Those crowds sound like my worst nightmare. I’ve always wondered what it was like as I dated a literary agent for a couple of years and he seemed to love it. Thanks for going and describing it so I never have to!
Thanks for sharing your experience, Troy! I learned some stuff and have some things to look into further regarding self-publishing. Thanks for investigating this particular publishing circus for us!
Thank you for attending this and for the great write-up, Troy. You've reminded me why I've retired from a job that involved going to similar events (and once, even the LBF). The sight of a lanyard these days makes me shudder.
And thanks for all the invaluable tips on self-publishing.
Oh my. Sounds like a mix of overwhelming and underwhelming all at once! Blech. Buuuut, the information you’ve provided is much appreciated. So thank you for taking one for the team!
Blimey. That really sounds like a clustrfuck and, honestly, I'm glad you went so that I never have to (🙏). That's a wealth of information, though, and I thank you for sharing it. I love the idea of writing a book, one day--and I shudder at the thought of publishing a book, one day. It seems like such a minefield. Makes me even more in awe of the people who manage it. Relieved that you got to meet the Gruffalo, at least ! 💜🧡💛
I had the same experience as you last year - complete with the wandering around in circles feeling absolutely baffled! I went alone and only managed to get two stall holders to actually hold a conversation with me (I went with vague ideas of talking to agents as a ghostwriter, or to childrens book publishers about something I've written but not yet published, but they all fobbed me off), so it was pretty lonely. I walk with a cane so it was also very miserable due to the lack of seating. I had a media pass so I did manage to head up to the media room, where I was permitted to perch on a tiny, wobbly stool with no back support amongst a sea of cliquey film crews who ignored everyone else in the room completely. Wonderful! I left after lunch and vowed never again. I'm sure a lot of business must be getting done or they wouldn't bother holding it, but unless you like the look of a good number of the speakers, I don't really see the value for the average person.
What a wealth of valuable info. Going to pore through some of this for Dylan’s memoir. Thank you for entering the mouth of the dragon for us. I’m glad you emerged intact!
Woof. There’s a lot of stuff to digest here MTF. Thanks for providing such a thorough read out of the event, particularly around self-publishing. I have been circling for a while on this and I’m still not ready to land.
my gratitude to you for sticking it out and sharing all that you learned. very helpful indeed. & man, do i feel you on so, so, much of your experience. glad to have found you, friend.
I could feel that agent exhaustion! I get it. Face to face seems like even more work. A marketplace. Ahh! But sounds like you learned a lot about self publishing trends 👌🏽😄
I haven't had the pleasure of seeing my book in a bookstore yet (maybe with the detective novel coming out this summer), but writers shouldn't be too hung up on physical stores. The vast majority of sales are online - which is why shops are disappearing - and among those Amazon gets the bulk. I know a few writers that "shoot wide" and use Ingram for their physical presence with variable results (one of my friends basically said f*** Ingram recently, he had too many issues with them). Also note that royalties on bookstore sales are pathetic, and that you often make more on an eBook than a paperback - especially now that the cost of paper has gone so much up that prices are ridiculous (if you read as much as I do, it's a budget! I often go digital for that reason). Also to be noted, my short story collection publisher used Draft2Digital that takes care of making the book available in a ton of formats including Kindle and Amazon paperbacks, and apparently bookshops can order too... And then there's the question of agents. That's a whole different bowl of spaghetti...
Those crowds sound like my worst nightmare. I’ve always wondered what it was like as I dated a literary agent for a couple of years and he seemed to love it. Thanks for going and describing it so I never have to!
Sorry it turned out not to be a life-changing event, but sounds like it was neat to see ... once!
Thanks for sharing your experience, Troy! I learned some stuff and have some things to look into further regarding self-publishing. Thanks for investigating this particular publishing circus for us!
Thank you for attending this and for the great write-up, Troy. You've reminded me why I've retired from a job that involved going to similar events (and once, even the LBF). The sight of a lanyard these days makes me shudder.
And thanks for all the invaluable tips on self-publishing.
Oh my. Sounds like a mix of overwhelming and underwhelming all at once! Blech. Buuuut, the information you’ve provided is much appreciated. So thank you for taking one for the team!
Echoing Chloe's thoughts! Sounds like a clusterfuck 😆
Sorry you had to wade through all of that, but I do so appreciate all the information you gleaned and provided here. Very helpful stuff.
Blimey. That really sounds like a clustrfuck and, honestly, I'm glad you went so that I never have to (🙏). That's a wealth of information, though, and I thank you for sharing it. I love the idea of writing a book, one day--and I shudder at the thought of publishing a book, one day. It seems like such a minefield. Makes me even more in awe of the people who manage it. Relieved that you got to meet the Gruffalo, at least ! 💜🧡💛
I had the same experience as you last year - complete with the wandering around in circles feeling absolutely baffled! I went alone and only managed to get two stall holders to actually hold a conversation with me (I went with vague ideas of talking to agents as a ghostwriter, or to childrens book publishers about something I've written but not yet published, but they all fobbed me off), so it was pretty lonely. I walk with a cane so it was also very miserable due to the lack of seating. I had a media pass so I did manage to head up to the media room, where I was permitted to perch on a tiny, wobbly stool with no back support amongst a sea of cliquey film crews who ignored everyone else in the room completely. Wonderful! I left after lunch and vowed never again. I'm sure a lot of business must be getting done or they wouldn't bother holding it, but unless you like the look of a good number of the speakers, I don't really see the value for the average person.
What a wealth of valuable info. Going to pore through some of this for Dylan’s memoir. Thank you for entering the mouth of the dragon for us. I’m glad you emerged intact!
Woof. There’s a lot of stuff to digest here MTF. Thanks for providing such a thorough read out of the event, particularly around self-publishing. I have been circling for a while on this and I’m still not ready to land.
ah, it is good to see you, troy!!
my gratitude to you for sticking it out and sharing all that you learned. very helpful indeed. & man, do i feel you on so, so, much of your experience. glad to have found you, friend.
I could feel that agent exhaustion! I get it. Face to face seems like even more work. A marketplace. Ahh! But sounds like you learned a lot about self publishing trends 👌🏽😄
Hope you make it to Brighton!
Thanks for taking the bullet for us, MTF!
I haven't had the pleasure of seeing my book in a bookstore yet (maybe with the detective novel coming out this summer), but writers shouldn't be too hung up on physical stores. The vast majority of sales are online - which is why shops are disappearing - and among those Amazon gets the bulk. I know a few writers that "shoot wide" and use Ingram for their physical presence with variable results (one of my friends basically said f*** Ingram recently, he had too many issues with them). Also note that royalties on bookstore sales are pathetic, and that you often make more on an eBook than a paperback - especially now that the cost of paper has gone so much up that prices are ridiculous (if you read as much as I do, it's a budget! I often go digital for that reason). Also to be noted, my short story collection publisher used Draft2Digital that takes care of making the book available in a ton of formats including Kindle and Amazon paperbacks, and apparently bookshops can order too... And then there's the question of agents. That's a whole different bowl of spaghetti...