rolanni: (i've often seen a cat without a smile)
[personal profile] rolanni
I'm going to preface this by stating the obvious: Web serialization is not easy; it's not only not for every author, it's not for every story. I believe that web serialization is best done (as in "most profitably," for a number of values of profit) by established writers working in a universe that already has a reader following. It can work for established writers working in a new universe, though it may be more difficult, initially, to drum up reader interest. Web serialization is not, in my not-so-humble-opinion, a good way for a brand-new author to find their audience, nor is it necessarily a replacement for so-called traditional publishing.

Steve and I got into the web serialization gig through necessity. We had created a universe that had a following, the existing novels of which were entangled in a messy publisher meltdown. That same publisher meltdown had entangled many dollar$ owed us in royalty payments. It was December, in Maine, and we were, in a word, broke, with a habit of living indoors and cats to feed. Clearly, something had to be done, and quickly.

We were aware that other authors were experimenting with web serialization -- Lawrence Watt-Evans was serializing an Ethshar novel to meet fan demand; Diane Duane was doing something sort of like it with The Big Meow, Don Sakers was trying yet another variation on the theme. And then of course, there were the web comics.

We decided, Steve and I, that doing something was infinitely better than doing nothing, and that writing for money is honorable work. What we needed to do was come up with a story.

The mainstream Liaden novels were, as above, entangled, so writing the sequel to I Dare was ...iffy. However, there was a character, whom the authors had known about for, well, years. A side character, really, who appears in the very last pages of I Dare and whose story was completely unencumbered.

Now, we're messy writers. When we start writing a book, we have a vague, general idea of where the story may go and where we would like it to end up. We may have a few scenes in mind. Definitely, we have characters in mind. But, for us, the writing is the thing; the joy is in the discovery of the story as it unfolds. (Proof of our messiness -- in case it's needed -- is the fact that the one book-of-Theo we had intended to write spontaneously became two.) Generally, I would think, web serialization should be undertaken by neat writers, who produce and follow an outline. However, as I said, necessity existed.

Steve and I put our heads together, came up with a rough idea, wrote five chapters, agreed that we could do this thing, and announced our intention to the world.

As all of you who have been playing along at home know, the serialization was profitable, for values of profit ranging from feeding the authors' cats; to building a community of interested readers; to producing not one, but two credible drafts; to finding a publisher to willing to adopt the finished novels and distribute them widely.

Win-win-win.

Having now completed two years of web serialization, we did learn some things about the process.

The first thing we learned is: Given the right story, it's fun to do a web serialization.

The second thing we learned is: It's stressful to do a web serialization. Especially during the first year, when there was a lot going on in our professional and personal lives -- not all of it happy; not all of it horrible, but all of it having to be dealt with right now.

Even lacking the outside stresses, it does take a great deal of commitment to write and post that weekly chapter. (Web comics folks who post three times a week, or -- my ghod! -- every single day, my hat's off to you guys. You are made of awesome.) We had started with good intentions, and chapters written ahead, but quickly fell into the pattern of needing to write Monday's chapter on the weekend immediately prior, which meant late nights and, sometimes, opportunity for much-needed relaxation turned aside.

One huge thing that we didn't realize going in was how much ancillary record-keeping, correspondence, and database work would be involved. Because we're writers first and geeks a very distant second, we've fallen behind all the latest and greatest, and had no time to learn. That meant all the html-ing of the chapters, all the data entry, all the tallying of contributions, and posting of how many chapters were funded now -- was done by hand, by us, adding hours to the weekly commitment of writing the chapter.

Frankly, if there is one single thing that would hold me back from ever again doing a web serialization, it's the "side work." It just about killed me, and contributed to the difficulty of meeting the deadlines for the other contracted-for novels that we were writing concurrently with the web drafts.

Though it's wonderful that Baen agreed to publish both books, we learned that there is much more reader excitement generated by having a graph showing how many chapters are funded, versus how many books have found homes.

