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Posted By: cleasterwood Feb 02, 2005 - 02:50 am

I was wondering if I'm the only one who does this and if it's a good thing or not. I've not yet gotten my novel published but I have started promoting my work by giving away free copies in exchange for written reviews. These reviews will be posted on my site or possibly my forum board for writers; I'm unsure of where yet.

This leads me to ask questions.

Is it a good idea to promote my story prior to landing an agent or publisher?

How will they look at me and my story if I've gone ahead and started the process marketing myself?

Should I direct them to the reviews so they can read what others say about the book? When I say others I mean people who don't know me from Jack that took the time to read the 'free' copy I gave them and reviewed it.

Will this make me look like an amateur or someone who is serious about marketing their own writing?

Please let me know what you think.

C. L.

Posted By: Magus Feb 02, 2005 - 03:54 am

I'm sorry to say I have no experience in this matter. Hopefully somebody else will have. I can't see a lot of harn in it, if any. But I know that the publishers might not like it depending on who they are. So, I just don't know.

Posted By: BenJaru Feb 02, 2005 - 05:18 am

Lol, I think if a publisher does not like it then you probably don't want to be working with them anyway!
From all I have read that sounds fine, I think the thing they mostly stay away from is multiple submissions.
I think it would be alright if you told them about the reviews, although they may not count for very much if no one that the publisher knows has a review. They could easily think you bribed somone to write a good review, or wrote them yourself...

I guess I would pick an expert, find a book on the subject that you like and stick to it.

Good Luck!

Posted By: Magus Feb 02, 2005 - 01:10 pm

Yeah. I agree with BenJaru.

Posted By: BenJaru Feb 02, 2005 - 04:50 pm

Why thank you Magus.

I agree with Magus!!

Posted By: Magus Feb 03, 2005 - 03:49 am

And I, in turn, agree with BenJaru about agreeing with me about agreeing with him.

Posted By: BenJaru Feb 03, 2005 - 08:19 am

And I in tur...

Yeah, pretty much.

Posted By: Sara Mar 08, 2005 - 04:57 am

It really depends. Instead of picking people at random, why not solicit someone published in the genre you've written in to read it and offer a review? If not your entire ms., then at least an excerpt. I did that with a manuscript of mine, and without an agent, got it sent to the desk of one of the senior editors at Tor -- just by including this NY Times bestselling author's comments about my work in my query letter. Published authors, esp. successful ones, might tell you no, they won't read your work, but it never hurts to ask. The worst that could happen is being told "no," right? The best is that their opinion could help you get a foot in the door.

Posted By: gnollslayer Mar 08, 2005 - 08:38 am

How did you get a bestselling author to read your manuscript? I thought about doing this, but it just seemed like it might be rude.

Anyways, that's cool that you got to the desk of the senior editors at Tor. Mine at least got out of the slush pile, because an editor requested that I submit my mss. directly to her the next time. But I doubt it reached any senior editors.

Posted By: Sara Mar 08, 2005 - 09:11 am

Hi, gnollslayer,

As goofy as it sounds, I just emailed and asked him if he would. And by nothing less than his gracious nature, he agreed. I didn't expect him to, by any means. (It was an excerpt, not the entire manuscript. 25 pgs., I think.)

And don't knock getting to an editor who asked you to specifically submit to her next time. That's incredible -- go for it! There's a welcome worth trying to wear out, I say. Yeah, I got to the sr. editor's desk, but in the end, she wrote me a (very nice) rejection letter saying while she thought my ms. was very good, she was afraid the book was a "near miss," and she was afraid if published it would wind up in "'mid-list' h*ll."

Like I said before, get your foot in the door however you can! I'm still using that query letter to approach other publishers, and have the ms. under consideration again at the moment.

Keep sending to that Tor editor!!

Posted By: Magus Mar 08, 2005 - 02:27 pm

WELCOME TO SPECULATIVE VISION SARA!!!!!

I'm glad that we have an addition such as yourself here!

Posted By: Sara Mar 08, 2005 - 04:02 pm

Thanks, Magus.
This is such a great forum. I think it's so refreshing and wonderful to see so many writers coming together to help support and encourage each other. I've heard so many good things about it, and am glad to be a part!

Posted By: Magus Mar 08, 2005 - 06:02 pm

If you don't mind my asking, where did you hear about us?

Posted By: Bmat Mar 08, 2005 - 06:25 pm

Welcome, Sara!!!

