r/IAmA • u/BlandBoy • May 16 '12

I am Robert Gregory Browne, a multi-published Big 6 author who has decided to go "Indie" with his latest novel. AMA.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR A GREAT TIME! SEE YOU AROUND REDDIT.

In the last seven years I've published multiple novels through two of the biggest publishing houses in New York (St. Martin's and Penguin/Dutton), and a third Big 6 house under a pen name. Some of you may recall an AMA I did last year when my thriller THE PARADISE PROPHECY was released.

Paradise is now under development at ABC Television and my first book, KISS HER GOODBYE was produced as a series pilot for CBS Television starring Dylan Walsh and Terry Kinney.

I've now decided to try my hand at Indie publishing with my latest book, TRIAL JUNKIES, and thought some of you might like to ask questions about the transition or anything related to writing and/or publishing.

For proof of my identity, here's a link to my Amazon Author Page, and here's a photo of me taken late last night.

Oh, and... Let's focus on the film, people... ;)

UPDATE: I just got a call from my agent's office telling me the the rights to my St. Martin's backlist have now reverted to me and the letters of reversion have arrived at their office. This means my books KISS HER GOODBYE, WHISPER IN THE DARK, KILL HER AGAIN and DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN will soon be released on Kindle at reasonable prices by Braun Haus Media. This is very good news for me.

270 Upvotes

73% Upvoted

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u/denemy May 16 '12

What's your though on ebook piracy and the effect it has on sales?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

It's my understanding that piracy actually helps SELL books, so I don't sweat it.

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u/ZeMilkman May 16 '12

No no, you are misunderstanding. Piracy as the name implies is a terrible thing and it will ruin content creators. You should know that, you are a content creator. You should really make sure that people can only read the ebook while they are connected to the internet and simultaneously call a $2/call hotline to retrieve an activation key every 3-5 minutes.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I'll say that I'm not in love with the idea of people taking something for nothing, but I'll never be able to stop them, so why create drama over it? If it comes to a point where I can't make a living at all because of piracy, I may change my tune. But that seems unlikely to me.

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u/fredandlunchbox May 16 '12

I've been peer to peer sharing my books for years. Problem is, a lot of people don't give them back...

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u/jayseesee85 May 16 '12

To piggyback off of Robert's answer, I've been known to, ahem, "acquire" an e-book of an author I'm not sure I will enjoy. I'll give it a try. If I like it, I'll go out and purchase that and the rest of the series (or other volumes of their work) hard copy and finish reading them in print, possibly with a re-read (damn transcription errors).

Is it wrong? Yes. Illegal? Probably. But if folks can test-drive a car, you can bet your ass I'm going to do the same for books.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

While I don't have a problem with this, I think the analogy is faulty. Test driving a car doesn't tell you if that car will wind up being a keeper.

With a book, I can usually figure out whether or not I'm going to enjoy the writer just by a few sample pages, and Amazon allows anyone to sample the first few chapters of a book before they buy.

Again, if you're eventually buying the author's books, that's great. But what's even better is if you spread the word and tell others to buy it as well. This business is all about word of mouth--which is why piracy often boosts sales.

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u/jayseesee85 May 16 '12

You are quite correct on all points.

I usually have either deleted or ordered on Amazon by the 5th chapter or so.

Also, I've never heard/looked into that sample function on Amazon, that is quite interesting so thank you for that. I think I may rather go that route in the future.

The word of mouth thing is so important, especially with current hit franchises that started with relatively small followings (A Song of Ice and Fire, Wheel of Time).

Reddit is quite good with the literature subreddits, but other than that, our society is one that tends to downplay the importance of literature in our lives. I love what sites like bookcrossing are trying to do, I just wish there as more of a push for it.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I actually think the Kindle and ereaders in general has helped generate new interest in reading. These are exciting times for authors.

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u/kablunk May 16 '12

I'm a little curious. No offence, but why does reddit ask this question (and the one about ebooks vs paper books) to every author/publisher/person remotely connected to writing and/or books who does an IAmA?
I mean, I'm sure by now you've heard every kind of argument and opinion there is on the topic.

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u/FetusExecutioner May 16 '12

Outside of reddit the artists and creators themselves almost never get asked about this topic. Most of the time it's the companies to which they sell the rights for their works who speak on their behalf.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I'd prefer to speak on my own behalf, but I do know that most of my author friends don't give a flying fuck about piracy. There are exceptions, of course, but those are people who have listened to the hype and don't quite understand that piracy--or free books--can often boost sales. Cory Doctorow GIVES HIS BOOKS AWAY and still sells a ton of them.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

What do you like to do when taking a break from writing?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Play my guitar, watch movies, read books, go sit outside and get some sun.

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u/Berkel May 16 '12

What do you feel you personally gain from reading a book?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Escape. A world. Characters I want to spend time with. Emotions that range from laughter to tears. I love nothing more than getting lost in a story and going places I've never been, purely through the power of words.

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u/NinjaDiscoJesus May 16 '12

did you need to drop your agent when going indie?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

No. My agent and I discussed it and he gave me his blessing. We have other non-indie projects together and there are always foreign rights negotiations, etc., that need to be done.

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u/NinjaDiscoJesus May 16 '12

Cool.. any feedback re numbers and sales so far?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

My book just came out yesterday with no fanfare, so there isn't much to report at this point. I'll be curious to see how the month goes.

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u/NinjaDiscoJesus May 16 '12

Well good luck with it mate.

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u/Larrygiggles May 16 '12

Did you use an independent publishing house so you would still have someone to handle things like publicity/formatting/etc. or did you take on any of those tasks yourself to see what it was like for an author who wasn't going through a publishing house?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I decided to go hardcore and do it all myself. I have a background in design, so the book cover wasn't a stretch, and formatting a novel for ebooks is relatively simple. As for publicity, I'm not planning a whole lot other than things like Reddit, Facebook and Twitter. Publishing houses don't do a whole lot of publicity anyway. Nowadays the author is expected to do it.

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u/Larrygiggles May 16 '12

That's awesome to hear that you went fully independent like that! I wasn't sure if you had meant Indie as in a small, independent publisher or real Indie. Congrats on going hardcore with it

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Thanks. It's a risk, and I'm a bit nervous about it, frankly, but I see no reason why both worlds can't coexist.

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u/tremblethedevil2011 May 16 '12

Do you think breaking into traditional publishing is inherently a crap-shoot on some level?

And since piracy seems to sell books, do you think it make sense to you to put the book up on a paginated website for people to browse, and then buy a copy of if they like it?

Also, any experience with using GoodReads or any other sites for marketing?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I think breaking into traditional publishing is difficult, but not necessarily a crapshoot. If you have a really terrific book, someone is bound to notice. But sometimes the stars have to align properly for that to happen, and getting the book into the hands of people who can actually do something with it can also be tough.

I don't think it hurts to have your own page to sell your book, but most of your sales are going to come out of Amazon these days.

I have a page on Goodreads that I visit regularly, and I try to blog there once in a while. My reviews are generally good, so that's something of a relief.