Also, we learned that having a graph showing how many chapters were funded works against us, in that there are some folks who become...annoyed... that the authors have received "extra money" for their work, and felt that readers were being ripped off. Answering cranky emails accusing me of dishonorable behavior really isn't one of my favorite things to do.

I don't really know how to resolve those things. Perhaps that tidy, outline-oriented author mentioned above wouldn't have this problem.

Earlier, I mentioned that it's important to have the "right story" in order to do a successful web serialization. Theo's stories were, in my opinion, dern near perfect for serialization: They mostly stuck with one viewpoint character to whom interesting things happened. The single-POV storyline is more forgiving of a slightly episodic narrative. Other stories, such as the upcoming Mouse and Dragon, which will almost certainly involve tricky timing and multiple POV switches, are not the sort of story you want to first-draft under the eyes of hundreds.

This has gotten 'way long, and I'm out of insights.

Questions/comments, anyone?

Date: 2009-01-18 04:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] shana.livejournal.com
Thank you for Theo's story. I've downloaded the chapters of Fledgling so that I can compare the first draft to the final draft when Baen releases it.

I'm very much looking forward to Mouse and Dragon, because Aelliana is one of my favorite characters.

Date: 2009-01-18 05:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rolanni.livejournal.com
Thank you for Theo's story.

You're welcome.

I'm very much looking forward to Mouse and Dragon, because Aelliana is one of my favorite characters.

I'm looking forward to writing it!

Date: 2009-01-18 05:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] drammar.livejournal.com
Thank you for these insights, and for the serializations themselves.

I fail to understand how any reader could have felt that you were "ripping off" anyone, simply because manymany (to borrow your phrase) people chose to support your efforts. Each reader, it seems to me, paid for the privilege of reading the novel as it came to life, not to mention receiving the published novel as well.

Thank you for Mondays that were well spent, and well rewarded.

Date: 2009-01-18 05:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rolanni.livejournal.com
I fail to understand how any reader could have felt that you were "ripping off" anyone,

Ah. It's the "novel as piece work" view of the universe. We said we would write X-number of chapters, and were very quickly funded far beyond that number. We therefore either "owed" the readers as many chapters as had been funded (in which case, we'd still be writing), or we "owed" contributors a refund, for the number of chapters funded but not written.

Some people can find something to offend them in anything...

Date: 2009-01-18 06:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pgranzeau.livejournal.com
I don't believe I contributed to either work until after the funding was complete (but I can't tell, as I have a lousy memory, either), but I contributed because I appreciated what you were writing, anyway. $xxx per chapter wasn't going to keep you in fuel for a Maine winter, to start with, was it? and you needed to keep your day job and you needed all your other sources of income, too. You didn't "owe" me anything other than to continue writing. I would have been saddened if it blew up in your faces and you couldn't finish, but it seems that both "Theo" novels have found a home, and you managed to finish the story as far as it needed doing.

Now all I have to do is last until you can finally get at the I Dare sequel. . . .

Date: 2009-01-18 06:18 pm (UTC)
alicebentley: (Default)
From: [personal profile] alicebentley
This ramble is the result of my personal passion for the topic and a dire case of Work Avoidance, so apologies in advance if it's even more erratic than my usual.

Monetizing web publication has been the hot topic of the last decade, and there is no One True Way, but here's some techniques to smooth the path:

Advertising - banner ads let you get money in, let someone else help support your work, and let your readers see something that the advertiser thinks they might be interested in. Project Wonderful takes all the horrible parts out for a reasonably small fee. Most pages can support a header banner, a side tower and a collection of button ads at the bottom without distracting badly from the main focus of the page.

Updates - Never Miss An Update seems to be the Golden Rule in catching and retaining web visitors. Never less than once a week seems like a good one too, and MWF is coalescing into some sort of Ideal. The good news is that while the readers are desperate for that update, they seem less picky about what it actually consists of. Short sections are fine, and don't even need to have internal flow (setup, devel, climax, wrapup). For a text work like yours I would be tempted to break updates up into smaller pieces than Chapters, perhaps to allow more frequent updates, or just to permit a less frantic need to produce it. Frantic cannot be sustained over the long haul and rarely leaves room for fun, which is absolutely required.

