Comments on: How to negotiate a bigger book advance: 9 insider tips http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/ A veteran publishing insider's views on how to get published in today's marketplace Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:53:12 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Jim Williams http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-10964 Jim Williams Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:13:40 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/#comment-10964 Alan, this is the best overall consolidated/summary of publishing information/advice I've ever read. Thank you. I'm writing my second thriller - The Relict Chronicles (copyrighted) - a paranormal psychological serial killer thriller (the market is screaming for this) involving the paranoia of a Russian prime minister confronted with Rusalka, who is powerful enough to get what he wants. He’s determined to kidnap a powerful American psychic family (Barrins who are of Russian descent) - including twins - to figure out who is conspiring to assassinate him because of Russian Rusalka association/paranoia. Rusalka is a real Russian demon that threatens children especially and leaves them floating. Listening to the ether is the Director of the PTF paranormal task force (real concept) of the CIA, FBI, NSA, etc. A 4000 year old entity - The Relict - is in control - super high IQ born in a cave of the Dead Sea who controls the ether and wants the twins for himself. He lives in a New York penthouse. He can blink and kill you. Professor Dawson of the CIA collaborates with him. He witnesses EVERY serial killing. He's immortal and hears everything on the ether – everything in the universe! I need an advance (perhaps you have advice) to finish this commercially viable novel (500 discombobulated pages so far). An agency was interested in my novel and wanted me to sign but couldn’t deliver an advance so I backed off. The first book is Hero or Villain about the Barrin twins. One was forced to shoot the other during their first encounter in 22 years at McDonalds (1984 true story of mass murder in San Diego). They were strangers holding guns. One was supposed to be dead 22 years ago – a family lie. The parents are supposed to be dead – a lie. They are the most powerful psychics besides The Relict and protected underground by the CIA. A crow is guarding the twin's grave and the soul is getting restless and his body has not been embalmed and he has not decomposed after one year. The Relict kept him preserved. The Russian prime minister wants his KGB team to grab the twins, a cousin Chris (very smart and strong psychic) the whole Barrin clan, the crow, and to make the Russian Rusalka demon go away while finding out what paranoid groups are planning his assassination. He was born during Rusalka and feels cursed and is pathologically paranoid. The Barrin twins are nephews of the CIA PTF Director, Professor Dawson. My Hero or Villain book signing party was a success - sold out at B&N, and is selling on Amazon.com With an advance I can focus and finish this novel within 3-6 months; for now I'm a contract engineer/sr technical writer working for F500 companies like Shell, Exxon, Halliburton....I make good money but not enough to stop working for 6 months and finish the novel. I need to focus. The Relict Chronicles will become a block buster novel, a movie, and games. Thanks for your time and awesome advice. Jim Williams – Houston author Alan, this is the best overall consolidated/summary of publishing information/advice I’ve ever read. Thank you.
I’m writing my second thriller – The Relict Chronicles (copyrighted) – a paranormal psychological serial killer thriller (the market is screaming for this) involving the paranoia of a Russian prime minister confronted with Rusalka, who is powerful enough to get what he wants. He’s determined to kidnap a powerful American psychic family (Barrins who are of Russian descent) – including twins – to figure out who is conspiring to assassinate him because of Russian Rusalka association/paranoia. Rusalka is a real Russian demon that threatens children especially and leaves them floating.
Listening to the ether is the Director of the PTF paranormal task force (real concept) of the CIA, FBI, NSA, etc. A 4000 year old entity – The Relict – is in control – super high IQ born in a cave of the Dead Sea who controls the ether and wants the twins for himself. He lives in a New York penthouse. He can blink and kill you. Professor Dawson of the CIA collaborates with him. He witnesses EVERY serial killing. He’s immortal and hears everything on the ether – everything in the universe!
I need an advance (perhaps you have advice) to finish this commercially viable novel (500 discombobulated pages so far). An agency was interested in my novel and wanted me to sign but couldn’t deliver an advance so I backed off. The first book is Hero or Villain about the Barrin twins. One was forced to shoot the other during their first encounter in 22 years at McDonalds (1984 true story of mass murder in San Diego). They were strangers holding guns. One was supposed to be dead 22 years ago – a family lie. The parents are supposed to be dead – a lie. They are the most powerful psychics besides The Relict and protected underground by the CIA. A crow is guarding the twin’s grave and the soul is getting restless and his body has not been embalmed and he has not decomposed after one year. The Relict kept him preserved. The Russian prime minister wants his KGB team to grab the twins, a cousin Chris (very smart and strong psychic) the whole Barrin clan, the crow, and to make the Russian Rusalka demon go away while finding out what paranoid groups are planning his assassination. He was born during Rusalka and feels cursed and is pathologically paranoid. The Barrin twins are nephews of the CIA PTF Director, Professor Dawson.
My Hero or Villain book signing party was a success – sold out at B&N, and is selling on Amazon.com
With an advance I can focus and finish this novel within 3-6 months; for now I’m a contract engineer/sr technical writer working for F500 companies like Shell, Exxon, Halliburton….I make good money but not enough to stop working for 6 months and finish the novel. I need to focus. The Relict Chronicles will become a block buster novel, a movie, and games.
Thanks for your time and awesome advice.
Jim Williams – Houston author

