Comments on Wylie-Merrick Literary Agency: When The Talking Stops, The Doing Begins

I would appreciate it if commenters would refrain ...

2009-08-14T18:30:38.952-07:00

I would appreciate it if commenters would refrain from making unnecessary condescending and/or derogatory remarks to and about my husband. He is simply responding to comments, particularly those directly addressed to him. We have already established that he is talking about the main arguments of ad-based publishing in his responses and posts and not trying to attack anyone personally, including Scott, and he only uses the names given to identify the poster so the person will know he is countering or agreeing with a point s/he offered. If you misread his tone or intent, you haven’t been keeping up with the discussion, and suggesting he requires my assistance to communicate his point effectively, when he is doing so already, is inflammatory and just flat irritating. If you read his comments as anything but a contribution to the analysis of debate at hand, that’s YOUR problem, not his. I don’t intend to edit Robert’s posts—past or future—as I see no need for it and find the suggestion that I should irrelevant to the current discussion as well as insulting. For those who wish to continue adding comments and questions about the ad-based publishing model or any publishing model, please feel free to do so. I appreciate the input—both pro and con—thus far. For those who insist on focusing on anything other than that, those comments will be moderated accordingly.--Sharene

Robert, Oh come off it! You stretch points beyon...

2009-08-14T16:55:56.168-07:00

Robert,

Oh come off it! You stretch points beyond reason to try to defend your weak arguments. No one is buying it.

And if you are wondering why things go south in these comment sections, you need only look in the mirror.

Captain Obvious: Obviously, you didn't look up th...

2009-08-14T13:40:54.686-07:00

Captain Obvious:

Obviously, you didn't look up the definition of theory, so I did it for you.

According to Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language, definition #2 for the word "theory" is "a speculative idea or plan as to how something might be done." This is the definition to which I am referring.

Scott's idea, that of putting advertising in a novel, has never been done, thus the definition of theory fits rather snugly, wouldn't you say?

Robert, There is NO theory that Scott is testing....

2009-08-14T13:10:38.964-07:00

Robert,

There is NO theory that Scott is testing. NONE! He is simply using a very LONG established business model that has been used for CENTURIES in newspapers and magazines and simply using it in books. Why it hasn't been used in books before is because it was cost prohibitive. The cost being the insertion of full-color ads between chapters and the relatively low unreliable circulation these ads would get in books in comparison to print ads in newspapers and magazines. [Which Scott pointed out in previous blog posts and/or replies in comment sections.] With ebooks, Scott realizes there is no cost factor for inserting full-color print ad between chapters. If Scott is brilliant, it is solely because he sees what has been standing right in front of everyone all along for at least a few years now. And I suspect that Scott calling what he's about to do a "theory" is simply charity towards those (such as yourself) that object to his plans so you don't look like the fools you are for rejecting a proven business model! I sincerely doubt he actually thinks he's testing a theory. A new application of a proven business model, yes. Testing a new theory, no.

Robert, What an immature reply. Not only that bu...

2009-08-13T22:28:42.063-07:00

Robert,

What an immature reply. Not only that but you talk out of both sides of your mouth. You yourself posted a blog post about not slinging mud. You say you want a civil discussion. Now you say it is fine to be "harsh" and other such two-face non-sense. And your history in the comment sections clearly shows you're just ranting and not accepting any points that Scott and others have made. Your reply here clearly shows you're closed-minded, arrogant, offensive, and disrespectful. And to post what you posted as a reply here in this comment section to Scott's last blog post in this series just shows all of what I've just said to be true.

Again, please have Sharene read your posts before you post. Go back and read over your replies in the comment sections. It has been you that has been making the comment sections acidic ... not that you'll probably ever be able to see that unless Sharene slaps some sense into you. You probably blame posters for doing so because you think your shit doesn't stink.

And look what you've done in this section. This was a great section until you thought you had to once again piss on Scott's ideas. No one asked you to. I didn't and your reply was to me. NONE of the points you have raised in this section are new. You have made them all before. Now you're just repeating yourself and probably thinking that wins you the argument. It doesn't. It makes you look immature and ungrateful.