Donations - What I've seen is that it is more successful (productive? profitable? just works better?) to ask that donations reflect the readers enjoyment of the work, and their encouragement to your future efforts than to tie them to any particular schedule or requirement. So instead of a progress bar that lets everyone know what is needed to reach the next update (which is a pain to update anyway...), make a blanket appeal for support. When your Paypal button says "I need just this much" many readers conclude that it was either way beyond their means (my $5 won't really help) or that you are close enough anyway. If it instead says "Are you enjoying what you read? You can thank us for that!" it disconnects your needs from their abilities - and you want that.

Another factor for donations is "thank you"s. A surprising number of websites have no response when a donation is sent. Paypal sends the invoice, but that's it. Far more effective is if you set up a reward system such as special downloadable graphics or access to a special side story. Make it an automatic part of the donation process and your part of the work becomes changing the reward every now and then, and redirecting the few donators who don't get taken to the correct subpage (that happen about every 50 to 100 donations). Wallpapers that people can use on their desktops or cellphones are particularly effective, since then your reader is reminded of your work every time they boot up. Acquiring good art does take some work, but it's amazing what even top name professionals will work for if it's a project they like and they know they'll get extra exposure for it. And considering your fanbase, I bet you get some amazing fan art every now and then, and would get a lot more if there was a chance more people would see it.

Wow - this really has run long, and I'm far from out of opinions (worth every penny you have paid for them!), but I better at least consider getting some of my real work done. Ah, grad school.


Disclaimers: I have no connection to Project Wonderful, I don't run any web services, I don't run my own bookstore any more (but I was The Stars Our Destination for 16 years), in fact I don't work for any one at all at the moment (but I worked for Studio Foglio for a couple of years).

effectiveness of third-party ads

Date: 2009-01-18 07:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] amm-me.livejournal.com
I appreciate alicebentley's time and thought, but for me at least, some of her suggestions would not work and even be counterproductive. Simply put, I abominate ads. I realize that they must work enough for people to keep investing in them. I, however, totally tune out banners, sidebars, buttons, etc., and I am much more likely to stick with a site that has none. Selling your own work, or making it available while requesting donations, in this direct-contact-between-authors-and-readers forum, is a neat thing. Using the interest I have in Theo to waste my time and attention with stuff I'm not much interested in is not. I realize that ad campaigns try to target their audience so that they WILL be interested in the ads, but it is generally a failure, at least as far as I am concerned.

Re: effectiveness of third-party ads

Date: 2009-01-23 05:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] anisosynchronic.livejournal.com
Ads....
Most of the magazines in the USA exist as advertising vehicles. The most egregious have editorial content based on what is most endearing, pandering, and flattering to and promoting of the advertisers. On the other hand, I remember back when the line about AmigaWorld magazine, which had much truth to it, was that people were buying it most for the advertising--the buyers were Amiga users who were looking for software, peripherals, and sources of such products, and AmigaWorld was a place where the purveyors of such, advertised their wares.
The other extremes is the frog-milt distribution method, of ejaculating everywhere that there might be the possibility, however remote, of a fertile egg ready for penetration by a wriggly from the promiscuously spewed frog milt.
In between... I noticed a Publish America ad from Google on Liaden discussion LiveJournal weblog. Euuwww! Google on "Atlanta Nights" to see some of the reasons why "euuww!" is one of the more polite and respectful and postive comments about Publish America.

Ads that provide information that people appreciate and/or are amusing for reasons other than disbelief in how inept something can be, are ads that people appreciate. Ads that are like frog milt, are reasons for hating marketing, marketing communications people, and perpetrated ads.

