eNovel Store: First Week Report

The eNovel experiment has been going for one week, so here's my first report.

1. Thanks to Corie Cornwell's Orphic Workshop, the store went up pretty much without a hitch, and we made our first sale within four minutes of going live. I calculated that if we kept up that rate, we would make about a million dollars a year for our charities.

2. As you may have guessed, sales trickled off to a more reasonable rate after the first four minutes. But if it keeps up at the current weekly rate, and if I keep putting up more novels, we should exceed $10,000 a year. And, unlike paper books, these books should keep selling year after year. That's my hope, anyway.

3. So far, 70% of my sales are to people I know personally, so I may be seriously overestimating future sales. And most writers shouldn't take me as a model anyway, because I already have a website that has attracted about 40,000 readers (or reads) a year for the past 10 years. Whether in a bookstore or on line, you have to have traffic to sell books.

4. One benefit I've already received is the feedback from readers with comments and typos to report. I am able to correct a book in minutes and put the corrected version in the eStore. Hopefully, the rate of typos will diminish quickly, making the books about as "perfect" as books can be.

5. One final learning to report for today. I discovered that receiving a report of a sale gives me a jolt of writing energy that surpasses anything Jolt Cola could produce. It's a reminder that someone out there intends to read my work. Like other writers who have reported to me, I sometimes bog down with the thought that nobody will read what I'm writing. I don't let it affect me much (certainly no so-called 'writers block'), but it takes some of the fun out of writing. Selling books every day puts that fun, and more, back in the process.

So, watch for future reports, and by all means, visit my eStore.

You might even want to buy a novel. They're only $4.99, a real bargain these days.

My eNovel Experiment

I've decided it's past time for me to join the electronic age.

Five years ago, I gave myself the assignment of spending five years learning to write the kind of fiction that would further my life's goal:

helping smart people be happy

I have achieved my goal, and have now completed ten novels, one of which has been published as The Aremac Project.

I've achieved something else besides my original goal: I have learned more than I wanted to know about the fiction publishing business.

Most of all, I've learned how hard and slow it the business is, and how difficult it is to break into. For example, one of my fellow writers just sent me statistics on his responses to queries about his crime thriller: 93% of the editors simply did not bother to reply, even with a short email. My own success rate (at just receiving a reply, even in an enclosed, stamped, self-addressed envelope) has only slightly better.

From the editors' point of view, there are good reasons for this rude-looking behavior: they are simply swamped with manuscripts and queries from would-be authors. And, even when they do reply, and even when they do accept the manuscript for publication (a much lower percentage still), they usually require years to get the novel in print. And, once it's in print, chances are it won't stay in print for more than a year or so.

I've decided I'm too old to put all my chips in that game. I'll still seek print publication by some publishers, while at the same time, I'm publishing some of my novels in eBook format (pdf) sold through my website for the value price of $4.99 apiece. I invite you to visit the site and try one of them. (I always give a money-back guarantee on all my work.)

I would love to have your feedback on the store itself, as well as the form and content of the novels. If this approach is well-received, I'll put some more of my novels up there.

So, visit http://www.geraldmweinberg.com/Site/eBooks.html and take a look. As time goes by, I'll report here on the outcome of this experiment.

Grant-writing Advice

I posted the following on the Oregon Writers Network blog , but for convenience, I'm reposting it here.

There are many small grants (and some, not so small) available to fledgling writers (and some not so fledgling). One of my correspondents wrote the following question about a grant application:

The Question:

I'm asking advice. As some of you know, I'm a highly qualified, employed professional, so I have extensive educational experience and a few academic publications/presentations. My question is, would you downplay this on a grant app for writing because they might call you a rich professional and turn down your grant?

Jerry's Answer:

It is worth considering. Here's our experience:

When Dani applied for a grant to support her doctoral fieldwork in anthropology, she was awarded the grant--but it was a "dry grant."

What? You never heard of "dry grants"?

Dry grants give you the honor, but not the money.

Their "reasoning": "Her husband has a job, so she doesn't need the money."

That was many years ago, but there are still granters who think that way.