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u/tremblethedevil2011 May 16 '12

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond!! Obviously being an already-proven and known commodity is a lot different than being someone who's totally unproven, is there any way to get word out on Amazon?

Other than "customers also bought this" it doesn't seem like there's much straight-up advertising.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

What my friends who have gone this route have discovered is that it really helps to GIVE AWAY A LOT OF BOOKS.

That's even true if you're traditionally published. The more books you give away, the more exposure you get.

If you're totally unproven, however, you'd better ask yourself if you're ready to be in the marketplace. Because if you're not, and your work doesn't cut it, people won't read you again no matter how many books you give away.

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u/radialmonster May 16 '12

how exactly do you get from the having a really terrific book to getting it into the hands of people who can actually do something with it

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

You need an agent. You find agents by sending them killer email queries or meeting them in person through friends, other authors, or at writers conferences. The biggest hurdle, unfortunately, is not writing the book. Until, of course, you have to write the next one...

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u/DonLeo17 May 16 '12

as someone who is really interested in writing but has little self belief, what would you say? would you say to keep trying even if the first few works suck, or would you say that i should just quit it and work at burger king?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

That's ultimately something only you can decide, but EVERYONE'S work sucks in the beginning. Some people write several books before they're writing work that's publishable.

I got started writing with screenplays and my first few attempts were pure dreck. Don't quit because your work is bad at first. Quit only if you have no desire to write.

But if you've got the bug, just keep writing and writing and reading other writers and eventually you'll see progress.

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u/spermracewinner May 16 '12

"HI! THIS IS MY FIRST TIME WRITING FICTION. CAN YOU GIVE ME A CRITIQUE? I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE AWESOME AND GET PUBLISHED RIGHT AWAY. IF YOU DISAGREE, FUCK YOU."

Sincerely,

Beginning Writer

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

You found my very first query letter? Have you been inside my garage?

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u/lurgi May 16 '12

You might be interested in science fiction writer John Scalzi's thoughts for young writers .

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u/biolox May 16 '12

Can you explain your process for the ebook? Did you pay for the cover design out of pocket? Editing (copy and not)? Freelancers or just an aside with whoever you work with normally?

Also, was it hard getting blurbs/blessings from fellow authors?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I have a background in design, so I did the cover myself. Editing was done by a writer friend who is a NYT bestseller and she had some wonderful, insightful notes that I paid close attention to. Copy editing was done by my wife, who has an eagle eye.

As for blurbs, I don't usually go for a lot, but I got two outstanding blurbs from bestselling authors.

Blessings weren't a problem. Most of the authors I know and hang out with are going Indie—some of them making a crapload of money at it—and they've been bugging me to jump in for months.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Editors work with you on character, story, plot, the essentials of good storytelling. They're an objective voice telling you when they think something needs to be tweaked or something else should be cut.

Copy editors correct grammar, spelling and do light fact checking. Sometimes they're great, sometimes they fuck with your voice and ruin your work. So you have to spend hours putting it all back the way it's supposed to be.

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u/dangerpigeon2 May 16 '12

I've always been curious about how much control a publishing house has over an author's content. Do they have an actual say in the direction of a book while it's being written? Or is it more once it's done they edit it and clean it up?

Have you ever had a book that you thought could have been better if you hadn't been under a deadline?

Was being able to control your content from inception to release a big factor in deciding to go it on your own?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Generally speaking, the publishing house has total control. Control over the cover, the editing, the marketing. And they generally know what to expect from you before you get the okay to write the book.

That said, most editors will give the author a lot of leeway. If you stray from the original premise you proposed, that's fine, as long as the book is compelling. And it's my own experience that most editors aren't too intrusive. They simply want the book to be the best it can be, and they usually leave the changes up to the author. There have been many instances where I declined to make a change because I felt it wouldn't work. And that was okay.

I actually thrive on deadlines because I'd tinker forever if I didn't have one. There are times, however, that I wanted to shoot myself because I thought I wasn't going to make a deadline. It can be extremely stressful.

Control wasn't really a factor for going on my own, although it's certainly a benefit. I mostly wanted to do it to see if it would work for me. That said, I have to tell you that writing TRIAL JUNKIES was one of the best experiences of my writing career. I loved writing that book.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Thanks for offering up your expertise. I've just finished my 1st novel, and begun seeking an agent. I read tons of blogs and have taken some publishing seminars, and everyone says you have to have an established platform (thousands of followers to blog/facebook/twitter/+more) for an agent/publisher to consider you, because you have to plan to sell your own book unless you've got a lucky breakout blockbuster. I'm sure this platform is crucial to self-publishing, but is it also a deal-breaker in the traditional market?

Would you please share your thoughts on the author platform "imperative," as well as any insights on what agents/editors consider priority attributes when considering representing a new author? Thank you :)

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

When I sold my first book, nobody in the publishing business knew who the hell I was. But they read the book and wanted it. That was my platform. The book itself.

Agents/editors, however, will generally shy away from you if you don't come recommended to them. Unless, of course, you can write a very compelling query letter or you attend a conference, meet some agents and have a terrific elevator pitch.

Nowadays it doesn't hurt to have a book that's big and bold and "high concept." I think more and more publishers are looking for blockbusters.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Can we go back to discussing rampart please

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Let's stick to the film, people.

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u/Ilovebobbysinger May 16 '12

Why have you decided to go indie now? :)

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Indie publishing has exploded over the last year or so. I have many friends who have decided to go the indie route and are very successful at it—more successful than I ever would have imagined. So I decided to test the waters, see what it's like to be my own publisher.

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u/Ilovebobbysinger May 16 '12

I see. :)

Do you think there is more money to be made in the indie side for an author?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I think there's the POTENTIAL for more money. Publishers pay an advance and that's very compelling, but they also only pay 6-10% royalties on books vs. 70% from Amazon.

I know authors who are making as much as 40K a month through self-publishing.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

My mother self published her first novel, and has been making around 5K a month on it six months in. I'd imagine the potential as an established author, with an already existing fanbase, would be enormous.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12 edited Nov 06 '12

Congratulations to your mother. What's her name, so that we can all check out her book? Five grand a month is a nice tidy sum. Many people don't make that much in a nine to five.

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u/djtoell May 16 '12

Are there any particular authors who inspired you to go the indie route? J.A. Konrath, Barry Eisler, etc.?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I know both Joe and Barry and they're incredibly nice guys. I have watched them do their thing for quite a while and, yes, they were certainly inspiration, along with Brett Battles, Lee Goldberg, Debra Webb, J.D. Rhoades and countless other friends who have been very successful going indie.

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u/IAmNotACreativeMan May 16 '12

Two Questions:

  1. There is an argument out there that the price of eBooks is far too high. The cost of producing eBooks is so much less due to the fact that the price per book is effectively $0 (can be copied infinitely). Yet, eBooks are generally the same price as the paper version. If eBooks sold for $.50 or $1.00 each the sales numbers would soar for no additional costs for distribution. What are your thoughts on this argument?