I would expect that ads for tasteful Liaden-related merchandise, for books like Lois McMaster Bujolds, ads for Georgette Heyer novels, and related stuff, would be things that if done tastefully, would be things that Liaden universe readers would appreciate having. Ads for vanity presses or worse, ads for dubious origination balloon mortgage loans, ads for "lifestyle" drugs, etc., are things that tend to offend, irritate, and annoy people. And ads that involve Active-X controls and popups, write things on people's computers, and generally make junkyard dogs look inert and friendly, created precedences that have polluted and debased the entire concept of "advertising" on the 'net.....

Date: 2009-01-18 10:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] keristor.livejournal.com
I agree with amm_me about third-party ads. Actually, I don't even see most of them now because I use Adblock on Firefox, but sometimes bits creep through (like on LJ pages) and annoy me. They are seldom actually relevant, and sometimes so far out as to be offensive (like a recent one on a report about people dying in a fire which advertised ways to start fires!).

Date: 2009-01-22 06:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] missingvolume.livejournal.com
I use ads on Project Wonderful and I have to say the click thru is darn low even when I did get ads on heavy trafficed sites and as far as I could tell there was no revenue generated from it for me.

Date: 2009-01-18 07:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sleary.livejournal.com
From the technical end, I suspect the only sane way to do this -- and in retrospect, I'm extremely sorry I wasn't clearer about it when we initially discussed RSS feeds -- is to set it up as a blog. WordPress in particular will handle for you the RSS feeds, crossposting an excerpt to LJ (with a plugin), and scheduling posts in advance. With another plugin, you can have Feedburner (http://feedburner.com) track the feed's subscribers and provide an email option for those who don't want (or understand how to use) RSS. And, of course, comments can be turned off so that discussion takes place on LJ, tucked safely out of sight. (Other blog software can do all that too, but WordPress is the one I work with.)

That said, the only nitpick I had throughout the project -- and this really was minor -- was in the matter of linking. I wanted the teasers to be posted at the time the chapter became available, with a link, so that I could go straight to the story. Later, I stumbled over the fact that chapters not yet posted were nevertheless linked in the chapter list. Several times when I'd fallen behind, I'd go down the TOC to catch up, and having those extraneous links served to make it harder to find my place ("I don't remember what the last chapter number was that I read, but I'm three weeks behind, so I should start three links up from the bottom, right...? No.") and led to a couple of disappointing moments when I'd finish the last posted chapter and click through, anticipating another, only to land abruptly on a 404 error. Having the unpublished chapter headings in plain text, rather than dead links, would have indicated that they were forthcoming without disorienting me.

You were smart to put the PayPal button and the publication schedule at the bottom of each chapter. The two questions that pop into a reader's head, upon reaching the end, are (ideally) "How can I fund more of this?" and "When will there be more?" You provided answers exactly when and where they were needed. I've suggested to the Shadow Unit folks that they ought to do the same; over there, when you finish an episode, you aren't led to donate or discuss in the forum, either of which would be a logical next step.

I'm very glad these projects worked out financially. It's been great fun following Theo. Thank you for letting us come along! I'm eagerly awaiting the printed copies -- I'm vastly curious as to what changes your revisions have wrought.

Date: 2009-01-18 08:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] keristor.livejournal.com
(Note: I am using the second-person plural below as a plural, meaning both of you.)

For a start, thank you very much for the experience! And for all of the side-comments about writing (like this post) as well. I really like getting an insight into the writing process, and many of your side-comments about it are not only informative but also entertaining.

Were you to do something like this again, I think that at least some of the extra work you did could be farmed out. There are probably many of us who could take a word processor file (in whatever format you do them) in and convert it to HTML, add appropriate extra bits, and post it. The same for keeping track of the chapter funding posting, probably.

As far as the people who think that they've not got their money's worth, well, I can see their point. Not agree with it, but I can see how they feel that way. But when I signed up for it I knew that the amount I was paying was more than the cost of buying a mass-market book anyway, what I was paying for was to help keep a couple of authors (and cats!) alive and sane enough to write more stuff that I like, and any 'return' in the way of an actual book is gravy. For most authors (and in fact most people who work in the arts) I know the actual money per work hour is way under the minimum wage, so we actally get the books at less than the real cost.

