tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post3902357805543034250..comments2024-03-18T06:16:18.802-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Eisler on Digital DenialJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-55525251037923677062016-05-23T06:33:01.975-05:002016-05-23T06:33:01.975-05:00I read this post. Its just perfect about the crea...I read this post. Its just perfect about the creation and the use of the many fields. Thank you so much for the post. <a href="http://www.experioninst.com/digital-ebook-bundle/" rel="nofollow">Digital EBook Bundle</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00311870068367809816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-21636235178859984442013-05-17T11:26:39.544-05:002013-05-17T11:26:39.544-05:00I enjoyed reading your blog
copy editing service...I enjoyed reading your blog <br /><br /><a href="http://www.gramlee.com/" rel="nofollow">copy editing services</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13970731745342797195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-70829093243846403402013-05-06T03:54:55.097-05:002013-05-06T03:54:55.097-05:00A very interesting blog and your response Joe. I h...A very interesting blog and your response Joe. I haven't read all of the comments, and came across your blog as I am looking to publish 1) my friend's 'text' book and 2) my own self-help book. I am not surprised the publishing houses' representatives at your conference got upset.. they are probably in fear of losing their jobs. It's a changing world, where powerful corporates don't necessarily pull the strings anymore. Authors can self-publish and I'm drawn to do this more and more. All I would like help on, as I can write and proofread, and my daughter can design, and together we can do the marketing as we know our target audience, is the PR. Publishers have contacts, that as individuals, we do not necessarily have. but I also agree, it shouldn't be an Us and Them situation! Publishers should realise that writers are their customers/clients, without whom they would not be in existence! thanks, I'll follow you, JacquieMy lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14127126028081597839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-6426819929800449122013-05-06T03:48:47.606-05:002013-05-06T03:48:47.606-05:00Hi, I've read Barry's blog and your reply...Hi, I've read Barry's blog and your reply Joe, but haven't had time to read all the comments.. sorry. No wonder the publishers are making rude remarks, sadly it's a changing world and they're probably in fear of their jobs. I am a writer, as yet unpublished, and came across your blog looking to find out more about the publishing world. I am looking to publish a friend's textbook for a specific market, he's the creative one in this instance and I'm the 'publisher'! Handling the business side to get it to our target audience. It makes eminent sense to me to self-publish if one has the time. But the marketing and PR for our book would best be done by a PR or marketing company - don't need a publisher for this, except they would probably have the right contacts at their fingertips.. with the Writers Handbook, the information is public. Another friend of mine published his daughter's novel and they worked really hard at getting publicity both for the book and the author (in the UK), and not having had the experience beforehand, they reached some modicom of success, although personally the book let them down. The author was a beautiful looking girl and this helped! He published two other factual books, boxes of which are still in his lock-up as he didn't know how to reach his target audience.. although all three books are available on amazon! Good old amazon! Ok, thanks for your blog, I'll keep an eye on it! JacquieMy lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14127126028081597839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-81582642781120948452013-05-04T18:05:23.361-05:002013-05-04T18:05:23.361-05:00Outstanding article from both Joe and Barry. Brav...Outstanding article from both Joe and Barry. Bravo!!<br /><br />I thought about this awhile, and I'd like to take a second to discuss the 'us vs. them' that the agent and others are labeling as a bad thing writers in the blogosphere are doing.<br /><br />In one way, I do think there is an 'us vs. them', but it stems from the other direction - from publishing houses that have set contract terms that take advantage of writers for decades, and from agents that have drafted and promoted those contracts.<br /><br />Exploiting writers sets up an 'us vs. them'.<br /><br />Writers complaining that contract terms are exploitive are advocating for themselves. <br /><br />To me, it seems inappropriatethat agents, instead of listening to, supporting and responding to writer concerns, instead get defensive and claim they and publishers are being attacked.<br /><br />My second point, in another way, there is not an 'us vs. them' because that would assume we are all a collective that writers are trying to divide. <br /><br />But there is no collective. There is the writer, and there are the people the writer licences their rights to. That can be a number of people or agencies. There is no 'given' that publishers and/or agents are part of the equation. Saying there is an 'us vs. them' implies a connection that is not neccessarily even in existence.Mirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558405035294107657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-3260261950133333462013-04-29T17:59:45.628-05:002013-04-29T17:59:45.628-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09866329313708655247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-65257244708670622662013-04-29T17:57:56.015-05:002013-04-29T17:57:56.015-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09866329313708655247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11899470102961938972013-04-28T18:33:45.538-05:002013-04-28T18:33:45.538-05:00I think he forgot to mention legitimacy