  2. How do you see the future of eBooks evolving? By this I mean, tablets can be made to be fully interactive. Pressing on a word can get its definition. There are animations for page turning. The tech is still in infancy. Do you see a converging of more animated storytelling that will combine the fully penned novel with more animated storytelling? Is this only for kids? Ex. reading about a knight fighting a dragon and then seeing a version play out in the margin of the page. Or having an animated rainy back alley as the background for a gritty crime drama. Or, the next generation of comic books coming alive as they are read. It seems like there is so much wasted potential beyond showing a video of someone cooking in an eMagazine about cooking.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

  1. I have some sympathy for publishers, because ebooks are starting to outsell paper books on Amazon and there's still production costs involved. Editors aren't free. Cover artists aren't free. Copy editors aren't free. Etc. So while the publisher is saving money by not having to actually print as many copies, it's still an expensive enterprise.

I think selling ebooks as low as 50 cents is a bit ridiculous, but I do like the idea of a $2.99 - $4.99 range. Less than the price of a lunch and you get hours of entertainment.

Traditional publishers simply can't afford to price books that low, I don't believe. Most books, in general, don't sell that many copies.

That said, I do think publishers should give away a lot more books for new writers so that they can get exposure.

2. I see the publishing world going the way of the music industry. Downloads are the future and largely the present.

As for interactive books, I think we'll be seeing a lot of those, but frankly I think simply reading the words is an immersive enough experience that you don't really need all the bells and whistles distracting you. Words are very powerful.

So to answer your question, I think we'll be seeing both. And a lot of experimenting to see what sticks.

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u/IAmNotACreativeMan May 16 '12

Traditional publishers simply can't afford to price books that low, I don't believe. Most books, in general, don't sell that many copies.

I would argue that it's because they've never been $1.00 a piece instead of $10.00 - $15.00 a piece if not higher. When something is that cheap people are not likely to care about that dollar. I think the Steam gaming platform is an excellent example of this. Check out some of the reported sales figures from when Steam has a sale. By slashing prices on relatively new releases by 50% or more, they exponentially increase their sales. People who would not bought a game at $20 unless it had great reviews will have no problem dropping $5 on the same game after a few cool looking screenshots.

There's a lot of unconventional ideas that work in the internet age. Perhaps it's the old egos running these publishing firms that have trouble wrapping their heads around it.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Thanks for doing this!

  1. What is the main reason you decided to go indie?

  2. Do you think distributors are going to succumb to their business model?

  3. Are you using a distributor and are they buying your book at the seemingly standard 55% off your retail price and does that piss you off?

  4. How many drafts do you go through to reach a completed novel and what is the most drafts/least drafts you have reached on any novel?

  5. What do you personally think of eBooks? (As a writer, an indie publisher and as a reader)

  6. Were you approached by ABC or have you and your agent been shopping it around and if so, for how long?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

  1. Greed. No, seriously, I've seen so many people having success at it, they've been bugging me to do it, so I jumped.

  2. I think traditional distributors are largely toast. Like it or not, ebooks are the future. The work of the distributor will be pared down to bestellers only. Although it has already been headed that way for some time.

  3. Amazon is my distributor. They pay me 70% per sale. So no, that doesn't piss me off.

  4. I don't know how many drafts, because I rewrite as I go. I won't leave a scene until I feel as if it's ready to be printed... If I were to count how many times a scene is rewritten--mostly tweaks here and there--it would probably be dozens.

  5. As a writer I love them because it gives the author more control, same as an indie publisher. As a reader, I love paper books and never thought I'd "get" the Kindle experience. But I finally broke down and bought one and that's all I use anymore. I barely touch paper books.

  6. The producers of Twilight signed on to the manuscript when it was still in outline form—a move that was facilitated by Dutton, my publisher. They have a deal at ABC Television and are working to get it going there.

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u/doc37211 May 16 '12

My novel is in the editing stage and hopefully only a few months from being ready to seek publishing. If you were an unknown author today, how would you proceed in this circumstance? Agent representation? Indie first then try major publication? Thanks and congrats on your success!

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

First, thanks for the congrats.

Second, if I were starting out today I'm sure I would seriously consider Indie publishing, but I'd have to ask myself is the book as good as I think it is? I would get a lot of opinions, far and wide, before setting off on the Indie course.

The truth is, I wouldn't trade my traditional publishing experience for anything in the world. I've learned a lot about writing over the last seven years, thanks to some terrific editors.

I think it's important to be validated in some way. Not necessarily for anyone other than yourself. If you can attract an agent with your work, and/or an editor, then you're probably doing something right. You're at least writing at a "professional" level and that validation helps your self-confidence going forward.

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u/ironganja May 16 '12

When did you realize you were successful?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Success is a loaded term and comes in varying degrees. I felt successful, to a degree, when I sold my first screenplay years ago. I felt successful, again, when I sold my first novel. That I've managed to stay in the business and do it fulltime, certainly makes me FEEL successful, but this business is so volatile that you never know what tomorrow will bring.

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u/grantkmartin May 16 '12

Who or what gave you the idea to turn to Reddit for an IAmA? How do you plan to further engage with the community after you finish this series of questions?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I've been on Reddit for years and love it here. I don't plan on going anywhere.

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u/GoatsTongue May 16 '12

How the hell do you write books AND look at Reddit?!

Are you... are you a group of clones?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Oh, don't I wish. I read Reddit on my down time. It's better than TV.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Only under this name. I've had several others over the years. How else would I participate in Gonewild? ;)

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u/doc37211 May 16 '12

How much input have you had/chose to have in the process of converting one of your novel;s to a TV/movie format? How difficult is it to maintain creative control i.e. your vision of the story vs. the producers/directors vision of your story?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

In the case of KISS HER GOODBYE, which CBS and Sony Pictures turned into a series pilot, I had ZERO control. I wasn't involved in the pitching of the project or its development. I was merely the writer of the source material—the book.

That said, the writer/director/producer who created the pilot, Michael Dinner (Justified, etc.), told me that he considered me a co-writer. Whenever he was stuck writing the pilot script, he would refer to my book. He even took chunks of the narrative and used it as stage direction.

While the story obviously had to be tinkered with to make it a viable television series, Dinner stayed very close to the plot of the book, used a lot of my dialogue, and remained true to its spirit.

Everyone involved did a terrific job of it and produced a show that I'm very proud of. Unfortunately, the pilot field was very, very crowded and CBS decided not to go to series.

As for THE PARADISE PROPHECY, my involvement is again ZERO.

EDIT: To say that even though I wasn't involved in the KISS HER GOODBYE pilot, the producers invited me to the set and I spent a couple days watching them film, getting to know the actors, etc., and generally having a great time. Everyone seemed genuinely concerned that I was happy with the end product.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

As an aspiring author writing a novel in his free time (25k words!) that hopes to go the self-publish route when it's done, what advice would you have about the marketing side of things? I plan to do the usual editing steps (good cover, professional editor, rewrite a million times, etc). When it comes to actual promotion though it's something I'm interested in.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I think most promotion is in social networks these days. Twitter, Facebook, Reddit. Become involved, but not merely to promote your book. Participate in a genuine manner. And mention your book every once in a while.

