tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post4985516299250242798..comments2024-03-18T06:16:18.802-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: IndependenceJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger270125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-58375933916721371832012-09-11T12:48:52.698-05:002012-09-11T12:48:52.698-05:00Joe,
I gave up on the big publishers when Harleq...Joe, <br /><br />I gave up on the big publishers when Harlequin refused my first book. Pfft, screw 'em. I've done reasonable well on my own and I answer to myself. On the one star reviews, no excuse for doing it. My favorites are the ones that said this book wasn't for me but it might be a great read for someone else. Really? Because you've just pretty much screwed up the the chance that the other people who might have enjoyed that book might find it. <br /><br />Truly,<br />MichelleMichelle Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667655940101782936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-5795838606754613132012-09-03T02:20:31.669-05:002012-09-03T02:20:31.669-05:00Melinda, thank you for making your second Alice bo...Melinda, thank you for making your second Alice book free over at Amazon; I've just dl'ed it. I'm loving the combo of sexy, silly, and funny Wonderland adventures. I've just recced it to friends.Maianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-81766920725189247522012-09-02T14:30:58.122-05:002012-09-02T14:30:58.122-05:00I have to add that this is an OLD, OLD issue for s...I have to add that this is an OLD, OLD issue for screenwriters and I know EXACTLY where Lee Goldberg is coming from and why he jumped to castigate Locke. And I agree with him. Lee has been a WGA (screenwriters' union) activist for years. Unscrupulous screenwriters are always hanging out shingles and hawking the secret to selling scripts in Hollywood, when the basic fact of the matter is, if you're not living in LA and ready to work full time as a screenwriter, no one's ever going to look at your script. Leaving that out of the equation is fraud. <br /><br />It sure looks to me like Locke has done exactly the same thing, author version, and he DOES owe the people who bought his book an explanation. I love you to pieces, but your word isn't the one I need to hear, here. Those of us who are looked to for advice have a responsibility to be honest, to the best of our ability, and I am really, really angry at the way Locke appears to have exploited that trust.<br /><br />This is a small community and we have a responsibility to ask other writers to do the right thing. Who else is going to do it?<br /><br />Sorry, it's hard to stay off the union soapbox. I'll stop now. Happy Labor Day. (Which may explain this tirade...)Alexandra Sokoloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881770599534651858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-66506011515575406092012-09-02T14:11:19.075-05:002012-09-02T14:11:19.075-05:00Well, that's nice, Joe, but what about the peo...Well, that's nice, Joe, but what about the people who bought his book thinking he was telling them the truth about how to sell books? You aren't the person he's MOST LIKELY duped, and you aren't the one he owes an explanation to.Alexandra Sokoloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881770599534651858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-34739536789226737062012-08-31T17:25:29.525-05:002012-08-31T17:25:29.525-05:00But Locke has had a while to refute the charges of...<i>But Locke has had a while to refute the charges of fraud and so far, nothing.</i><br /><br />I've heard from him. :)JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-5566809501410912572012-08-31T11:42:10.503-05:002012-08-31T11:42:10.503-05:00>>>There are reasons Locke could have omi...>>>There are reasons Locke could have omitted that info from his book that have nothing to do with fraud.<<< <br /><br />I agree, there are, although that is ONE HELL of an omission that I cannot in a million years see you making, Joe. Seriously.<br /><br />Since we HAVEN'T heard from Locke, I've phrased my concerns starting with the word IF.<br /><br />But Locke has had a while to refute the charges of fraud and so far, nothing. If this were a charge against ME that were untrue, you'd better believe I'd be speaking up about it, or at the very least saying if an attorney had advised me to keep silent for the present.<br /><br />I'm waiting, but it's not looking good.Alexandra Sokoloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881770599534651858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-66741030187190615202012-08-31T08:24:20.739-05:002012-08-31T08:24:20.739-05:00Joe said: 'Ebooks are the future. Publishers k...Joe said: 'Ebooks are the future. Publishers know this. They won't sign any book that doesn't give them erights.'