Site requirements

Three Star Member Joined : 13 Jun 2008 Posts : 86

I probably should have asked this earlier, but I've been browsing the site and the wirters here seem to have 'real' publishers.

Does that mean that writers who use PODs to print their books aren't considerd published authors? scratch

I've always thought that POD just meant the book was printed, and that 'Published' meant a 'real' publishers printed your book -- so I have no problem at all if that is the basis of this site. I just need to know what the definition is here. Cool

Thanks.

--Melinda

Subject: Re: Site requirements Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:53 am

I seem to recall from multiple post on other forums that YOU don't consider it such, and go on and on about how POD isn't "being published" but just "being printed"

Are you trying to confirm your prejudices or sneak up on them or what? It's not really like you're asking for information, is it? Because you've gotten dozens of responses to it.
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Subject: Re: Site requirements Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:54 am

To refresh your memory from the last 10 times somebody told you this... POD is a

TECHNOLOGY

Not a

BUSINESS PLAN

Kensington, Rebel Base, Bewrite, Whiskey Creek, Kunati are all large publishers who use the techology.

Pretending to still confuse it with "vanity press"... and to keep on invoking your personal litany of "printed, not publshed" seems disingenuous, perhaps even deliberately provocative.
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Subject: Re: Site requirements Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:05 am

Hi, Melinda, and welcome! I don't know how many here are published by
"traditional" publishers, for lack of a better term. Many are POD
published (me, for example). To me, if you write a book and it gets
printed, professionally bound, and is available for purchase - that is
published. Even self-published is still published!

The news I am hearing lately tells me that in just a few years POD is going to be the standard anyway.
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Brew
My website:http://www.philwhitley.com
"Let us dare to read, think, speak and write." ~ John Adams, 1765

Three Star Member Joined : 13 Jun 2008 Posts : 86

lin, you ae sooooooooo touchy! are you the same lin at Sky-Tribe?

I'm simply asking if POD authors are accepted here, as I am one; but, personally, I don't consider myself 'published'. That's my opinion, and I do't expect everyone to agree with me. I don't refer to myself as 'published author'.

That's what I was saying; don't get all bent out of shape about it; I wasn't even talking to you.

I can see how you have problems with editors if you take such harmless questions so personally.

I don't like being jumped on, tho'; so I can depart at any time. No big deal; I was just mainly curious.

--Melinda

Subject: Re: Site requirements Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:21 am

I'd say if your book is availible for sale to the public, wether in printed or electronic form, then it can be considered published. As Lin has already stated, POD is a technology, not a business plan. POD simply means the books are printed as they are ordered, rather than in large print runs that requier the warehousing of hundreds or thousands of copies. In this regard, POD is much more efficient than traditional printing technologies. I presonally think the POD's market share will continue to grow in the future and I would agree that POD stands a good chance of one day becoming the standard of the publishing industry.

Subject: Re: Site requirements Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:23 am

As Phil said, a book that is printed is by it's very nature published, and here we have writers who have published in a variety of ways. There are sites/associations and editors who don't consider POD the same as "being published" but honeslty I think if you're brace enough to put your stuff out into the world whether your publish it yourself or not, you're published.
Getting to the best-seller list is a tough climb either way!

Mostly here we are very supportive and encouraging bunch. Although we can all have touchy moments we also tend to be pretty forgiving, or simply capable of ignorning one another's foibles and weaker moments. I think you'll find that people here tend not to argue with one another personally, despite the fact that we may argue about all kinds of things, from soup to nuts and politics to religion. Oh, and writing and publishing of course. Hopefully that helps to clear the air a little.
flower

I too think that POD is going to be the way of the future, in fact I have a few little projects coming out that way later this year.
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http://andthebandplayedonmylawn.blogspot.com

Three Star Member Joined : 13 Jun 2008 Posts : 86

To Phil Whitley & P. Gordon Kennedy: Yeah, but all POD companies are in business to make money; so it's a business in taht sense.

