How many published authors are on this forum?

I have had some poetry published in poetry-anthologies, but that isn't where my ambition lies today.

I have the outlines for many books and movie ideas, including several that basically just need dialogue and some additonal scene/visual descriptions to be finished.

Much of it is inspired by European mythology, but does not qualify as "high fantasy" in any sense. Most of my stories are about the development or exploration of one or two characters in the context of a journey, quest or test of some kind.

I also have one Epic that could be expressed in different formats, including book or graphic novel. It is stylistically comparable to a Shakespearian tragedy, and was inspired initially by Hamlet.

I have some ideas for a video game as well. But I'd have to polish the material and make it more presentable before thinking of what to truly do with it. Possibly the aforementioned Shakespeare-inspired Epic could be expressed/told in video game format as well.

I wonder if I should make an "RPG treasury", a collection of stories told in the format of RPG novellas that have some overlap but are ultimately independent stories. This way I get a lot of my shorter stories out at the same time. Whichever of them works best would then later form basis for a longer story which perhaps would be told in the same or in another medium.

7he4uthor said:

I've seen self-published books that made best-seller status
The days of publishing house cartels and monopoly censorship passed
ppl are awakening to corporate abuse of power and government censorship through corporate monopolies ...

More truths come from whistle-blowers, independents, and rogue writers than the repetitive redundant and stagnant CIA/NSA monitored media slaves ... we are all better off dead than controlled by media fascism.

My FIRST Book fell short only 400 copies in 2000 of best-seller.

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Wait, so (in your country) "Best-seller" just means selling 2000 copies ??

I never understood how so many books could qualify as "Best-sellers", now I guess it makes sense

I have had several essays published in the past through a magazine with a circulation over 100,000 at that time. To-date, I have self-published eight books, six fiction and two nonfiction. Self-publishing has come a long way since the original post in this discussion was made. Granted there are some vanity publishers out there who initially gave self-publishing a bad image, but things are changing. With the ability to contract for independent services to get the book finalized, and the ability to publish through POD services like CreateSpace and electronically through KDP, it's no longer the "easy way" or "cheap way out." I wonder if the question might be posed differently today, in light of the advances since 2010?

I've written textbooks for major publishing companies. Stopped writing texts around 2002. I'm a Professor of Accounting and Finance and my books were business math and personal financial planning.

I think publishing has changed these days so...the new authors are not going the tradtional route.

These days people with book deals are usually famous celebs and their stuff is all ghostwritten. Also it depends on who you know. Its pretty exclusive. But if you maybe Jewish and intellectual academic or journalist in NYC you can get published even if its just a rant on how you cant find decent work in publishing. (Devil wears prada?)

I'm a senior-level professional technical writer. I've been published in newspapers, magazines, and websites. I've also edited and helped to write textbooks and curriculum. I've written a book recently, but I'm going to self-publish it, and the reason is, that is probably the only way I will make any money on my book. Going through a publisher pays the author very little, or sometimes nothing at all, if it does not sell enough copies, depending on the contract. The money in writing that is easy to find is in marketing writing, right now, but it's not a lot of money. Technical writing pays well, but there are less jobs in the field, these days.

Goodbook said:

I think publishing has changed these days so...the new authors are not going the tradtional route.

These days people with book deals are usually famous celebs and their stuff is all ghostwritten. Also it depends on who you know. Its pretty exclusive. But if you maybe Jewish and intellectual academic or journalist in NYC you can get published even if its just a rant on how you cant find decent work in publishing. (Devil wears prada?)

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Oh, yes, I forgot to mention, there is also a lot of ghostwriting work of all kinds to be had out there right now. I think the key to getting into professional writing is not to be too picky with the jobs at first. Just put your heart and soul into any kind of writing and make it good, and you can build on your successes. Even if you end up doing mainly copyediting or compiling indexes, you'll be in the field you love, making money, and not have to worry about writer's block.

Pammalamma said:

I'm a senior-level professional technical writer. I've been published in newspapers, magazines, and websites. I've also edited and helped to write textbooks and curriculum. I've written a book recently, but I'm going to self-publish it, and the reason is, that is probably the only way I will make any money on my book. Going through a publisher pays the author very little, or sometimes nothing at all, if it does not sell enough copies, depending on the contract. The money in writing that is easy to find is in marketing writing, right now, but it's not a lot of money. Technical writing pays well, but there are less jobs in the field, these days.

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So was it a Christian book that you wrote? (or maybe you're a PhD in family psychology, or something... )

Blessings.

My book took about 6 months to write and is currently in review with several target audience members. It's fiction, a fairy tale told from the point of view of the fairies. It is faith-based, and meant to appeal to like-minded readers.