]]> By: Alan Rinzler http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-2267 Alan Rinzler Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:04:33 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/#comment-2267 Hi Penny, Search on line for "Email List Brokers" and you'll see a large choice of companies who offer a variety of services, depending on how much you want to spend, from specialized lists you can rent, to helping write marketing letters, create special offers, and other techniques. You can also try to get free email lists from friends, professional organizations, or colleagues you can trade with, yours for theirs. -Alan Hi Penny,

Search on line for “Email List Brokers” and you’ll see a large choice of companies who offer a variety of services, depending on how much you want to spend, from specialized lists you can rent, to helping write marketing letters, create special offers, and other techniques. You can also try to get free email lists from friends, professional organizations, or colleagues you can trade with, yours for theirs.

-Alan

]]> By: Penny Lopez http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-2258 Penny Lopez Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:40:36 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/#comment-2258 Where can I get these email list (blasts) from? Thanks. Where can I get these email list (blasts) from? Thanks.

]]> By: Alan Rinzler http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-1825 Alan Rinzler Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:03:20 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/#comment-1825 Hi Livia- Regarding how to be telegenic and persuasive, check our post from November 19, 2009, especially 1.Rehearse, 2. Read Just Enough and Not Too Much, 3. Look Your Audience in the Eye, and remember that any time you're at a public event or in the media, you're a performance artist. For some people that can actually be a lot easier than writing itself. As for whether or not big advances are always a good thing, I advise authors, that no matter what, they should ignore all horror stories about how awful and impossible it is. In fact, most published books don't earn out their advances. Nevertheless we do spend more on marketing, print more copies, and hype a title more, if we've paid a big advance. Sad but true. And I've never known in 47 years of book publishing, an author to turn down an advance because it was too big! It always works better when authors, agents, editors, and publishers all have confidence. Or is it blind faith? -Alan Hi Livia-

Regarding how to be telegenic and persuasive, check our post from November 19, 2009, especially 1.Rehearse, 2. Read Just Enough and Not Too Much, 3. Look Your Audience in the Eye, and remember that any time you’re at a public event or in the media, you’re a performance artist. For some people that can actually be a lot easier than writing itself.

As for whether or not big advances are always a good thing, I advise authors, that no matter what, they should ignore all horror stories about how awful and impossible it is. In fact, most published books don’t earn out their advances. Nevertheless we do spend more on marketing, print more copies, and hype a title more, if we’ve paid a big advance. Sad but true. And I’ve never known in 47 years of book publishing, an author to turn down an advance because it was too big! It always works better when authors, agents, editors, and publishers all have confidence. Or is it blind faith?

