Are Trek Authors feeling the squeeze of less books?

[Nathan]

I recall the days of 2 paperbacks cranked out a month, and now we are just down to one paperback book. Yeah, yeah, I know to include the hardcovers and the oversized books (i.e. the size that SCE prints out, or ie. Beneath the Raptor Wings)

My question is with less books being published per year, is it getting tougher for those who are into Trek Lit to get something published.

For example, is its more competitive between KRAD, Mack, & CLB to have an additional book published due to lesser amount of book slots + they may have to compete even more with new authors that haven't had a Trek book published before.

I wonder if the authors feel the squeeze or not as if it was back up to 2 paperbacks a month, KRAD, Mack & CLB probably wouldn't have any additonal books anyway, and those slots would just go to newbies instead. (and I just using KRAD, Mack & CLB as an example)

 

[Greg Cox]

I can't speak for the others, but you could never make a living by just doing TREK books. There weren't that many slots, even back in the old days. That's why most of us write for other series as well, not to mention our own original projects.

 

[Christopher]

I can't speak for the others, but you could never make a living by just doing TREK books.

Well, you kinda can, if it's a sufficiently austere living and you're sufficiently in demand. But I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I can't speak for the others, but you could never make a living by just doing TREK books.

Well, you kinda can, if it's a sufficiently austere living and you're sufficiently in demand. But I wouldn't recommend it.

Write Star Trek and lose weight! Hardcore!

 

[Greg Cox]

I can't speak for the others, but you could never make a living by just doing TREK books.

Well, you kinda can, if it's a sufficiently austere living and you're sufficiently in demand. But I wouldn't recommend it.

But you've also written for SPIDER-MAN and X-MEN and Analog . . . .

 

[Christopher]

But not regularly enough to count as a substantial, ongoing source of income. I'm not saying I've made a living solely doing Trek books, but there have been fairly lengthy periods where Trek writing has been my sole source of income. (And sometimes I've come pretty close to being broke, so again, don't try this at home, kids.)

 

[Sci]

But not regularly enough to count as a substantial, ongoing source of income. I'm not saying I've made a living solely doing Trek books, but there have been fairly lengthy periods where Trek writing has been my sole source of income. (And sometimes I've come pretty close to being broke, so again, don't try this at home, kids.)

Though, to be fair, you also live in Ohio, where the cost of living is lower than in other parts of the country. (Hello, fellow Ohioan!) So I'd say that that also depends on the cost of living in your region. I doubt that KRAD or Mack could survive the way you have while living in New York City.

 

[Jim Johnson]

My question is with less books being published per year, is it getting tougher for those who are into Trek Lit to get something published.

Yeah, absolutely. There was a point where there were 2 mmpbs published a month plus other stuff such as trades, and there was the Strange New Worlds contest going on, bringing in a lot of potential new authors to the line.

Once the publishers had to drop to 1 mmpb a month, a lot of potential novels and novelists got sort of stuck in the queue.

There are some great SNW writers I'd love to see a Trek mmpb from (besides myself), but unfortunately it'll be much harder for new and unknown writers to get a slot. Money being an issue, certainly.

I'm sure I'm not the only writer who pitched a novel concept and got a response along the lines of "if we were doing 2 mmpbs a month, I'd ask you to take this to the outline/proposal stage so we can send it to the licensors."

Nature of the beast. Gotta fill the limited slots with the money makers.

That's one reason any writer shouldn't rely on media tie-in work alone. You never know when an editor might get laid off or a line might get reduced in number of publication slots. Gotta have lots of irons in the fire--original works and media tie-in, plus plenty of other stuff.

 

[Snaploud]

I imagine that fewer books actually gives a few of the writers more stability. Treklit editors are likely less inclined to try out new talent when revenues are based around fewer books in any given year.

 

[BrotherBenny]

But not regularly enough to count as a substantial, ongoing source of income. I'm not saying I've made a living solely doing Trek books, but there have been fairly lengthy periods where Trek writing has been my sole source of income. (And sometimes I've come pretty close to being broke, so again, don't try this at home, kids.)

Christopher, are you planning a novel-length original work at all? Much as I enjoy your short stories, I'd like to take a bite of something a little meatier.

 

[Christopher]

Christopher, are you planning a novel-length original work at all?

I'm planning a number of them, one of which is written and one of which is in progress between other projects. I just need to find an agent so I can market them.

 

[Stevil2001]

I imagine that fewer books actually gives a few of the writers more stability. Treklit editors are likely less inclined to try out new talent when revenues are based around fewer books in any given year.

That is why there are no books from first-time novelists coming out next year.

 

[James Swallow]

That's one reason any writer shouldn't rely on media tie-in work alone. You never know when an editor might get laid off or a line might get reduced in number of publication slots. Gotta have lots of irons in the fire--original works and media tie-in, plus plenty of other stuff.

QFT, indeed.

 

[Lonemagpie]

I imagine that fewer books actually gives a few of the writers more stability. Treklit editors are likely less inclined to try out new talent when revenues are based around fewer books in any given year.

That is why there are no books from first-time novelists coming out next year.

Or from first time Trek, but otherwise experienced tie-in, novelists...

 

[TGTheodore]

It doesn't matter to me, really. I stopped pitching to Trek a few years ago shortly after Constellations. My Chapel story was approved but the final version didn't make it into the book (nor did it deserve to).

My last pitch to Pocket broke my arm. So I returned to theater writing and composition. I make just as much from it as I did from my brief foray into Trek short-fiction.

--Ted

 

[garoo1980]

While we're prying into how much the authors make I've been curious into the residuals. No doubt a book sells the most copies when it first comes out but how do the sales hold up over time? Do they fall off to nothing after the book comes out or are there more casual fans picking up copies for months, or years, after?

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

While we're prying into how much the authors make I've been curious into the residuals. No doubt a book sells the most copies when it first comes out but how do the sales hold up over time? Do they fall off to nothing after the book comes out or are there more casual fans picking up copies for months, or years, after?

It's pretty hard to pick them up years later other than on ebay. They don't stay on the shelves long, which is one reason why I own the entire Titan series and still haven't read it. I know I better buy them now rather than having to hunt them down one by one when I finally get to them.

 

[Snaploud]

Post-depression rules allow bookstores to send back unsold books to publishers. During the recent recession, bookstores have been even less likely to keep books on the shelves for long periods of time (exceptions abound, of course).

 

[Daddy Todd]

Post-depression rules allow bookstores to send back unsold books to publishers. During the recent recession, bookstores have been even less likely to keep books on the shelves for long periods of time (exceptions abound, of course).

And, in the case of Mass Market paperbacks, "send back" means they tear off the cover and send that back for credit (just like magazines) and put the rest of the book in the recycling or trash bin. Trade paperbacks and hardcovers are treated differently, and some retailers may have different terms on MMPBs, but by and large any paperback not sold within a few months goes into the dumpster.

 

[Greg Cox]

While we're prying into how much the authors make I've been curious into the residuals. No doubt a book sells the most copies when it first comes out but how do the sales hold up over time? Do they fall off to nothing after the book comes out or are there more casual fans picking up copies for months, or years, after?

Honestly, the royalties tend to dribble in, depending on whether the book is still in print or not, but they're nothing to write home about.

Just to give you an idea, I got an $11 check for THE Q CONTINUUM the other day, which is pretty typical.

Most authors live on their advances, not royalties.