Author Topic: The Next Step  (Read 12707 times)

EUOL

  • Moderator
  • Level 58
  • *
  • Posts: 4708
  • Fell Points: 33
  • Mr. Prolific [tm]
    • View Profile
    • Brandon Sanderson dot com
The Next Step
« on: September 15, 2003, 11:05:28 PM »
Well, for those of you interested in such things, TOR made an initial offer on my book today.  They are willing to pay $15,000 for two novels (Elantris and my current project.)  My agent thought this was a little low, and is going to try talking them up.  
http://www.BrandonSanderson.com

"Technically, I don't even have a brain."--Fellfrosch

The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers

  • Administrator
  • Level 96
  • *****
  • Posts: 19211
  • Fell Points: 17
  • monkeys? yes.
    • View Profile
    • herb's world
Re: The Next Step
« Reply #1 on: September 15, 2003, 11:55:32 PM »
oo! I assume that's "plus royalties" right? Hope you get much more.

EUOL

  • Moderator
  • Level 58
  • *
  • Posts: 4708
  • Fell Points: 33
  • Mr. Prolific [tm]
    • View Profile
    • Brandon Sanderson dot com
Re: The Next Step
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2003, 01:29:16 AM »
That's an advance.  It's money paid against royalties.  Once I eard royalties more than seven grand, I'll start earning money.

Average first novel advance is around $5,000.  The only reason we think we can get more is because Elantris is 250,000 words, which means it will sell for more.  However, getting more than about ten to twenty grand for your first book is very rare.  Goodkind did it, but not many others.

The other thing pulling the advance down is that the book isn't actively being shopped to other publishers.  Moshe found it in the slush pile, and it still needs a little revising, so it can't really go to auction.
http://www.BrandonSanderson.com

"Technically, I don't even have a brain."--Fellfrosch

Spriggan

  • Administrator
  • Level 78
  • *****
  • Posts: 10582
  • Fell Points: 31
  • Yes, I am this awesome
    • View Profile
    • Legacies Lost
Re: The Next Step
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2003, 02:02:05 AM »
Also one think EUOL forgot to mention that I think is a big deal is that they also want to do a hard back run.  Wich first time authors don't allwayse get.
Screw it, I'm buying crayons and paper. I can imagineer my own adventures! Wheeee!

Chuck Norris is the reason Waldo is hiding.


Entsuropi

  • Level 60
  • *
  • Posts: 5033
  • Fell Points: 0
  • =^_^= Captain of the highschool Daydreaming team
    • View Profile
Re: The Next Step
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2003, 08:53:53 AM »
Well done! :D

One thing: is this gonna be reviewed by TWG? :P
« Last Edit: September 16, 2003, 08:55:58 AM by Charlie82 »
If you're ever in an argument and Entropy winds up looking staid and temperate in comparison, it might be time to cut your losses and start a new thread about something else :)

Fellfrosch

The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers

  • Administrator
  • Level 96
  • *****
  • Posts: 19211
  • Fell Points: 17
  • monkeys? yes.
    • View Profile
    • herb's world
Re: The Next Step
« Reply #5 on: September 16, 2003, 09:21:46 AM »
Only if I get a free, signed, review copy....

The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers

  • Administrator
  • Level 96
  • *****
  • Posts: 19211
  • Fell Points: 17
  • monkeys? yes.
    • View Profile
    • herb's world
Re: The Next Step
« Reply #6 on: September 16, 2003, 09:27:29 AM »
Thinking on that, Jeffe might be a better choice. He's the most regular contributer who doesn't know EUOL personally. So it would award dilligence but keep him impartial. But I'm sure this is at least months away, since EUOL indicated that there was still some work to do before it even goes to press. (and they have to come to an agreement about pay)

stacer

  • Level 58
  • *
  • Posts: 4641
  • Fell Points: 0
    • View Profile
    • Stacy Whitman's Grimoire
Re: The Next Step
« Reply #7 on: September 16, 2003, 10:00:21 AM »
At least months? Most writers I know have about 1 1/2 to 2 years between acceptance and publication. The editorial process is long, and then there's the production process with design etc. Printing is the shortest of the process, I think. Just depends. There's a lot of hurry-up and wait.

