Stephen King or how to make money without the publisher

[KXX4493553 at aol.com]

July 11, 2000

To: Constant Reader/Constant Webhead

Subject: The Plant Update

Hey, this is Steve. Sorry I didn't get to the update when I said I would, but 
Philtrum Press consists of two people, Marsha DeFilippo and me. So cut us a 
little slack, okay? This shouldn't take too long, anyway. You don't have to 
be a rocket scientist, as they say.

What It Is

It's The Plant, an epistolary novel set in the early 1980s (before e-mail, in 
other words, and when even the fax was a fringe technology). It'll be 
presented in parts ranging from 5000 to 7000 words. The story is sort of 
funny and at the same time pretty gruesome (think Christine). I'm committed 
to publishing at least the first two segments. Whether or not I publish more 
depends.

Depends on What?

In the words of The Turtles, "You, baby, nobody but you." If you pay, the 
story rolls. If you don't, the story folds.

How Much?

Buck an episode. When Installment One appears, send me the payment-we'll give 
you all the how-tos then. My friends, we have a chance to become Big 
Publishing's worst nightmare. Not only are we going glueless, look Ma, no 
e-Book! No tiresome encryption! Want to print it and show it to a friend? Go 
ahead! There's only one catch: all this is on the honor system. Has to be. 
I'm counting on two things. The first is plain old honesty. "Take what you 
want and pay for it," as the old saying goes. The second is that you'll like 
the story enough to want to read more. If you do want more, you have to pay. 
Remember: Pay and the story rolls. Steal and the story folds. No stealing 
from the blind newsboy!

What I Promise

To publish the first 10,000 or so words of The Plant in two installments, no 
matter what. Installment One goes up on this site July 24th; Installment Two 
will appear August 21st. 
If response is good and the pay-through equals or exceeds 75%, Installment 
Three will go up in September. 
When Installment Three goes up, Installment One goes down. 
If response is strong, I promise to carry The Plant through to its 
conclusion. I won't leave you hanging, in other words. 
Above item is cancelled if I die. 
If response is weak, I promise to pull the plug after Installment Two. 
What You Promise

To pay for each installment of The Plant, and to pay each time you download 
it. Look at it this way: you couldn't go into a bookstore and say, "I bought 
a copy of The Street Lawyer in here yesterday, so give me four more for free 
today." Get it? 
Not to print extra copies and sell them to your friends. If you want to print 
copies and give them away, I can't stop you (in fact I can't stop you from 
doing anything, which is the beauty of this thing-think of it as 
web-moshing). But don't sell them. Two reasons: first, it's against the law, 
and second, it's nasty behavior. Respect my copyright. As a writer, it's all 
I've got. 
What We'll Have

Fun, fun, fun until Daddy takes the T-Bird away.

If You Have Other Questions

Don't ask em. You won't get answers. Marsha's swamped. So am I. Forgive me 
for being so blunt, but that's how it is.

If You're Not Satisfied

You're out a buck. Or two. I mean, break my heart.

Will It Work?

My kids, who know a lot more about the Web than I do, say no way. My 
accountant, the fiscal hardass of all time, says he thinks it will. I don't 
know. All I know is I've got a hell of a good story to tell, and if you pay 
me I'll tell it.

Is This The End of Publishing?

Good God, no. I love my editors, and I like my publisher. I also like books. 
I'm a conservative on this particular subject and I love the smell of glue. 
But if I could break some trail for all the midlist writers, literary 
writers, and just plain marginalized writers who see a future outside the 
mainstream, that's great.

     I hope this answers your questions. Now go be good to someone, and 
remember: this ain't Napster. Take what you want...and pay for it.

Steve