Indeed. M...<i>I think he forgot to mention legitimacy</i><br /><br />Indeed. Many authors seek that validation. Which sort of makes legacy the new vanity publishing.<br /><br />Me? I've had 83,000 ebook sales and borrows in April on Amazon. I don't need validation or legitimacy. What I need is a tax shelter. ;)JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-2546182101904254752013-04-27T17:01:36.320-05:002013-04-27T17:01:36.320-05:00Apologies - eBooks in my second paragraph should o...Apologies - eBooks in my second paragraph should of course read print books.Daniel Campbellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-59740993682130506972013-04-27T17:00:07.146-05:002013-04-27T17:00:07.146-05:00I'd like to make one observation regarding the...I'd like to make one observation regarding the assertion that distribution is the core service. While I agree it is a huge service, you can distribute without a legacy deal OR your own fleet of trucks, warehouses etc. Both CreateSpace and LightningSource offer the ability to get into major distribution channels (LS being owned by Ingram). It's a halfway house as you still need to set the right discounts (which CS prevents - all discounts are 'short' as CS take 20% of the 60% they demand from you for themselves).<br /><br />Secondly, is paper distribution really a primary service? With so many eBooks sold via Amazon, the complex marketing channels you've alluded to are less decisive than they used to be. For blockbuster success, I agree that the top end of legacy deals can mean huge exposure... but there's an argument here for being canny enough to split distribution methods inside one book by selling paper rights but retaining digital. A hybrid model, and one off costs that amortize over time, are clearly a long term win for any moderately successful author.<br /><br />Over the long term (and books are a long term game; you've got copyright protection until 70 years after you die) eBooks will rise in prominence, and paper books will fall. What was once a secondary right will become the core driver for economic success.<br /><br />Dan CampbellDaniel Campbellhttp://90daysnovel.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-4677192672408689382013-04-27T11:59:25.744-05:002013-04-27T11:59:25.744-05:00Asked by a friend whether I think Barry is an ass ...Asked by a friend whether I think Barry is an ass for saying what he did, this was my response.<br /><br />No- I don't think he is an ass at all. I think he brought up very good points and pointed out the real biggest thing the legacy publishers offer- which is distribution for paper books and the inconsistency of how that is given to each author.<br /><br />I think he forgot to mention legitimacy; which I feel is another benefit to traditional publishing that self-publishing cannot and does not offer. But that is something you can't put a set price on and probably why the traditional publishers still want to charge so much.<br /><br />However, when you look at the numbers Barry gave in black and white, even an author like me who was dead set on traditional publishing has to take a step back and go- wait a minute. Is traditional publishing really the best option for me?<br /><br />70% vs 17.5% is a huge difference! Plus- it's not like authors don't know about the treatment gap. Some authors get the royal treatment and others the "just be glad we published your book- sorry we never actually sold it anywhere" treatment.<br /><br />What I read didn't seem worthy of walking out in a fume. I have walked out of a panel discussion before and for a very good reason. But unless Barry's verbal talk was drastically different from the printed version above, I don't get the furor over his post.<br /><br />I still think agents and editors and publishing companies can offer a valuable service- a service I still want. But I do suspect there will need to be drastic changes of the pricing structure soon to reflect the new reality. <br /><br />Some of the power has changed hands and authors now have more power than they did before. It certainly doesn't make traditional publishing, editors, agents, etc obsolete. But I think it does force them to look at this more competitively than they did before. <br /><br />From my perspective, it will be simply who can offer me the best deal with the greatest result. I will choose whoever can.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-46849685037970381512013-04-26T04:33:56.024-05:002013-04-26T04:33:56.024-05:00That's amazing, and I agree with the benefits ...That's amazing, and I agree with the benefits you've listed about self-publishing. They are numerous. It's nice to not have to wait forever to get your book published. Rosehttp://rosewynters.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-47228446657722816672013-04-25T19:36:58.781-05:002013-04-25T19:36:58.781-05:00"Which reminds me: when are we going to start..."Which reminds me: when are we going to start hearing about the Blake takeover of your portion of the Chandler series?