Posted By: cleasterwood Mar 09, 2005 - 03:07 am

I enlisted the aid of fellow writers just by asking. I've got 4 looking over it now and added a reply to the "Won by the Writing" thread I posted. After I revamp the story, would you be willing to look at the first 50 pages and ring in your opinion, Sara? Seeing as you are an editor, I think you're opinion would be invaluable to me. Only after I fix the problem though as I wouldn't want to agrivate you unnecessarily or consume much of your time as you are a busy person I'm sure. I've got critiquing others work down to an art form, but with my own it just doesn't happen. I too did some associate editor work at Deep Magic, but not enough to really give me any status.
Oh, and thanks for your comments, they've been great!
Lynn
Lynn

Posted By: Sara Mar 09, 2005 - 07:49 am

You're welcome, Lynn. And speaking of welcomes, thanks Magus and Bmat. I actually have several friends who recommended this site to me a couple of years ago. I used to come here at post sometimes, but fell out of the habit. When my book was picked up by Dragon Tooth, I decided to start visiting again. I enjoy the positive environment this forum provides its members, and I also think it's great that this community supports writers the way it does.

As far as looking at your work, Lynn -- I would be glad to take a look at it. Let's start with the first 25 pages, rather than 50. I can probably get a good feel for your style and voice and identify any strong points and weaknesses in that sample size. I'd be glad to offer you any suggestions I can, but as a caveat, I can't guarantee anything I suggest will get you published. Editing is 80% opinion, so that's what I can offer.

Posted By: Eleika Mar 13, 2005 - 10:51 pm

Cleasterwood,

This issue has been bothering me lately, too. I have a particular world whose stories have been my babies, and I've tried to do whatever I can with them. What if an editor doesn't like it that I've published a truncated version of one novel, Kaera, in the form of short stories online?

I have to agree with BenJaru in that if they don't like it, they can stuff it. But I also think that the world is changing ... and editors are finally beginning to realize that. The Internet is a powerful tool, and if you have ways to prove that you will have an audience, then all the better.

I recently teamed up with an artist and turned one of my other novels from that world, Kendara, into a webcomic. With a bit of advertising (and plugging where allowed), I've managed to get nearly two hundred hits a day, and I'm still only on Page 2 of Chapter One. And though webcomics are a slightly different genre, I've learned a key lesson: people get addicted to the story, and the fact that you read it bit by bit (depending on how many times a week/month the author/artist updates) keeps them coming back.

My point? I'm currently writing another novel, Heirs, that takes place after Kendara, whose events actually deal with the consequences of the story/comic (though I wouldn't call it a sequel). So, if I can keep this up, and continue to build my readership, then by the time I'm ready to submit Heirs to a publisher, I figure I can use those statistics as "proof" that people will want to buy the book.

I think there is a myth out there, which may have had some truth to it at one point, that the contents of a novel should be kept under lock and key until they get "released", published for the world to see. What does that do for anyone, really? I would think that any efforts by the writer to promote a story, and see how the audience receives it, should be well received. So what if it's less of a surprise? Why do we have movie trailers, then?

I interview published writers from time to time. They're always eager to share information regarding their upcoming projects. Mindy L. Klasky even sends out chapters she's working on to the members of her mailing list for feedback (and anyone can join). The digital age has changed us, and I can't help but think that any promotion of a story before it's due out, before it's accepted for publication, even, can do naught but good.

Ultimately, the final decision lies with the publisher. But then again ... except in the case of quotable reviews, and in my case, readership building through the webcomic, who says they have to know that you've been promoting it?

Posted By: cleasterwood Mar 16, 2005 - 09:53 am

I have reader reviews posted on my forum board and one is even by a book store owner. Although he thought the plot was a bit too long and complicated, it had to be with a book about time-traveling twins. He also felt that with a good edit, it is a piece capable of being published. I'm currently working on it and have gone so far as to start re-working it as a script instead but I'm playing it by ear right now until I get some more reviews in. I also considered doing it as an e-book but I prefer traditional publication if I can get to that point. I actually have already built a small fan base and will most likely keep submitting my short stories to Deep Magic in hopes to build a bigger following. It's another reason I've been giving away free copies.
There are many routes to go with it and I'll explore them all before I ever give up on my story. I love writing too much.
Lynn

Posted By: Magus Mar 16, 2005 - 04:30 pm

Good Luck with that!