Heavens, this is an extraordinarily creative but also productive
group -- I only have the time to dip in every now and then and
usually gibber at seeing how much reading I'd have to do to catch up
and run away!
Just a few comments on the publishing idea, with both Issaries
Aacquisition Editor and UW hats on.
- Offer it to Issaries. There's great stuff here, and it would be
very nice to see it become the basis of an official product. That
said, let me just make one very blunt point, in order to forestall
future ill-will: once you hand it over, you are accepting that II
will do with the ms. what it will. There may be minor rewrites, or
there may be complete and dramatic changes, in order to fit Greg's
vision, the needs of future books and just to fit with what II wants
to do with it. This is the option, obviously, which will help II the
most, but do understand that it gives you no control over the
process after submission.
- Offer it to an independent publisher, such as UW or the Chaos
Soc. A balance -- generally independents will work with the authors
much more closely and obviously they cover the cost of printing, etc.
- Publish it yourself. This gives you the most control of all. A
net-based product is obviously the cheapest but will have least
market impact -- people want books and we are still a long way away
from a print-on-demand, etc, market. Everyone on this list is, by
definition, net-happy, but be aware that the *majority* of the
market still is not. Alternatively, print it yourself, but this may
cost you a couple of thousand dollars plus, depending on size,
quality, print run, etc. But it does mean that you can produce the
book you want, and if you wish can contribute any profit you may
make to II.
Just a few thoughts for the collective. Feel free to bounce back at
me on anything, but be aware that I don't read this list regularly.
I do pop by every now and then, and if I see any posts
wih 'publishing' or the like in the title I will make sure I look at
them.
All the best
Mark