Re: Re: consequences of shift to ebooks

On Jan 6, 2008, at 9:38 AM, Brenna Lyons wrote:

>>
>> I've never understood why publishers pay an advance. Books are works
>> of art created on spec, however good or bad they may be.
>> Let those works generate sales -- or not -- according to their  
>> ability
>> to motivate readers to buy.
>
> I agree with the second sentence but not with the first. Not all books
> are created to "spec."
>

Breanna,

"On spec" and "to spec" mean two very different things. On spec means  
that you write the piece first and the editor accepts it if they like  
it. It's a magazine industry term and it pretty much describes the way  
novels work. it does not, however, describe how non-fiction books are  
sold which is far more likely to be "by proposal on assignment."

dej
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