For the last week or so, we've been focusing on polishing off the copy for the Nemesis website, which we're hoping will go live in the next few weeks.
We're as good as finished, other than one or two areas that need a tweak here and there, and it's a bloody relief to finally cross it off the to-do list. It's been in stasis for a while, mainly because we didn't want to launch the site before we were ready to firm up details of our first books; it's difficult to make something sound sexy when you've got nothing concrete to back up your claims.
Writing the copy has been mighty tricky. There's an art to creating appealing website copy, hitting the right note for the type of site you're looking to develop and the kind of audience you want to attract. We are aiming for a chatty and informal approach, but one that is professional at the same time. We don't want to be a stuffy publisher, distant from readers and writers alike.
That's not what we're about, and we don't think that is what publishing is about any longer. We've looked at other indie publishers who have cool websites - Snowbooks and Salt are great examples - and, rather than just try and repeat what they've done, we've tried to use their approach to inspire ours.
When researching websites, we were horrified at some of the car crashes that are publishers' websites - and we're not just talking small indie presses here, but some of the bigger names in the industry. Online is such a huge potential market, and the use of social media so fundamental to the success of publishing, that I can't believe these businesses aren't looking at their sites, and those of their savvy rivals, and thinking, hang on, we need to pull our damn finger out and improve our online presence. Still, if they won't go down that line, it only makes it easier for us to stand out.
Have we got the look and feel of the site bang on the money? We think (hope...) we have. It's difficult to gauge, to be honest, and we'll only really know when people start firing feedback over to us. The design is pretty cool (thanks to the web guys at Isle of Man Advertising & PR), so it is all down to the copy hitting the mark. The beauty is that, if after a short while the feedback points to certain areas needing to be tightened or expanded, then it's an easy fix to amend.
The last page to be completed was, of course, the 'about us' section. Always find it difficult to write mini-bios. In fact, they are quite easy to write. It's writing one that doesn't make you sound like a pretentious arse, that's the problem.
Till next time.
Tuesday 22 June 2010
Thursday 10 June 2010
Taking the fiction plunge
One of the most challenging aspects facing us as we look to carve a small niche for Nemesis comes in the form of novel submissions.
With non-fiction, the subject of your book will, generally, identify your market for you. Our next book, Steve Joughin's autobiography, Pocket Rocket, is a prime example; being a local lad, the Isle of Man market should be receptive, and with Steve still being renowned and respected within the UK cycling fraternity (and further afield), we know that the market for his life story should be there. What's more, we know where we need to go and what we need to do to hit both of those markets.
We have other non-fiction projects in the pipeline, along with the first issue of the Vertigo anthology, which, while fiction, is being aimed at a niche market. (There's another fiction anthology we're looking at, but I can't tell you anything here. Far too top secret and all that)
But what we're really looking for is one or two novels to launch that side of Nemesis. The problem is this; fiction is so bloody subjective, it's difficult to know what might sell. And being a small publisher trying to get established, we need each project we take on to do one thing - make some money, as that's the only way we're going to grow and, in turn, be able to publish more books.
I've put aside this week to read the submissions that have built up recently, with a view to clearing the decks by this time next week, although that might be a tad ambitious. I read a lot of fiction, and review some, but when you're reading a manuscript, with a view to backing it with your hard-earned, it's somewhat tricky to be objective about something that is so subjective.
As with most fiction, you're flying blind. You can only trust your instincts, go with what you have a feel for, the kind of story and characters that hook you in the same way as all those good books you've read over the years. And even then, that's no guarantee that a particular story will be marketable. If I had a quid for every time I've heard an unpublished writer moan that agents and publishers overlook good manuscripts 'just because' it might be a tough sell, I'd be relaxing in the Maldives right now. Okay, maybe the Orkneys.
Will any of the current raft of submissions hook me? Tune in next week. Or maybe the week after that.