<br /><br />Is he doing that? Why wasn't I informed? o_0"<br /><br />Sorry, I must have misread something at 1 am.David L. Shutterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357694121376734716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-48264069169402236302013-04-25T14:45:04.052-05:002013-04-25T14:45:04.052-05:00I have been trying to publish traditionally for al...I have been trying to publish traditionally for almost 10 years now. I attend a very well known national conference every year to learn more about craft, to improve my skills, to learn. I also meet industry professionals (agents and editors). I am always disappointed with how unprofessional and mean many of these people are. They often waste our time with "workshops" that focus on what they publish/represent which is usually quickly followed with a "closed to submissions" disclaimer. So, why are you here? Why did you waste our time? I have stopped attending any workshops given by an agent or editor, opting for the ones given by authors. <br /><br />In addition, they are often rude and abrupt when interacting with the attendees. They are often clearly unprepared or hurriedly prepared for critiques or workshops. The list goes on. I am often left with a feeling of being in high school where the "cool kids" control who can join the clique. <br /><br />I do not think that they are really there to "serve" writers. They often come off as superior and like they feel like they are doing us a favor. That is not to say that there are no professional and compassionate people in the industry. There are. They are just few and far between. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-41281760229189637862013-04-25T13:56:45.818-05:002013-04-25T13:56:45.818-05:00I was in a nearby public library recently - it was...I was in a nearby public library recently - it was fairly crowded actually in the late afternoon. I don't think pub. libraries are going away any time soon.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-15044496833036137332013-04-25T11:54:16.573-05:002013-04-25T11:54:16.573-05:00Regarding recent alarmist comments about libraries...Regarding recent alarmist comments about libraries needing to be saved:<br />All libraries can and will continue to exist with printed books a plenty, but libraries need to become a community representing all media and culture as much as its surrounding area. Libraries need to evolve and have been. <br /><br />In Cleveland and Lakewood, Ohio there are technology rooms as well as current newspapers, magazines, and incredible collections of DVD's, graphic novels and other forms of media. In Cleveland they have a 3D printer that patrons can use as well as various tablets, handheld and other devices including e-readers. They have concerts, maker faires, guest discussions, community outreach, films, readings, and more. We are seeing everything that is evolving and if retail or libraries cling to the past, they will fade into the past. But, that doesn't have to be the case. <br /><br />Libraries can find their place in a community by being part of the community in the above described ways or others as I am sure every town has a different demographic and community than any other. <br /><br />Will eBooks bring about the demise of print? No. Not at all. Those who go to publishers will find publishers being more choosy about who they publish. Print runs may lessen, but, with a rising global population and global distribution, that may not be the case. Those who want to release a collection of stories or a deluxe version with tons of extras in print for readers who really are fond of the writers creations, with POD, that is possible. <br /><br />Change will happen, its how you react to it that matters. Libraries, writers, retail, publishers can wring their hands in despair and fear, saying the end is coming, the sky is falling, but that doesn't stop change. What it does do is enable them to be the callers of their destiny and the makers of their own fate. The world will continue on forward, progress will happen, new days will come and libraries, print, retailers, publishers and writers will be part of it in new and inspiring ways. <br /><br />Life is about change and progress. If you standstill shaking your fist at the imaginary instead of contributing to how it changes, you will accurately predict your own outcome, but only yours.Joeseph Simonhttp://www.joesephsimon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-67699862787725822242013-04-24T23:38:08.072-05:002013-04-24T23:38:08.072-05:00Already happened with Hugh Howey and Joe's pal...<i>Already happened with Hugh Howey and Joe's pal Blake Crouch. Film and TV deals. The very big kind.</i><br /><br />If I'm not mistaken, PINES was a Thomas and Mercer release. Not indie.<br /><br />But still a huge score for Blake!Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-84811673658159844102013-04-24T22:46:46.295-05:002013-04-24T22:46:46.295-05:00Which reminds me: when are we going to start heari...<i>Which reminds me: when are we going to start hearing about the Blake takeover of your portion of the Chandler series?</i><br /><br />Is he doing that? Why wasn't I informed? o_0JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-58517052638779272022013-04-24T22:01:32.103-05:002013-04-24T22:01:32.103-05:00"When we see the big movie companies and tele..."When we see the big movie companies and television production concerns looking to make a few big budget shows based on indie books, I think that will herald the true end of the big publishing mafia that control the industry."<br /><br />Already happened with Hugh Howey and Joe's pal Blake Crouch. Film and TV deals. The very big kind.<br /><br />Which reminds me: when are we going to start hearing about the Blake takeover of your portion of the Chandler series?<br /><br />I'm curious to learn how that came about.David L. Shutterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357694121376734716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-83417296475645338042013-04-24T18:17:39.721-05:002013-04-24T18:17:39.721-05:00The internet is the great equalizer for all author...The internet is the great equalizer for all authors, both well-known and established and the self-published newbies. I remember reading an article recently about how the typical consumer does not see an impressionable difference between a book published by a legacy publisher/established author and an independently self-published book - all of the books are presented the same and equally when looking at an online bookstore website such as Amazon. Time has certainly changed - for the better for all authors in general. I think this is a great time to be an author, especially for an author just starting out.