Book Publishing / Writing Guide Thread

[Tragi-Chan]

Seems like their complaint is that the stories seem to be metaphors for real world issues instead of cliched escapism?

There's room for both, but they should hardly be surprised that one tends to win more awards than others.

A well written book can be both. China Mieville’s books often go into left-wing politics and social issues, but they’re still great fantasy even if you don’t agree with him. Similarly, Terry Pratchett’s books often deal with issues like feminism, racism, capitalism and fundamentalism, but it never impacts negatively on the casual reading experience.

 

[eternal dog mongler]

Seems like their complaint is that the stories seem to be metaphors for real world issues instead of cliched escapism?

There's room for both, but they should hardly be surprised that one tends to win more awards than others.

Actual good genre fiction needs both. Fantasy and sci-fi give you a wide room to explore the human condition through another lens, but you also need to tell a really interesting story while doing that.

Most genre fiction novels are horrifying because they fail in one direction or the other. If you sit down to write and your genre novel is going to be thematically "we need to support trans rights" or "the Jews are replacing white people in Europe" (like our OP here) then you have failed before you even wrote a single word.

Likewise if you're just spending pages talking about the exacting specifications of futuristic or fantastic weaponry and ignoring the characters.

I can immediately tell the difference between a good writer and a bad one. So can publishing houses.

 

[Fashy Airship]

Actual good genre fiction needs both. Fantasy and sci-fi give you a wide room to explore the human condition through another lens, but you also need to tell a really interesting story while doing that.

Most genre fiction novels are horrifying because they fail in one direction or the other. If you sit down to write and your genre novel is going to be thematically "we need to support trans rights" or "the Jews are replacing white people in Europe" (like our OP here) then you have failed before you even wrote a single word.

Likewise if you're just spending pages talking about the exacting specifications of futuristic or fantastic weaponry and ignoring the characters.

I can immediately tell the difference between a good writer and a bad one. <<''Because I'm super critic and know everything, please bow down to my miquetoast majesty''>> So can publishing houses. <<Really? I think Harry Potter books were pretty hot garbage personally and Rowling was knocked back dozens of times before one took a chance and got lucky, she got lucky and people don't care when it's in the book shop with a fancy cover and is promoted by newspapers>>

You know a 'good' from a 'bad' one? Any newbie knows thats a subjective and nebulous thing to even assume. It's a matter of personal preference and always has been.

Also, nice little snidey attack there though. Wew lad, just stick the knife in deeper with that one I think you missed an artery! LOL.

Oh he's not a REAL WRITER. He's not writing about the characters A to Z enough for my little sensibilities.

There are plenty of furry faggots that write their genre of furry porn and because it sells well within their niche it somehow becomes excellent? Hmmmm.

Now, have you actually read ANY of my books? That's a no as you've only lazily gone off the last one and assumed it for them all.

I've written several books and in one collaboration (the one you just sperged about) out of the six makes the direct reflection on there being an attack on Europeans via immigration. (Don't try and deny it as you aren't in a shitlib safespace here ). Now I think it's a multiple thing on the 'who' factor. But Jews most certainly are a factor. Just go watch a few Barbara Spector videos and knock yourself out.

Another book is from the immigration of non-Euros and the formation of an independent state. So I guess 1 or 2 out of 6 qualifies although even that's indirect and just?

As to the descriptions of 'fantastic weaponry' etc. Well If I'm writing a long book you better believe there's going to be descriptions. Characters get fleshed out along the way, if you don't take the time, you don't take the time.

The reason major publishing houses take on a book is because they are progressives pure and simple, and yes most if not all are Jewish owned. If you think otherwise you are a grade A moron because that is common knowledge throughout the writing industry if you are anyone with a background in the industry, as are most of the agents, same for media too btw .

 

[Elwood P. Dowd]

Seems like their complaint is that the stories seem to be metaphors for real world issues instead of cliched escapism?

There's room for both, but they should hardly be surprised that one tends to win more awards than others.

That overstates what the Sad Puppies wanted, in both directions.

The Rabid Puppies just wanted to burn it all down by the end.

Is there anything a medium/independent publishing house can do that I can't? Let's assume I know how to:

• Publish with KDP as ebook and print
• Publish through IngramSpark, so shops can buy the books
• ISBN shit
• Find editors/proofreaders
• Find cover designers/illustrators
• Advertise

I don't think I've ever seen paperbacks from indie houses in actual shops, so what would be the advantage in going with a small press, if I couldn't hook a larger one?

No bookstore will stock a work that is in any way affiliated with Amazon. That's more than just KDP, since Amazon now owns a few publishing imprints

Bookstores also typically demand an "unlimited right of return" on all stock they carry. This means no sales are truly final until the final consumer buys the book. It also means if somebody spills coffee on your book...oh, well. I'm 99% sure that imprint in the article changed their policy back to the industry standard, since no bookshop would stock the book.

Edit: Here's a better article about how bookstores operate.

Returns 101: What New Authors Need to Know

I don't see how anyone but a big publisher can operate in this environment.