Comments on: We love questions! http://blog.creativebyline.com/2007/12/27/we-love-questions/ A blog for writers and publishers by Creative Byline Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:39:18 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: creativebyline http://blog.creativebyline.com/2007/12/27/we-love-questions/#comment-151 creativebyline Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:55:19 +0000 http://creativebyline.wordpress.com/2007/12/27/we-love-questions/#comment-151 Thanks for your question. Let's start with the similarities. Both Creative Byline and a literary agency look to connect writers with editors. Both will give you feedback on whether your project is submission-ready; Creative Byline does that through our first readers. The differences are the process, the timeline, the services offered, and the accompanying fees. Creative Byline uses technology to let editors specify their interests; writers have direct access to that information. Because of that direct connection, we guarantee that the process will move quickly—weeks instead of months. An agent develops his/her own network of editors and publishers; we have subscribing publishers whose editors are committed to using the online submission process through Creative Byline. We anticipate that Creative Byline will have greater reach than any individual agent. Finally, most agents negotiate the contract once on offer has been made; Creative Byline doesn't. (Lawyers specializing in publishing can review your contract for a reasonable fee; you can contact one directly or through membership in the Authors Guild.) Creative Byline doesn't offer that service, but we charge only for the submission process, not a percentage of what you earn over the lifetime of your book. Reputable agents charge 15% of whatever you earn over your book's lifetime. So if you receive a $10,000 advance for your first book and later that book gets optioned for a movie for $5,000, an agent will keep $2,250 ($1,500 for the advance plus $750 for the movie option). Creative Byline charges a flat fee for each manuscript submission, $9 for children's picture books and $19 for other genres. Thanks for your question. Let’s start with the similarities. Both Creative Byline and a literary agency look to connect writers with editors. Both will give you feedback on whether your project is submission-ready; Creative Byline does that through our first readers.

The differences are the process, the timeline, the services offered, and the accompanying fees. Creative Byline uses technology to let editors specify their interests; writers have direct access to that information. Because of that direct connection, we guarantee that the process will move quickly—weeks instead of months.

An agent develops his/her own network of editors and publishers; we have subscribing publishers whose editors are committed to using the online submission process through Creative Byline. We anticipate that Creative Byline will have greater reach than any individual agent.

Finally, most agents negotiate the contract once on offer has been made; Creative Byline doesn’t. (Lawyers specializing in publishing can review your contract for a reasonable fee; you can contact one directly or through membership in the Authors Guild.) Creative Byline doesn’t offer that service, but we charge only for the submission process, not a percentage of what you earn over the lifetime of your book. Reputable agents charge 15% of whatever you earn over your book’s lifetime. So if you receive a $10,000 advance for your first book and later that book gets optioned for a movie for $5,000, an agent will keep $2,250 ($1,500 for the advance plus $750 for the movie option). Creative Byline charges a flat fee for each manuscript submission, $9 for children’s picture books and $19 for other genres.

]]> By: Tatjana http://blog.creativebyline.com/2007/12/27/we-love-questions/#comment-150 Tatjana Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:23:24 +0000 http://creativebyline.wordpress.com/2007/12/27/we-love-questions/#comment-150 What's the difference between your service and a literary agency? What’s the difference between your service and a literary agency?