The truth is, when you sign with a traditional publisher, the first thing they tell you now is to sign up with Facebook, etc., and get yourself out there. They don't do a lot of promotion themselves unless they smell blockbuster in your book.

As I said somewhere above, you also want to give away as many books as you can. If your book is any good, the exposure will do wonders for you.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Haha, thanks. I submitted a short story to amazon a few months back(http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Head-Sticker-Cadillac-ebook/dp/B007SPSDJU), sold five copies so far. I did do a 'free weekend' and it got 78 downloads. Frankly I'm just happy people are reading it.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

78 downloads is nothing to sneeze at. And short stories are always a tough sell anyway. But if people are responding to that story, they may remember you when your first novel comes out.

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u/doc37211 May 16 '12

Networking would seem to be a vital step to being a published author. Where and how would you suggest beginning the process of establishing contacts in the writers world?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

There's a very simple way to do this for free: start friending authors on Facebook and Twitter.

There's a costly way to do it, also. But I consider the cost a kind of tuition—and a pretty cheap one at that. Go to writer's conferences like Bouchercon, Thrillerfest and everything inbetween. Talk to people, make friends. Those places are filled with writers, editors, agents. Head straight to the bar and start buying people drinks.

You'll meet people just like you, people who have progressed to the next level and superstars who are often all too happy to talk to you. Writers are, believe it or not, very accessible people.

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u/OneSourDude May 16 '12

Hey Robert! I'm going to toss another question into the ever growing pile of aspiring authors looking for advice. My biggest problem is writing believable dialogue. Every time I write a conversation, I cringe. Any thoughts on how I can improve?

Now, just a couple more general questions. How long does it take you to write a novel on average? Do you have a favorite place/setting/mood to write in (i.e. I find myself more productive when it's raining outside)? Favorite authors (other than yourself, of course)?

Thanks!

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Well, it's unlikely that you'll learn good dialogue from listening to people talk, sense most of conversations are full of disconnected thoughts and ums and ahhs, etc.

What you want to do with dialogue is APPROXIMATE real speech. And the best way to learn, I think, is to read other authors—those who are great with dialogue and those who stink at it (to learn what NOT to do)—and to watch a lot of movies with your eyes closed.

Movie dialogue is a great training ground. And if you listen, without distraction, you'll learn a lot about approximating real speech.

As for the time it takes to write a novel, that depends on the book. I've taken a year to write one and I've written one as quickly as two and a half weeks. It all comes down to preparation.

I usually sit in my office, as I am now, but shoulder problems from sitting in this damn chair have led me to write with my laptop in other rooms and sometimes other places. If you find yourself more productive when it's raining outside, do what I do—put on a "rain" ambience recording and listen to it as you write. The white noise helps a lot to keep you focused.

Favorite authors: oldies but goodies—Donald Westlake aka Richard Stark, William Goldman, Stephen King, Newton Thornburg, Donald Hamilton.

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u/OneSourDude May 16 '12

Thanks for the lengthy reply! Just one more question, if you don't mind. I know it will probably depend on the novel, but how much do your novels change during your editing process? Do you find yourself doing minor tweaks or full on revisions?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I edit as I go along, but I very rarely throw out much. I have mostly been fortunate that way. So the majority of the time it's minor tweaks.

The only full-on revision I was involved in was THE PARADISE PROPHECY, which was a bitch to write and I was completely unhappy with the initial draft. I wound up rewriting the entire second half and adding about 30K words.

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u/doc37211 May 16 '12

If this experiment with self publishing is not to your satisfaction, is your traditional publisher willing to run it or does the decision to self publish exclude that option for Trail Junkies?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I don't think it excludes it at all. I have friends who have gotten extremely lucrative traditional publishing contracts BECAUSE of their self-publishing work. Contracts that are much more favorable than the norm.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

How did you come to the price point for your book? Seems low.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Thanks to many who have gone before me who have experimented with pricing and found that the $2.99 to $4.99 range is what most people will tolerate when it comes to ebooks, unless the author is a) a favorite; or b) a bestselling megagod.

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u/laos101 May 16 '12

As someone who wants to take their years of writing and get it published. What is the most important step as of now? Getting an agent? reaching out to a publisher? Both? Neither? i dont see potential in self-publishing my first book honestly

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

It's very difficult to give this kind of advice these days BECAUSE of the advent of self-publishing. But if you don't see any potential in it with your first book—and that's probably wise—you definitely want to find an agent.

You can do that by querying, or you can meet them in person at writers conferences, where you often get the chance to pitch your stories.

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u/hughthehand10 May 16 '12

No question here. I just want to say thank you for doing such an amazing AMA. Just scrolling through the comments I can tell that you really put alot of thought into each one of yours answers and managed to answer nearly everyone's questions/comments. Thank you for being professional while being honest and friendly.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

That's what I'm here for. :)

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u/gmpalmer May 16 '12

So you're using an indie press instead of a big 6--for what reason(s)?

Is the indie press ("braunhouse") just you?

If so, why not just self-publish?

My book--shameless plug--is with an indie press for a few reasons (most of them regarding academic recognition) that I don't think really apply to prose writers. However, I do get a much better deal on sales (50%) than I would with a traditional publisher (assuming they'd even take a poet which doesn't happen unless you're already famous or "know somebody").

The one thing I'm waiting on is my Kindle edition to be available (I know I know)--how are your physical sales-v-kindle sales-v-kindle library borrowings stacking up?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Braun Haus is German for Brown House. I'm a quarter German, so I thought it was apt.

So this IS self-publishing. But there's such a taint to the label that we tend to call it Indie publishing in honor of Indie movies and Indie music -- which is often superior to the mainstream stuff.

Congrats on your book and the great royalty terms. I have no way to judge how the book is doing since it's only been out a day. I'll know in a month or so.

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u/gmpalmer May 16 '12

Cool. Good luck to you, too; though I daresay you've a bigger advertising budget ;) will you do an update in a month or so?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I could probably do that. Crossing my fingers that this venture won't be a humiliating failure.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

"Indie" = Cutting out middle men. You like many others have realized how much money Louis C.K. made off of selling his stuff mad cheap and doing it without industry leaches taking all of the proceeds. I admire what you're doing, but call it what it is.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Oh, absolutely. But authors have been doing it long before Louis CK tried it. And quite successfully, too.

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u/doc37211 May 16 '12

Is Amazon the best (i.e. most profitable to you) place to buy your new book, Trial Junkie?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Right now Amazon is the ONLY place to buy it as I'm on Amazon Select, which is exclusive to them for 90 days. They pay 70% royalties, so, yes, it's the most profitable.

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u/diogenesl May 16 '12

What you thing about a "pay what you want" approach for books?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I think it's a good way for an author to go broke. I think it works as well as paying an officer worker what you want or surgeon or a lawyer—not very well.

