007-Jun-04 19:24
Hey leelee, I'll share some thoughts with you, too. 
JQ's questions and observations are spot on.
I'll add some direct experience to the mix.
About a year ago I was in the same boat - had all this content I'd created and wondered what to do with it. I asked a friend for some advice as was told, basically, anyone can publish an ebook, but to get a published book, well, you're seen of more as an expert in your field. (I cleaned it up a smidge.  )
So, not knowing any better, I went for a book deal - and landed one.
Now, it took along time to come to be real - like a year plus.
...and since I was an unknown author on my first project, I ended up getting paired with a previously published author, so the book is in both names. Not sure I'd ever do that again, but we live and learn.
It's critical that you get a book agent first and foremost. They are your connection to the publishers. Though publishers sometimes list contact sheets for you to submit your ideas direct to them, they prefer working through agents.
Now, both the agent and the publisher will ask for samples of your work, and you'll have to do some work outlining the segment your book will occupy and likely competitors. Don't be afraid to list competitors, either - it's often a sign that the segment is busy and that's a good thing.
Don't get discouraged by the time it'll take. The book world is old-school. They believe in mailing things, as opposed to e-mail, they remain mostly silent and while you might question the need for an agent and hate the idea of them keeping 15% of everything, within three months of meeting my agent, I was asked to consider writing another book.
Self publishing, IMO, isn't as glamorous as it first seems. You're on the hook to get everything sorted out, you're on the hook to pay for the print run (many companies have minimum orders) and you're on the hook to inventory, sell and ship each book.
In the end, I'd only do a couple things differently, but they were live-and-learn type things. Don't give up hope with book agents, either - you only need one.
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flyingrose
Staff
Joined: Oct 30, 2003
# Posts: 3361
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Posted: 2007-Jun-05 08:07
Ok, Duane, so knowing what you know now would you still go for the long-term benefits of having it published as a printed book or would you go with the faster and possibly more financially lucrative (the book itself - not the potential increase in your credibility) of selling it as an e-book?
Would you be interested in sharing what your enhanced experience reveal as the pros and cons of physical book versus e-book?
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SportsGuy
Staff
Joined: Aug 30, 2002
# Posts: 3600
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Posted: 2007-Jun-06 01:38
Ok, Duane, so knowing what you know now would you still go for the long-term benefits of having it published as a printed book or would you go with the faster and possibly more financially lucrative (the book itself - not the potential increase in your credibility) of selling it as an e-book?
Would you be interested in sharing what your enhanced experience reveal as the pros and cons of physical book versus e-book?
Well, this will be a bit one sided, but here goes.
As of right now, I'd definitely go the printed book route myself.
Now, to temper that, I've not ever tried selling an ebook. In fact, there are so many out there for free that I feel it'd be a bit hit or miss whether you'd be financially successful selling an ebook.
Plus, it's hard to discount the pull of involving many other webmasters, brand names and products in your printed publication. The contacts the process brings, and the eventual spin off benefit of trading exposure for exposure may well be immense.
Though I've only seen one side of this equation, and even that is limited (haven't seen any sales yet), I'm still firmly in the camp of the published product sold through mainstream outlets.
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