"Downplay" might be the way to go. You're a creative writer, so perhaps something like, "I can't afford to lose a week's pay unless I can get some financial support."

You might also point out that you have a child, so you have extra expenses and can't work extra hours or moonlight to earn more money. You are, after all, begging for money, so you have to have a tear-jerker story of some kind.

And good, good luck,

Another correspondent replied:

I've gotten a few grants for classes/workshop/etc and I pretty much just don't mention my day job (freelancer writer) unless I have to. I just explain that I'm an artist applying for an arts grant and then explain why the class/workshop/etc. is not only good for me, my craft and career aspirations but also that it's good for the community (simply because I'm willing to pass whatever I learn onto other writers) because that's what is important to this arts council. But this is Nevada, and arts grants like these are pretty easy to get. So long as you can show how and why it will help your artistic goals, the committee is not overly concerned with your finances. Most arts organizations have a mission of supporting artists, not saving them money, so that needs to be the focus of the application.

That said, I guess my advice would be

1) Don't put what you do in your day job unless they ask.

2) Give them exactly what they want on the grant application (perusing their web site to see their mission statement will help).

3) And one more tip: Most applications will ask for a budget for the workshop you are asking for help paying for. Always show all the costs of the trip, not just what they will cover. Here, they give up to $1,000 (I think it's still that), but I show all the costs of the trip anyway, so they can see I am willing to pay for quite a bit myself. Include air travel or mileage, meals, registration fees, paper, toner, books you need to read--anything you can. So if you show that the trip is going to cost $2000 and you're only asking for $1000, you are showing your commitment and not coming off as just another artist with her hand out.

And good luck!

A List of Granting Agencies

Later, she wrote:

Here's the list of grants organizations I mentioned, starting with my local sources:

*Subject:* Commission/Granting/Residency resources

I'm grateful to Michael Ogilvie, who compiled a list of Commission granting and residency resources – see below*

Michael Ogilvie

City of Las Vegas

Office of Cultural Affairs

401 South Fourth Street

Las Vegas, NV 89101

(702) 229-5256

http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/lvac

http://www.lvartscommission.com/


*Commission/Granting/Residency resources*

*INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL, AND REGIONAL:*
http://www.nyfa.org/

http://www.nea.gov/

http://www.artsusa.org/

http://www.artistresource.org/

http://www.artcalendar.com/home.asp

http://www.getty.edu/grants/index.html

http://nasaa-arts.org/

http://www.zpub.com/public/

http://www.fundsnetservices.com/arts01.htm

http://sites.target.com/site/en/corporate/page.jsp?contentId=PRD03-001818

http://www.collegeart.org/opportunities/type/1/

http://dmla.clan.lib.nv.us/docs/arts/

http://xericfoundation.org/

http://www.artheals.org/artist_support/grants.php

http://www.antiquesatoz.com/artatoz/grant.htm

http://www.burningman.com/installations/art_guidelines.html

http://www.midatlanticarts.org

http://www.cranbrookart.edu/library/research/grants.htm

http://www.watershedceramics.org/residency.php

http://www.pkf.org/

http://www.warholfoundation.org/

http://www.joanmitchellfoundation.org/

http://www.carnegie.org/sub/pubs/grantlist.html

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/ForGrantSeekers/

http://www.lannan.org/lf/about/funding-areas/

http://www.frenchculture.org/

http://www.bunka.go.jp/english/index.html

http://www.asianculturalcouncil.org/programs.html

http://www.jusfc.gov/index.asp

http://www.toyotafound.or.jp/english/

http://www.asahibeer.co.jp/csr/soc/activity.html

http://www.saison.or.jp/english/application/04.html

http://indianembassy.ru/cms/index.phpoption=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=470

http://www.britishcouncil.org/arts.htm

http://www.e-flux.com/shows/view/5139

http://www.oakfnd.org/

http://www.danisharts.info/20c000c

http://www.iro.hr/hr/info-servis/akademski-infoservis/obrazovni-programi/view-info-1354/