The same, honestly, with the occasional production waits. Yes, I was looking on the Mondays, and sometimes then remembering that you were having a break, but for me that only meant that the next installment was more precious when it did arrive. There's this thing called Real Life(tm), I think too many fans need to get one so that they realise how it gets in the way of mice and men...

Date: 2009-01-18 08:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] adina-atl.livejournal.com
The one thing I want to really commend on this project is that you FINISHED it--on schedule and in a reasonable amount of time.

The more authors who start things like this and then poo out before they finish, the harder it will be for other, more responsible authors to generate interest in similar projects. If an author does not have a good track record for finishing projects on deadline or if they have a habit of allowing "life happens" to interfere with writing, they should either avoid web serialization or complete the novel and then start serializing it.

Date: 2009-01-18 08:39 pm (UTC)
spiritdancer: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiritdancer
I will heartily second the commendations for finishing the project :-) I'm a paid subscriber for a couple of other unfinished ongoing projects that are just that - unfinished. However, I figure I'll get my "returns" in time, even if it's just the author publishing _other_ stuff, because my funds helped them get thru a tight spot.

I'll also second Keris' thoughts above about farming out the techie bits elsewhere - it'll make it a bit easier all around (for you and the readers).

Date: 2009-01-18 08:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] katmoonshaker.livejournal.com
I can't address everything but for what it's worth you may have my two cents worth.

A. I adore your work and love reading it no matter what format it is in.
B. I never felt pressed to send money and when I had none didn't send it in. Once I did have money, I sent it in. No huhu.
C. 1. Having read Asimov, Bradley, etcetera etcetera, etcetera I know that an author does not get much money from the sale of one of their books. Ergo, they get more if they sell a book directly.
2. I have relatives who are musicians. They don't make much money. This is true of probably 99% of artists.
D. Given the points in C I would prefer to either buy books/writing directly from an author and/or donate to them so that they get more money if it is at all possible for me to do so. This also why my tendency is to not buy second hand books.
E. If you can, get a secretary to handle the 'paperwork' so that you can concentrate on writing.
F. Should you serialize again, set it up so that the chapters are coming out every two weeks. This gives less pressure from the get-go. Also set up out front that chapters will be delayed for holidays and conventions. In fact, a calendar might come in handy. One that can be linked to and changed. This calendar could also have links to the cons... muahahahahaha. (What? Me evile??)

Support your local author, for heaven's sake.

Date: 2009-01-18 08:44 pm (UTC)
elbales: (Girl Reading - Perugini)
From: [personal profile] elbales
I want to thank you and Steve for doing a web serialization at all. It's so much work! Perhaps if you were to do another one at some point, you could find volunteers to help with the coding at least. And, as [livejournal.com profile] sleary has already noted, there are applications and tools out there that could lighten your load, as well.

Those dead links were a bit disconcerting (as I've mentioned before), but I totally understand why they were there—it made your life much easier to only have to code the chapter links list once.

Finally, it... perturbs me to read about people sending you angry e-mail accusing you, essentially, of fraud. [livejournal.com profile] keristor did such a good job of expressing my thoughts on the matter that I can only say, in the current parlance, This.

Date: 2009-01-18 09:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kalimeg.livejournal.com
Ah, our authors are far too kind to send suggestions about remedial reading to angry letter writers, even though that would be instruction that they sorely need.

I don't think I had a job until Fledgling was finished -- and I still sent in my $25.00 -- the bargain being that this contribution would get either a trade copy or a cloth copy of the book, did it find a hardcopy publishing home. I was fully certain that the story of Theo would find a home, but if it did not, I was still satisfied to contribute to the effort.

You see, it worked because so many of us can read.

Thank you.

