tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post3272793658149781679..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Guest Post by Stephen LeatherJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-8385565041730069322011-12-06T02:13:48.060-06:002011-12-06T02:13:48.060-06:00The author compares to Daniel Silver who is one of...The author compares to Daniel Silver who is one of my favorites. It is not too descriptive and not repetitive. It makes your hair stand up on end. Very exciting and very thought provoking. This is really going on?? It was my first Stephen Leather read and I can't wait to get the rest of his books.Netherlandhttp://blog.fatshenanigans.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-75059699777485738502011-12-05T11:54:52.970-06:002011-12-05T11:54:52.970-06:00This author sounds quite interesting. I've wri...This author sounds quite interesting. I've written this book down to try to find it. <br />ThanksPeterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14953896358318771745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-53615832341269291032011-12-05T11:20:20.980-06:002011-12-05T11:20:20.980-06:00Write, publish, market, and repeat. Simple (and so...Write, publish, market, and repeat. Simple (and solid) advice that, as we all know, takes work. Simple does not equal easy.<br /><br />Bill Dodds<br /><b>www.BillDodds.com</b>Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12050939384508663365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-5013085367677983692011-12-04T15:43:42.042-06:002011-12-04T15:43:42.042-06:00Congrats, Stephen, on your success and on taking a...Congrats, Stephen, on your success and on taking a break to write. The promotional and marketing aspect of self-publishing does tend to get in the way of writing. <br /><br />My UK sales have picked up month to month, but it's still only a few hundred a month. I have no idea how to break into the market over there so I can sell equally to the US. <br /><br />I hope this experiment works out for you both. Good luck!<br /><br />LilianaLiliana Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10578742084197127176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-20630503950490126022011-11-25T14:54:12.774-06:002011-11-25T14:54:12.774-06:00Stephen: I think your success is astounding and yo...Stephen: I think your success is astounding and you deserve a legacy deal that is going to make you happy. Yes, you heard me correctly, because Amazon has entered publishing and they might as well be a legacy publisher whether they like it or not (they just offer more freedom and better royalty rates).<br /><br />I admit Amazon is the only legacy I would jump feet first into bed with and the only publisher I want. Is that naive? Not really but most authors won't make any money until they have a name behind them and that is a fact. There have been some who have been successful on their own but you are right, it is tiresome!<br /><br /> Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)<br />#2 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Genre Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Series<br />#14 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Genre Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers > Suspense<br /> Would you like to give feedback on images or tell us about a lower price?<br /><br />Konrath: I just copied this from Amazon's website right now so congrats to both you and Crouch. Well done (I bought Stirred but I am reading Crouch's Thomas trilogy before I dive into the decadent world that is Jack Daniels again).<br /><br />You are both extremely talented writers and whether (either of) you were to do self-pub only, have a publisher, or do a mix of both, you would still be successful. Why? You write great f*cking books, that's why.<br /><br />Yeah, I know I just contradicted myself in this post but still, I get like this when I am around this much success. Here's to a happy holiday season to you all and every writer on here who responds to this post. Cheers! I'll definitely drink to that. ;-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17624296734028156426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-726802821842375622011-11-24T01:25:50.292-06:002011-11-24T01:25:50.292-06:00Thanks Josephine! :-)Thanks Josephine! :-)Stephen Leatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08179238880325952527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-15803998098905599822011-11-23T14:12:40.222-06:002011-11-23T14:12:40.222-06:00Stephen,
I don't know if you are still checkin...Stephen,<br />I don't know if you are still checking comments here or not, but I wanted to say your new books sound fantastic and I'm glad you found a good fit in the publishing world. <br /><br />Good luck on the charts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-5987160629962206032011-11-23T07:47:49.984-06:002011-11-23T07:47:49.984-06:00Coolkayaker
Go Google: Kobo/Rakuten deal and look...Coolkayaker<br /><br />Go Google: Kobo/Rakuten deal and look at just one emerging Amazon competitor, just as big outside the US as Amazon is here. And keep in mind when reading how small the US population actually is globally.<br /><br />If you're convinved of Amazon's evil future intentions then why procrastinate on the inevitable? Query agents <i>today</i> so you can start taking it up the tailpipe without delay.David L. Shutterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357694121376734716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1269721469137786172011-11-23T07:45:25.286-06:002011-11-23T07:45:25.286-06:00Interesting take on the UK market.Interesting take on the UK market.Jon Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11798152229818636016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-30015130430296767722011-11-23T06:57:16.194-06:002011-11-23T06:57:16.194-06:00Here comes the gouge. Amazon Encore. Lower autho...Here comes the gouge. Amazon Encore. Lower author rates in exchange for "marketing", which is higher profile on the website, primarily. Like getting end aisle in the bookstore. And guesses what, it's the beginning of the authors getting screwed by the soon-to-be only bookseller.Coolkayaker1https://www.blogger.com/profile/16480679419271233314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-38941694190081918712011-11-23T05:41:04.744-06:002011-11-23T05:41:04.744-06:00Great article Stephen. Glad to see you're doin...Great article Stephen. Glad to see you're doing so well and good luck with the US market.