So, I think maybe I have an academic publisher for my next book. If the good lord is willing and the creek doesn’t rise, the book would focus on a topic much discussed on this blog — whether superheroes can meaningfully represent diversity, and especially blackness.
The problem is that academic presses don’t pay — and of course I’m not an academic, so I don’t get a salary to publish. If I’m writing a book, I’m not writing other things that people might actually pay me for.
So I’m considering doing a kickstarter or a patreon or some such to try to see if I can generate enough money to make writing the book worthwhile — or at least defray the extent to which it isn’t worthwhile. I’ve never done a crowdfunding thing before — and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anyone try to do a crowdfunding effort to write an academic press book. Basically, I’m looking for feedback. Is this a horrible idea? Would anyone willingnly contribute to such a thing? What platform do you think would be best? How much should I ask for?
This is all fairly notional at the moment; everything may fall through. But I’m curious if people have thoughts/advice/mockery. Help?
I assume you have consulted with the (potential) publisher about this? Admittedly, the primary market for the publisher will probably be libraries rather than individuals, but academic books don’t tend to sell buckets of copies, so I don’t know how keen an academic publisher would be on a book that has already hit a good percentage of the non-library market via crowd-funding. I’m not speaking from a place of knowledge, here, btw; for all I know, academic publishers might love Kickstarter as a way of defraying their own expenses. Certainly, other publishers have picked up non-academic projects that were Kickstarted (is that the past tense?)–e.g. IDW with its audio-video High Society or its edition of Nelvana. But it’s probably worth investigating. (And if it is going to be a refereed academic book, that would add an additional complicating factor, I’d think.)
Such questions aside, though, why not?
It’s a legitimate idea. I think Kickstarter, though, discourages funding the actual creation from zero of works. I think Patreon is more tailored to that.
Dominick, I’ve talked to the publisher a bit. The trick is that people who contributed wouldn’t get a book, unfortunately. Publisher isn’t willing to kick them in. So it would be people contributing to let me write the thing, but they’d actually have to buy the book if they wanted it when it came out.
This guy did a kickstarter to help support his dissertation research on D&D: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1583261138/the-greatest-unreality-story-play-and-imagination/description (money was primarily so he could travel to do field research).
Given that you can’t offer a copy of the book Patreon is probably the better bet. However, I’d encourage you to look for a non-academic press so that you can get an advance.
Patreon seems geared towards people who are doing regular content creation instead of long-term projects. Based on the artists I’ve seen who use it, donors want regular content and special donor-only content: e.g., extra panels or character sketches for comics or larger format images for non-narrative images. There is also a need to create teaser content to draw potential donors. That could be your published articles, since you publish frequently, but you’d have to figure out how to get the Patreon info into your writer bio.
I suspect you’re best investment in time is to publish with a small press who will give an advance. With one book on super heroes already published, super heroes being hot right now, and your lengthy mainsteam (non-academic) publishing history, you should be able to get an agent (for large press access—not really needed for small presses) and publisher for this.
Search #MSWL archives to see if anyone is actively seeking non-fcition about super heroes.
Hah…I’ve explored other press options w/out a lot of luck, unfortunately, thus my sense that I may not be able to get an advance…though obviously if I could that would be ideal…
Can’t you offer other things beside the book? Or use the KS money to buy books at a discount from the publisher and then offer them, maybe signed as a plus?
yep. Was thinking I could offer signed copies of my WW book maybe?
Maybe that would be an incentive…?
Some entirely particular-to-me thoughts, of me projecting into the future of trying to make a decision about contributing to a kickstarter for a book I would not get a copy of by contributing and pretending that I’m not at all sympathetic to you as a person: I’d want to know the argument first, before buying the book. I’d be worried about contributing to a kickstarter for a non-professional academic to write a scholarly work defending a thesis in critical race theory. Why this guy? What’s his deal? How can I be sure he’s not yet another privileged guy writing about race from a privileged stand point? How does/can this thesis change things for people of colour, particularly within the field he’s writing on? Is it ethical to hinge the funding of a project on whether certain people agree with it? Really though, what is he arguing, and how can I know I’m not supporting yet another well meaning racist book about the lives and liberation of people of colour?
I think for me, it would come down to the case the author makes for why I should support their writing of a book I would not get a copy of, so they could write an argument that I may possibly be harmed by.
Those are all good points, and some I’ve worried about. I think people will have a pretty good idea of where I’m coming from because I’ve written a ton of articles about this…so I think people would at least have a sense of whether they agree with me or not/think what I’m doing is harmful. The fact that people don’t get a book is obviously a problem, though.
I’m not sure what you mean by “is it ethical to hinge the funding of a project on whether certain people agree with it”? Could you explain a little?
The question, if I’m going to fund a book about race, why shouldn’t I give the money to a black person—I think that’s a really valid question, and is a big part of the reason I’m nervous about trying to crowdfund this.
I think the best way to fund this may be a two step process:
1. Start Patreon for your writing/editing/site management work (I’m actually surprised you haven’t sought crowdfunding to keep HU running). It seems like the more ethical or at least non-provocative approach, as one can allocate funds to multiple purposes, underwriting the book and other projects which sharing diverse voices.