You make very valid points; I just have to overcome my mindset that's been hammered into me since 1980 by the 'brick & mortar' publishing companies and the agents' adversion to self-printing, regardliess of how it's done.

I like POD; it's great for my purposes, I just don't want to mislead anyone.

--Melinda

Three Star Member Joined : 13 Jun 2008 Posts : 86

Thanks for the replies, but I've already PM'd the site owner to unJoin.

I don't like arguing either, but neither do I like lin's attitude. So the problem here is mainly on my side, as I have very little patience for that sort of thing.

I'm not a joiner by nature, and my 'people' interaction leaves a lot to be desired, I know.

I think this site is way too advanced for me; I enjoy writing, but I don't have a lot of books, short stories, etc. I guess it's more of a hobby than a 'way of life'. Which is probably why I don't fit well into writing sites.

You guys are very talented, and I'm impressed.

--Melinda

Subject: Re: Site requirements Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:48 am

Melinda don't leave. Most of us here áre hobby writers, but would like to be more.

Yes, Lin is the same Lin from Skytribe. Just take him with a pinch of salt.

This is a very friendly forum, try to keep it that way.

And members, Melinda is a super person, and a talented writer who I've known for a long time.

Lin, please show a little respect.
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Subject: Re: Site requirements Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:10 pm

Melinda, I have just sent you an email asking that you give us all a chance. Most here are POD published authors. POD companies are publishers, they simply use a different means to accomplish their objective. (It is more ecologically sound, too.)

We are all friendly here, even the occasionally touchy ones. I hope you decide to stay, at least until you get to know the rest of us a little better. You just might decide you like it here!
Wink

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Zada Connaway
Mother's Journals: parts 1, 2 and 3 ISBN # 1-4241-6969-0

http://www.zadaconnaway.com/

Subject: Re: Site requirements Sat Jun 14, 2008 4:59 pm

I'm POD published twice now and to me it doesn't matter that I had to publish myself. After all many great names in the past had to do it that way ie Sir Walter Scott (I'm sure theres more but I just can't think at the moment). My books have an ISBN number so to me there real published works, not that not having one means they wouldn't be, it's just my personal choice. I'm not famous or even close to it or rich by a means having struggled to make do all my life I don't even expect to be any of those two things. I write and publish my work as a hobby, to some that would be football, painting, jogging, to me it's my writing. Our hobbies are what we look forward to, the thing that keeps us going because we enjoy it. Writing isn't my only hobby yet it is the one that I'm driven too. Sounds silly right Rolling Eyes

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Subject: Re: Site requirements Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:17 pm

Merriam Webster's on line dictionary says "... to produce or release for distribution; ..."

Based on that, my opinion is we are all 'published', regardlesss of what vehicle we have chosen to use. And I believe we are all welcome here, and should not be made to feel under attack.
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Zada Connaway
Mother's Journals: parts 1, 2 and 3 ISBN # 1-4241-6969-0

http://www.zadaconnaway.com/

Three Star Member Joined : 13 Jun 2008 Posts : 86

I like POD quite a bit. The reason I asked is that some sites consider POD-people like the unwanted stepchildren of the printing industry. I've found that out the hard way, so now I ask first. And I've been taken to task by other forums (which I left back in 2000-2002) for saying 'published' is the same as 'printed'.

I've been to book signings where the ads say "Published Author Xxxxxx Xxxxx" and it turns out to be POD. Many of the people attending left, angry, saying that anyone can print their own work. Mad

That's the only reason I make the differiation; I don't want to lose potential readers becasue they doh't understand POD's purpose. Rolling Eyes

I have few enough readers as it is.

Okay, nice to know POD is okay here cheers

, but for now, I'll just browse around for a bit before posting again.

such neat smilies....

--Melinda

Subject: Re: Site requirements Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:51 pm

A number ot mainline trade publishers you refer to as "brick and mortar" publishers are already using POD for books they feel may not justify a substantial press run.
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