A 21st Century version of the Algonquin?

That meme was posted on Facebook a few days ago (Monday, Jan. 1, 2022. What evolved was a conversation among several people about writing and publishing in the new era. It seems interesting enough to share. Due to the vagaries of commenting on that platform, some of the comments are out of order, my apologies.

Carole Trombetta Thoresen

Which one are you, Tim?

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  Tim Jones

  knowing inDesign you are a step ahead of the others already.. I've always thought there's a good reason most of those are self-published.

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  Tim Jones

  It seems more difficult to get an agent than it used to be to find a publisher. Puitzerr Prize winners have been rejected 11 times "Ironweed." Last great race 13 times. I am working on a novel now that I think would be very difficult to find an agent or publisher for. I have looked seriously at the self-publishing offers in Amazon and Apple. One thing I did was send my three best chapters along with the materials you are talking about. Also, small regional publishers. Queries and proposals don't mean much from an unpublished author.

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  Tim Jones

  Carole Somewhere between 2 and 3 I think. One of the joys of writing fiction is once in a while a character will get up and go a direction you never expected. The last time it happened a new character showed up and did some free style rapping. All part of a plot evolving as you go along toward the vague Idea you have for an ending.

  

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• Carole Trombetta Thoresen

  I thought that’s what you’d say. I am friends with several authors, most of whom have no idea where their stories are headed until they get there. It’s certainly an interesting way to write, but since I can’t write a word anyway, and with my personality, I find it difficult to imagine.

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• Betty Sederquist

  Carole Trombetta Thoresen I’ve found the same thing. A character who took over, but then I took most that part of the story out after comments from several of my reviewers.

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  Tim Jones

  Betty, the serious writing happens in the rewriting.

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• Betty Sederquist

  Tim Jones I have completely rewritten my "little" 125,000-word Gold Rush historical novel three times now. I think I have a good book, and it's been edited by several friends, fact-checked by a team of people. I've been trying to find an agent, sending out queries and proposals and not even getting ANY kind of reply. So frustrating. Ideas are welcome.

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• Betty Sederquist

  Tim Jones Yes, publishers can be such sheep, especially in New York. For example, look at mega sellers like Fame of Thrones and all the clones that have followed. I’m sure the New York group considers Alaska a distant foreign country. I’m sure most of them think of the Gold Rush in tired cliches, if they know anything about it at all. I read somewhere that publishers want a book that can be described in a 30 second sound bite so sales staff can market the book efficiently. I too have considered the Amazon route, but marketing and distribution need to happen. Sometimes that’s harder than writing the book. I have a friend who writes erotic fantasy romances (quite the niche, ha ha), couldn’t get published, and took the online route 20 years ago, was selling gobs of books. THEN publishers took notice. She’s been incredibly successful.

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• Betty Sederquist

  Tim Jones And… in my many rewrites I keep hearing you tell me, show, don’t tell. One of the best pieces of writing advice ever.

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  Tim Jones

  Betty One new thing for us, marketing? Yes. But distribution is not a problem with digital publishing.

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  Tim Jones

  Betty I need too listen to my own advice. LOL

  

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  Tim Jones

  Betty As far as your friend goes, that seems to be the most hopeful route. Also I am sure Hollywood scans new books as well. I got a query from someone movie connected about a year ago about Last Great Race. Judging by the quality of TV shows and movies and remakes and sequels, they must be screaming for good stories.

  
  

  

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• Betty Sederquist

  Tim Jones Unfortunately, I think millions of self published books are online. Most of them are drivel. The trick is to rise to the top of the search engines. There some how to books on this. I’m thinking of doing a limited print run, selling locally. (I have a fairly big following.) Also important to get your ISBN. That gets the book into libraries. Fortunately I know InDesign page layout software pretty well.

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  Gretchen Small

  Tim Jones this makes.me.so.sad. i know there are so.many awesome unpublished authors....at the same time at least half the books i buy, i abandon before halfway 'cause it.is garbage.writing. it is similar to the problem that led.me.to shitcan my art.career after years and years of fighting the marketing system that promotes slick junk and blackballs anything that might have deep.content. but i think visual.art is easier.to eke by on.... writing is too all.or.nothing. totally sucks and i.can't see.the world getting any less brainwashed to let the industry tell them.what.they should.like. so i.sit.out here in the woods and paint what my soul sees.... occasionally give paintings away to people who "get it".... the rest will.pile up until i am ready for my oil.paint-fueled funeral byre. as.to.you wordsmiths....i wish we lived in a saner, less "matrix" stupid society...

  

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  Tim Jones

  Gretchen Small Like you, I write mostly for my own pleasure these days.

  

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  Tim Jones

  Gretchen I found (and saw your example) the joy is in the writing itself, not the possibility of publishing or riches or movie deals and best seller lists. Actually sitting down to the process, immersed in it. overshadows everything else.

  

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• Betty Sederquist

  Small regional publishers might work. Get a good track record there and maybe the big publishers might notice.

  

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• Betty Sederquist

  Tim Jones Very cool about Last Great Race. Actually there are some really good intelligent movies on Netflix and Prime.

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