Charles Atkins's Blog - Posts Tagged "e-publish"
Let's E-Publish a Book: Step One: Deciding what to Publish
Let's E-Publish a Book
Step One: Deciding what to Publish
By Charles Atkins
Every journey begins with a step...at some point I'll Google that and find out who said it. But here's the journey...or at least the goal. I've decided to e-publish a book, and to recreate myself...a part of myself?...as a writer of urban fantasy. To start, I've been very fortunate in my writing career. No, I'm not a best seller, but I've had quite a few books published. This is a big deal, in the passing age of publishing with its crushing rejection, where getting an agent and a book deal(s) were hurdles that many authors were never able to clear.
This is all changing, perhaps it already has. With the radical shift in the publishing paradigm from 'few can get published, to everyone and their granny can get e-published' it's time to rethink my life as an author, what I want to write and how I'm going to get it to readers. So, the journey starts. I may take some short cuts, but I know I'm not the only one figuring this stuff out.
Here's the plan. And yes, I find it's good to map these things out, like writing an outline for a new novel. The plan may go to pieces, and the steps taken can diverge wildly from what was intended. Still, a map is a nice way to get started.
Step 1. Decide what I'm going to publish:
I've got a few ideas on this one, but two books that aren't far from being publishable spring to mind. First is a Faustian tale of a young doctor who creates a pill that alleviates all human suffering. Sadly, it comes at a cost and the devil--yes, Lucifer himself--will have his due. The other is a lovely--albeit meandering multi-generational saga where once a generation a child is born with the ability to heal. It often doesn't go well for that child as the book dips in and out of a beautiful fantasy realm based on Gypsy--and other--folklore. Those are the two front runners. And clearly where I'm taking some serious short cuts--I've got a couple books ready or near-ready to go.
Choice A, entitled--GO TO HELL--is essentially ready. It's with my agent and has received quite a bit of rejection. That said, the rejection has been strangely positive. One editor wrote back, "if this had been ten years earlier my answer would have been different." Other comments have been similar, no form letters saying thanks but no thanks. All thoughtful responses about why they're hesitant to give the green light. At the end of the day it's because they're not certain the book will make money. People are nervous and publishing books--at least the old way with paper and ink--is expensive. E-publishing--at least in my naive head state is cheap, just format, post and publicize. For the sake of these blog pieces I'll be meticulous about actual costs.
Choice B--My multi-generational sage will require a rewrite. I've written and rewritten this one so many times, I just need to pull my head around two ways it can go, commit to one and haul my butt through its many pages to smooth and tighten--about a month's work...maybe two.
I've a third choice as well, but this book is not yet written and I just finished a fifty--or so--page outline, which needs lots of work.
Clearly, the easiest is to go with
Choice A. Yes, baby has just taken his first step. I'm going to e-publish GO TO HELL. Now what?
Step One: Deciding what to Publish
By Charles Atkins
Every journey begins with a step...at some point I'll Google that and find out who said it. But here's the journey...or at least the goal. I've decided to e-publish a book, and to recreate myself...a part of myself?...as a writer of urban fantasy. To start, I've been very fortunate in my writing career. No, I'm not a best seller, but I've had quite a few books published. This is a big deal, in the passing age of publishing with its crushing rejection, where getting an agent and a book deal(s) were hurdles that many authors were never able to clear.
This is all changing, perhaps it already has. With the radical shift in the publishing paradigm from 'few can get published, to everyone and their granny can get e-published' it's time to rethink my life as an author, what I want to write and how I'm going to get it to readers. So, the journey starts. I may take some short cuts, but I know I'm not the only one figuring this stuff out.
Here's the plan. And yes, I find it's good to map these things out, like writing an outline for a new novel. The plan may go to pieces, and the steps taken can diverge wildly from what was intended. Still, a map is a nice way to get started.
