Writing Away Retreat Chat

Nyssa has cleaned up the chat and proudly presents it for your delectation:

I just posted a blog with a link to the clean PDF version of the chat available for download (please, private use only!).

Here's the topics covered:

• What do you look for in a client before signing them on?

· Electronic Submissions

· What are the trends now and how does it look in general for the fantasy genre

· people predicting the end of agents as the publishing industry gateway

· democratic publishing process

· Does anyone see a way to make publishing profitable?

· Does the US buy books that are set in Australia (urban or rural)? There has been some rumours that the US are against Aust settings, even with big names like Bryce Courtney.

· If a novel sells well in Germany, is it likely to be picked up in the US?

· Reworking characters and race for US markets

· Kerri Arthur's stories do very well in an international market, and they're set in Australia. Is this an exception?

· How has the global crisis effected buying international books?

· These days’ universities offer creative writing degrees, honours, masters, and doctorates. Is this a good thing for the publishing industry?

· If a successful author disappears for a few years, does the time gap make it hard to get published again?

· ‘Write what you know’, or don’t?

· How do you break in to be classed as a one of the 'core authors' of a publishing house?

· How many books to be a bestseller

· Does a track record from the small press or literary magazine angle count towards your bigger picture as an author when you're going to acquire a book?

· Authors who refuse to accept editorial suggestions

· Are less likely to be picked up in the States if their genre boundaries are blurred

· Kevin: Closing Thought

· Retreat Questions:

o What you need

o What you get

o The importance of contact

o Are you ready

o Advances comparison Aust/US,

o Support

o Obsession

o The love affair of writing and dealing with “well are you making money from it?” or “why not get a real job?”

o Contact details and website