Finally got through my latest round of deadlines and returned to the snitch book this weekend.
The first-round reality-checkers (lawyers, security people, ex-cops, people who’ve been hurt by snitches) gave valuable input. The second draft took less time than I thought once I got to it.
So … you guys who volunteered to be second-round reality-checkers, get ready. I’m awaiting an answer on one biggish question. Then I’ll do one more quick run-through and the re-draft will be on its way to you.
Around the end of this month or early October it’ll be time for the eagle-eyed proofreaders (of which we’ll need only one or two).
Then … on to layout and publishing.
After talking with a couple of the most involved “co-conspirators,” I’ve decided to give copies away rather than sell them. So it’ll be published only in electronic formats for now — probably .pdf and Kindle. That’s to avoid the costs of printing and mailing hard copies.
It will also be published with a limited creative commons license (specifically a “Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commerical-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported license”) which will allow unlimited non-commercial distribution but no alterations and no commercial reproduction.
However, one first-rounder suggested that this book — booklet, really — should be published in a pocket format like those handy little Constitutions.
Maybe sometime down the road …
Well if it will be published as such then if you could find it in your heart to use epub format I would be a happy camper on my nook. I can convert any format but the lazy side of me would rather not do any extra work 🙂
I don’t know if you’re familiar with “Surviving the Economic Collapse” by Fernando “FERFAL” Aguirre, but this Argentinian guy self-published and sells his books on Amazon, and has done quite well for himself. Perhaps this is not an option for you, but it might be worthwhile to contact FerFal and ask him about his experiences with his self-publishing. He’s an extremely friendly and helpful guy.
His blog is: http://ferfal.blogspot.com/
BTW, it’s an awesome book despite some of it’s grammatical shortfalls (Spanish to English translation snafus no doubt).
Regardless, I’d be happy to purchase and E-book from you when it’s ready, or two, or even three. Sounds like a fascinating concept and I like to share my good finds with my friends. Good luck whatever you choose Claire.
Richard, an Anonymous Layout Guy will be doing the layout and e-formatting. He has talked about Kindle and .pdf. But for sure I’ll ask him how feasible it would be to add another format. Me, I’m not at all conversant with e-readers and the formats they use. (Oh goodie, a learning experience 😉 )
Mr. Galt, thank you. If I ever write another (hopefully for-profit!) book I’ll definitely self publish. I don’t know Ferfal, though I sure know his work and admire what he’s done. For this book (booklet, really; it’s just 60 pages in manuscript), the plan is absolutely just to give it away free. It needs to get out there as widely as possible. Anyway, since a number of people have contributed there’d really be no way to divvy up profits without shorting somebody.
Perhaps we could take donations. But definitely the book itself will be free.
Think about issuing it in EPUB format. Easy to do, the tools are free.
“apt-get install sigil”
Claire, Regarding free books and wide distribution — oftentimes people don’t value that which is free. The musical group Radiohead made at least a million dollars by selling an album online for whatever the buyer wanted to pay, beginning at $0.01. I think the average worked out to about $10.
If you use a similar approach those who want it for free can have it for a penny and those who are willing to pay can pick a number that suits them. If the tactic bombs you can always revert to just giving it away for free.
Woody — Thank you. I’ve heard stories like that. And I’m not at all opposed to that. The only problem is that while I’ll likely end up being the person who spends the most time on this project, it’s been a collaborative project. Lots of people here have played a part and several have also contributed, or will contribute, a considerable amount of expertise and time.
There seems to be no way to ensure a fair “divvy” of any money that comes in.
One possibility — which I’d like to discuss with some of those folks — would be to ask readers to donate something for the book — with options for donating to different organizations (I’m thinking maybe LEAP or Families Against Mandatory Minimums or an anti-forfeiture group). Maybe one of the options would also be to donate to me.
But I’m not taking any money for this unless I’m sure that four others (two who wrote articles, one who advised at several stages, one who’s going to lay it out) it are okay with how it’s handled and feel they’re being treated fairly. Nobody’s going to make a million dollars off this. The main thing is to get it to as many people as possible. But you’ve got a point about people not valuing freebies. So maybe the other four people would just like to designate favorite charities.
I don’t know. Need to ask them.
Being unemployed since December 2011, I have time on my hands.
If you need a proofreader, I volunteer to proofread your work.
smitty — I’m sorry about your unemployment but grateful for the offer. When proofing stage comes later this month or early next, I’m thinking we’ll just need maybe two people with eagle eyes and a typo-slaying mania. 🙂 I’ll be in touch.
Even if I land a job-not likely-I have time to help in this way.
The last couple of projects I worked on-the author and his assistant were surprised at the amount of errors, even minor ones that I found.
The author I worked with was Michael H. Brown and the books were the Drug Defendant’s Handbook and the Bill of Rights Handbook.
I published the Bill of Rights Handbook as part of my trial strategy (cannabis cultivation). Had 10,000 copies printed but ended taking a plea in order to spare my uninvolved girlfriend who was also charged, and avoid a possible five years in prison myself.
I still have several thousand and would be pleased to send you a couple copies.
Just need a snail-mail address.
smitty — ouch, that sounds like a painful story — but a valuable experience.
I hadn’t heard of Michael H. Brown, but looked him up this morning after reading your comment. He sounds like a good man to know.
I’ll be in touch by email. Might be a few days or a week, but you sound like a good person to put eyes on book.