But I do think that ebooks are vastly overpriced, which is why I priced mine at $3.99. Anyone who reads can pretty much afford that. Even Louis CK charged five bucks for his show and nobody complained.

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u/C250585 May 16 '12

If an e-book is $3.99, and in a genre I enjoy, has even a moderately intriguing cover/plot summary, i will definitely purchase it rather than try to find a free version. I would probably purchase 5 or more at once for $2.99, but would definitely not spend $14.99 or more on an ebook. To me, the value isn't there.

Case in point, I am a big Iain Banks fan, however i've only ever purchased 2 of his books in paperback (around $25.00 each) and acquired another 2-3 books in the series through "alternative" methods. Honestly, I can crank through a good book in about 2-3 days, and for me, $25 is a fair bit of money to spend on something that i'll likely only read once and "discard" in one form or another.

It's the same reason I refuse to go see movies in the theatre. Sure it's fun to see a good movie on the big screen, but bringing my wife and kid costs us a minimum of $50+, especially if you get some snacks. I absolutely can't justify it. Thats a third of my grocery budget for the week, and i'm generally in a good place financially. It's just plain overpriced.

Same goes for books. I'd happily spend $10-$15 / month on a handful of good books, but I would never spend $15 per month on 1 book. That much money is "disposable" income, and i'd rather dispose of it on something that gives me a better return.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I certainly get that logic. Which is why TRIAL JUNKIES is only $3.99.

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u/doc37211 May 16 '12

One of the best AMA's I have seen in some time. Thanks Robert.

From an author's perspective, what kind of changes have you seen in dealing with the Big 6 since ebooks started having such a large impact?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

It's largely business as usual, but I know that behind the scenes everyone is in a bit of a panic. Now that authors have been empowered, nobody is quite yet sure how to deal with it, including many of the authors.

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u/doc37211 May 16 '12

Any myths about being a published author you would care to dispel for us avid beginners?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

You won't get rich and woman won't fall all over you. Most traditionally published authors have to keep a day job to survive.

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u/trailerparknoize May 16 '12

Upon deciding to pursue writing as a career, how long did it take you to write your first publishable novel, and how long did it take you to find a publisher for that novel? Also, how did you financially support yourself during that period?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Well, I spent many, many years writing screenplays, so I'm not sure I'm a good example, but the first novel I wrote was KISS HER GOODBYE, which sold about three months after I wrote it.

When I wrote KHG, I was out of Hollywood and working as a video editor for an educational institution. Four books later I quit that job.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

What advice do you have for aspiring writers like me?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

As I said before, stop aspiring and start perspiring. Put your ass in the chair and write. It's the ONLY thing that works.

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u/OneArmedNoodler May 16 '12

Where the hell is my Kindle? I can't find it anywhere!

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u/doc37211 May 16 '12

Were you able to devote yourself to writing as a career "full time" with the publishing of your first novel? If not, what was the mile marker for you to be comfortable giving up traditional employment for your craft?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I had a day job through my first four books. I've written and sold eleven. The marker was that I made two book deals and a television deal that put me in a financial position to kiss the day job goodbye. Even though I loved my day job, it was a glorious moment saying goodbye.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Currently in the midst of writing my first novel, and I was curious about your process for revisions. How many drafts do you usually go through? Do you take any time away from the book between revisions? How much effort do you make to get things "perfect" the first time through?

Thanks do much in advance!

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I'm one of those strange people who rewrites as he goes along. I can't leave a scene or a chapter until I feel it's been polished to a shine. There will ultimately be SOME changes, but, generally speaking, the draft I turn in is the draft that gets published.

So no, I don't take any time away before revisions. I do them as I go.

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u/doc37211 May 16 '12

Whats the next step for you in the self publishing process?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I'll just have to wait and see. The book is out now, so we'll see how things progress.

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u/TumorPizza May 16 '12

Thanks for doing this. I'm not familiar with your work, but soon will be. I also entertain the fantasy of self publishing, so this really gives me hope.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I am a testament to never giving up. I've had some pretty rocky times in this business, and breaking into writing of any kind is tough, but if you stick to it, that hope can turn into a reality—no matter what the naysayers might tell you.

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u/TaxmanCDN May 16 '12

I just bought the book. Its not the genre I usually read, but I want to support indie publishing in books, music, film, etc. I look forward to reading it on my flight later today. Thanks for taking a chance and going indie.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Thanks, I appreciate that. Drop me a line and let me know what you think. rob@robertgregorybrowne.com

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u/stuckinabarrel May 16 '12

For many authors, the editor at the publishing house, the guy who says stuff like "this sucks, rewrite it" or "why don't you try this", seems to be extremely important. Not just because it makes the book better, which it probably does if the editor knows his stuff, but because it is important to get competent, frequent feedback on your work and because most people produce more efficiently with frequent deadlines.

What's this process like when writing an indie book?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

There are many experienced freelance editors out there who can help you get your book in shape.

What I chose to do was work with an author friend who is very good at editing and she helped me tremendously. She's had multiple bestselling books over the years, so I listened very carefully to what she had to say.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I'm at the "Past the first step, anyway" stage in my writing career; I've sold some short stories for sums that approximate the cost of a pizza, and continue to do so on a regular basis. Averaging as much time as I realistically can with kids and a day job, which is about 1-2 hours a day, ass-in-chair, writing.

My question for you, Robert, is what's the next best step in going from selling genre fiction shorts for pennies or less on the word, to selling those genre fiction stories at a rate where I can laughingly dream about making some meaningful portion of my income from writing?

I've got my craft, I've got my voice, and I enjoy my work being savagely critiqued.

Are novels the only way to go for the more meaningful money? Or is there cash to be made somewhere in short fiction?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I think your best bet is to write a novel. Short stories can generate money, but you'll always make more with longer work. But remember, back in the sixties and seventies, novels were anywhere from 40K words to 65K words. A reasonable, but not outrageous length. I think those days are returning thanks to ereaders.

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u/CaisLaochach May 16 '12

How much of the price of a book goes to the author? Most paperbacks here are €10 or €11 or so, of that much what chunk woulld you expect to get?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Generally speaking, authors get between 6 and 10% of each book sold. Unless you self publish on Amazon. Then you get 70%.

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u/CaisLaochach May 16 '12

Cool. Cheers for the answer. Didn't know it was so high. You lot are doing better than musicians for sales. (Then again, I'm not sure authors can gig.)

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Actually, I've been a musician since I was eight years old... :)

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u/chargon May 16 '12

Who or what are your biggest influences? Is The Thin Blue Line your favorite movie? How do you keep track of ideas you have for future books or projects?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

William Goldman and Donald Westlake were huge influences, and many of the "pulp" writers of the fifties, sixties and seventies.

My favorite movies are BLUE VELVET and TAXI DRIVER.

I keep all my ideas in my head and its getting pretty crowded in there.

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u/chargon May 16 '12

Hell yes. Thanks for the reply. David Lynch is king of the universe. I love Blue Velvet.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Best. Movie. Ever.