]]> By: creativebyline http://blog.creativebyline.com/2007/12/27/we-love-questions/#comment-129 creativebyline Wed, 21 May 2008 15:21:35 +0000 http://creativebyline.wordpress.com/2007/12/27/we-love-questions/#comment-129 We believe that the best approach is for writers to do research (on our site, or visit a bookstore and check out other books they’ve edited) on the best editor fit for their manuscript, and then submit directly to them. Editors are reviewing manuscripts that are in the manuscript library, but as a writer you can’t beat the fact that over 90% of the time, editors at our subscribing publishers are looking at manuscripts sent to them within three weeks. Obviously, we can’t require editors to read every part of a manuscript. They read as little or as much as they need to in order to determine if it’s a good fit. The synopsis appears on the first screen that they see (along with the cover letter), so it’s critical that it be compelling. Editors at our client publishers use Creative Byline in different ways. Some use just the search function to look for a specific type of manuscript (which could be the reason for the “Not Accepting Submissions” flag), while others are actively looking for writers to submit manuscripts, and a few don’t use it at all. We believe that the best approach is for writers to do research (on our site, or visit a bookstore and check out other books they’ve edited) on the best editor fit for their manuscript, and then submit directly to them. Editors are reviewing manuscripts that are in the manuscript library, but as a writer you can’t beat the fact that over 90% of the time, editors at our subscribing publishers are looking at manuscripts sent to them within three weeks. Obviously, we can’t require editors to read every part of a manuscript. They read as little or as much as they need to in order to determine if it’s a good fit. The synopsis appears on the first screen that they see (along with the cover letter), so it’s critical that it be compelling.

Editors at our client publishers use Creative Byline in different ways. Some use just the search function to look for a specific type of manuscript (which could be the reason for the “Not Accepting Submissions” flag), while others are actively looking for writers to submit manuscripts, and a few don’t use it at all.

]]> By: John Sawinski http://blog.creativebyline.com/2007/12/27/we-love-questions/#comment-128 John Sawinski Thu, 15 May 2008 19:54:37 +0000 http://creativebyline.wordpress.com/2007/12/27/we-love-questions/#comment-128 I'm curious as to the relative merits of submitting to a particular editor rather than placing it on the general pile. How often are editors actually fetching non-targeted submissions? Any statistics? When editors sign up to accept submissions, are they committed to reading the entire submission package, or only parts? Also, I notice that many of the newer St. Martins editors are flagged as 'Not Accepting Submissions'. Why is that? Are they interested in something other than submissions, or are they just lurking? Thanks. Once again, the site is a great idea. The face of publishing continues to change rapidly. Creative Byline seems to be a change for the better. I’m curious as to the relative merits of submitting to a particular editor rather than placing it on the general pile. How often are editors actually fetching non-targeted submissions? Any statistics? When editors sign up to accept submissions, are they committed to reading the entire submission package, or only parts?

Also, I notice that many of the newer St. Martins editors are flagged as ‘Not Accepting Submissions’. Why is that? Are they interested in something other than submissions, or are they just lurking?

Thanks. Once again, the site is a great idea. The face of publishing continues to change rapidly. Creative Byline seems to be a change for the better.

]]> By: creativebyline http://blog.creativebyline.com/2007/12/27/we-love-questions/#comment-98 creativebyline Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:45:13 +0000 http://creativebyline.wordpress.com/2007/12/27/we-love-questions/#comment-98 Nan, thanks for your question. The answer is, it depends. If your agent is providing value beyond finding a publisher for your manuscript then probably not. You may, however, decide to use Creative Byline as a complement, e.g., if you're looking for help in making your manuscript stronger before it goes to an agent or if you just want to see for yourself trends in the types of books editors want. Also, an agent doesn’t necessarily want to represent every project a writer completes. In those cases, Creative Byline may be a good alternative. Nan, thanks for your question. The answer is, it depends. If your agent is providing value beyond finding a publisher for your manuscript then probably not. You may, however, decide to use Creative Byline as a complement, e.g., if you’re looking for help in making your manuscript stronger before it goes to an agent or if you just want to see for yourself trends in the types of books editors want. Also, an agent doesn’t necessarily want to represent every project a writer completes. In those cases, Creative Byline may be a good alternative.

]]> By: Nan Cappo http://blog.creativebyline.com/2007/12/27/we-love-questions/#comment-97 Nan Cappo Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:04:01 +0000 http://creativebyline.wordpress.com/2007/12/27/we-love-questions/#comment-97 Question: Are there any good reasons a published author, with an agent she's reasonably happy with, would want to use Creative Byline's services? (PS--great concept--lots of luck) Question: Are there any good reasons a published author, with an agent she’s reasonably happy with, would want to use Creative Byline’s services?
(PS–great concept–lots of luck)

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