Publishing "deals" by the dollar

Yes. (I'm still in the dreaming stage.)

stormie said:

Yes. (I'm still in the dreaming stage.)

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After nearly 4000 posts on AW? How depressing.

You know what, I'd probably get a stroke if I fit into the very first category.

I had an agent from a top agency for almost two years. If you wish, you can click on my profile, go to my home page, and see my CV for all that was published. And yes, I have one book pubbed already by a small indie.

Ya I read your post on this:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119454

Your avatar sort of sticks in the mind.


Just goes on to show that life can be really weird at times. Top agent loves book- but not the publisher.

Good luck with all future submissions. Glad to see that you haven't given up, like some people I know.

You forgot the percentage break down! 75% are 'Good deal' or better, dontchaknow?

Darzian said:

Ya I read your post....
Just goes on to show that life can be really weird at times. Top agent loves book- but not the publisher.

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No, I don't count that first book when I discuss my ex-agent. That was subbed on my own and got just a "nice deal."

As I said, I do have many essays, short stories, poems, published.

MelodyO said:

I myself am anticipating that they'll have to create a whole new category for my advance, it's going to be just that big. Perhaps "Magnificent Deal".

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Yes!

I'll settle for a Celestial Deal

I love this list! Does anyone know how this list got started? Was it a way to avoid talking about actual numbers?

Yeah, I like the idea of a "magnificent deal" too.

I know PW has posted that for at least since I started reading their emails about deals, which is about five years now. Could be that long, could be fifty. Someday....

I'll settle for "okay deal"

Doesn't the first division 'nice deal' need to be broken down to at least 3 divisions by itself? It seems to be rather ...broad?

Yeah, I'd say we need more breakdown in the first category, to keep it in scale with the other designations. How about:

$1-5000 = Sucky deal.
$5001-10,000 = Meh, not the worst deal.
$10,001-25,000 = Getting there-ish deal.
$25,001-49,999 = Nice deal.

Your ranges, of course, may vary. The first category (Sucky deal) could easily be something like:

$1-$10 = Why the hell did I even BOTHER deal
$11-100 = Is this an insult? deal

and so forth.

I prefer the humor in a nice deal covering everything from PA to not gonna happen

MeowGirl said:

I love this list! Does anyone know how this list got started? Was it a way to avoid talking about actual numbers?

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Yep. It's impolite to ask how much you were paid for a book, but the industry also likes to get an idea of how much money is being tossed around. Instead of saying "THIS BOOK, sold to BIG HOUSE in a three book deal for $75000, by AN AGENT," they use a code.

ChaosTitan said:

Yep. It's impolite to ask how much you were paid for a book, but the industry also likes to get an idea of how much money is being tossed around. Instead of saying "THIS BOOK, sold to BIG HOUSE in a three book deal for $75000, by AN AGENT," they use a code.

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How subtle. Now, if only the general public also learned this code.

If you follow Publisher's Marketplace, it's listed on every page under "Deals." It isn't all that mysterious. And honestly, it isn't information the general public usually cares about. They want to know if good books are coming out, not who was paid what and when and by whom. It's info for those involved in the industry, such as agents, authors, publishers, etc...

No, I meant the situation where you tell someone you're a writer, and they ask "How much was your latest deal?" I'm still working on my WIP and some of my friends are already asking that. I'd be much easier to reply using the code, than give figures. lol.

That's when you ask them "How much did you make last month working at DAY JOB?"

Usually it clues them into the fact that asking about money is rude.

ChaosTitan said:

That's when you ask them "How much did you make last month working at DAY JOB?"

Usually it clues them into the fact that asking about money is rude.

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Quoted for truth.

Phaeal said:

$1-5000 = Sucky deal.
$5001-10,000 = Meh, not the worst deal.
$10,001-25,000 = Getting there-ish deal.
$25,001-49,999 = Nice deal.

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For most on this forum: Sucky deal = deal which therefore = not sucky.