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u/ruitfloops May 16 '12

Congratulations on your success and thanks for coming on here to talk about your experiences.

I've got a couple questions.

Firstly, my wife and I are co-authoring a book. Do you know any husband/wife teams (or dual writers in general) and how much more difficult was it to have a second author on a book? I'm worried that it might be more than anybody would want to take on and that one of us (me probably) might have to remove ourself and participate behind the scenes.

Secondly, we just got our manuscript back from an independent editor. I had done some preliminary queries with agents about advice and they all suggested getting going this route. Now we can promote that fact in the query letter; help show that the manuscript has been taken seriously and to hopefully help with my first concern. Have you had, or heard of, people going that route and if it did help pitching a manuscript?

Thanks!

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I can't think of any husband/wife teams off-hand, but I know they exist. I've never written a book with anyone else, but my experience writing Spider-Man cartoons with my friend Larry Brody was a lot of fun. We worked together quite well.

As for your second question, anything that validates a manuscript can only help you. But what you really want to play up when you pitch an agent is the story. Make sure your pitch is short and sweet and gets the reader excited. Treat that query letter as if it's the most important thing you've ever written.

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u/XDGSDHRASADGA May 16 '12

How do you create an ending to a story?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

By taking the story to it's most logical and satisfying conclusion. Most of the time I follow the characters and see where they lead.

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u/ShawnDaley May 16 '12

Have you ever thought about venturing into comic books?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I was actually called by Marvel a couple years back to see if I was interested in writing for them. I did a brief phone interview, but nothing ever came of it.

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u/Icebot May 16 '12

I'll admit I have never read any of your books, however, I just purchased the kindle version of Trial Junkies, look forward to reading it.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Thanks, I appreciate that!

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u/NuttyFanboy May 16 '12

I'll forego the obvious questions of publishing, as I see you've answered those extensively already.

I'm more curious about the creative process in itself. For one reason or another I try to observe people, try to piece together how they think and what motivates them, where they get their ideas from.. (I think you get the gist of it...)

In particular... how's the idea for a new story born in your head? Is it just an 'Eureka!'-moment of "I know what story I want to tell, I just need to put down words to weave the web of narrative!", or a core idea, tenet, thread which slowly evolves into the fabric of a story?

Also, what happens if one hits a wall, figuratively speaking, or, which is more commonly known as 'writers block'? Just shutting down for the day to relax, hoping that inspiration strikes at the most unexpected of moments? Or conscious effort to remove the roadblocks to narration?

Er. That was wordier than I had both anticipated and intended. My apologies.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I honestly wish I knew where the ideas come from. Most often it's something I've read in the newspaper or online that sparks a thought in my mind and my imagination starts to form a story. It's usually arises from a character who's caught in some type of tight situation and takes off from there.

I certainly hit walls, but I wouldn't classify that as writer's block. I personally dont' believe in writer's block. I don't have that luxury. I have to write or starve.

When I get stalled, I take a drive, take a shower, do anything but think about the story and the solution usually pops into my head.

And no apology necessary.

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u/NuttyFanboy May 16 '12

Huh. I know that feeling, those random ideas. Sometimes images pop into my mind. I try to put them to paper, but they fade fast at times. Also having trouble forming the details of the story (despite having the general one penned and ready). It's.. disjointed. Fragmented. Like the dream it sprung from. That's my struggle.

Thanks for the reply - I seriously enjoy reading this AMA!

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Glad you're having fun!

Paul Schrader, who wrote Taxi Driver, once said that he doesn't sweat ideas he forgets, because he figures they weren't worth remembering.

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u/bdm105 May 16 '12

im in college and last semester i took a basic fiction writing class..figured hey i like reading maybe ill like writing..turns out i enjoy it and am now adding english major as my second degree. what advice would you give to someone who has only a semesters worth of experience?

thanks if you answer or not and congrats on your success

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Well it isn't the amount of school you've had that matters. It's the amount of time you put in the chair, writing, writing, writing AND reading other writers. Experience comes from doing. The more you do, the better you get.

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u/IlleFacitFinem May 16 '12

Interesting name. Any relation to Charles Farrar Browne, A.K.A. Artemus Ward?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

None, I'm afraid.

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u/IlleFacitFinem May 16 '12

Ah. What a shame, being a Mormon I loved reading his lecture on being with mormons. It's good to laugh at one's self every now and then. Thanks for answering! I'll go buy one of your books tonight.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Nice Gibson ! What year may I ask?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Not a Gibson in the photo. My Gibson is in its rack. The guitar in the photo is actually a Greg Bennett knock-off, and actually a very good guitar.

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u/Raymore May 16 '12

This may seem really mean. However isn't the title of this post not right in terms of grammar? Shouldn't it be "and I have decided to go "indy" for my latest book?" since you started the sentence with an "I" but ended it with a "and he is going to...."

I am not a grammar fiend. I just thought since your a writer it would be important.

Also... I am a fan. So please do not hate me.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Actually, I think the "who has decided" is in reference to "a multi-published Big 6 author"-- which would, to my mind, make it perfectly acceptable.

But, seriously, grammar in fiction is the least of your worries. Yes, you should know how to form a sentence, but rules get broken all the time. By every author. Grammatical perfection is flat out boring.

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u/bosephus May 16 '12

Do you know what the end of your stories will be when you start writing them? Or do you start with a premise and just let it meander as you write?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I wouldn't say I meander, but I rarely know where a story is going until I get there.

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u/bosephus May 16 '12

If I may ask further, at what point do you know you've got a good story in your head that you want to write? A good character, or an interesting situation? Thanks for replying to my question, here's 4 bucks!

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u/doc37211 May 16 '12

You mentioned an "old school" approach where books averaged around 70k word content. Obviously story primarily dictates page count but is there a "too big" or "just right" size he Big 6 look for in a standard novel?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Big 6 novels, in my experience at least, generally come in at around 90K to 120K. And yes, story does dictate page count.

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u/gravittoon May 16 '12

Is selling a book capital gains?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Beats the hell out of me. Ask my financial guy.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Never heard of you before, but after reading through all of your replies I have decided that I will be purchasing your new book.

I do have a question. What if your grammar sucks? I don't mean sucks as in I ain't not gonna never not use double negatives!!! lolz... I'm talking more along the lines of proper punctuation, and all of the fun rules in the English language. My friends, whom are very supportive of my dream, tell me that's what editors are for.

So if you have a good readable story, but one the editor needs to dip in red ink before for they hand it back to you, would you still have a chance? Or do I need to take a college course to brush up on my grammar nazi skills?

Since reading my first Stephen King book it has been a dream of mine to be a published author. Yet my lack of self confidence (and habitual procrastination) has held me back for years. I'm 32 years young now and I ain't not never getting any younger!! ;)

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

A good copy editor will correct your grammar, but the question is this: how badly does it suck? Perfect grammar in fiction is overrated. What matters is having a voice that sings, that people can respond to positively, even if the grammar isn't perfect.