Date: 2009-01-18 10:02 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Just a reminder: at least from where I sit, any reader sending personal email to an author should be overjoyed to receive any response at all, and certainly feel obligated to. So those cranky emails...please don't feel obliged to answer them! (Of course, throwing out emails unanswered isn't a pleasant feeling, and it's more complicated when there's money involved. A middle-of-the-road is to have a boilerplate reply that you send to all such people.)

I can almost see where the whiners are coming from in that if, say, you had posted one chapter, I'd contributed $25, and then there were no more chapters, I think I would feel upset and disappointed. But beyond that extreme, whining is whining. The World is Complicated and Things Happen.

Anyhow, you guys did an awesome job! It's easy to see how the administrivia got out of control, but you sure made it seem like you were on top of it, and that was good. And the product-so-far has been excellent as well (only to get better!).

John Hawkinson

The "Side Work"

Date: 2009-01-18 10:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] edgreenberg.livejournal.com
1. Could you outsource the "side work?" Maybe to FOL volunteers?

2. Could you write more (maybe all) before releasing, then release a chapter per week? When Scheherazade told stories in sections, she wasn't composing them one night at a time (one hopes.)

In any event, I enjoyed both stories, and am, as always, waiting on more Miller/Lee output.

On the care and feeding of authors

Date: 2009-01-19 01:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bookmobiler.livejournal.com
Keeping authors well fed and happy is a worthy goal.

Complaining about how much they eat is kind of tacky.

I made a donation at the first chapter of both books. I did not actually read them until after the authors declared a draft.
I just don't like reading serials.

But I did enjoy both books, and look forward to viewing the final editions. When you come right down to it I made the donations for the authors, not the books.

Considering the years of pleasure their works have given me I would have been willing to make a contribution without the books. I wouldn't want them put in a situation where they were forced to stop writing.

Date: 2009-01-19 02:22 am (UTC)
ext_3634: Ann Panagulias in the Bob Mackie gown I want  (actions - reading)
From: [identity profile] trolleypup.livejournal.com
I would have contributed even if all I got was access to the draft. So I certainly wasn't one of the people who wrote angry emails.

Words from some of my favorite authors sooner? In a weekly fix? Here! Let me throw some more money in the pot!

For me, the weekly serialization was about right.

Serializations

Date: 2009-01-19 02:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ingrid44.livejournal.com
I feel I should apologise for the emails from such ignorant fools - except they are not 'true fans'. They feel 'robbed' and 'ripped off' do they? When the overwhelming sentiment is GRATITUDE from your fans? This has been such a novel experience - a weekly participation in your 'creation'; and then - being able to comment, discuss each chapter in a community of other fans!
Well, a check every so often is a small price to pay. I'm personally sorry I was unable to partake during the writing of FLEDGLING, as I didn't have a PC at the time. And now, it's all over!

I hope that in time, you may decide to do another on-line book, only now that you're aware of the Admin/Scut work required, you'll be able to make use of some of these suggestions.

Again, THANK YOU for these most enjoyable months.

A heartfelt Thanks for the serializations

Date: 2009-01-19 07:20 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
I'll begin by first echoing the sentiments of the kind folks replying to your post. Thank you for twenty-four months of enjoyment - Mondays just won't be the same - not just because of no 'Theo', but the discussions with all of your readership who accompanied those of us on Theo's journey.
***
In my opinion, those few readers who felt that 'they were cheated' should go back and re-read the explanation provided regarding this project. Unfortunately there are some people that no matter what you do will never be satisfied or happy.

