Serious Tone

What do you reckon the chances are that someone could get money from 'Crowd Sourcing' in order to write a book?

I have seen a few sites but they seem to be backing products, no one is backing writers.

I have no idea how to approach it or if it would even work?

I would love to have a pop at it though, do you reckon if you put together a synopsis and two chapters people might be tempted to back a book?

I only ask because I am sketched out, I am getting nowhere with them and I am by nature a story writer.

But like most my reality is that I have no dough and a low paid job that takes up most of my time so I fear I will never get my book done.

Does anyone reckon that a 'Crowd Sourcing' site would consider an unknown writer as a viable punt?

Well Teddy if you're genuinely interested it's one of the biggest areas on kickstarter. In essence if someone pays you £10 towards your investment pot, it's because they like the idea of the book and want to read it. Ah but here's the rub no ones going to send you 50p if it's just going to be a self indulgent autobiography, or half baked George RR Martin clone.

But a cover, some samples and that itch of intrigue and people will pay.

Offer some bribes, naming a character in the book, or a monographed catskin edition and you can start asking for £50 stakes.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&term=books

But as you can see kick starting is a great way to sell the book before you finished page one.

Thanks for that Sooty, solid advice is what I need I'll have a go at that.

My story is not self indulgent but it is the funniest thing I have ever written, I have the whole caper in my head I just need stuff off my back to get it into a shape.
I reckon it would take me two solid months to do it, I would do it chapter by chapter painstakingly ensuring that each chapter reflects me at my very best.

Thanks once again for your advice, I can't take you off my enemy list yet but you're no longer top so that's a start

Just looking some of those guys have oversold by 600%.

I mean how do you need £20,000 to write a flipping book for Gawds sake?

Trouble is, places like Kickstarter usually rely on the fact that people like to be involved in film (or TV)
It's sexy.
So to get a producer credit, or first night tickets, or a signed T-shirt appears quite cool.
Especially if the subject matter/talent is intrinsically attractive.

A novel is different.
it's a solo project.
The process itself is dull - no sets to visit, no wardrobe to get to keep after the filming, no walk-on parts.

The only way it might work would be if you had a story that HAD to be told - a point -of-view that an interested group might want to see published, but know a mainstream publisher wouldn't touch.

But that narrows you down to religious nutters, basically.

EDIT

Posted this before Soots posted - genuinely had no idea that people were raising this kind of money on these sort of projects. I'm off to investigate as we speak, so feel free to ignore my post!!

I need three grand, rent rates and rice, so I'll have a punt.

Thanks Lazzard, I am very adaptable and could make my lead character a Jehovah's witness.

Quote: Teddy Paddalack @ 26th November 2013, 1:15 PM GMT

I need three grand, rent rates and rice, so I'll have a punt.

Thanks Lazzard, I am very adaptable and could make my lead character a Jehovah's witness.

View original

See my edit!

Quote: Lazzard @ 26th November 2013, 1:14 PM GMT

Trouble is, places like Kickstarter usually rely on the fact that people like to be involved in film (or TV)
It's sexy.
So to get a producer credit, or first night tickets, or a signed T-shirt appears quite cool.
Especially if the subject matter/talent is intrinsically attractive.

A novel is different.
it's a solo project.
The process itself is dull - no sets to visit, no wardrobe to get to keep after the filming, no walk-on parts.

The only way it might work would be if you had a story that HAD to be told - a point -of-view that an interested group might want to see published, but know a mainstream publisher wouldn't touch.

But that narrows you down to religious nutters, basically.

EDIT

Posted this before Soots posted - genuinely had no idea that people were raising this kind of money on these sort of projects. I'm off to investigate as we speak, so feel free to ignore my post!!

View original

I know I look at that and wish I had some thing to say.

Just wondering about a magical, s&m porn mashup with scenes of Hobbit abuse.

50 shades of Gandalf the Grey.

Looking at the projects, when it comes to fiction, they seem to be, mainly, graphic novels.
There are a few first novel.s, though.
And some have raised the target.

Has to be worth a look.

Though, if it's just about getting something out there, you can e-publish for almost free, these days.

Try out this lunatic

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/taylorwinder/the-art-book-of-the-year?ref=search

As it is the big advantage seems to be selling out your full run before you've even started writing.

There's quite a few novels. Kickstarter is all about the USP, it's about getting the audience hungry and desperate.

Quote: sootyj @ 26th November 2013, 1:31 PM GMT

Try out this lunatic

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/taylorwinder/the-art-book-of-the-year?ref=search

As it is the big advantage seems to be selling out your full run before you've even started writing.

There's quite a few novels. Kickstarter is all about the USP, it's about getting the audience hungry and desperate.

View original

Yes - it seems to particularly appeal to lovers of fantasy-fiction, which, unsurprisingly, is also a huge chunk of what you find on self-published e-books on Amazon.

I have submitted and will have to wait three days to see if it can go up for funding, crosses fingers.

Quote: Teddy Paddalack @ 26th November 2013, 2:25 PM GMT

I have submitted and will have to wait three days to see if it can go up for funding, crosses fingers.

View original

Terrific - I have a feeling that if you are successful there will be 40 or 50 BCG'ers following you.

Quote: playfull @ 26th November 2013, 3:42 PM GMT

Terrific - I have a feeling that if you are successful there will be 40 or 50 BCG'ers following you.

View original

Yes - what exactly do we get for our 10p?

A cup of tea and a tap dance

times are hard