http://www.danishvisualarts.info/515000c

http://www.cultureireland.gov.ie/grants/applying.html

http://www.blakemorefoundation.org/art.htm

http://www.writersofthefuture.com/

http://www.nfaa.org/

http://www.judithrothschildfdn.org/index.html

http://web.mac.com/marciareidmarsted/Capelli_dAngeli_Foundation_Site/____2008-2009_Grant_Application.html

http://www.hluce.org/aagrants.aspx

http://www.lannan.org/lf/art/grants/view-all/

http://www.terraamericanart.org/exhibitions/index.asp?key=32&year=2008



Alabama

http://www.arts.state.al.us/council/index-council.html

http://www.cranbrookart.edu/library/research/grants.htm


Alaska

http://www.eed.state.ak.us/aksca/

http://alaska.cgweb.org/

http://www.jahc.org/grant.php

http://www.atwoodfoundation.org/grants.html


Arizona

http://www.azarts.gov/

http://www.tucsonpimaartscouncil.org/

http://www.westvalleyarts.org/about/contact.html

http://www.sccarts.org/


Arkansas

http://www.arkansasarts.com/opportunities/


California

http://www.cac.ca.gov/?id=100

http://www.cac.ca.gov/othergrants/

http://www.culturecalifornia.com/culturecalifornia/about.asp

http://eldoradoartscouncil.org/

http://www.artscouncil.org/grants/

http://www.marinarts.org/html/apply_for_a_grant.htm

http://www.kernarts.org/stories/storyReader$470

http://www.artspca.org/grants.htm

http://www.getty.edu/grants/index.html

http://artleagueofnortherncalifornia.org/index.html

http://www.stocktongov.com/arts/SAC/index.cfm

http://www.city.newport-beach.ca.us/artsculture/arts&culture.asp

http://lacountyarts.co.la.ca.us/

http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.asp?nid=104

http://www.sbartscommission.org/about.html

http://www.sfartscommission.org/

http://www.plumasarts.com/

http://www.ci.brentwood.ca.us/boards/artcomm/art.cfm

http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pr/ac/ac.html

http://pvarts.org/

http://www.chico.ca.us/Arts_Commission/Home_Page.asp

http://www.lagunabeachcity.net/arts/commission/ordinance2.23.htm

http://www.acgov.org/arts/html/home.html

http://www.artshare.org/

http://www.eureka-art-culture.com/

http://www.sandiego.gov/arts-culture/index.shtml


Colorado

http://www.coloarts.state.co.us/

http://www.coloradolinks.net/Colorado_Arts_Organizations.htm

http://www.colofolkarts.org/

http://www.adolphcoors.org/index.html


Connecticut

http://www.cultureandtourism.org/cct/site/default.asp

http://www.tremainefoundation.org/Default.asp

http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2618&q=320834

http://www.artsnwct.org/newsletter_detail.php?ID=13&mo=7&yr=2007


Delaware

http://www.artsdel.org/

http://artsci.case.edu/hba/doku.php?id=public:fellowships


Florida

http://www.florida-arts.org/grants/

http://www.flheritage.com/grants/

http://www.pinellasarts.org/

http://www.keysarts.com/new_site/pages/grants.html

http://www.sarasota-arts.org/grant_programs.cfm

http://www.artcentersf.org/

http://www.filminflorida.com/ifi/g.asp

http://www.moneymatters101.com/grants/florida.asp

http://www.knightfoundation.org/grants/



Georgia

http://www.gaarts.org/

http://www.maconarts.org/grantsFunding.htm

http://www.romearts.org/artsresources/georgiaartsresources.html

http://www.uga.edu/gamuseum/collections/seagrant.html

http://www.georgiahumanities.org/grantmaking/info.html



Hawaii

http://hawaii.gov/sfca/



Idaho

http://www.arts.idaho.gov/grants/indoverview.aspx



Illinois

http://www.state.il.us/agency/iac/

http://artscouncil.uchicago.edu/



Indiana

http://www.publicartindianapolis.org/

http://www.artswin.evansville.net/grants.htm



Iowa

http://www.iowaartscouncil.org/funding/artist-project-grant/index.shtml


Kansas


Kentucky

http://artscouncil.ky.gov/guide/prog4/fa_gdl.html


Louisiana

http://www.crt.state.la.us/arts/

http://www.artscouncilofneworleans.org/index.php?topic=grants.generalinfo


Maine

http://mainearts.maine.gov/artists/fellowships/index.shtml


Maryland

http://www.msac.org

http://www.mdhc.org/

http://www.wdchumanities.org

http://dcarts.dc.gov


Massachusetts

http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/

http://www.somervilleartscouncil.org/programs/lotgrant/index.html


Michigan

http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-18833_18834-57660--,00.html