kudos to you both

Date: 2009-01-19 09:12 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
I have every Liaden Universe book I could scrounge and reading Theo's story only leaves me hungry for more, more, more. As an inveterate typo finder, I thought that reading a live first draft would drive me buggy- DIDN'T HAPPEN - Theo's life kept me totally engaged. Seeing the tie-ins with the main Clan Korval storyline as well as with Jethri's, Cantra's, and Jela's storylines left me wanting to know more. The connections call out for more "side character" stories. Surely, more about the seemingly eternal crew of the original Uncle, Arin, and Dulsy of Jela and Cantra's time to the Uncle of Arin and Jethri on to the Uncle of Theo's current dilemma. More about Jethri and the creation of the "antique ship" that Theo is now key-holder to. More about 'Boss Conrad' Pat Rin and Surebleak, and where the Tree's new home will be, how Korval will handle the relocation.... Do all of us who love Korval and the Liaden Universe a great favor- KEEP WRITING - be it web serializations or fresh new books, I can't wait to see what will happen next. When Theo's books come out from Baen I will be there waiting, even tho I've already read her story. Write on, please, for after all, necessity exists.

Date: 2009-01-19 02:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lornastutz.livejournal.com
I honestly do not understand how people could say you and Steve were ripping them off...I love the Liaden Universe stories and any profit you gained is something you've damned well earned by your effort and time.
Lorna

Date: 2009-01-19 04:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] laurajunderwood.livejournal.com
As one of the authors caught up in the publisher tangle thingie (and left with book two of a duology still looking for a home--only 46 names on the list at this point and still hoping), I have debated the serialization thing for my own work. Of course, with publishing taking hikes down the tubes (several well-published authors of my acquaintence now speak of losing editors and fearing their works are going to languish), there are times I wonder why I keep doing this...

Oh, yeah, the fan letters that come asking if I ever plan to publish Wandering Lark--that's it... ;-)

But I do thank you for all your thoughts on this subject, Sharon, because it kinda helps me sort it out in my own dilemma and give careful consideration to whether or not it is right for me.

My Lulu titles don't sell as well as I would like, but the couple of free downloads I have there go like hotcakes.

Economic times being what they are, I cannot afford to just give stuff away. But this is an industry where if you don't keep your name out there in some fashion, the fans forget you.

If anything, I don't want to be forgotten. ;-)

Personally, I think y'all did a great job picking and choosing the right story to serialize.

Now if I could just get my own bandwagon rolling...

Laura J. Underwood

Date: 2009-01-19 05:13 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
I will greatly miss the Theo serializations –they made Monday one of my favorite days of the week instead of the most dreaded.

Date: 2009-01-19 08:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] keristor.livejournal.com
Where do I go to find out about your books? In particular, if they are in series, what order to read them? And specifically, to what is Wandering Lark the sequel? I couldn't work it out from your website.

Date: 2009-01-19 09:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] laurajunderwood.livejournal.com
Depends on whether or not you like traditional high Fantasy with celtic and nordic flavors...

Yard Dog Press has a number of my books (www.yarddogpress.com). SRM has copies of DRAGON'S TONGUE for sale (Book One of "The Demon-Bound" of which WANDERING LARK is book two).

Order--I'm still working updating that on the web page, but I try to write books that you can jump in at any point and get interested in seeing others. I try to write complete novels that make you want more stories in the world I have created.

Some people start with ARD MAGISTER because that was the first novel. Others start with CHRONICLES OF THE LAST WAR because it has prequel stories to AM.

And then there are the independent things like THE HOUNDS OF ARDAGH (my Ginny and Manus novel, based on stories that appeared in Marion Zimmer Bradley's FANTASY Magazine and the SWORD AND SORCERESS anthologies) and THE LUNARI MASK (best described as Granny Weatherwax meets Pirates of the Caribbean and kicks monster butt).

And I have a sampler on my Lulu page titled "And Then What Happened." The download is free and it contains the first three chapters of my novels and novellas.

Thanks for asking.

Laura J. Underwood

Date: 2009-01-19 09:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] laurajunderwood.livejournal.com
P.S. If you purchase DRAGON'S TONGUE from Steve and Sharon at SRM, it helps them too...

Laura J. Underwood

Date: 2009-01-22 08:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] keristor.livejournal.com
Ooh, that "first three chapters" thing is a fiendish ploy! I usually do a "page 117" test to see whether I keep turning, but the first three chapters does as well. And yes, I did keep -- well, hitting Page Down...