With non-fiction, the subject of your book will, generally, identify your market for you. Our next book, Steve Joughin's autobiography, Pocket Rocket, is a prime example; being a local lad, the Isle of Man market should be receptive, and with Steve still being renowned and respected within the UK cycling fraternity (and further afield), we know that the market for his life story should be there. What's more, we know where we need to go and what we need to do to hit both of those markets.
We have other non-fiction projects in the pipeline, along with the first issue of the Vertigo anthology, which, while fiction, is being aimed at a niche market. (There's another fiction anthology we're looking at, but I can't tell you anything here. Far too top secret and all that)
But what we're really looking for is one or two novels to launch that side of Nemesis. The problem is this; fiction is so bloody subjective, it's difficult to know what might sell. And being a small publisher trying to get established, we need each project we take on to do one thing - make some money, as that's the only way we're going to grow and, in turn, be able to publish more books.
I've put aside this week to read the submissions that have built up recently, with a view to clearing the decks by this time next week, although that might be a tad ambitious. I read a lot of fiction, and review some, but when you're reading a manuscript, with a view to backing it with your hard-earned, it's somewhat tricky to be objective about something that is so subjective.
As with most fiction, you're flying blind. You can only trust your instincts, go with what you have a feel for, the kind of story and characters that hook you in the same way as all those good books you've read over the years. And even then, that's no guarantee that a particular story will be marketable. If I had a quid for every time I've heard an unpublished writer moan that agents and publishers overlook good manuscripts 'just because' it might be a tough sell, I'd be relaxing in the Maldives right now. Okay, maybe the Orkneys.
Will any of the current raft of submissions hook me? Tune in next week. Or maybe the week after that.
Wednesday 9 June 2010
Time to kick ass
There are times in life when good intentions and supposedly well-thought-out plans can leave you feeling somewhat embarrassed by their naivety.
Those who have followed this blog from the beginning (bless you) may recall that it was to be a quick-fire affair, regularly updated, following our adventures in establishing Nemesis as an indie publishing house. The idea was to give readers an inside look at the pitfalls facing such a venture, and sharing our small successes along the way.
Those same dedicated followers will know that, so far at least, it hasn't worked out that way. Posts have been sporadic, and it's been a frustrating time. There are several factors behind the slow progress, most having nothing to do with Nemesis whatsoever; day-to-day matters that have conspired against us (babies, day jobs, writing books, deadlines for other projects, everyday life - that kind of thing).
Yet one of the greatest things about this life we lead is the ability to look at how events have transpired in the past and say 'bugger it all to hell - today we start anew'. And so here we are. With a zesty freshness and a spring in our step, we're going to kickstart this blog from here on in. Regular updates guaranteed.
However, despite the lack of posts here, things have been quietly moving along behind the scenes - Pocket Rocket, cyclist Steve Joughin's autobiography; first issue of the Vertigo anthology; Nemesis website; calls for submissions for other projects - all of which I'll post about over the next few days.
Watch this space...
Those who have followed this blog from the beginning (bless you) may recall that it was to be a quick-fire affair, regularly updated, following our adventures in establishing Nemesis as an indie publishing house. The idea was to give readers an inside look at the pitfalls facing such a venture, and sharing our small successes along the way.
Those same dedicated followers will know that, so far at least, it hasn't worked out that way. Posts have been sporadic, and it's been a frustrating time. There are several factors behind the slow progress, most having nothing to do with Nemesis whatsoever; day-to-day matters that have conspired against us (babies, day jobs, writing books, deadlines for other projects, everyday life - that kind of thing).
Yet one of the greatest things about this life we lead is the ability to look at how events have transpired in the past and say 'bugger it all to hell - today we start anew'. And so here we are. With a zesty freshness and a spring in our step, we're going to kickstart this blog from here on in. Regular updates guaranteed.
However, despite the lack of posts here, things have been quietly moving along behind the scenes - Pocket Rocket, cyclist Steve Joughin's autobiography; first issue of the Vertigo anthology; Nemesis website; calls for submissions for other projects - all of which I'll post about over the next few days.
Watch this space...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
