tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post136479652255410260..comments2024-03-18T06:16:18.802-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Guest Post by Lee GoldbergJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger309125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-83411911373985632682012-11-23T10:12:22.166-06:002012-11-23T10:12:22.166-06:00Nice post. I was checking continuously this blog a...Nice post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Extremely helpful information particularly the last part I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this certain information for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.<br />http://www.onlinecheck.com/business_cash_advance.htmlUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05244280737126461025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-14428134826549709762011-02-08T11:06:13.905-06:002011-02-08T11:06:13.905-06:00This article is so encouraging! I'm a new auth...This article is so encouraging! I'm a new author with great reviews who didn't want to deal with the stress of agents and publishers. I have questioned my decision to go with self-publishing, but so far it's going exactly like you are detailing here, Joe. I've learned as I have gone, but reader response tells me I've got something worth pursuing. Thank you for the encouragement.sarahhttp://sarahwitenhafer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-30713860596276005232011-02-08T10:30:56.647-06:002011-02-08T10:30:56.647-06:00I see so many writers with what I call "legac...I see so many writers with what I call "legacy books," novels or memoirs they've been writing for years or decades--and it's unlikely in this lifetime that they'd get published. I've been advocating DIY--POD for the friends, family, back-of-room, and ebooks.<br /><br />Every writer deserves to complete the circle from idea to creation to audience, independent of the quality of their work. <br /><br />At the same time, my cringe factor with self-pubbed books of any kind strikes on page 1, maybe 2: errors. So many copyediting mistakes Maybe readers don't care. <br /><br />Professional editing is costly for many, $5 to $7/page for copyediting, and far more for substantive editing followed by copyediting. I have yet to see any book that was revised per critique group input that is close to ready for sale. The same holds, unfortunately, for most books that were edited by other editors. Uh-oh, twenty years of doing this work and I'm a snob.<br /><br />There are always surrounding businesses who benefit, and in this "tsunami," we independent editors also win.Elizabeth Lyonhttp://www.elizabethlyon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-79856485368512202192011-01-31T00:52:35.653-06:002011-01-31T00:52:35.653-06:00Hi Joe and Lee,
Thanks for sharing your insights,...Hi Joe and Lee,<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your insights, Lee. The possibility of you earning $18k in a year for three reprint short stories is staggering - and something I referenced in a guest blog post today. I've just published seven ebooks myself (some of which are short story collections), so I'm fascinated to see how the public accepts the shorter form given how it struggles in brick-and-mortar bookstores.Shane Jiraiya Cummingshttp://www.jiraiya.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-25836870515760102412011-01-24T23:11:03.943-06:002011-01-24T23:11:03.943-06:00By definition of someone who pays a royalty, isn&#...By definition of someone who pays a royalty, isn't amazon your publisher though? Kindle is great. I do it myself. But they Are still a Very Big publisher.Ben Ohmarthttp://bearmanormedia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-12523613248529635992011-01-24T11:18:15.415-06:002011-01-24T11:18:15.415-06:00> Most importantly, you seem
> to under...> Most importantly, you seem <br />> to understand that this is <br />> a business transaction, <br />> nothing more or less<br />...<br />> The fact remains, if you <br />> go into a business transaction <br />> with your eyes open, armed <br />> with the knowledge necessary <br />> to make good, sound <br />> business decisions<br /><br />um... wrong...<br /><br />the one thing that this deal is<br />_not_ is "a business transaction".<br /><br />in a "business transaction",<br />both sides expect to profit.<br /><br />robin has said, flat out, that<br />she doesn't care about cash.<br /><br />she expects to make _less_<br />from this deal than she could<br />by pursuing the other path.<br /><br />she's willing to do it because<br />there might be other payoffs,<br />some of them non-monetary,<br />others with a very uncertain<br />-- but perhaps lucrative --<br />monetary value. it's a risk.<br />a risk of near-certain cash for<br />uncertain payoffs that might<br />(or might not) be of value...<br /><br />so this is a _gamble_...<br /><br />not a "business transaction".