I am a writer and have been offered a writing contract and need some sponsors to help get this off and running

Question

Have very limited income and anybody that can provide any assistance or tell me where to turn for financial help in this quest, it would be greatly appreciated. Please respond back with serious responses only. Not any sarcasm, please.

Answer 1

Hon, if you are being asked to pay then you are either being scammed or it is a vanity press. This is not how one is published. I'm going to cut and paste from another of my answers.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker - by Nikki-lei

There are plenty of answers to that question. But, I do agree that you don't need an agent to be published. You do need: a good clean manuscript, determination, thick skin (there are plenty of rejections ahead :), knowledge of how to create a story and to write the story and many other things.

If you consider self publishing, I would recommend www.lulu.com. I have a number of friends who have books released by Lulu, they do not charge set up fees and offer a wide variety of additional service for reasonable fees. I've looked into all sorts of options and Lulu is a very good company to work with. You need a good price, cooperative and responsive customer service and a good quality product. Not all printers or publishers offer these things - actually most do not.

I spent endless hours researching agents that accepted my genre and who worked with unpublished writer etc - and I have a stack of over 50 rejection letters and 20-30 were never answered. I sent those almost 5 years ago. However, I talked with some friends and decided to submit my manuscript to an online publisher (which is NOT the same as self publishing) and have not gotten a rejection since I started dealing with the publishers directly. Epublishers can be a great way to get a book accepted and to start learning the business. Also, Print on Demand is NOT the same thing as self publishing. POD offers the print option without having to buy hundreds or thousands of copies of your book.

When you find a company, agent etc that you want to submit your manuscript to, visit http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/... to find out if they are reputable. This is a great service and its offered for free.

I was a marketing director and first reader for a small epublishing company and I was astounded by the horrible quality of many manuscripts that were submitted. This is a sure way to be rejected.

I am working on my 5th novel and my 5th non fiction book at this time. All are released or under contract with a publisher. The non fiction books started through a freelance contract and blossomed into a series of books I never expected to write. I mention my fiction and non fiction work and also a strong background in makreting and promotions when I speak to a publisher etc about my writing.

Someone also mentioned writing articles. This is a great way to get your name out there and to start building your publishing credits. Reputable contests are another good way to get accolades and publishing credits.

0 0
Asker's Rating:
All these answers were helpful, but I am very grateful for all the good advice here. Thanks to all for answering. Looks like I have my work cut out for me...

Add/View comments (0)
My answer -
It can be very difficult to find an agent and almost impossible to publish without one. Your best bet is to attend a writers' conference, where you can sign up to present to an agent in person. Google 'writers' conference' to find one in your area. Put a lot of work into your manuscript before pitching it. Have at least ten other people read it - not just your friends, but your old English teacher and anyone you know who is educated and well read. Take all criticism to heart and rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.

Source(s):

I have had six novels published.

Answer 2

No sarcasm intended, I am curious.

Contract? How is that defined in the context of being employed to write,,, in your case.

Since it was "offered" have no no leverage or ability to negotiate up-front money to be so engaged?

I've been a writer nearly all my life, and never had a situation like this, though admittedly the ARTS aren't strictly a money making career choice.

If you're interested in having someone front you money as an investment in you it sounds like, you'll be adding another "contract" to your life. With no offense a bank or other financial institution is where you should start, and I suspect even they would require some collateral.

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

If you have been offered a writing contract isn't the publisher paying anything of the costs? My publisher did. I would consult an attorney about it. If it is a good valid contract, and family and friends won't help, take the contract to the bank. You might be able to get a loan. I'd be suspicious, though, if you had to pay yourself. Sounds like vanity printing to me at best and a scam at worse.Good Luck.

Answer 4

You haven't been offered a writing contract.

A publisher will pay you for the priviledge of printing your book and if its really good and they like you're work enough they will offer you a real contract to have first dibs on future books.

DO NOT TAKE ANY CONTRACT THAT WANTS YOU TO PAY!!

If your book is good and welll written you will be able to find a legit publisher who will put it in print and they will PAY YOU.