Step 1. Decide what I'm going to publish:
I've got a few ideas on this one, but two books that aren't far from being publishable spring to mind. First is a Faustian tale of a young doctor who creates a pill that alleviates all human suffering. Sadly, it comes at a cost and the devil--yes, Lucifer himself--will have his due. The other is a lovely--albeit meandering multi-generational saga where once a generation a child is born with the ability to heal. It often doesn't go well for that child as the book dips in and out of a beautiful fantasy realm based on Gypsy--and other--folklore. Those are the two front runners. And clearly where I'm taking some serious short cuts--I've got a couple books ready or near-ready to go.
Choice A, entitled--GO TO HELL--is essentially ready. It's with my agent and has received quite a bit of rejection. That said, the rejection has been strangely positive. One editor wrote back, "if this had been ten years earlier my answer would have been different." Other comments have been similar, no form letters saying thanks but no thanks. All thoughtful responses about why they're hesitant to give the green light. At the end of the day it's because they're not certain the book will make money. People are nervous and publishing books--at least the old way with paper and ink--is expensive. E-publishing--at least in my naive head state is cheap, just format, post and publicize. For the sake of these blog pieces I'll be meticulous about actual costs.
Choice B--My multi-generational sage will require a rewrite. I've written and rewritten this one so many times, I just need to pull my head around two ways it can go, commit to one and haul my butt through its many pages to smooth and tighten--about a month's work...maybe two.
I've a third choice as well, but this book is not yet written and I just finished a fifty--or so--page outline, which needs lots of work.
Clearly, the easiest is to go with
Choice A. Yes, baby has just taken his first step. I'm going to e-publish GO TO HELL. Now what?
Let's E-Publish a Book Step Two: My New Name
Okay, I've decided to E-Publish my novel GO TO HELL, a just-written urban fantasy. My next thought is to do this under a pen name.
Why?
Here goes, first this book is a new genre for me--urban fantasy. GO TO HELL is a Faustian tale with a variety of supernatural beings, including Lucifer and a sexy pair of succubae. It's quite a departure from my previous real-world mysteries and thrillers.
I've also done a couple non-fiction books where I--or probably the publisher--decided to leave the MD at the end of my name. Charles Atkins, MD made perfect sense for books on Bipolar Disorder, Alzheimer's and Dementia. And Charles Atkins was fine for mysteries and thrillers. Also, back in the day (some time last month) when thinking about bookstore shelving was important, having a name begin with A was good.
But first let's be frank...or Sheila, or Harry, there are other reasons for me to pick a nom de plume. They all apply to varying degrees. Charles Atkins is not a bestseller. This does matter in the world of publishing. It's tremendously important in traditional publishing where your advance, and whether or not someone is even willing to take a risk on your next book has everything to do with your sales numbers. So even if I weren't looking to e-publish it's not unusual for a mid-list author to pick a new name in an effort to re-start a career. Like wiping the slate clean. Sure, Charles Atkins isn't a best seller, but maybe Germaine Floxbottom will be.
Next, there's the matter of the content of the new book. While primarily an entertaining read; it's also a parable and contains quite a bit of social commentary. GO TO HELL is a fun look at the whorish nature of the relationship between physicians and the drug companies. It's the story of a doctor selling out the human race for profit. In his case, it's with the best of intentions, but the result is the same. In truth, doctors are heavily influenced by the big pharmaceutical companies. Ethical boundaries are crossed and no one seems to notice, or if they do, it's rapidly dismissed with--"it's in the patient's best interest" or "just because I go to the free dinner, sporting event, show...Caribbean cruise loosely disguised as a continuing education event, doesn't mean my medical decisions are being influenced". Right, so what does this have to do with my name? While a smaller point, I do think the book's content can create a distraction for my day job. And so the nom-de-plume offers a separation between me the author and me the doctor.
I don't see a tremendous downside to using a pen name. I guess you don't get the same ego rush from seeing your name on the book jacket--or whatever it's now called on an e-book. I think that's a small thing. And yes, there is something to be said for your grandmother leaving copies of your book scattered around her apartment for all her friends to see, but I've had that experience. It was great. It's time to move on.
