Paperback writer

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Lanolin

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Dec 15, 2018
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A librarian recommended a book for me called

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows

she said it was funny.
 

Lanolin

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...had a librarian boss once who only read Mills and Boons.

I have never read one.. but they are short and shouldnt be too hard to write if you stick to the formula.

The formula is poor girl meets rich boy, girl hates boy, boy does something heroic, they fall in love and go to bed happily ever after.

Christian romance chick lit is similar except it all happens in church and they have a fancy wedding.
 

I_am_Canadian

Senior Member
Dec 8, 2014
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...had a librarian boss once who only read Mills and Boons.

I have never read one.. but they are short and shouldnt be too hard to write if you stick to the formula.

The formula is poor girl meets rich boy, girl hates boy, boy does something heroic, they fall in love and go to bed happily ever after.

Christian romance chick lit is similar except it all happens in church and they have a fancy wedding.
I could try it, but if I can't get the first book published a second and third one is a waste of time.
 

Lanolin

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I could try it, but if I can't get the first book published a second and third one is a waste of time.
? what, writing a mills and boon?

Only do it if you enjoy writing them. Writers love words, its their craft. Money is secondary, if all you want to do is make money, there are other ways to do it that are easier.
 

I_am_Canadian

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Dec 8, 2014
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? what, writing a mills and boon?

Only do it if you enjoy writing them. Writers love words, its their craft. Money is secondary, if all you want to do is make money, there are other ways to do it that are easier.
I enjoy writting, only God knows how much Ive spent writting inmates accross North America over the years.

It would just be nice to increase my income because I cant afford to live on social assistance anymore.

Am I asking too much to have extra cash to at least make an effort to improve my life?? I am 400 lbs, I have swelling in my legs from a lack of physical activity, and sores on my legs for 2 weeks that need help healing because the swelling is reducing blood flow.

I want more out of life than medical issues caused by obesity due to unemployment.
 

Lanolin

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? I thought obesity was caused by overeating not necessarily by unemployment

its not asking too much but your manuscript actually has to be pretty good to be published and paid for...and the only way to know that is to send it to lots of publishers (and the right ones that are going to publish the type of writing you are offering)
 

Lanolin

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If I wanted to make extra cash I would take an part time extra job or sell something.
With books though they need to be presentable and also distributed widely to make sales. Some bookshops will not even buy self published efforts to sell. You could sell online but how would people even know about it. You have to do all the marketing yourself
 

I_am_Canadian

Senior Member
Dec 8, 2014
2,434
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? I thought obesity was caused by overeating not necessarily by unemployment

its not asking too much but your manuscript actually has to be pretty good to be published and paid for...and the only way to know that is to send it to lots of publishers (and the right ones that are going to publish the type of writing you are offering)
Its both actually, well in my case,
One publisher sent a contract and wants $1300 us to publish, an other said its not ready for the limelight yet just needs editing.
 

Lanolin

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Dec 15, 2018
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Its both actually, well in my case,
One publisher sent a contract and wants $1300 us to publish, an other said its not ready for the limelight yet just needs editing.
what, they ought to be paying you not you paying them.. that is not the way tradtional publishing works.
If you want to self publish then you do it yourself but you're the one paying. You got to put in the capital investment thats the way it has always been with anything.

If they think it needs editing if they a legit publisher they will provide YOU with an editor.
 

I_am_Canadian

Senior Member
Dec 8, 2014
2,434
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what, they ought to be paying you not you paying them.. that is not the way tradtional publishing works.
If you want to self publish then you do it yourself but you're the one paying. You got to put in the capital investment thats the way it has always been with anything.

If they think it needs editing if they a legit publisher they will provide YOU with an editor.
Its possible the only publishers I've approached are vanity publishers.

Believe me if I had the money I would have put the money in already. That's the problem with living on social assistance, theirs not enough money to invest in anything productive.

But I wouldn't want them raising the rates because from my experience most people on social assistance waste their money drinking and getting high.

That's one thing I learned working in temp agencies, the work people have to do to make ends meet and seeing how people on social assistance waste it.

Which is why I advocate to increase my income, and not everyone on social assistance because of how most people waste it and the burden it would put on working people to pick up the tab with their taxes.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
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you need to find an agent who can find you a legit publisher.
Go to the library and find The Writers Handbook. There should be a 2022 edition or Publishers in your area (Canada, right?) . Send in you manuscript or sypnosis of your book.
Tighten up and polish it as best you can. If they think its worth publishing they will properly edit and proofread it and format it so it suits their house style of publishing.

If you are a person of colour, native american or indigenous, you might have more of a look in because publishers are actually accepting and publishing more diverse authors in english these days. Its because of demand.

Its also cos people are reading more widely. Its no longer the exclusive doman of priveliged white ppl. Not sure what the scene is in Canada right now but it used to be academia ALWAYS got published (it was publish or perish) and the lucky ones got into creative writing programs with almost guarantee exposure and access to university presses.

This is most of the advice I can give you, about the book trade. They arent that interested in whether you are on social assistance or not, so long as you can write something people will want to read. If the whole book is about being on social assitance, well it better be useful for readers who want to know about it. Misery lit is its own cathartic genre these days.
 

I_am_Canadian

Senior Member
Dec 8, 2014
2,434
823
113
you need to find an agent who can find you a legit publisher.
Go to the library and find The Writers Handbook. There should be a 2022 edition or Publishers in your area (Canada, right?) . Send in you manuscript or sypnosis of your book.
Tighten up and polish it as best you can. If they think its worth publishing they will properly edit and proofread it and format it so it suits their house style of publishing.

If you are a person of colour, native american or indigenous, you might have more of a look in because publishers are actually accepting and publishing more diverse authors in english these days. Its because of demand.

Its also cos people are reading more widely. Its no longer the exclusive doman of priveliged white ppl. Not sure what the scene is in Canada right now but it used to be academia ALWAYS got published (it was publish or perish) and the lucky ones got into creative writing programs with almost guarantee exposure and access to university presses.

This is most of the advice I can give you, about the book trade. They arent that interested in whether you are on social assistance or not, so long as you can write something people will want to read. If the whole book is about being on social assitance, well it better be useful for readers who want to know about it. Misery lit is its own cathartic genre these days.
Thanks I appreciate the advice
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
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If you could read my mind love
what a tale my thoughts would tell
just look a paperback novel
the kind the drugstores sell
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
42,582
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69
Tennessee
If you could read my mind love
what a tale my thoughts would tell
just look a paperback novel
the kind the drugstores sell
When you reach the part,
Where the heartaches come,
The hero would be me...
 

Lanolin

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Dec 15, 2018
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Im going to write a love story about tourist and jesuslives as the main characters
 

Lanolin

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Its about how they met on CC and fell in love and and dated through singing kareoke Beatles online together
 

Lanolin

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the fab 2 were joined by another couple melita and her husband and baby girl and so the Lonely Hearts club band expanded.
Their covers were so popular they outsold the Carpenters and Gordon Lightfoot and ended up in the Guiness book of Records.
 

Lanolin

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All their money raised went to the Lonely Hearts Club dating website on CC to fund other couples dates and eventual weddings so they didnt have to worry about affording a house.