- Location
- sw scotland
Wrote an article once called 'Safe Sex for Shepherds'. As ever, always finishes by saying 'further research is required '
that was big hit in walesWrote an article once called 'Safe Sex for Shepherds'. As ever, always finishes by saying 'further research is required '
Was actually about risk of chlamydia infection from sheep to pregnant women. How does the bug get into the women? My hypothesis was that it is sexually transmitted so shepherds should wear a condom if their partner is pregnant.Wrote an article once called 'Safe Sex for Shepherds'. As ever, always finishes by saying 'further research is required '
Call it 'vanity publishing' rather disparagingly if you must, but it did me very well indeed thanks. After many fruitless attempts to convinced assorted agents and publishers of the merits of my book (they didn't like non-woke faming), I thought "sod 'em!", and got in touch with Tricorn Books, a self-publishing company in nearby Portsmouth. The man there, Dan, did the typesetting and publishing, and he and I and another friend did all the proofreading. I paid him for that, and then pay for each batch of copies that gets printed. Three thousand copies later, all sold off my kitchen table, I've made a handy upper four-figure profit. And had a lot of fun through two wet winters packing and posting them.In the trade, it's called vanity publishing. There are printers out there who will print your book for a price and give you x copies to distribute to friends and family.
A worthwhile writer should be able to find a publisher who will pay an attractive advance, then handle all the publicity and sales with a further royalties to the author for each copy sold. He might even get commissioned to write a book, especially if he is a known expert in his field.
Most publishers will not even bother opening a book (they don't actually read them but pay someone to do it!) for their readers read unless you have an agent to represent you, so that's a first step. But to get an agent, you probably need to be known or have some sort of reputation. A good way into writing is to get published in newspapers and magazines for which you might actually be paid. Letters to the editor is one way and writing on forums like this one is another. Good practice but not very profitable.
But be prepared. In the publishing trade, the writer is the lowest form of animal life and gets treated as such. Your articles may not even get acknowledged, let alone paid for! A book submitted without an agent will probably go straight into the trash.
Yes, you can publish a book. Best get a typographer to set it up for you, then hand it to a printer of which there are many. Then pay them and set about selling a few hundred copies which may not be as easy as you think it should be. Try farming. Shove a few seeds in the ground, harvest what grows, sell it at farmers' markets and make a fortune! Piece of cake!
Bit late for a rubber then lol but I get your pointWas actually about risk of chlamydia infection from sheep to pregnant women. How does the bug get into the women? My hypothesis was that it is sexually transmitted so shepherds should wear a condom if their partner is pregnant.
I met someone the other day who published a book and it got me thinking. What's out there?
@Charlie Flindt has wrote a book as well as regular pages in the FW
You're very kind; thanks...and a very enjoyable read it is @Charlie Flindt
Just finished No 2...which, when it started on 1/2/20 was going to be all about Brexit.........and a very enjoyable read it is @Charlie Flindt
Call it 'vanity publishing' rather disparagingly if you must, but it did me very well indeed thanks. After many fruitless attempts to convinced assorted agents and publishers of the merits of my book (they didn't like non-woke faming), I thought "sod 'em!", and got in touch with Tricorn Books, a self-publishing company in nearby Portsmouth. The man there, Dan, did the typesetting and publishing, and he and I and another friend did all the proofreading. I paid him for that, and then pay for each batch of copies that gets printed. Three thousand copies later, all sold off my kitchen table, I've made a handy upper four-figure profit. And had a lot of fun through two wet winters packing and posting them.
When I finished my second book, I had a long chat with my neighbour, who is one of the biggest agents in the country - his clients include Richard Curtis, Alan Bennett and Tom Stoppard; hence the big house in Hampshire! - and asked his advice on the publishing route. He was quite clear: in my case, I should stick with the self-publishing, because it has worked so well. He said that the 'heavyweights' love self-publishing. It's cheap and easy for writers to do it, and the big boys can sit and wait for the top sellers to make their way to the top of the pile, and then go after them offering proper publishing contracts. Much of the risk of publishing no-hopers has gone.Yes, it is called 'vanity publishing' and also 'self publishing'. Both are correct, it just depends on the circumstances. Glad it worked for you. Not disparaging, just the facts. The ones it didn't work for probably won't be telling their story here.
When I finished my second book, I had a long chat with my neighbour, who is one of the biggest agents in the country - his clients include Richard Curtis, Alan Bennett and Tom Stoppard; hence the big house in Hampshire! - and asked his advice on the publishing route. He was quite clear: in my case, I should stick with the self-publishing, because it has worked so well. He said that the 'heavyweights' love self-publishing. It's cheap and easy for writers to do it, and the big boys can sit and wait for the top sellers to make their way to the top of the pile, and then go after them offering proper publishing contracts. Much of the risk of publishing no-hopers has gone.
Flopping good book . Looking forward to the next one . pm me when its ready!Call it 'vanity publishing' rather disparagingly if you must, but it did me very well indeed thanks. After many fruitless attempts to convinced assorted agents and publishers of the merits of my book (they didn't like non-woke faming), I thought "sod 'em!", and got in touch with Tricorn Books, a self-publishing company in nearby Portsmouth. The man there, Dan, did the typesetting and publishing, and he and I and another friend did all the proofreading. I paid him for that, and then pay for each batch of copies that gets printed. Three thousand copies later, all sold off my kitchen table, I've made a handy upper four-figure profit. And had a lot of fun through two wet winters packing and posting them.