<br /><br />robin is going for three things.<br /><br />the first is the "legitimacy" of<br />being "a published author"...<br />michael will get this benefit<br />just as soon as they sign, so<br />this is the _certain_ payoff.<br />it's mostly an _ego-stroke_,<br />but robin-as-marketeer will<br />be able to leverage the label,<br />so it has _some_ cash value.<br />but how much is fairly unclear.<br />the absence of the label hasn't<br />seemed to hurt michael so far.<br />like i said, this is an ego-stroke.<br />there's nothin' wrong with that.<br />egos need stroking occasionally,<br />and if cash has lost its zest...<br /><br />robin's second target is having<br />michael's books in bookstores.<br />this is also an ego-stroke, but<br />it's one that could potentially<br />have a good cash payoff too.<br />there are obviously still people<br />who buy books who do _not_<br />have e-readers, lots of them,<br />and it'll be interesting to see<br />how many books michael can<br />sell to this market-segment.<br />seth godin has wondered if<br />all heavy book buyers have<br />turned to e-readers, so that<br />the only paper-book buyers<br />that are left are the people<br />who only buy a book or two<br />a year, in which case michael<br />won't receive a big bump...<br />but there is also the flip side,<br />where people who already<br />bought the e-book will have<br />loved it so much that they<br />want a hard-print copy too.<br />it works for cory doctorow...<br />so, it's an empirical question.<br /><br />robin's third target is a hope of<br />hitting the new york times list,<br />or, more generally, world fame.<br />that's the marketeer in her...<br />the thought of slapping the slug<br />"n.y. times bestselling author"<br />on all of michael's books from<br />now until the end of time will<br />make any p.r. person salivate.<br />(the _real_ value of that slug<br />might not be all that high, but<br />try telling that to a p.r. hack.)<br />yes, it's a long-shot, and robin<br />knows that, but she's willing to<br />pay the money for the chance.<br /><br />if they come in, these payoffs<br />can make this "a good gamble".<br />and as robin is willing to put up<br />the cash for the bet, good luck!<br /><br />but the uncertainties involved<br />mean it's downright silly to call<br />this "a business transaction"...<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-58038421038670986062011-01-23T23:51:26.374-06:002011-01-23T23:51:26.374-06:00Thanks Joe and Lee, and everyone else here. I am w...Thanks Joe and Lee, and everyone else here. I am wrestling with which way to go with my career and this is really helpful.kathleen dueyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01176852638727278256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-88926809898725372062011-01-23T23:23:11.502-06:002011-01-23T23:23:11.502-06:00I had a book completely written and edited that I ...I had a book completely written and edited that I took to a major writer's conference. No one would read one word. Why? I didn't have a thousand followers on an opt-in list.<br /><br />I went home, published Children of Dreams POD, and have continued to expand my base. Now with ebooks, I have no desire to go with a mainline publisher. I love what I am doing too much -- the control, the choices, the options, the hope that I can do it myself. And a spirit never to give up. <br /><br />While I haven't sold more than a few hundred copies of my book Children of Dreams, I know the best is yet to come. I belive in the favorable direction of the industry for unknown authors and the power of networking with others. I know it is possible to achieve everything I want to and more. <br /><br />I won't give up. In the meantime, I am having a blast. The journey of discovery is addictive.<br /><br />I am working on my Masters in Creative Writing, and I have faith because I have given my hopes and dreams to God. I know if I work hard at the process, He controls the outcome, and usually, the result is better than anything I could come up with. And for that, I am thankful.Lorilyn Robertshttp://lorilynroberts.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-67943278741645521922011-01-23T21:54:28.835-06:002011-01-23T21:54:28.835-06:00@Tony. Be civil or don't come back.@Tony. Be civil or don't come back.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-39358059341411418152011-01-23T21:30:05.937-06:002011-01-23T21:30:05.937-06:00tony, thanks so much for your
kind and thoughtful ...tony, thanks so much for your<br />kind and thoughtful support... :+)<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-40933282596013542072011-01-23T20:53:44.149-06:002011-01-23T20:53:44.149-06:00The money IS NOT THE FACTOR for our goal