It seems that SRM no longer have any copies, I'll email you direct.

Date: 2009-01-20 05:01 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Thank you for the web serials. I loved reading them. Even unpolished and occasionally late. It was fun to see Theo grow up, and I am looking forward to reading where the ship takes her and the rest of Korval.

I've had an overwhelming pair of years, but when I had time, it was fun to go to Theo's webpage and discuss the latest chapter. I think that was a great idea.

The money I gave to you was for the privilege of reading your work. it wasn't because there were only a few readers who wanted to read it or because there were a lot. I gave it to you simply because I love reading, and I believe in supporting artists who I enjoy.

I'll look for _Mouse and Dragon_ on Baen's eBook site. I don't have to dust eBooks, and it's ever so much easier to carry a library! :-) Thank you for being willing to publish DRM free texts. I enjoyed the Embiid reader, but when I switched to Mac, I lost access to my whole library. With HTML there will be converters when the format becomes obsolete or if I switch to some yet to be created OS.

Thank you!
Adrianne

Date: 2009-01-20 06:12 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
I waited for 10 years from when the first books were published until you were able to publish more stories in the Liaden Universe. I have bought more than one copy of the same book. I would send you more money (no strings attached) to keep you writing. The complainers had the option of not sending money.

Ignore them.

Date: 2009-01-20 02:54 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Ignore the complainers. You _warned_ them (up front and in print, yet!) that Fledgling and Saltation were _drafts_ and may bear little relation to a final published work, should such event ever occur. Also that it was your choice when and where to call the draft "done".

Not your fault they can't understand what they read.

Eta.

Date: 2009-01-21 05:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] samrobinson.livejournal.com
I've enjoyed the last two years worth of relatively quick gratification for my Liadin story habit. I did the math regarding the books and the authorial income and hope that "paying" for each of the books as they were being in draft was a good economic experience for the writers. In terms of surviving the crisis, I suspect that it helped, but in the long term was it worth it? I've noticed that the serialized format did have some impact on the structure of the work, although I don't think that this was detrimental.

But, as one of the folks just hoping that you'll do it again, I'm wondering if it made financial sense for you once the crisis was less severe. In particular did the presales hurt your advance for Saltation? Is your per-volume cost low enough that the income is well offset against what you'll be doing in terms of mailing out my two books?

I also note the need to produce chapters every week (well almost every week ) and the impact that has had on your personal lives. I can see where having that sort of obligation could be like owning livestock.

Date: 2009-01-22 05:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] muirecan.livejournal.com
All I can say about the complainers is "Hmmmph...". I loved the serialization and thought you delivered everything you promised to. That I'll also get a pair of fine bound books out of the deal is simply a bonus to me.

Thank You!!

Date: 2009-10-22 04:32 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Of course, I'll start by re-iterating that the people who don't read the not-even-fine-print are idiots who don't deserve your books anyway...

My donation was not to fund the next chapter but just to have a copy of the book IF it printed (see "FINE PRINT") and to support YOU. Yes, I could have waited it out and seen if it was purchased and published. A mass market paperback is, what 8 bucks? I don't even BUY hardcover! But again, that was not the point, the point was to support any Liaden adventures by a couple of my favorite authors. Even only e-format would've been welcome. (And my eyesight's bad enough, I'll add...)

So thank you for continuing to support my (and others', I see) Liaden habit. I would say that I'm going to meetings, but I'm too busy reading. ;-) Any future publishings are always welcome at my home, regardless of format.

I'm also thankful that you didn't have to remember how to make willow bark tea with fire from rubbing sticks together and having to catch mice for the cats while sheltering from the snow out in the Maine wilderness. (Of course the cats wouldn't catch the mice themselves... that's what humans are for...)

I did a happy dance when I received my copy of Fledgling and I'm anxiously awaiting Saltation. Write on!

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