-Alan

]]> By: Mimm Patterson http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-1817 Mimm Patterson Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:06:06 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/#comment-1817 How do you purchase an email list? And, by the way - thanks - the information was invaluable. How do you purchase an email list? And, by the way – thanks – the information was invaluable.

]]> By: Livia Blackburne http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-1816 Livia Blackburne Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:44:48 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/#comment-1816 Oh, and another question -- is a bigger advance always a good thing? I hear horror stories about editors being unwilling to buy a second book because the first one didn't make as much money as anticipated. Oh, and another question — is a bigger advance always a good thing? I hear horror stories about editors being unwilling to buy a second book because the first one didn’t make as much money as anticipated.

]]> By: Livia Blackburne http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-1811 Livia Blackburne Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:55:11 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/#comment-1811 Alan, Any plans for a post on "How to be telegenic and persuasive"? Alan,
Any plans for a post on “How to be telegenic and persuasive”?

]]> By: Cynthia Schuerr http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-1787 Cynthia Schuerr Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:55:27 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/#comment-1787 Alan, you are going to make me an expert, in spite of myself. I learn so much from reading your honest and informative information. Please keep it comeing Thank you, Alan, you are going to make me an expert, in spite of myself. I learn so much from reading your honest and informative information. Please keep it comeing

Thank you,

]]> By: Alan Rinzler http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-1784 Alan Rinzler Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:33:50 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/#comment-1784 Hi Garth- Hey, we love our local independent booksellers here in the Bay Area: Book Passages, Keplers, Mrs. Dalloways. These shops are still the heart and soul of the business, and can help launch a book with their special sensitivity to the local market. -Alan Hi Garth-

Hey, we love our local independent booksellers here in the Bay Area: Book Passages, Keplers, Mrs. Dalloways. These shops are still the heart and soul of the business, and can help launch a book with their special sensitivity to the local market.

-Alan

]]> By: Alan Rinzler http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-1783 Alan Rinzler Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:30:19 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2008/10/14/how-to-negotiate-the-biggest-possible-book-advance-9-tips-for-writers/#comment-1783 Hi Al- Right -- who doesn't hate spam? But these mega lists you can buy aren't slapped together from the phone book. Skilled brokers compile the names of the people who might be most interested in your book, like members of an appropriate professional organization, recent attendees at various workshops and trainings in the field, members of specialized reading groups, magazine and journal subscribers, fanzines, past book buyers from key direct mail and on-line retailers. It's a science. Also keep in mind that publishers wouldn't keep doing this if it wasn't working. These efforts can result in returns of 1-3%, which may sound small but add up to orders that make it all worthwhile. Sales can spike within a discreet 6-8 hour period, so Amazon and others will ship fast and reorder, inspiring reprints and gaining attention for a few days. Sure it could be just a flash in the pan, but if the book has legs, getting out a few thousand more copies can generate a buzz that goes far beyond that. -Alan Hi Al-

Right — who doesn’t hate spam? But these mega lists you can buy aren’t slapped together from the phone book. Skilled brokers compile the names of the people who might be most interested in your book, like members of an appropriate professional organization, recent attendees at various workshops and trainings in the field, members of specialized reading groups, magazine and journal subscribers, fanzines, past book buyers from key direct mail and on-line retailers. It’s a science.

Also keep in mind that publishers wouldn’t keep doing this if it wasn’t working.

These efforts can result in returns of 1-3%, which may sound small but add up to orders that make it all worthwhile. Sales can spike within a discreet 6-8 hour period, so Amazon and others will ship fast and reorder, inspiring reprints and gaining attention for a few days. Sure it could be just a flash in the pan, but if the book has legs, getting out a few thousand more copies can generate a buzz that goes far beyond that.

-Alan

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