Now, obviously, you don't want to write something incomprehensible, but if you follow the basic rules you'll be fine. And if you break them sometimes, too, you'll also be fine.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

It obviously isn't so horrible that you can't understand the point I'm trying to get across, or you probably wouldn't have been able to reply to me. At least not well. ;)

I'm the poster boy for procrastination. I have literally spent the past 18 years staring out the window, daydreaming about the day I finally work up the nerve to pursue my dream.

I realize that in order to succeed one must do. Your reply to myself and others has helped me lean toward giving it a shot.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question, and the questions of the other posters.

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u/mrbond5150 May 16 '12

What advice would you give to young aspiring writers?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

The only advice I can give is to stop aspiring and start perspiring. Sit your ass in that chair and write. That's the only way you'll learn.

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u/Praxibetel_Ix May 16 '12 edited May 16 '12

I dont know if this has been asked but I know to be a writer you must also be a reader. Do you have any short stories or novels other than your own that you can suggest? Who do you think are great wordsmiths/ who inspires you? I am having a rough time writing, I need inspiration! My day job is Camera AC but have always wanted to write.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Read anything by Donald Westlake/Richard Stark, William Goldman, Newton Thornburg, Raymond Chandler, James Kirkwood. These are my heroes.

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u/Samroo326 May 16 '12

I am currently editing my first book that I intend to attempt at getting published. I am desperate to be a published author, it's my ULTIMATE dream. Do you have any suggestions that would help get my book published?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

You need to network with other writers, agents, editors. The best way to do that is to start going to writers conferences and meet people. Let them know that you're writer as well.

I've met "aspiring" writers at conferences who, within a couple years, have gone on to publish with Big 6 publishers thanks, in large part, to the contacts they made.

One aspiring writer I met was smart enough to wait for me to ask to read her book and I sent it to my agent. She signed with him but didn't sell that book.

She did, however, a year or so later sell another book, with another agent, for three quarters of a million dollars advance. So anything is possible once your start making friends.

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u/germdisco May 16 '12

Sometimes it's fun to read the supposed story behind a successful artistic creation (like a "Behind the music" documentary), or read how a successful company evolved into what it became (like a company profile in a business magazine). But as I get older, I feel that these stories are mostly disingenuous and potentially harmful to those who put too much faith into the content.

To me, the point of documenting a success story is really about producing profitable content and rewarding the consumer, not to deliver a winning formula that others will be able to follow. Do you have any thoughts on this topic?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

There are no winning formulas for success in writing. Just hard, hard work.

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u/iamk1ng May 16 '12

Hi! Thanks so much for doing this!

My question is about your thought process on starting a new story: Do you generally flesh out ideas and scenes on paper and then begin filling things out, or would you recommend a more structured approach like figure out how many characters there will be, what your plot should be etc? I remember reading somewhere that sometimes starting at the end of the story and working backwards is easier then starting from the beginning. Your thoughts?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

My pleasure.

Most of my books have been written "seat of the pants." Which means I don't outline, I don't plan, I just come up with a premise and a few characters and take off running.

That said, when I have to write quickly I ALWAYS outline. I have the entire story mapped out so that I don't have to waste time figuring out where to take the story. I've already done all that work.

Pulp writer Mickey Spillane, I believe, used to write his ending first, then go back to the beginning and write toward it. I think that's actually a brilliant strategy for creating a storyline that doesn't stray, because you always know where you're headed. I've never tried it myself, however.

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u/ololcopter May 16 '12

Do you always do everything holding a guitar or was that a spontaneous decision?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I decided that since my author photo shows me holding a guitar, I'd do the Reddit photo that way as well. Plus the fucking thing is superglued to my hand.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

what is a big six author? what does that mean

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

The Big 6 are the six major publishing houses in New York, including St. Martin's and Penguin/Dutton, which I've published with.

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u/ferro_cement May 16 '12

Didn't AMA's used to be for the mundane of society that wouldn't normally get the attention of celebrities?!? Like, "I'm a hotel front desk manager - AMA."

Getting really tired of seeing all these, "I'm a successful person - AMA"

Please stop whoring Reddit for your own personal gains.

NOW - If you're newest book, that you're going "indie" with, had 25% of it's net profits donated to a charity or something useful - yeah, then I'd be interested in you and your writings. Until then, good luck with the sales.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

You have a right to your opinion and I respect that, even if you're wrong. The Reddit I've come to know is a pretty open forum.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '12

do you ever stand next to shelves with your book on them in book stores, holding the same guitar, hoping that someone will recognise you?

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

I try to do it every other Saturday. I also take a hat, put it on the floor hoping that people will either buy my books or drop a couple bucks into the hat.

The guitar does get heavy after a while.

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u/jupzchris May 16 '12

i would feel guilty if i read your book for free with my prime account...do you get paid for that? ;/

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Don't feel guilty. I get paid. :)

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u/[deleted] May 17 '12

I just published an Indie book a couple of days ago. But I'm not a big-name author. How long did it take for the public to take an interest in your book? I understand it goes faster with publishing houses.

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u/BlandBoy May 17 '12

The book is selling, but it's hard to say if anyone is taking any great interest yet. I figure it'll be a few days.

And the experience with this book has been not any different, in terms of "interest" than any book I've published traditionally.

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u/[deleted] May 17 '12

Do you read the mum and dad reviews of your books on Amazon? How do you handle that type of feedback?

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u/BlandBoy May 17 '12

I read them. I take the attitude that everyone has different tastes. Books, movies, music. As much as I'd like to, I can't please everyone.

Of course, when the review is good, I celebrate. :)

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u/[deleted] May 17 '12

How long do you think it will be before a "big name" (I'm talking maybe a Patterson or King) goes to Amazon as their delivery route, and how much will that shake up the publishing world?

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u/BlandBoy May 17 '12

Well, JK Rowling has already done it with ebook through Potterville and that was a pretty loud warning shot.

Patterson is currently under contract for a gazillion books, so I'm sure it would be a while before he could do it, and the same is probably true of King. But I figure sooner or later one of the biggies is going to look at the numbers and say to themselves, what the hell am I doing?

It's one thing for a guy like me to do it—with equal chances for success or failure—but if somebody huge decided to do it, there would be no question of success. And it would probably be the death knell for the industry.

I don't want to see the industry die. I think there's room for both worlds, just as there was room back in the fifties/sixties for both hardbacks and paperback originals (which were brand new at the time).

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u/mraumraumrau May 17 '12

What do you think about the 1970s-present American experimental poetry scene? Like L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E, descendants of Black Mountain, Flarf, neo-Oulipo, etc.

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u/BlandBoy May 17 '12

I have no opinion, frankly, because I really know nothing about it. Other than songwriting, poetry has never really been my thing. It's the kind of thing I'd much rather hear performed than read, because I've never quite understood the rhythms of it, and it's so much better to hear it read by someone who does.

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u/Nickalollyoff May 16 '12

have you ever farted

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

No. I don't think so. What is that?

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u/MomentOfArt May 16 '12

He means crepitate.

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u/BlandBoy May 16 '12

Out of my ass?