Another thing I wanted to say about getting into writing is that fiction is a very hard market to get into (I am not actually in the market, yet.) So, considering what non-fiction books would sell and trying to write to that audience is a good strategy. Also, consider the delivery format: Not as many people want paper books these days, but it is pretty cheap to self-publish a gorgeous ebook and sell it on Amazon or the app store. The market is changing, but there will always be buyers for new, beautiful, exciting, inspiring stuff for kids and adults.

faroukfarouk said:

So was it a Christian book that you wrote? (or maybe you're a PhD in family psychology, or something... )

Blessings.

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Yes, the fairies know our God, but they call him "The Maker," and they call Jesus "The One." The bad fairies do not honor or obey the Maker, but the good fairies do.

Pammalamma said:

Yes, the fairies know our God, but they call him "The Maker," and they call Jesus "The One." The bad fairies do not honor or obey the Maker, but the good fairies do.

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Okay! reminds me a bit of the style of C S Lewis, which you've probably read a lot.

There was a film about him, Shadowlands.

But I guess with you as a technical writer also, you could probably write a scientific/technolgical manual as well.

Blessings.

faroukfarouk said:

Okay! reminds me a bit of the style of C S Lewis, which you've probably read a lot.

There was a film about him, Shadowlands.

But I guess with you as a technical writer also, you could probably write a scientific/technolgical manual as well.

Blessings.

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Yes, I did try to write a book that was a bit like Lewis, but where the fairies are the main characters. I'm already getting ideas for several more in the series, Lord willing. Blessings to you, too.

Pammalamma said:

My book took about 6 months to write and is currently in review with several target audience members. It's fiction, a fairy tale told from the point of view of the fairies. It is faith-based, and meant to appeal to like-minded readers.

Another thing I wanted to say about getting into writing is that fiction is a very hard market to get into (I am not actually in the market, yet.) So, considering what non-fiction books would sell and trying to write to that audience is a good strategy. Also, consider the delivery format: Not as many people want paper books these days, but it is pretty cheap to self-publish a gorgeous ebook and sell it on Amazon or the app store. The market is changing, but there will always be buyers for new, beautiful, exciting, inspiring stuff for kids and adults.

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BTW, does your dh write as well? and do you guys do any teamwork, maybe? I think you said on your profile that he's a preacher.

Blessings.

Pammalamma said:

Yes, I did try to write a book that was a bit like Lewis, but where the fairies are the main characters. I'm already getting ideas for several more in the series, Lord willing. Blessings to you, too.

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Yes, C S Lewis seems to have been a resource for a lot of writers. Even the Harry Potter series; Joanna Rowling was very influenced by him. She wouldn't be a specifically Christian writer, though.

faroukfarouk said:

BTW, does your dh write as well? and do you guys do any teamwork, maybe? I think you said on your profile that he's a preacher.

Blessings.

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He does do blogging work, but it's not Christian, it's sports.

Pammalamma said:

He does do blogging work, but it's not Christian, it's sports.

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Well, we all need a side-line as well, I guess. I do blogging also.

Often it depends whether husband and wife are from the same professional or study background, whether they would collaborate with their writing. My wife has a legal background; I'm more languages, I guess.

Pammalamma said:

I'm a senior-level professional technical writer. ...

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PS: You must have studied for years. Did you ever consider doing a PhD as an alternative to writing papers? which might in the long run afford more opportunities to be published.

Pammalamma said:

Yes, the fairies know our God, but they call him "The Maker," and they call Jesus "The One." The bad fairies do not honor or obey the Maker, but the good fairies do.

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PS: Pammalamma:

Did any of your children have the opportunity to read your manuscript yet?

Maybe some of them will eventually prove to have good writing skills as well (or maybe already have, I don't know).

Blessings.

faroukfarouk said:

PS: Pammalamma:

Did any of your children have the opportunity to read your manuscript yet?

Maybe some of them will eventually prove to have good writing skills as well (or maybe already have, I don't know).

Blessings.

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Yes, I read the book to them, and they enjoyed it, so I feel I've succeeded at least somewhat. I also made some changes based on their suggestions and ideas.

faroukfarouk said:

PS: You must have studied for years. Did you ever consider doing a PhD as an alternative to writing papers? which might in the long run afford more opportunities to be published.

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Thanks for the compliment, but I would never succeed in academia. I'm too truthful and moody, and to be in academia you have to lie a lot and keep everyone happy. It wouldn't work. Plus, I hate how secular it is. Everything in my life, no matter how small, is in some way about God, and when you view things that way, academia has no idea what to do with you. You can go to a cloister in the mountains or something like that, but universities like people who are "open minded."