And if you have any decency (or Sharene will rein you in), delete your reply to me and my reply to your replies and so forth. This was a great comment section and a great one to end this series of blog posts. Lots of people wishing Scott good luck in his efforts after he posted his last blog post in this series. You do not have to launch one more attack against Scott's plans. It comes across as in poor taste. And please quickly delete these exchanges between us before others come in and permanently ruin this comment section.

Better late. . . So if someone says there's honey...

2009-08-13T18:51:33.738-07:00

Better late. . .

So if someone says there's honey in that tree, do you think there are no bees? For every theory, there is someone who will try to shoot it down, and what Scott is advocating is a theory, not as yet fact. Whenever a theory, whether Scott's or someone else's is being floated, there are always going to be harsh critics. For instance, if everyone caved we would never have become America. If we had all agreed to be two separate nations, we would be divided. If we had remained neutral, half of our country would be speaking Japanese and the other half German--or Russian, depending. So please don't ever stifle voices that don't say nice things in agreeable language. Our nation is our nation because some didn't agree, regardless if their tone was agreeable or harsh.

Robert

Curious George, What would be done for those nove...

2009-08-13T16:56:44.627-07:00

Curious George,

What would be done for those novels as far as advertising goes is the same as is done for TV shows of a similar nature. You sell the advertisers on demographics they draw.

Robert, I really recommend you have Sharene read ...

2009-08-13T13:33:17.262-07:00

Robert,

I really recommend you have Sharene read your posts before you post them. Have her edit them. Tone them down. Make them more civil. You come across as thinking you're god's gift to mankind or something. You're not. I bet you think all that disagree with you are what? Losers? Crazies? Rank amateurs? I bet that's exactly what you think Scott is. If that isn't how you think, that IS how you come across. And I also bet you're confused why people respond to you so negatively and don't realize you're the reason.

Seriously, have Sharene read ALL of your replies before posting them. In her blog posts, Sharene comes across very level-headed and mature. Sure, she did weirdly flip out when someone suggested she be the moderator at a debate between you and Scott, but for the most part, she's a good presence here.

As for your points, you fail to make them because of how you come across. I was going to counter each one but I wonder why bother. You really don't seem to understand anything that Scott has been saying. You think you know the advertising industry better than he does. Hell, you're now saying it is doomed. Because of all this, it is pointless to argue with you. You won't listen. You won't change. I'm sure I'm not the only one thinks your conduct is one of the main causes for Scott dropping out of this debate.

Dear Better Late Than Never, First of all, thank ...

2009-08-13T11:28:00.095-07:00

Dear Better Late Than Never,

First of all, thank you for your comments and for offering your side in this debate.

I just wanted to add something about people and free radio and television. I could say that neither radio or television reception has ever been entirely free except for when one listens or watches on someone else's receiver--but I won't.

Thanks to advertisers, we have pretty much enjoyed these forms of entertainment virtually free for many years--not that we've loved ads, but prior to cable and satellite, audio and video recorders, et al, we had no choice. Don't ever think that everyone is in love with ads. In fact, if given a choice, most people are willing pay extra not to have advertisements mixed in with their entertainment. And finally, because of wonderful technological advances and devices, people can now be free of these annoyances. So why would anyone want ads in anything that had never had them before?

Have you noticed all those sailboat looking antennas on new cars lately? Apparently many don't like radio advertising and are willing to pay a monthly charge be free of them. Also, most of us are on cable these days, so television isn't free anymore. Basic cable in most places runs over $25 a month--for commercial FILLED television. Even the cable company has to advertise when their customers are being held hostage to floods of advertising. Will this soon end? Will television eventually go the way of radio. I believe we are seeing that end in higher and higher speed internet service.

Some are immune to advertisers, some record their shows and play them later, sans commercials, and others have boxes that blank them out--for which they are willing pay even more. So don't believe for a moment that most will stand still for the addition of commercials in anything.