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-16356929895365033342013-04-24T18:07:06.360-05:002013-04-24T18:07:06.360-05:00Legacy publishing offers one more, intangible bene...Legacy publishing offers one more, intangible benefit to writers - validation. Unfortunately that validation is based on the way publishing /used/ to be. Back when finding new talent was a vocation. Now, publishing is just a business like any other, and it's primary goal is to make profits.<br /><br />I suspect legacy publishers and the agents who feed them still want to believe they have a vocation. They still want to believe they are the High Priests of Literature. <br /><br />Lucky for us indies, more and more people are starting to see those little emperors are wearing no clothes.A.C.Floryhttp://acflory.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-73343248837619652722013-04-24T17:46:58.927-05:002013-04-24T17:46:58.927-05:00Hey Joe,
I've been creeping on your blog for ...Hey Joe,<br /><br />I've been creeping on your blog for a while now, and have finally had the courage to drop by and thank you! Your words are motivating and straightforward, and you don't beat around the bushes.<br /><br />This post, too, is eye-opening. It saddens me that people aren't accepting of new things. Change isn't always necessarily bad. :/ Maybe it's a chance to move in a new direction, or be better than what they are already doing.<br /><br />And the discussions here are really intimidating, and so civil. I know nothing, so I'll just spectate.<br /><br />Thanks again, and hope to see more from you and the rest of the commenters.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16552077491765836943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-78248369627207402772013-04-24T16:55:39.928-05:002013-04-24T16:55:39.928-05:00When we see the big movie companies and television...When we see the big movie companies and television production concerns looking to make a few big budget shows based on indie books, I think that will herald the true end of the big publishing mafia that control the industry.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />P.S. powernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-17337584027730792682013-04-24T16:20:26.171-05:002013-04-24T16:20:26.171-05:00Looks like the comments are long since over on thi...Looks like the comments are long since over on this thread.<br /><br />Just wanted to toss in --<br /><br />I see people like Joe, pointing out that "times are changing." He then pontificates on what that means, or could mean for the future.<br /><br />It's a stance. It's an opinion. It's from his point of view. So of course there is some bias and of course there will (and should) be an opposing PoV as well.<br /><br />But I'm not seeing an opposing viewpoint.<br /><br />What I see are people, upon hearing times are changing, shove fingers in their ears and shout at the top of their lungs, "NO IT ISN'T!"<br /><br />The truth is legacy publishers will change only when the old model becomes no longer lucrative. And it will change in a heartbeat once that occurs. (The "we don't have a model for this yet" stance is just a smokescreen to ride out what has worked for as long as possible, before actually having to invest in change). The same way all our major radio broadcasting networks became television networks (Or went under--RKO. Some legacy publishers will not survive--that's just the truth of change. But many will).<br /><br />The truth is those of you with fingers in your ears, rallying around legacy publishers like they are institutions that are impervious to change, will be shit out of luck, trying to figure out what the hell happened, when change does happen. And let's face it--change is inevitable. Think about how dramatically industry changed with the advent of the automobile. Something so seemingly trivial by today's standards. Or hell, the cellphone. <br /><br />If you don't think the internet is and will radically change business in the future--I don't know what to tell you. You simply aren't paying enough attention to history and are flat out ignoring the present.<br /><br />Those of you not realizing legacy publisher are already hedging their bets for change (as any good business does)are going to be sitting on the sidelines, while neither side (legacy publishers, nor indy-publisher/authors) will want or need you.<br /><br />I see the most outspoken people that are simply ignoring change are also the ones who have the most to lose. The irony is, these should be the people on the forefront of change, redefining what it means to be an agent or an editor. A publisher. Or an author.<br /><br />Historically, the people who have reaped the biggest rewards from change are those that had the foresight to be the forerunners in a new era. The ones that didn't are the buggywhip salesmen in an era of the automobile (Hell, we're even in the era of flying automobile, right? At least supposed to be :p).<br /><br /> <br /><br />Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16897402622057966364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-27845479794081801072013-04-24T14:16:54.501-05:002013-04-24T14:16:54.501-05:00The competitive arena I'm talking about this t...<i>The competitive arena I'm talking about this time is THE STRUGGLE TO GET THE TOP SPOTS IN THE AMAZON RANKINGS so writers can get the desired VISIBILITY IN ORDER TO SELL BOOKS.</i><br /><br />I have friends who have never made the top spots in the Amazon rankings, yet they're still pulling in 10-20K per month in profits.<br /><br />If your goal is to make a high six or even seven figures a year, then, yes, you probably need to reach those top spots. But I think 20K a month is a pretty comfortable place to be.Rob Gregory Brownehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12785299355462748009noreply@blogger.com