<br /><br />Judging from the profits you've talked about here, if I do make it over for that beer in Bangkok sometime... you're buying.<br /><br />For everyone else: Stephen Leather's been a lot of help to me getting my books off the ground at Amazon UK. Never let he be said he doesn't support indie authors if he likes their product. I'm sure the quotes and reviews he's provided me with (which I've shamelessly touted everywhere I can) have helped shift copies of my work and for that I'm very grateful. <br /><br />Indie authors need this kind of suport from writers with experience and I'm lucky to have had it.<br /><br />Nick Spalding.Nick Spaldinghttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Nick-Spalding/e/B003M4DLXOnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-20418783173362799922011-11-22T22:39:56.017-06:002011-11-22T22:39:56.017-06:00Congratulations Stephen, sometimes its hard to wal...Congratulations Stephen, sometimes its hard to walk away.Chip Andersonhttp://cscottanderson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-59249682374076963712011-11-22T13:38:26.669-06:002011-11-22T13:38:26.669-06:00$750K, doled out over TEN years, would be more tha...$750K, doled out over TEN years, would be more than I make at my "day" job. For many of us it would be life-changing-suddenly-I-can-write-fulltime money. Personally, I would take it in a heartbeat.<br /><br />Congrats on the great deal, Stephen. I just bought <i>Once Bitten</i>, looking forward to it.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-60095169501000782032011-11-22T11:36:45.435-06:002011-11-22T11:36:45.435-06:00I can't wait for Christmas to come here in the...I can't wait for Christmas to come here in the UK because I have a feeling e-reader sales, like the Kindle, will rise more than ever.LK Wattshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09366991733427612418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-2152608694310557272011-11-22T10:19:04.048-06:002011-11-22T10:19:04.048-06:00So has anyone read this - http://kriswrites.com/20...So has anyone read this - http://kriswrites.com/2011/11/16/the-business-rusch-how-traditional-publishers-are-making-money/<br /><br />about how publishers have been making a profit during a recession because of eBooks yes, but also because they are paying writers EVEN LESS than before because of contracts that were signed and digital rights handed over.<br /><br />I confess I know nothing about traditional publishing and I understand these companies are huge conglomerates. But if this is what's happening than you might as well go self-published and not sign a contract unless they do offer you something similar to what Mr. Leather earned. <br /><br />I don't know. Something else to watch out for?Coralhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02211853852350425927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-14865629567666268282011-11-22T10:00:07.712-06:002011-11-22T10:00:07.712-06:00I must say that being any kind of contrarian voice...<i>I must say that being any kind of contrarian voice on this blog is not a pleasant experience.</i><br /><br />Except that's just what Leather's guest post is. <br /><br />I've argued a few contrarian points here myself and never had anything but an interesting time.John Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16644593323523613105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-42105858561153423902011-11-22T09:39:00.263-06:002011-11-22T09:39:00.263-06:00... but with legacy you are signing your future aw...<i>... but with legacy you are signing your future away.</i><br /><br />I must admit when Stephen first mentioned his deal I thought the same thing. I thought the amount, for five books, from a bone fide bestseller, was appalingly low. But reading his posts since then I see his line of thinking.<br /><br />First off, it's a personal choice. Trust that he knows his idividual readership and specific market better than anyone here. He knows how much of his own marketing it took to generate X amount of e-sales...I'm sure he took all that into consideration looking ahead at his next five books. How long will it take me to make that 750k on my own? And more importantly: what's <i>that</i> time worth and what else can I he do if I get it back? <br /><br />I think these are the points one needs to weigh when faced with a (good!) legacy deal. <br /><br />Plus, when's the last time anyone here got paid 3/4 of a mil to do anything 5 times?<br /><br />Best of luck SteveDavid L. Shutterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357694121376734716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-27079351507834407242011-11-22T09:04:57.452-06:002011-11-22T09:04:57.452-06:00Stephen
Thanks for the response, yes you are in a...Stephen<br /><br />Thanks for the response, yes you are in a very dymanic (and profitible) situation with your traditional background. For a newb I still see no valid argument against starting as an indie. Absolute worst case: 1 star reviews and negative e-mails are more palpable feedback than form rejection letters. <br /><br />Thansk againDavid L. Shutterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357694121376734716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-6515746417870188202011-11-22T08:42:15.064-06:002011-11-22T08:42:15.064-06:00And Joe, I must say that being any kind of contrar...<i>And Joe, I must say that being any kind of contrarian voice on this blog is not a pleasant experience.</i><br /><br />If you stay respectful, and post under your name, no one will give you any problems.<br /><br />But anonymous posts get a bad rap here, deservedly so, because cowards use anonymity to snipe and troll and flame. That doesn't mean all who post anonymously do that, but there is a stereotype that exists and puts some people off.