Also, newspapers and magazines are going broke, possibly because of the recession, because of production costs, and because ad dollars are way down. If you'll notice, with the online versions, if there are ads, they are very discrete, plus it's very easy to get around ads on the internet.

Advertising is old tech. Advertising firms haven't had to innovate until recently. So also watch for the death of this industry.

13/8/09 11:10 AM

Scott, I can easily see how you could do product ...

2009-08-13T09:12:59.865-07:00

Scott,

I can easily see how you could do product placements (and their ads between chapters) with non-fiction books. I can even see how you could do so with novels based in the present day. But what I cannot see is how you could do so with, say, a romance novel where the story takes place a hundred years or more back in time. How could you get advertisers for a Civil War novel? Or a novel based in the Middle Ages? Or a high fantasy novel based in a magical Middle Ages?

Or what about a science fiction novel that isn't based on Earth or even humans? Or a far future science fiction novel where nothing of our present day has survived into the future?

And what advertiser would ever consent to advertise in an erotic novel?

Or what about a novel based in a communist utopia?

If you could address these questions, it would be appreciated. Thank you.

If I'm right, I'm a fellow author of Latecomer's a...

2009-08-13T08:52:45.982-07:00

If I'm right, I'm a fellow author of Latecomer's agent. Or at least it sounds like what my agent did as well.

Anyone that thinks free entertainment is bad, worthless, less-than-top-quality, or ignored by the public needs only turn on their TV and radio. Broadcast TV and radio have been free entertainment for over half a century.

What Scott is now doing is probably only now able to be done. There are a lot of trends that have needed to mature for Scott's plans work. Ebooks are only now being seriously considered by the public. More and more of the public are becoming comfortable doing things on the Internet. It was only two years ago that my mother got her first computer! Now she cannot imagine life without it. After every Oprah show, she goes to the Oprah website to read the extra material there about that episode. She hears something about some health/medical advance, she hops on the Internet and googles it. She now does most of her corresponding by email. But two years ago, I had a wicked time convincing her to have anything to do with a computer. Anyone who thinks everyone is computer/Internet savvy probably doesn't know that many people over the age of 50. Society change needs all demographic groups to get on the bandwagon. That includes senior citizens.

As for ebook readers, I think those are doomed. They're single-use electronic gadgets. I agree with Scott that cellphones are the future for ebooks. I also think that when the home computer finally gets hooked up to the living room TV, people will also start reading their ebooks on their TV screens as well.

As for ads in ebooks, I have laughed at those that have commented that they will despise such in books. Do they not watch broadcast TV, listen to broadcast radio, or read magazines and newspapers? And I also laugh at the mere idea that they will refuse to read a smash-hit bestseller simply because there are ads between chapters. Print advertising is far less intrusive than either TV or radio advertising. Print ads can simply be ignored without any loss of time but a fraction of a second in recognizing them.

Scott, good luck! Keep plugging away at it. If an advertiser says "no thanks", move onto the next one. When you have all your advertisers lined up, please come back and tell us. I will be one of the first people to download and read your novel!

Wow! Simply and totally WOW! Awesome discussion ...

2009-08-12T21:04:30.649-07:00

Wow! Simply and totally WOW! Awesome discussion and ideas. I've read it three times through and it is still opening my mind.

If anyone tells you that blogs are all rubbish, yo...

2009-08-12T14:25:11.743-07:00

If anyone tells you that blogs are all rubbish, you need only send them a link to this series of blog posts.

Thank you, Robert, Sharene, and Scott for it!

Poor Man, Yes, I will be hiring an artist to do t...

2009-08-11T14:07:27.691-07:00

Poor Man,

Yes, I will be hiring an artist to do the title page artwork. That and special graphic labels for chapter headers and the breakers between chapter segments. However, this doesn't need its own stage but can be done during the beta reader stage. I will be soon putting the work up for bid on deviantART.com and a couple job listing websites.

Scott, I mean are you going to hire an artist to d...

2009-08-11T08:21:25.952-07:00

Scott, I mean are you going to hire an artist to do cover art? Things like that. And if so, when and how long do you expect that stage to take?

