Publishing Contract Question?

[TheUltimateChosenOne]

I've been writing for a little while and thinking about possible publishing. But I have a question.
I've heard that when publishing, there are books signings, tours and traveling involved. I was wondering if there is possibility of a contract where you don't have to travel, do tours or book signings.
I'm only 20 years old, but I have a heart condition and I tend to get very tired after just a very short traveling in cars or flying. And I'm not comfortable outside of my house.
Could it be possible of a simple contract where I stay at home and write and then hand my book to my editor, publisher and then they make my book?

[ctg]

Well, you don't have to worry about those sort of things for a while. At least not before you're a best selling author. Even then your publicist can deal without you touring around the country / world. Then again, you can limit your exposure to certain occasions and be as elusive as you can.

[SJAB]

To be honest I would not worry about that sort of thing. If you are serious about getting published you need to work on getting your book written, edited and ready for submission to agents/publishers. You also have to face the fact that this first book will most likely not be picked up. Those cases are very rare, most "new authors" are picked up on their fourth, or even tenth effort. You just need to keep working at improving your writing skills, hoping that each time you send a manuscript out that this is the one.

A published author once told me that if I kept working hard, learning the craft, etc, I might start to get my work noticed in about ten years time. It is ten years this year, and I have had more requests for sample chapters from my work from agents and publishers than I have had in all the pervious nine, but even this does not mean I will make it into print any time soon. In fact I honestly expect to be rejected when I submit work, as the take up is so small and an agent/publisher has to really believe/love your novel.

It is not a matter of just being a good writer these days, it is having in your work/story that extra something that will make a publisher risk money on you, and they are taking a risk, even a well known author can have a book that flops. Publishing is a business and a very tough one to break into, you do have to work at it.

Yes, health problems do make it hard, I know, they make even normal life hard. I suffer from a couple myself, yet I make the effort to go to Conventions, meet authors, publishers, agents and to study the business of publishing. If you want something bad enough you find a way to do get it, health problems or not.

Getting published is not easy, nor is it a get rich quick scheme. Most authors I know still work at the day job, the percent that can actually earn a living wage from their writing is very, very small.

[I, Brian]

Originally Posted by TheUltimateChosenOne

I've heard that when publishing, there are books signings, tours and traveling involved. I was wondering if there is possibility of a contract where you don't have to travel, do tours or book signings.

As mentioned above, worry about getting into print first - unless you can succeed with that, nothing else matters anyway.

In terms of the signings, etc - this is called "marketing" is absolutely essential. So far as I understand it, once published there is no free easy ride - sales targets are key to getting a contract renewal to keep you in print.

Look at people like Mark Robson here on the boards - he has turned himself into a successful published author not through trying to take any easy ways out, but through constant sheer hard work in achieving and maintaining a goal. As the old adage says, success is 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration.

On the issue of health, though - if there's a genuine problem gaining medical insurance for travel, then I'm sure all concerned would be understanding, but I would also expect you to seek other ways to engage fans.

Signings and conventions are major fan hubs - major marketing events. If you can't take that angle, I would - as a businessman - expect you to come up with alternative methods, such as a strong internet presence.

At the end of the day, being published is about becoming a business. I think it needs treating as such. If you want to make that business succeed, you need to work at it.

Just my 2c.

[John Jarrold]

When I was publishing Robert Jordan's early Wheel of Time novels in the late 80s, I told him we wouldn't want him in the UK for a signing tour until the third paperback, at least. And signing tours are less common now than they were then.

As others have said, this is really putting the cart before the horse. Concentrate on writing, first and foremost.