There’s also less deadline and reward pressure. I think it’s actually a bad idea to use KS for unfinished writing projects as this adds a potentially intrusive crowd which may have little understanding or sympathy for the production process.
2. Then when the book is completed, if you can’t get a publisher and/or the publisher can’t afford a large print run, use Kickstarter to fund distribution. Then there’s a simple incentive gift (copy of the book) and if you decide the question of privilege is too problematic, it’s merely the distribution method at stake.
I probably have a publisher…or it seems like it at the moment.
The problem with a kickstarter for the blog is that if I actually got money for this, I’d need to pay people…and the record-keeping and so forth isn’t something I have time or energy to deal with, unfortunately (especially for how little the pay would probably be.)
Another option might be to shutter the blog for several months while I write the book, I guess. This does take up a lot of free time; if I used that free time elsewhere I could maybe write a book….
why a book on your own and not an anthology of different voices on the subject!?
Mostly because I think I have a book worth of things to say, I guess? I mean, an anthology could work too; just wasn’t the project i had in mind this time out.
If you wanted to Kickstart it and provide the book as an incentive, even without the publisher providing copies, you might be able to do so if you set the reward amount high enough to cover whatever your author’s discount would get you copies for (30%? 40%) plus shipping plus a modest additional amount–with, say, a personalized signed copy rather than just a copy as the reward. I don’t know how well you’d do on Kickstarter with no incentive such as a copy–not well, I’d expect, but odd things do seem to happen with it. People keen on supporting the project may well be willing to pledge considerably more than what it would cost you to provide the book–I know I’ve done so for a few projects I liked.
Just want to echo what others have said on two points. Why on earth aren’t you writing this for a lay audience? This is probably a stupid question, but did you write different proposals for academic presses/regular publishers? If not that might be why other (non-academic) options haven’t panned out so far.
I agree that it makes more sense to use Patreon over Kickstarter, and that you should consider doing it for the blog instead of the book. I, for one, wouldn’t expect you to start paying contributors unless you actually got a publisher for the site or something like that (i.e., real funding). Editing/writing/administering the blog and occasionally contributing a piece are very, very different.
I have absolutely nothing new or interesting to say about this except the obvious: I’m really looking forward to the book you will eventually write regardless which funding path you go down.
Kim…I tried! I put together the proposal I wanted to write, which seemed like a possible lay audience thing…but couldn’t get a publisher for it. Maybe if I found an agent? I don’t really have much sense how to do that, though (and the two rejections I got make me think it wouldn’t be fruitful anyway.)
Backed a lot of kickstarters (closing in on 175 but that includes those that failed to make their goal). Haven’t launched any but have had friends do so. I would think you definitely need incentives. I can’t think of any KS that didn’t have incentives, even the one cited above has incentives. From my friends, I believe Indiegogo gives you a bigger slice but has a smaller reach. Indiegogo also allows you to keep the money even if you don’t reach the goal. I have backed some Indiegogo but less than 50 projects in total. Through friends I have backed on other platforms but only if I personally know the backer and would not suggest them.
From what I have seen, it appears that the most popular incentives are normally the one where you get the thing but appealing to vanity has its charms. I am amazed at how much some will pay to have their likeness/name used (I have even done it once) but not sure how applicable that could be except maybe name listed in the back of the book? Maybe a signed copy of the book, or if you could negotiate with the publisher to allow electronic copies, KS backers love electronic copies of stuff and that should be a low cost to you.
I also know that awhile back, there were some reverse trolls screwing projects over at the high end. http://www.comicsbeat.com/kickstarter-respond-to-scam-allegation/
I think that is not as much of an issue anymore but given your high profile, I would definitely keep an eye out. I always suggest a home run incentive, it rarely hits but if it does, you are home free.
I think most KS backers recognize that it is a not a value proposition as often the final products are available later at a discount but there is a sensitivity that they want to receive something. There have been projects where you don’t get the thing funded but you do get something else (make sure you are clear in your explanation of that). Those are more rare and tougher to succeed. Explanations are key as well. Some people get uptight about funding going to other things but the landscape is always shifting. Remember the heat from Garlicks http://www.comicsbeat.com/when-a-kickstarter-fails/
I haven’t backed any Patreon so can’t comment. Have you ever talked to Jason Brubaker or any of those other cats that launched out that way? That dude is a machine as is Palmiotti on his indie stuff, reliable, consistent. He has done about 8 of them and puts it out there. Of course he can get Amanda Conner to bang out a cover to help. If your wife can draw like her, you should cook up some exclusive prints for the project. I have found comic people are pretty friendly, so if there is a comic KS model that appeals to you or seems like something you can do, reach out to the creator. I have backed some other stuff on KS but the overwhelming majority is comic book junk.
Good luck.
Yoinks. Sorry for the huge comment. Seeing it all out there is not attractive. Good luck.
Thanks Andrew! I appreciate the input.