Congrats, EUOL.
Help start a small press dedicated to publishing multicultural fantasy and science fiction for children and young adults. http://preview.tinyurl.com/pzojaf.

Follow our blog at http://www.tupublishing.com
We're on Twitter, too! http://www.twitter.com/tupublishing

EUOL

  • Moderator
  • Level 58
  • *
  • Posts: 4708
  • Fell Points: 33
  • Mr. Prolific [tm]
    • View Profile
    • Brandon Sanderson dot com
Re: The Next Step
« Reply #8 on: September 16, 2003, 10:25:29 AM »
Stacer has the right of it.  Even if we had a price nailed down, my agent said it would probably take weeks to even get a contract to sign.  After that, there are revisions to do, and all sorts of other sundery things.  Back in May my editor said he was shooting for a fall 2004 release, but that may have to get pushed back.
http://www.BrandonSanderson.com

"Technically, I don't even have a brain."--Fellfrosch

House of Mustard

  • Level 44
  • *
  • Posts: 2934
  • Fell Points: 3
  • Firstborn Unicorn
    • View Profile
    • robisonwells.com
Re: The Next Step
« Reply #9 on: September 16, 2003, 11:22:37 AM »
Wow.  Congratulations!

As far as a timetable, from acceptance to publication for me is going to be a little over a year.  I'm sure that it will take longer for your book, since you're publisher is a lot bigger.  Going through the editing process now, I'm constantly amazed at how much work goes into it.

By the way, an extra congratulations on the hard cover.  That's awesome!
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier.

www.robisonwells.com

Lieutenant Kije

  • Level 33
  • *
  • Posts: 1945
  • Fell Points: 1
    • View Profile
Re: The Next Step
« Reply #10 on: September 16, 2003, 11:51:46 AM »
*Lt. Kije applauds.

Most excellent!

Mistress of Darkness

  • Level 37
  • *
  • Posts: 2322
  • Fell Points: 0
  • Mama
    • View Profile
Re: The Next Step
« Reply #11 on: September 16, 2003, 02:06:47 PM »
Wow! EUOL. That is wonderful. I hadn't heard that it had been accepted.

The best part is that I haven't read Elantris so it will be completely new when I buy it at Barnes & Noble!!

/me jumps around excitedly
" If i ever need a pen-name I'd choose EUOL, just to confuse everyone. " --Entropy

42

  • RPG Editors
  • Level 56
  • *
  • Posts: 4350
  • Fell Points: 8
  • Unofficial World Saver
    • View Profile
Re: The Next Step
« Reply #12 on: September 16, 2003, 04:23:16 PM »
Wow, some of your hard work is finally paying off. It would have been really depressing if you had kept writing novels for the next couple of years without any offers. I hope your book does well when it is finally published. Congratulations.
The Folly of youth is to think that intelligence is a subsitute for experience. The folly of age is to think that experience is a subsitute for intelligence.

EUOL

  • Moderator
  • Level 58
  • *
  • Posts: 4708
  • Fell Points: 33
  • Mr. Prolific [tm]
    • View Profile
    • Brandon Sanderson dot com
Re: The Next Step
« Reply #13 on: September 16, 2003, 06:23:01 PM »
Thanks, all, for the support.  As things go, there was another fierce day of negotiations, and my agent talked them up to $10,000 a book.  There are still a couple of sticking points, however.  The more important one is that TOR wants to buy World English rights as well as just North American, and Joshua is determined to hold onto World English.  Paperback royalties look good, but he's going to try and wiggle the hardback royalties a little higher, though royalties tend to be fairly standard so there's a smaller ammount of negotiations to do here.
http://www.BrandonSanderson.com

"Technically, I don't even have a brain."--Fellfrosch

JP Dogberry

  • Level 41
  • *
  • Posts: 2713
  • Fell Points: 9
  • Master of Newbie Slapdown!
    • View Profile
    • Effusive Ambivalence
Re: The Next Step
« Reply #14 on: September 16, 2003, 07:35:00 PM »
I'll have to get myself a copy when it comes out. Anyway, congratulations. It's pretty hard to even finish writing a book, letalone getting it published. Or at least I think it is, but that's cos I'm lazy, and if I decided to write a short story it takes me three years to get a first draft. Unless, of course, I'm pressured by school deadlines.
Go go super JP newbie slapdown force! - Entropy