But it i...<i>The money IS NOT THE FACTOR for our goal</i><br /><br />But it is the main factor for your publisher.<br /><br />They aren't your partner or your friend. They are investors, out to make a profit.<br /><br />The funny thing is, they aren't very good at it.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-40698487850430880982011-01-23T20:10:57.795-06:002011-01-23T20:10:57.795-06:00Yep...totally understand the concept of stripping ...Yep...totally understand the concept of stripping books etc. And well aware that it is done - particarly when bookstores get the bill for books that were bought-in but not sold-through. I just didn't realize it was that high of a %.Robin Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613910688999698522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61526674854802847642011-01-23T20:02:32.892-06:002011-01-23T20:02:32.892-06:00What Joe is saying about returns is true, especial...<i>What Joe is saying about returns is true, especially on the paperback side. But don't take our word for it. Ask around.</i><br /><br />I can tell you what I saw on the employee's side of things. I worked for more than one bookstore when I was in college-- for years, in fact. <br /><br />Every time they did monthly inventory, if the store didn't hit sales targets, the managers called us in for a "stripping party" and we would strip the covers off 1/2 of the paperbacks in the store. The romance section always got hit the hardest. We'd strip the covers on almost every single one, but left the Danielle Steele alone. Comics, too. <br /><br />As an image--we'd fill up the dumpster to overflowing with stripped paperbacks. The covers went back for credit. <br /><br />That's how it was done, otherwise, the managers wouldn't bonus that quarter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-89774458380962368782011-01-23T18:40:51.894-06:002011-01-23T18:40:51.894-06:00About returns-- Albert N. Greco, et. al., The Cult...About returns-- Albert N. Greco, et. al., <b>The Culture and Commerce of Publishing in the Twenty-First Century.</b> Table 3.4 lays it out from 1995 to 2004 where there is info. MMPB in 2004 had 47.1% average annual returns. Hard Cover 33.6% the same year which was actually a drop from a high of 36.3 in 1997. He probably has an updated version with figures since 2004 available.Verileeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15903904471192374248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-49668045377858150132011-01-23T18:31:21.779-06:002011-01-23T18:31:21.779-06:00Joe and I are in 100% agreement that the contract ...Joe and I are in 100% agreement that the contract will not spell out the things that matter most. (Print run, price, coop fees, placmeent etc.) That is one of the really frustrating thing about this business and a big reason why the decision is so difficult.<br /><br />Part of the problem is Michael's contract is coming "ahead of the curve". Soon publishers will be turned down by authors (and Michael might be one of them) time and timeagain and after enough of them walk away they'll have to adapt them. <br /><br />The problem is that for now I don't think that happens (or not very often) so the publisher probably has no idea that it could be a possibility.<br /><br />Regarding Joe's comment about moving money from BlackJack to the Poker table - that is 100% correct if HE were in this position as his career goal is maximizing income.<br /><br />As I've said before I've made huge sums of money and lived like a pauper and I can adapt to either. The money IS NOT THE FACTOR for our goal and telling me how much I'll lose is just an exercise in futility because I already know that and - don't care. The rights issue...is a far biggger deal and why we are concentrating on those aspects.Robin Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613910688999698522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-68126690225070055982011-01-23T18:15:59.559-06:002011-01-23T18:15:59.559-06:00@Joe
Nope, haven't decide yet. Still examining...@Joe<br />Nope, haven't decide yet. Still examining all angles. As for calculations, of course I'm not doing those on our 100% profit model but on the royalty levels stated in the deal memo. And of course that will take longer <br /><br />@bowerbird - Thanks for your most recent post.Robin Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613910688999698522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-44164266503060470582011-01-23T17:55:49.316-06:002011-01-23T17:55:49.316-06:00But you know Joe, maybe if you had gotten all thos...But you know Joe, maybe if you had gotten all those things you still wouldn't have achieved the success you've had on Kindle. <br /><br />You seem to assume you would have. In reality, you just don't know. Different time, different place, different circumstances...it all amounts to one big unknown.<br /><br />As far as being a bestseller, aren't you more specifically a Kindle bestseller? Or maybe an ebook bestseller? Aren't we comparing apples to oranges?<br /><br />Please don't misunderstand, I'm not minimizing what you done. God knows I'm not a bestseller of anything. I haven't even published my book yet.<br /><br />But you seem to equate your ebook success with traditional success, and draw the conclusion that because of the one, the other would have been the same, had only "smarter" people been managing your career.jtplayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14231456054855215404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-29170426145433181632011-01-23T17:41:45.503-06:002011-01-23T17:41:45.503-06:00Personally, I don't see where you were "d...<i>Personally, I don't see where you were "denied" anything.</i><br /><br />Look closer.<br /><br />I never got coop. Never got big print runs. Never got major reviews. Never got big publicity. Never got discounting. Never got into the big box non-bookstore outlets.<br /><br />It is IMPOSSIBLE to become a bestseller without all of those things being done.<br /><br />How ironic it is that my books NY rejected outsell the ones they bought 10 to 1. How bittersweet it is that when I don't have a publisher in my way, I can be a bestseller. And how amusing it is to make $1200 a day without needing the approval or assistance of anyone.<br /><br />I spent seven years, working my ass off, struggling from check to check (which came every six months), beating my head against the wall and wondering why I couldn't sell in greater numbers.<br /><br />I don't wonder any more.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-71659545222019024722011-01-23T17:33:02.723-06:002011-01-23T17:33:02.723-06:00then there should be no reason for you to get take...<i>then there should be no reason for you to get taken advantage of, or "fleeced" or "ripped off" or whatever. </i><br /><br />Nowhere in any publishing contract will they state how many books they print, or how many stores they'll appear in, or how much they'll spend on marketing or coop.<br /><br />You take them at their word on all of it. And yet, those are the MOST IMPORTANT THINGS that determine the success or failure of a book. <br /><br />There is nothing in a contract that states when the book will be released, or how much it will be priced at. <br /><br />There is nothing in a contract that says when the rights will revert back to the author. Oh sure, there are clauses that speak to this, but they can be easily manipulated, and there is nothing the author can do about it. If a publisher wants to keep the rights, they WILL find a way to keep the rights.<br /><br />Publishing contracts are horribly one-sided, favoring the publisher. And why wouldn't they be? For decades, the only way for a writer to make a decent living writing fiction was to sign with a publisher. We were at their mercy.<br /><br />But now, writers have a choice. Publishers, however, can't change their contracts, lest the entire industry collapse.<br /><br />But it's going to collapse anyway. The only thing publishers can do is get print books into stores.<br /><br />Soon there won't be enough stores left to support the infrastructure.<br /><br />And what's the point of getting into stores if you can reach more people outside of stores? Those who shop in stores will eventually move to the ebook market because they'll have no choice, and you'll be able to sell to them a few years from now.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61243775482149685342011-01-23T17:31:14.995-06:002011-01-23T17:31:14.995-06:00"I was still denied success"
There'...<i>"I was still denied success"</i><br /><br />There's many, many people who would call your traditional publishing career a success. You achieved something many millions of others never do. There's something to be said for that. <br /><br />Personally, I don't see where you were "denied" anything.<br /><br />On top of that, if Kindle and DTP and a 70% royalty had never happened, all this talk would be moot.<br /><br />Yes, it <i>did</i> happen, and your results and incredible success at epublishing are undeniable. But that being said, none of it cancels out or erases your previous "career". IMO.jtplayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14231456054855215404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-31956536931248422512011-01-23T17:21:32.301-06:002011-01-23T17:21:32.301-06:00If you don't play you have 0% chance of winnin...<i>If you don't play you have 0% chance of winning - if you are in the game your skill can outmatch others at the table even if you don't have the best cards.</i><br /><br />If you're making a fortune at the blackjack table, it's silly to pick up your chips and try poker. Stick with blackjack.<br /><br />And in the poker=publishing comparison, you can't outplay your publisher. They make all the calls on everything. Once you sign the deal, you're a leaf blowing in the wind. Nothing you say or do with change your path.<br /><br />If you know anything about my career, you know I worked harder than any author who has ever lived. I was still denied success. That is, until I left the industry and began to play my own game. Then I became successful rather quickly.<br /><br />You can't play poker with a blindfold, a gag, and your hands tied behind your back.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-59693928298547110102011-01-23T17:17:14.832-06:002011-01-23T17:17:14.832-06:00People get taken advantage of in business all the ...People get taken advantage of in business all the time, day in and day out. Publishing is no different. <br /><br />Obviously.<br /><br />The fact remains, if you go into a business transaction with your eyes open, armed with the knowledge necessary to make good, sound <i>business</i> decisions, and if you <i>read</i> and <i>understand</i> what you sign, then there should be no reason for you to get taken advantage of, or "fleeced" or "ripped off" or whatever. <br /><br />If later on you decide you don't like the terms of your deal, or your circumstances change to the point you feel like the contract is unfair, well I guess it's tough shit until the agreement expires. Make better choices next time and don't try to blame someone else for your situation.<br /><br />Likewise, if the person you contracted with reneges on the agreed terms, well then you've got legal recourse at your disposal, and you should take advantage of that.jtplayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14231456054855215404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-70672264486565248102011-01-23T17:14:55.161-06:002011-01-23T17:14:55.161-06:00I can't refer you to a link. I just know it to...<i>I can't refer you to a link. I just know it to be true from what I have consistently heard from my agents, my editors, numerous booksellers and other authors over the years. </i><br /><br />That figure will probably never be made public, until after the demise of publishing. It isn't in anyone's best interest to talk about how much waste is going on.<br /><br />As for Michael earning out...<br /><br />He's going to sell fewer books, at a lower royalty. Don't compare the sales he has now with the sales he'll get with a publisher. I outsell my traditionally published books 10 to 1, and earn four times the amount on each sale.<br /><br />That means I make 40 times more on my own than I do through publishing with the Big 6.<br /><br />Use that number in your calculation, and see how long it will take Michael to earn out his advance. <br /><br />As for authors saying take the deal... yeah, I suppose they would. That Stockholm Syndrome thing again. The writers who are getting screwed seize upon my words like it's a life raft in a tsunami. But those who are doing okay see now reason to buck the status quo. In fact, they fear bucking the status quo. <br /><br />It sounds like you've talked yourself into signing the contract. If so, congratulations to you, and I truly do hope Michael hits the bestseller list and does fantastically well.<br /><br />Getting a book deal was one of the most exciting things that ever happened in my career, and I derived a lot of happiness from every deal I've ever had. You'll learn a lot, and grow a lot.<br /><br />Much success to you.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-3056562311896161462011-01-23T15:39:40.340-06:002011-01-23T15:39:40.340-06:00Robin,
I can't refer you to a link. I just kn...Robin,<br /><br />I can't refer you to a link. I just know it to be true from what I have consistently heard from my agents, my editors, numerous booksellers and other authors over the years. <br /><br />LeeLee Goldberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13442268370192897461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-15985813894698556582011-01-23T15:17:51.243-06:002011-01-23T15:17:51.243-06:00@lee & joe - can either of you point me to a s...@lee & joe - can either of you point me to a single link on all of the interwebs that supports 50% returns? I looked and could find only some really old data that supporte 11% - 23%.<br /><br />@bowerbird - I did an accurate test - changed one variable saw sales incraese from 90 per day to 110 per day. With revenue on that one book going down to $31.18/day from $381.15 sales in both cases the numbers were consistent. So yes I can say I did a qualified test that proved "for my situation" the $0.99 price is not the way to go. You want "proof" but then when presented with "real hard fast numbers" you say it is not valid. There is no "test" that will satsify you because you'll find it flawed in some way. I've done my "due dilligence" to determien the price point I'm at is good for now (may not be months later but I'm confident that I'm maximizing my profit since I've tried a) my original, b)$2.99 and c) $0.99. The only thing I've not tried is raising beyond the $6.95 but I don't think that is a "fair" price so I wouldn't - for me, and obviously Michael's fans. The $4.95-$6.95 price point seems to be working for both sides just fine.Robin Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613910688999698522noreply@blogger.com