And now to pick the new name. Some have recommended I go with an anagram of Charles Atkins. Unfortunately Larches Skinta, Carl Shetkains, Harel Catskins etc aren't doing it for me. So...what I've chosen is an amalgam of family names. My Dad's in particular. He doesn't use his first name--Jaspard. I think it's rather groovy, and for urban fantasy it's got a slightly freakish edge. So I'm taking Jaspard and combining it with my mother's maiden name--Marks. There we go, I'm now a new person, or at least a new author or...whatever. GO TO HELL by Jaspard Marks, that should work.
As a psychiatrist I don't want to over think what it means to rename yourself. Or worse still, split myself into two people. Maybe a better context is to think of this as starting a new business or product line. There's Charles Atkins, Charles Atkins, MD, and now--new for 2012--Jaspard Marks.
Why?
Here goes, first this book is a new genre for me--urban fantasy. GO TO HELL is a Faustian tale with a variety of supernatural beings, including Lucifer and a sexy pair of succubae. It's quite a departure from my previous real-world mysteries and thrillers.
I've also done a couple non-fiction books where I--or probably the publisher--decided to leave the MD at the end of my name. Charles Atkins, MD made perfect sense for books on Bipolar Disorder, Alzheimer's and Dementia. And Charles Atkins was fine for mysteries and thrillers. Also, back in the day (some time last month) when thinking about bookstore shelving was important, having a name begin with A was good.
But first let's be frank...or Sheila, or Harry, there are other reasons for me to pick a nom de plume. They all apply to varying degrees. Charles Atkins is not a bestseller. This does matter in the world of publishing. It's tremendously important in traditional publishing where your advance, and whether or not someone is even willing to take a risk on your next book has everything to do with your sales numbers. So even if I weren't looking to e-publish it's not unusual for a mid-list author to pick a new name in an effort to re-start a career. Like wiping the slate clean. Sure, Charles Atkins isn't a best seller, but maybe Germaine Floxbottom will be.
Next, there's the matter of the content of the new book. While primarily an entertaining read; it's also a parable and contains quite a bit of social commentary. GO TO HELL is a fun look at the whorish nature of the relationship between physicians and the drug companies. It's the story of a doctor selling out the human race for profit. In his case, it's with the best of intentions, but the result is the same. In truth, doctors are heavily influenced by the big pharmaceutical companies. Ethical boundaries are crossed and no one seems to notice, or if they do, it's rapidly dismissed with--"it's in the patient's best interest" or "just because I go to the free dinner, sporting event, show...Caribbean cruise loosely disguised as a continuing education event, doesn't mean my medical decisions are being influenced". Right, so what does this have to do with my name? While a smaller point, I do think the book's content can create a distraction for my day job. And so the nom-de-plume offers a separation between me the author and me the doctor.
I don't see a tremendous downside to using a pen name. I guess you don't get the same ego rush from seeing your name on the book jacket--or whatever it's now called on an e-book. I think that's a small thing. And yes, there is something to be said for your grandmother leaving copies of your book scattered around her apartment for all her friends to see, but I've had that experience. It was great. It's time to move on.
And now to pick the new name. Some have recommended I go with an anagram of Charles Atkins. Unfortunately Larches Skinta, Carl Shetkains, Harel Catskins etc aren't doing it for me. So...what I've chosen is an amalgam of family names. My Dad's in particular. He doesn't use his first name--Jaspard. I think it's rather groovy, and for urban fantasy it's got a slightly freakish edge. So I'm taking Jaspard and combining it with my mother's maiden name--Marks. There we go, I'm now a new person, or at least a new author or...whatever. GO TO HELL by Jaspard Marks, that should work.
As a psychiatrist I don't want to over think what it means to rename yourself. Or worse still, split myself into two people. Maybe a better context is to think of this as starting a new business or product line. There's Charles Atkins, Charles Atkins, MD, and now--new for 2012--Jaspard Marks.