What an amazing series of blog posts! My agent se...

2009-08-10T23:25:00.754-07:00

What an amazing series of blog posts! My agent sent a group email to all us whom he represents, gave a link to "Demise of Print Publishing", and said to read the entire series to this final one. He is soliciting our opinions about Scott's ideas. He himself was sent a link to Part One by a major publisher and was asked for his thoughts on this series. He told him that he'd solicit his authors' thoughts and bundle them with his and pass them along.

My thoughts are to wait. To see what Scott can or cannot accomplish. If he succeeds, it will set the publishing world on fire -- and, if Scott is correct, burn it to the ground. If he fails, I would like to know why he did. I will not cheer his failure. Robert is completely right about the demise of print publishing and I do not believe in the slightest that novels and non-fiction books will go down with it. Novels and non-fiction books will evolve and continue on. Perhaps in the form that Scott has kindly outlined here and is going to attempt to achieve. Possibly not. What is certain is that change is inevitable.

I hope Robert and Sharene keep in contact with Scott and relay how he's doing with his plans.

I'd like to thank Robert and Sharene for sharing Scott's ideas on their blog and I would like to express my deep thanks to Scott for sharing them, responding to Robert's objections, and answering questions from posters.

Good luck, Scott!

Good luck!

2009-08-08T18:03:32.496-07:00

Good luck!

Poor Man, I expect it to take anywhere from one m...

2009-08-08T12:22:43.857-07:00

Poor Man,

I expect it to take anywhere from one month to six months to acquire the necessary number of advertisers.

After all the advertisers are acquired, I am tentatively planning on holding something like a launch party for the book. Not sure at this time. It depends on how many (if any) of the advertisers want to help give the book a big kick-off.

Good luck, Scott. I hope you make lots of money a...

2009-08-08T12:19:28.245-07:00

Good luck, Scott. I hope you make lots of money and lead the rest of us authors to a new and better future.

Scott, How long do you expect it to take to acqui...

2009-08-06T21:20:18.279-07:00

Scott,

How long do you expect it to take to acquire your thirty-plus advertisers?

And after they're acquired, will it be then that you'll release your ebook free on the net? Or is there some other step or steps that would follow that?

Take no prisoners, Scott!

2009-08-06T21:14:06.214-07:00

Take no prisoners, Scott!

All the best and more, Scott!

2009-08-06T12:38:46.898-07:00

All the best and more, Scott!

Good luck, Scott.

2009-08-06T12:37:50.421-07:00

Good luck, Scott.

Good luck! If you succeed, I would love for you t...

2009-08-05T19:32:22.101-07:00

Good luck! If you succeed, I would love for you to come and talk to my writing classes ... if you happen to be in my city for a literary convention or to appear on a local talk show. I'll contact you when your books appears (either as a free ebook or a print book). I'll remind you of my comments here when I do. Again, good luck!

Frank Speaking Frankly, My beta readers are only ...

2009-08-05T19:29:58.265-07:00

Frank Speaking Frankly,

My beta readers are only readers. None are writers. Two will be copy editors (really good wordsmiths), but they're not writers either. One's a retired teacher and another is a great ad man with a nature talent with words. Neither think of themselves as novelists and that's why I use them. My experience with writers as beta readers is that they think their job is to re-write what I've written. They tend to want to change my writing style into their writing style.

What I look for in beta readers is either speed readers that have read tons and tons of books of all genres or people that have knowledge in an area the book (novel or non-fiction) covers that I'm writing about BUT are not writers themselves. The first QUICKLY gives me great reader's viewpoints. They also tell me when my writing drags, assumes too much, delights them, and all the other reader experiences that a writer needs to hear to know whether he's conveying what he's wants to get across to the reader. The second tell me when I'm off on something technical but do NOT try to tell me how to then re-write it.

As for Robert and Sharene being one of my beta readers, their input would come in if I failed with my business model and then wanted to try to pitch the novel to a major publisher. Their approach is one with that as a goal. It is very useful for that purpose but not as a beta reader.