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-71446277991468263002011-11-22T07:06:39.523-06:002011-11-22T07:06:39.523-06:00I wish Leather all the success in the world, as I ...<i>I wish Leather all the success in the world, as I would any of you, but with legacy you are signing your future away.</i><br /><br />And in most occasions I would agree with you, but around 750k over four years is at least approaching the "sweetheart deal" territory. I rarely, if ever, advocate traditional publishing, but in this instance it doesn't seem that bad to take the cash and run.<br /><br /><i>And Joe, I must say that being any kind of contrarian voice on this blog is not a pleasant experience.</i><br /><br />People fight over all sorts of things. I disagree with your position in this specific circumstance, but not the overall gist of your message. Sorry if that wasn't terribly clear, as if I'd really wanted to hang you out to dry, it would have been much more contentious. :DStephen Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08553469605843916631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-70727782016051523172011-11-22T07:02:09.954-06:002011-11-22T07:02:09.954-06:00...in hell yes, a sum approaching 750k is tough to...<i>...in hell yes, a sum approaching 750k is tough to walk away from.</i><br /><br />Eh, make that "then hell yes". Typos, always a formidable foe!Stephen Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08553469605843916631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-26710763262314280622011-11-22T06:58:18.052-06:002011-11-22T06:58:18.052-06:00I have a guaranteed income for the next four years...<i>I have a guaranteed income for the next four years (boosted by my Amazon Encore sales and a few self-published books that are still for sale) so I can relax and get on with writing.</i><br /><br />So it's a payout of around four years then, not a suspected eight as the anonymous poster said? Then that makes sense. I'd presumed that you wouldn't (at this stage in your career) get locked into a long payout deal, and if that's the case, in hell yes, a sum approaching 750k is tough to walk away from. And you get the benefit of arriving at enough financial security to sit down and write more books. Tough to shake a stick at that.<br /><br />Sometimes--rarely, it seems--a traditional deal can be just what the doctor ordered.<br /><br />I hope you'll be able to drop by from time to time and update us on the sale progress with <i>Once Bitten</i> and <i>The Basement</i>. Will be interesting to see how that all shakes out.Stephen Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08553469605843916631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-86552165783541474422011-11-22T06:54:54.003-06:002011-11-22T06:54:54.003-06:00> 90% of your success comes from good writing,...> 90% of your success comes from good writing, and the other 90% comes from marketing<br /><br />LOL! Thanks! <br /> Actually I used to think that writing (or in my case, translating) was 90% of the work. But I've come to realize that it's probably only 50% of the work, if that. Covers, layouts, descriptive text, getting blurbs, promotional stuff, contacting interested overseas publishers, and so on, is easily half the work, if not more.Chong Go Sunimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03428074464904163726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-24321520040638707612011-11-22T02:54:59.120-06:002011-11-22T02:54:59.120-06:00I believe that 90% of your success as a writer dep...I believe that 90% of your success as a writer depends on HOW GOOD YOUR WRITING IS. <br /><br />The other 90% of your success comes from how you market your books.<br /><br />I went to a screenwriter's meeting in L.A. last month where a few friends of mine were on a writing panel (Jimmy Diggs and George Clayton Johnson). <br /><br />George Clayton Johnson, the author of 8 Twilight Zone stories (Kick the Can, etc.) and Logan's Run said that STORY is more important that anything else if you want to be successful as a writer.<br /><br />So;<br /><b>1. Learn how to write excellent stories.</b><br><br /><b>2. Learn how to market your books online </b> (build a list, build a relationship with your list, and then market to your list).<br><br /><b>3. Learn how to write fast</b>, so that you can get more titles out there.<br> <br /><br />The more CONTENT you have online, the greater your internet presence will be.<br /><br />If you have a lag in sales, STUDY WRITING TECHNIQUES so that your next book will be a better story.<br /><br />The best book on writing is: "The Anatomy of Story," by John Truby. It's now available on Kindle.<br /><br />Just a few thoughts. :)<br /><br />Mark O'Bannon :)<br />http://www.BetterStorytelling.net/Blog <br /><br />P.S. It also helps to not have your websites go down... heheh... I need to fix my sites.Mark O'Bannon - Better Storytelling.Nethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04403292992536614979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-14664586401205031332011-11-22T01:55:50.060-06:002011-11-22T01:55:50.060-06:00A subtle change I have seen is that in 2010 my boo...A subtle change I have seen is that in 2010 my books (science fiction)) had no real E-book competition from large publishers. I had an advantage because my E-books were priced better. Now, in 2011 the large publishers are not only wise to E-books, as they gain experience, they are re-publishing their back lists in E-book format.<br /><br />Fortunately, with the dramatic increase in Kindle and eReader ownership, it is a big pie we share, but I still feel the pressure. Science fiction categories are smaller niche markets, and niche markets are the best place for new authors. We used to have niche markets to ourselves.<br /><br />Legacy publishers are surviving by adapting and joining us in the E-book markets. I was hoping they would stay in the dark at least another year. I am greatful I published when I did (Dec 2009) because the window of opportunity for new authors to be noticed is getting smaller as conpetition from the big publishers increases.Walter Knighthttp://www.waltknight.yolasite.comnoreply@blogger.com