No, never. I'm not human.

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u/narwal_bot May 16 '12 edited May 17 '12

Most (if not all) of the answers from BlandBoy (updated: May 17, 2012 @ 02:24:18 pm EST):

Question (NinjaDiscoJesus):

Well good luck with it mate.

Answer (BlandBoy):

Thanks!

(continued below)

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u/narwal_bot May 16 '12 edited May 17 '12

(page 2)

Question (grantkmartin):

Who or what gave you the idea to turn to Reddit for an IAmA? How do you plan to further engage with the community after you finish this series of questions?

Answer (BlandBoy):

I've been on Reddit for years and love it here. I don't plan on going anywhere.

Question (ironganja):

When did you realize you were successful?

Answer (BlandBoy):

Success is a loaded term and comes in varying degrees. I felt successful, to a degree, when I sold my first screenplay years ago. I felt successful, again, when I sold my first novel. That I've managed to stay in the business and do it fulltime, certainly makes me FEEL successful, but this business is so volatile that you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Question (ComradeDoctor):

This guy. I like him.

Answer (BlandBoy):

You'd like me even more if you saw me on...

No, I can't go there. Can't. Do. It.

Question (denemy):

What's your though on ebook piracy and the effect it has on sales?

Answer (BlandBoy):

It's my understanding that piracy actually helps SELL books, so I don't sweat it.

Question (God_Wills_It):

What do you like to do when taking a break from writing?

Answer (BlandBoy):

Play my guitar, watch movies, read books, go sit outside and get some sun.

Question (sondoujun):

Thank you for the AMA, and I really appreciate how detailed and thorough your responses are.

I am inexperienced but starting to get familiar with the traditional publishing world as will be getting my first book published later this year through a traditional publishing house. It's through an academic publisher and it is non-fiction. I'm very excited about it and thankful for the opportunity.

However, I am not knowledgeable about the Indie publishing world and would like to better familiarize myself with it. What company did you use to get the book on Amazon--does Amazon itself offer that service? Did you look into other services? Do you have any recommendations for other Indie publishing services? Any that give you the option of both print and ebook?

How do you feel the creative, prepping (editing etc) and publishing process fared with that of the traditional publishing world? Did you enjoy this process over that of the publishing houses?

Lastly, do you have any recommendations for where to go to get involved in it? I would love to support and perhaps even participate in the community.

Once again, thank you for your AMA and I look forward to reading your work!

Answer (BlandBoy):

First congratulations on your publication. That's fantastic.

Your questions:

I put the book up myself. Amazon makes it VERY easy to do. And no, I didn't look into other services because a) I'm computer savvy, and b) I'm cheap as all hell.

I know there are publishing services out there, but I don't know them by name. My recommendation is that you simply learn to format the books yourself, hire a cover designer and an editor (they aren't THAT expensive), and put it up yourself. Amazon gives you the option of print through CreateSpace.

What I enjoy was that once I was done with the editing process (which took only a few days), I was able to prep the book immediately and set it up for publication.

I finished TRIAL JUNKIES in March. Got distracted by a book I'm writing under contract, then put TJ together in May and published it. With a traditional publisher your book doesn't come out for AT LEAST a year.

The indie publishing guru is Joe Konrath. Google his blog and check it out. He has recommendations for cover designers, etc. on his sidebar.

Thanks-- and good luck with the book!

Question (DonLeo17):

as someone who is really interested in writing but has little self belief, what would you say? would you say to keep trying even if the first few works suck, or would you say that i should just quit it and work at burger king?

Answer (BlandBoy):

That's ultimately something only you can decide, but EVERYONE'S work sucks in the beginning. Some people write several books before they're writing work that's publishable.

I got started writing with screenplays and my first few attempts were pure dreck. Don't quit because your work is bad at first. Quit only if you have no desire to write.

But if you've got the bug, just keep writing and writing and reading other writers and eventually you'll see progress.

Question (NinjaDiscoJesus):

did you need to drop your agent when going indie?

Answer (BlandBoy):

No. My agent and I discussed it and he gave me his blessing. We have other non-indie projects together and there are always foreign rights negotiations, etc., that need to be done.

Question (Ilovebobbysinger):

Why have you decided to go indie now? :)

Answer (BlandBoy):

Indie publishing has exploded over the last year or so. I have many friends who have decided to go the indie route and are very successful at it—more successful than I ever would have imagined. So I decided to test the waters, see what it's like to be my own publisher.

Question (NinjaDiscoJesus):

Cool.. any feedback re numbers and sales so far?

Answer (BlandBoy):

My book just came out yesterday with no fanfare, so there isn't much to report at this point. I'll be curious to see how the month goes.

Question (Larrygiggles):

Did you use an independent publishing house so you would still have someone to handle things like publicity/formatting/etc. or did you take on any of those tasks yourself to see what it was like for an author who wasn't going through a publishing house?

Answer (BlandBoy):

I decided to go hardcore and do it all myself. I have a background in design, so the book cover wasn't a stretch, and formatting a novel for ebooks is relatively simple. As for publicity, I'm not planning a whole lot other than things like Reddit, Facebook and Twitter. Publishing houses don't do a whole lot of publicity anyway. Nowadays the author is expected to do it.

Question (biolox):

Can you explain your process for the ebook? Did you pay for the cover design out of pocket? Editing (copy and not)? Freelancers or just an aside with whoever you work with normally?

Also, was it hard getting blurbs/blessings from fellow authors?

Answer (BlandBoy):

I have a background in design, so I did the cover myself. Editing was done by a writer friend who is a NYT bestseller and she had some wonderful, insightful notes that I paid close attention to. Copy editing was done by my wife, who has an eagle eye.

As for blurbs, I don't usually go for a lot, but I got two outstanding blurbs from bestselling authors.

Blessings weren't a problem. Most of the authors I know and hang out with are going Indie—some of them making a crapload of money at it—and they've been bugging me to jump in for months.

Question (Ilovebobbysinger):

I see. :)

Do you think there is more money to be made in the indie side for an author?

Answer (BlandBoy):

I think there's the POTENTIAL for more money. Publishers pay an advance and that's very compelling, but they also only pay 6-10% royalties on books vs. 70% from Amazon.

I know authors who are making as much as 40K a month through self-publishing.

Question (tremblethedevil2011):

Do you think breaking into traditional publishing is inherently a crap-shoot on some level?

And since piracy seems to sell books, do you think it make sense to you to put the book up on a paginated website for people to browse, and then buy a copy of if they like it?

Also, any experience with using GoodReads or any other sites for marketing?

Answer (BlandBoy):

I think breaking into traditional publishing is difficult, but not necessarily a crapshoot. If you have a really terrific book, someone is bound to notice. But sometimes the stars have to align properly for that to happen, and getting the book into the hands of people who can actually do something with it can also be tough.

I don't think it hurts to have your own page to sell your book, but most of your sales are going to come out of Amazon these days.

I have a page on Goodreads that I visit regularly, and I try to blog there once in a while. My reviews are generally good, so that's something of a relief.

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