jtr7 on 29/9/2008 at 02:43
Money and cover options aside: six volumes, trade paperbacks.
All it would need is a box to hold the set, but it would best for reading and for travel.
A single volume would be cool to heft and hold and look at. The binding would have to be durable for multiple readings, otherwise it would be more like a trophy or collector's edition to display.:cheeky:
Digital Nightfall on 29/9/2008 at 02:53
Given that it is merely a fanfiction, I am more interested in its value as a learning experience for me - developing characters and a plot - especially where it concerns actually bringing a story to an end. I feel that no matter how much I work on it, if at any time I say "okay, that was fun, now it's time to actually write something for real" then all of the time and effort will have been wasted. If I do finish it, and go through the whole editing process, then it will have been a complete experience and of great value to any future attempt at a completely original work.
Actually, it removes the pressure of having to worry about getting it professionally published, since that's impossible, and lets me just worry about the creative aspects.
I've used lulu.com before for school-related publishing (portfolios) and have had good luck with them. I was also planning on using them to make printed versions of the MX manual (which is why I made it 48 pages, as is their lower limit for the DVD-case insert size) but lulu hates the MS word generated pdf files (because of the way it embeds or does not embed fonts) so that is a bit stalled until I have time to sort out the problem. I will probably go with them for this (I like the way they don't put any of their logos on what you publish with them) but can also take a look at longdash.
yoyamime, it's alot like that, yes. Maybe too much like it, in fact. Though I'd rather just discuss the logistics of it here and now, I can fill you in on details if you'd like to contact me.
As for the length, one of my weaknesses as a writer is not being able to tell a complete, coherent, vivid story in as few words as possible. I tend to need alot more words. On the other hand, I've also been working on this for several years, and the story is really not a novel. It doesn't follow that format. It's a serial. It's a series of episodes that, while they tell one long story, were designed to be released one at a time and each have a plot-arc of their own. But as mentioned before, I didn't try to cram each episode into a set number of pages. The shortest is around 18,000 words, and the longest is 41,000 words. The reason why I am waiting to finish the entire series before releasing any of it is that sometimes I really need to go back to an earlier chapter and change something. That's harder to do when it's already released. Entire plot-points that are excruciatingly unnecessary or otherwise troublesome could easily be simply removed by editing two lines of text five chapters ago. I'd rather hold onto that right. I'm not a good enough writer yet.
As for cost of printing and shipping, Bookahiloc, I don't know what my financial situation will be when it's done, but I'd be happy to get it printed and mailed to anyone who wants it, as a gift. Right now I want readers and critics, not customers. I don't want to get shut down by eidos. :sweat:
Gentleman on 29/9/2008 at 03:34
Even if it isn't a novel, if it is made up of all words and no pictures, I think that it would look better as a book. Online, pdf format would be best. Regardless, I think it should be released all at once, and that way each individual who reads it will read it at his or her own pace.
Go with whatever seems more practical for you. Just please keep us in mind.
Good luck.:thumb:
theBlackman on 29/9/2008 at 04:53
If you feel it is a serial, then coherent sections, each more or less complete in themselves, seems to be the best way to release it.
As a running story here, that format would work well.
As a digital download, that would also work.
As I said earlier, I do prefer paper (I read some 4 to 6 books a week), because I can put it down anyplace, and pick it up and continue it at me leisure.
Goldmoon Dawn on 29/9/2008 at 05:42
lol okay I guess Im the only one who wants small daily releases!
I also voted to have it put up on TTLG, daily. I read TTLG everyday and only have so much time per site, so it would be great to be able to read the daily update whilst eating my dinners. Carry on...
jtr7 on 29/9/2008 at 05:52
Dan, if you go the printing route, I hope you'll let us defer at least some of the cost, if not all. As long as you're not making a profit...or is that still too gray?
Sharing the work that you've labored over for so long is gift enough! IMHO.:)
ThePhotoshop on 29/9/2008 at 15:35
I hate reading text on screen for extended periods of time. I can't read more than one A4 page without my eyes hurting. As such, I wouldn't be able to read your fan fiction if you released it all online.
TheGrimSmile on 30/9/2008 at 02:01
I'd say Trade Paperback would be the best.
While it's more practical to release it in 6 books, I really love the feeling of a giant tome in my hand, and to slowly shave off page after page. In my opinion, a large, full-looking book is more beautiful. I think that 6 books would be a little too thin.
Also, if you need an editor... :sly: Just wanted to throw that out there...
Digital Nightfall on 30/9/2008 at 16:47
I like reasonably thin trade paperbacks because they can easily be thrown into my backpack or messenger bag without being cumbersome (try doing THAT with a hardback edition of Lord of the Rings) and because it's more comfortable for my big hands than the pocket-sized.
I'd be tempted to do a big hardback edition when everything is said and done, but that would have to wait until everything else is said and done, some time after it's all released, and I've gotten enough feedback to make sure that most of the errors have been worked out. I can't afford a professional editor's fees. However, volunteers will be appreciated, GrimSmile!
Let's say, hypothetically, that each of the six volume contained 3 chapters. (I do not know how many chapters there will end up being, so this is just a guess!) though that will have to be flexible since the final count probably won't divide evenly by six, and the chapters vary in length. As a very very rough guess, the average length could be about 200 pages per volume. That's a bit shorter than the trade paperback edition of Ender's Game (everyone here has read that, right?). It's a decent size.
The reason for the six is simply because of an idea of mine for six pertinent pieces of cover art.
The printed editions would have to come after each set of chapters goes online, because I can easily fix typos and grammatical faux pas then, and it's a bit harder to once it's printed. But I'd like to do them in a serial format too, rather than all at once after it's all done.
fett on 1/10/2008 at 01:31
Dan - I've been looking into the print on demand thing for a novel I'm finishing and I came across this site - (
www.createspace.com) which is similar to lulu.com but seems a little more streamlined. I say don't send out copies - make it print on demand. Both createspace and lulu include an ISBN with their packages which means you can make a page for it on Amazon, B&N, etc. - less work and overhead for you.
Definitely interested in as much thiefy goodness as I can get my hands on, so I'm already picturing a set of six novels on my bookshelf. :cool:
