tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post3182172869345916172..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Do Legacy Publishers Treat Authors Badly?JA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger298125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-2925486883112050862014-09-25T15:27:05.112-05:002014-09-25T15:27:05.112-05:00Thanks for this post, man. I'm glad I didn'...Thanks for this post, man. I'm glad I didn't go the traditional route. Only had to suffer through one rejection, and did not get hooked in. Your article seems right all the way through. I have heard of popular authors who have no say about exclamation points, if you can believe it! I would rather risk my own poor editing than be at the mercy of an editor who has all my rights in his hand!thebibleandthenewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15822107296545789954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-54108646952320689172012-04-16T05:23:38.401-05:002012-04-16T05:23:38.401-05:00At some point I want to read through all these com...At some point I want to read through all these comments, it should be interesting, but I want to thank you for this. I've done amazingly well in self-publishing, but have my manuscript at harlequin offices. I've tried to decide what I'd do if they actually accepted me. I won't do it for sure after this. There's no way I'm giving up 70& commission with over 2000 sales a day to drop to 17%. I figured they do nothing with ebooks, so they'd only take 10% of those and you'd get good promotion. Thanks.Melody Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03661158847380768923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-29298048799993256912012-04-15T16:08:42.914-05:002012-04-15T16:08:42.914-05:00As Blake Crouch said in a recent Tweet: Where are ...<i>As Blake Crouch said in a recent Tweet: Where are all the longtime authors jumping to the defense of legacy publishing?</i><br /><br />Here's a good one: http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2009/03/reminder-why-theres-no-tipjar.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-9478092779194565852012-03-08T15:50:47.230-06:002012-03-08T15:50:47.230-06:00Some of the 99 cent indies do well because the net...Some of the 99 cent indies do well because the network and self promote like Amanda Hocking and John Locke. I enjoy reading their books and they're smiling all the way to the bank! http://mhlnk.com/96123952Linda Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05059344822523556647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-83008284894631011802012-03-06T06:10:12.156-06:002012-03-06T06:10:12.156-06:00Amazon will treat author's fairly and pay a de...Amazon will treat author's fairly and pay a decent percentage only until it has destroyed traditional publishers and bookstores. When it's the only kid on the block, Amazon will screw writers into the ground because there'll be nowhere else to go.<br />Think I'm wrong?<br />When Amazon doesn't get the discount it demands from traditional publishers it takes the 'buy' button off that company's authors. <br />Don't get too cosy, Joe. You're dancing with the devil.mavericknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-12456105036208378682012-03-05T22:13:11.346-06:002012-03-05T22:13:11.346-06:00The one issue with self-publishing is it's nea...The one issue with self-publishing is it's nearly impossible to be in a bookstore. That's the one thing I miss.<br /><br />Still, I do much better in sales, overall, with the titles I've sold myself.<br /><br />I like having full control over my work, though.<br /><br />If people worry about a 'bad' book--check the reviewers--and check the sample chapter.<br /><br />For me, I might do one title again traditionally--but I doubt it.Hope Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04007282596035816113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-52098814126688148512012-03-05T12:49:36.012-06:002012-03-05T12:49:36.012-06:00I do have one concern with self-publishing (even t...I do have one concern with self-publishing (even though my book has sold more copies than I anticipated--and more than the 'average' )<br /><br />One thing I can't do with self-publishing is see my title on a Wal-Mart shelf. <br /><br />Print is, of course, available on Amazon, and I priced it at $3.99--but I'd kill too see it in a store.<br /><br />For me, that's the only drawback with self-publishing.<br /><br />I do love your Blog, by the way. <br /><br />Most legacy published authors I've read Blogs by seem to be saying self-publishing is not a good thing--PC Cast is one example. She calls it 'self-printing' actually.<br /><br />Me? I've sold to e-publishers and done the self-thing. It's actually kind of funny that I've made more with one I e-published myself than I did with the one with the publisher--and they've had it almost 3 years.<br /><br />Still--I'd love to see my books in stores--and that's just something an self-publisher can't do.Hope Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04007282596035816113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-37642756036799840522012-03-05T06:11:55.258-06:002012-03-05T06:11:55.258-06:00So if it is really true that the traditional publi...So if it is really true that the traditional publishing companies are "altruistic" and have been "subsidizing" the non-best-selling authors all these times; then they should be ecstatic about the current self-pub phenomenon; because they no longer need to lose money big time subsidizing all the non-performers and can use their super power "best-selling authors spotting abilities" to only produce and promote best sellers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11383134569856751212012-03-05T04:48:13.994-06:002012-03-05T04:48:13.994-06:00"He doesn't say legacy publishers treat &..."He doesn't say legacy publishers treat "all" authors like crap. Apparently you're one of the reasons some of the authors from your legacy publisher can't make any money."<br /><br />This is as contrary to the truth as you can possible get. The fact is, that bestselling authors are supporting other authors. Most books (in some publishing houses it's as high as 90%) lose money. Even if a book has earned out it's advance, the costs of production, editing, marketing and keeping the lights on in the publisher house still may not have been covered. It's the best sellers who produce nearly all the money, enabling legacy houses to take a shot on no-names. Often, these authors don't make money, but they are not always dropped (as Archangel example of Cormac McCarthy shows), some authors are kept on because the publisher believes they may make money in the future; in the meantime, the cost of publishing these authors is being paid for by the royalties from their bestsellers. This is actually altruistic when you think about it. While many authors moan about lousy royalties, the chances are they are being subsidised by somebody else's work.Robert Forresterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12081509260691665480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-56023080208116629782012-03-04T18:04:18.202-06:002012-03-04T18:04:18.202-06:00Hey J. A.
Since you talk to Amazon, could you ask...Hey J. A.<br /><br />Since you talk to Amazon, could you ask them why they messed up my Kindle ebook? It is taking a long time to fix and I sent it out to book reviewers that way. Yikes! K.kfordkhttp://kfordk.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-22358733174922175652012-03-03T21:22:00.562-06:002012-03-03T21:22:00.562-06:00I can relate to almost all of this--except my main...I can relate to almost all of this--except my main (non-fiction) publisher doesn't pay twice a year.<br /><br />They used to--now they pay only once a year. And about 1.5 months late every year, at that. Their royalties can be as much as a third of my annual income. It's agonizing to wait a year for that.Sharazadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15770022203256855126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-51210445731084896592012-03-03T17:07:38.205-06:002012-03-03T17:07:38.205-06:00I am not so sure about good intentions. I think s...I am not so sure about good intentions. I think some enjoy treating writers badly.Walter Knighthttp://www.waltknight.yolasite.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-32483727492985409562012-03-02T16:15:47.078-06:002012-03-02T16:15:47.078-06:00I agree with you 100% Joe.
@Anon (the rich one):
...I agree with you 100% Joe.<br /><br />@Anon (the rich one):<br /><br />Joe says "Legacy publishers ... spend millions of dollars advertising bestselling authors who don't need the advertising ..."<br /><br />He doesn't say legacy publishers treat "all" authors like crap. Apparently you're one of the reasons some of the authors from your legacy publisher can't make any money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-53059220533230098232012-03-02T14:34:09.056-06:002012-03-02T14:34:09.056-06:00@Robert F wrote"The same is true of being a b...@Robert F wrote"The same is true of being a bestseller. It's not the writer that is responsible, it's the publisher. Bestsellers are the bread and butter for the big six, so when they get something that looks like it has mass-market appeal, they go to town with the promotion, sticking the book on billboards and the like. Without the promotion, no matter how good the work, it will never reach the same status. Sure, you get the occasional word of mouth success story (before anyone mentions Amanda Hocking), but they are the exception. Social networking and self-promotion sells books, no doubt, but nowhere near as many as radio ads, TV interviews and billboards next to airport bookstands. This is where the fortunes are made and is the sort of promotion a self-pubbed author could never do."<br /><br />I'd agree and disagree. I and many others had no billboards, et al, we did damn hard work going to over a hundred bookstores, some paid expenses, most not. Word of mouth is THE most powerful in my opinion, as are readers' groups, and as 'have been' hand selling. There are no doubt as you say, especially in genre fiction, those who have billboards, etc. But/and many of us didnt write for 'mass market' appeal, or even close. We wrote because we felt called, and did the work, in my case, for twenty years, to complete a long book, with 42 rejections, including rejected 2x by the big six co that finally pub'd it. In those days, word of mouth was queen. Still is. Now via blogs and facebook and online interviews. Most of us never have had our books reviewed by NYT book mag. I feel certain that you are right, the Booker awards will only go to those pub'd in print by old guard guys, same for the USA Nat'l Book awards. You're right. But also, I note with great pleasure that younger authors arent very swayed by Booker and national book awards cliques. They are plowing their own way, and on new ground, and many many will with luck and more than a song, rather a well written book, will make it. They will. We are only on the first day of creation in the ebook world, with long and long and long to go yet to see what's what. I say, onward, with everything in us, laying new road. The tolls on the old crumbling roads, whether old awards or old definitions of bestsellerdom, are often too narror a grade for this new endeavor. I take huge heart in the fact that author can at last speak to reader without two or ten other bodies stuffed in the middle occluding the conversation. Thanks. <br /><br />drcpeArchangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18358062143743621676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-60504185579746703462012-03-02T14:31:17.086-06:002012-03-02T14:31:17.086-06:00I love it: when a Steven King hits it big via the ...I love it: when a Steven King hits it big via the Big 6 its a lesson to us all how powerful traditional publishing is and how indies can never duplicate that feat. <br /><br />But when Amanda Hocking hits it big, she's called an outlier and a fluke by guys like Robert above.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-81812057025121957762012-03-02T11:56:21.528-06:002012-03-02T11:56:21.528-06:00Blake Crouch: "Then something happened. His l...Blake Crouch: "Then something happened. His longtime editor, Albert Erskine, retired and McCarthy moved from Random House to Knopf. With a new editor and a new publishing house, his next book, All the Pretty Horses, became a phenomenon. McCarthy didn't get any better between Blood Meridian and Horses. Blood Meridian is the better book, hands down. He suddenly got a legion of readers, because of good fortune, good timing, and forces beyond his control."<br /><br />This is pretty much a statement in support of legacy publishing. It could be argued, the reason for McCarthy's belated success was due the work of his new publisher, who got out there and got reviewers and those that make waves read it. The book went on to win awards, but only because those doing the awarding got to see it, something no amount of pushing a newly self-pubbed author could do. It is similar to the situation here in the UK. Many of the books short-listed (and long listed) for the Booker Prize, have sold only a few thousand copies before nomination. Once they get nominated, sales climb to bestseller level, but these prizes are not open to self-pubbed titles, and never will be, there just isn't enough hours in the day for reviewers and judges to read every book published, legacy or self-pubbed. It's the work of the legacy publishers who push titles they think are worthy that gets them on the right people's desk.<br /><br />The same is true of being a bestseller. It's not the writer that is responsible, it's the publisher. Bestsellers are the bread and butter for the big six, so when they get something that looks like it has mass-market appeal, they go to town with the promotion, sticking the book on billboards and the like. Without the promotion, no matter how good the work, it will never reach the same status. Sure, you get the occasional word of mouth success story (before anyone mentions Amanda Hocking), but they are the exception. Social networking and self-promotion sells books, no doubt, but nowhere near as many as radio ads, TV interviews and billboards next to airport bookstands. This is where the fortunes are made and is the sort of promotion a self-pubbed author could never do.Robert Forresterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12081509260691665480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-46425647140313207772012-03-01T14:18:12.849-06:002012-03-01T14:18:12.849-06:00"Does that make me a "bestselling author..."Does that make me a "bestselling author"? I'm going to say it does."<br /><br />LMAO!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-25955675871312866582012-03-01T12:36:09.107-06:002012-03-01T12:36:09.107-06:00I’ve just spent an hour enjoying some of these gre...I’ve just spent an hour enjoying some of these great comments and wd like to thank all posters for their contributions.<br /><br />There’s one thing I’d like to pick up on – sales vs quality. One book I’ve always liked is E.M.Forster’s great novel of Commerce & Culture - <i>Howard’s End</i>, published in 1910.<br /><br />Now, take a look at the best-seller lists for that year:<br /><br />1. The Rosary Florence L. Barclay <br />2. A Modern Chronicle Winston Churchill <br />3. The Wild Olive Anonymous (Basil King) <br />4. Max Katherine Cecil Thurston<br /><br />One thing’s for certain – if Churchill had to rely on his fiction for his posthumous reputation, he’d be sunk! <br /><br />Sales do not denote quality; what they do denote is success. I’m going to aim for success in this life and leave posterity to worry about quality…Westmorland Heathennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-13017537109162238232012-03-01T08:08:28.158-06:002012-03-01T08:08:28.158-06:00Pocket-47 is back to regular price this morning, b...<a href="http://tiny.cc/7af5t" rel="nofollow">Pocket-47</a> is back to regular price this morning, but it's still ranked #290 overall, and it's still on some of the bestseller lists.<br /><br />Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #290 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)<br /><br /> #32 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery<br /> #58 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers<br /> #62 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Genre Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers<br /><br />Does that make me a "bestselling author"? I'm going to say it does. Why not? Right now my book is outselling titles by Lee Child, Janet Evanovich, Elmore Leonard, Robert Crais... <br /><br />But being a bestselling author is meaningful only in that it might help to get you noticed, and getting noticed might help to generate more sales. It doesn't necessarily mean that your book is better than the million or so others it is outselling at the moment.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-47006333928196229392012-03-01T00:04:26.243-06:002012-03-01T00:04:26.243-06:00@anonymous. You wrote: "I'm glad you feel...@anonymous. You wrote: "I'm glad you feel okay with it, but that doesn't make it true. I think once you crack the top ten paid, or hit the NYT, WSJ, or USA Today list, then you'd be a bestseller. 12,000 copies doesn't do it. Maybe if you sold that many in a day."<br /><br />am nyt bestselling writer/ pw, lj, usa today, etc. I just would like to say my two cents worth. I consider anyone who has done any number of things a 'bestseller.' <br /><br />I see that some authors judge their 'sellingness best' by the amount of money they make monthly, yearly, as compared to those who make less on a book or in aggregate. Others by how many 'units' are sold. That's fine, I think. Best seller is a word that I think can be far far more broadly applied way beyond AMZ rankings, USA-T, NYT or any of the others who sort of at least say, they have their finger on the pulse of it all. <br /><br />I like AMZ rankings in one way, and that is, there will be a "best selling" book in the genre say of crit lit or communication or mythology, that outsells others in the same pack. In that I believe a litcrit or other author can rightfully claim bestsellerdom... in comparison to others in the genre. <br /><br />Many kinds of bestsellers. There are also 'bestseller' remaindered books and best-seller special edition books like Jurassic Park in HB just issued in a beautiful hardbound by B&N's imprint, I think. <br /><br />I'm not sure about every author who is says they are a 'bestseller,' but I'd say the ones who truly are--via various measures, some of which have not existed in the old Big Pub world-- have most often worked their rear ends off in order to be contendahs in that area. <br /><br />I do see that AMZ and ebooks and POD too have greatly expanded the field of 'bestsellerdom" ...and that that allows many many more to have that aegis justly worn. But I also like what Joe says. Bestseller Shcmestseller, go write. <br /><br />That's the ticket to ride, I think. <br /><br />THanks,<br />drcpeArchangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18358062143743621676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-88700938605991576052012-02-29T22:59:44.055-06:002012-02-29T22:59:44.055-06:00I just self-pubbed my first short story, after yea...I just self-pubbed my first short story, after years of publishing shorts in the magazines based on your inspiration. <br /><br />I have to say I really enjoyed how quick and easy the process was. Whether or not I'll make any money is anybody's guess... but I didn't really make any money in the slicks either. Ebooks are forever - that's the clincher. <br /><br />Anyway, thanks for taking the time to write this blog. A lot of us out there appreciate it.Charles Krusehttp://krusebooks.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-46568932056813776792012-02-29T19:34:58.744-06:002012-02-29T19:34:58.744-06:00...12,000 copies doesn't do it. Maybe if you s...<i>...12,000 copies doesn't do it. Maybe if you sold that many in a day</i><br /><br />Anon<br /><br />Not to takeaway from anyone's accomplishments, but I share some of your cynicism, and of others, when it comes to the "bestseller" tag being thrown around as much as it is now in the digital arena.<br /> <br />I have to agree with Joe's earlier post (go read it if you haven't BTW) about bestsellers not meaning anything (or much) in the new realm. I think the "scale" of what sales are required to hit a top tier (as huge as that is for any writer) moves too much. <br /><br />But, according to the experienced folks, the NYT and USAT-day have always been about as skewed and slanted as they could be in regards to actual sales.<br /><br />My E-TBR is so long now that I generally don't spend anymore $$$ w/o really great reviews, an old fav' going digital or word of mouth. <br /><br />I really don't pay attention to the "Bestseller" tag when I look at a new writer. Everyone seems to be one these days, plus all those years of paying full cover price on TPB and hardback "bestseller's", that blew, kinda desensitized me too.<br /><br />That's just me.David L. Shutterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357694121376734716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-68272249758477344072012-02-29T17:09:08.291-06:002012-02-29T17:09:08.291-06:00I sold almost 12,000 books and currently my memoir...<i>I sold almost 12,000 books and currently my memoir, Silent Tears, has been in the Top 100 Paid Kindle Titles for 25 days. I'm not sure what constitutes the seal of 'best seller' but I feel okay calling myself a best selling author at this point.</i><br /><br />I'm glad you feel okay with it, but that doesn't make it true. I think once you crack the top ten paid, or hit the NYT, WSJ, or USA Today list, then you'd be a bestseller. 12,000 copies doesn't do it. Maybe if you sold that many in a day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-57124709407616445732012-02-29T05:30:04.826-06:002012-02-29T05:30:04.826-06:00This is a great blog, usually i don't post com...This is a great blog, usually i don't post comments on blogs but I would like to say that this post really forced me to do so!Publishing Jobshttp://www.jobs4creatives.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-40172846171855751032012-02-28T23:18:45.793-06:002012-02-28T23:18:45.793-06:00The publishing industry is a dinosaur. It takes t...The publishing industry is a dinosaur. It takes too long and costs too much money. If they don't change, they are doomed to extinction. http://kfordk.com/kfordknoreply@blogger.com