There is to be a new series of Hitchhiker’s Guide on BBC Radio 4.
http://sfcrowsnest.org.uk/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-new-series-on-radio-4/
I missed the first one (read the books) but everyone says it was far better on the radio than in other formats as it was made for radio.
There’s a new report out about self-publishing
Thanks to Chris Morris of Bristol Writer’s Group for posting this on Facebook.
My thoughts as a self-publisher (also published by the pros)
If you check the acceptance rates for both magazines and publishers you see that they reject 90% of what is submitted simply because they only publish a limited quantity. They hope they pick the best 10% but in any case, they reject a lot of good stuff. Self-publishing means it gets out there, at least.
On the other hand, it means there is LOADS of stuff out there. The selection process has moved from the editor’s desk to the market, for good or ill. There’s a lot of crap self-published now which gives the tag a bad name. I don’t think you should self-publish a book until you’ve had some wee, small, tiny, minute or even infinitesimal acknowledgement from someone in the trade that you can actually write. Getting a short story published for example, even in a non-paying market. At least it means somebody wants it. Of course, ‘crap’ is a matter of judgement. It’s a large grey area with up to fifty shades.
Visit my static website here
In my pursuit of a million sales for my books, I’ve read quite a few other books about marketing and most of them are full of…it.
Today I downloaded one that says I know a hundred people (I don’t) and all I have to do is email them all a simple message saying that I’m writing a blog and will they sign up to follow me. They will all say yes. They all know a hundred people too and will joyously contact them about my blog and soon I will have millions of followers.
Er…no. I know some people but none of them are interested in my blog which is mostly about self-publishing because that’s what I’m doing. None of them want to follow me. None of them are SF or fantasy fans and none of them want to read my books. Therefore this entire brilliant marketing strategy falls down at step one. Millions of followers, I shall not have.
The writer advises against emailing strangers with spam and I agree with him there.
There’s another one about getting reviews which begins with the assumption that everyone you know – even vaguely – is gagging to review your book. They are not. The only people I’m in touch with in the SF community are fellow reviewers at SFcrowsnest.co.uk who have too many books to review already, same as me. I am a member of some local writing groups too. They want me to read their books. We’re all in the same boat. The internet is awash with people who have books out shouting for attention, including me. Ignore those other people! Read mine! Consarn Christmas and Other Stories is available at all good ebook retailers. So is The Brigstowe Dragons and so is Five Little Horrors which is ABSOLUTELY FREE.
I’ll be quiet now.