Missouri

http://missouriartscouncil.org/


Mississippi

http://www.arts.state.ms.us/grants/for-individuals.php

http://www.jacksonartscouncil.org/home.html


Minnesota

http://www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/artist_initiative.htm

http://www.plrac.org/grants.html

http://www.nwrdc.org/artsgrants.htm

Montana

http://art.mt.gov/artists/artists.asp

Nebraska

http://www.arts.nebraska.gov/index_html?page=content/GRANTS
/Categories/CatGrants.htm
www.nebraskahumanities.org

http://www.bemiscenter.org/about_us/index.html

Nevada

www.lvartscommission.com

http://dmla.clan.lib.nv.us/docs/arts/


New Hampshire

http://www.nh.gov/nharts/grants/index.htm


New Jersey

http://www.njartscouncil.org/


New Mexico

http://www.nmarts.org/

http://www.rair.org/


New York

http://www.artsrochester.org/artscouncil/cag.htm

http://www.artscouncilofrockland.org/


North Carolina

http://www.ncarts.org/

http://www.intothearts.org/grants/available.asp

http://www.theartscouncil.com/index.shtml

http://www.darearts.org/grants.cfm

http://www.uacgreensboro.org/grants/index.html


North Dakota

http://www.nd.gov/arts/grants/grants.htm


Ohio

http://www.oac.state.oh.us/grantsprogs/

http://www.orbi.org/

http://www.oberlin.edu/newserv/stories/ohio_arts_council_grants.html


Oklahoma

http://www.arts.ok.gov/grants.html


Oregon

http://www.oregonartscommission.org/grants/commission_grant_programs.php

http://www.racc.org/


Pennsylvania

http://www.pacouncilonthearts.org/

http://www.philaculture.org/about/pressarchive/09.21.07_5CAF.htm


Rhode Island

http://www.arts.ri.gov/grants/index.php


South Carolina


South Dakota

http://www.artscouncil.sd.gov/grants.htm


Tennessee

http://www.arts.state.tn.us/grant_categories.htm

http://www.jacksonartscouncil.tn.org/


Texas

http://www.arts.state.tx.us/

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/redevelopment/cad.htm


Utah

http://arts.utah.gov/funding/artists_grant/index.html


Vermont

http://www.vermontartscouncil.org/Default.aspx?tabid=212


Virginia

http://www.arts.state.va.us

http://www.virginia.edu/vfh


Washington

http://www.arts.wa.gov/

http://www.artisttrust.org/grants


West Virginia

http://www.wvculture.org/arts


Wisconsin

http://www.newartscouncil.org/index.htm

http://arts.state.wi.us/static/programs.htm


Wyoming

http://wyoarts.state.wy.us/WACGrants2006.htm


*GUIDES TO GRANT WRITING:*
http://writingfiction.suite101.com/article.cfm/applying_for_state_art_grants
http://www.npguides.org/

http://www.svsu.edu/sponsoredprograms/grant-writing-services-guides.html
http://www.mcdaniel.edu/3891.htm

A Final Word

There are so many possible grants that grant-writing itself becomes a danger. As another correspondent writes:

"Also, put a fence around the time you spend on grants, market research, submissions, and the rest of the office work. You're probably a lot like me. The office busywork will be easy -- it WILL want to expand. Don't let it. Set your timer and walk away when your daily allocation for that stuff is over. Remember, you're doing a full-time writer week, not a "catch up" week for office work that may have been piling up. That means a lot of your time needs to be spent at your writing table putting together NEW WORDS that you can sell."