<br /><br />You may be surprised...a client of mine is negotiating a paperback-only contract for a book that he's already released as a hardcover special edition and as an ebook. It's still in negotiations...but they're definitely considering it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-31120546243595530322012-08-31T05:21:59.303-05:002012-08-31T05:21:59.303-05:00If Locke paid for 300 reviews and DIDN'T menti...<i>If Locke paid for 300 reviews and DIDN'T mention that in his book called "How I Sold A Million E Books", that's outright fraud</i><br /><br />Ever hear the expression "I taught you everything you know, but not everything I know?"<br /><br />There are reasons Locke could have omitted that info from his book that have nothing to do with fraud. For example, I have endorsed a lot of people on this blog (cover artists, formatters, proof readers, web designers) often leading to those folks having lucrative careers. The result? When I need work done, I have to wait in a long queue. :)<br /><br />I could have kept quiet and kept these services to myself. <br /><br />My point is, until we hear from Locke, we shouldn't speculate his intent. That's joining a mob without knowing why.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-80592246357023951862012-08-31T02:27:47.094-05:002012-08-31T02:27:47.094-05:00Sorry, James Stewart.Sorry, James Stewart.Alan Spadehttp://emmanuelguillot.over-blog.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-30562943565969694282012-08-31T02:25:34.098-05:002012-08-31T02:25:34.098-05:00"If you're in this business long enough, ..."If you're in this business long enough, you see a lot of stuff like that. Joe is right. The only way to deal with publishing is to pay attention to your own writing. That's what it's all about."<br /><br />I know, Ann. I had to suffer 1 star from people I suspect didn't read my books too (but without reviews, as I'm too much of a beginner to have a lot of them).<br /><br />Joe says ebooks are not a zero sum game, and he's right, but not everyone else believe it. There are authors who see others as concurrence. And there are also publishers who feel that way. <br /><br />Your advice is well taken. <br /><br />I guess I'm gonna watch Mr Smith Goes to Washington with my kids, in order to tell them intelligence of the heart exist, and to differentiate cynical people from others. <br /><br />Then I'll show them how this movie affected the whole career of James Steward. And I will tell them logic is a comfortable thing, but that sometimes, it is not sufficient to apprehend life. Alan Spadehttp://emmanuelguillot.over-blog.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-29582007915707115352012-08-30T22:40:01.492-05:002012-08-30T22:40:01.492-05:00I'm one of the newbie's who really appreci...I'm one of the newbie's who really appreciated this column. I've been following Joe's take on the self-publishing world and owe him a great deal for giving me the courage to self publish. My first two books came out this week and I'm just waiting to see how the "kids" do. Thanks, Joe!Karla Darcyhttp://www.karladarcy.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-39215422488739386702012-08-30T18:42:45.029-05:002012-08-30T18:42:45.029-05:00"The same treachery you will feel, as an auth..."The same treachery you will feel, as an author, if someone who didn't read your book gave it a one star."<br /><br />This happens all the time. There's a review of one of my books on Goodreads Where the reviewer states in the review that she didn't even have to read the book to give it one star. Why? Seems she didn't like the title and cover (neither did I, but whatever). The review is followed by a couple dozen comments all agreeing with her. And that kind of thing is not all that unusual.<br /><br />If you're in this business long enough, you see a lot of stuff like that. Joe is right. The only way to deal with publishing is to pay attention to your own writing. That's what it's all about.<br /><br />And you'll last longer.Ann Voss Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15141783064748972033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-89144298079098823302012-08-30T18:35:46.917-05:002012-08-30T18:35:46.917-05:00>>>The mob is after Locke, because he is ...>>>The mob is after Locke, because he is more successful than they are and they want to attribute his success to cheating because that's an excuse for why they didn't have the same success.<<<<br /><br />Joe, totally disagree. If Locke paid for 300 reviews and DIDN'T mention that in his book called "How I Sold A Million E Books", that's outright fraud. Authors >should< be calling him out for that - it's a total con job. He's taking advantage of vulnerable people by lying - and I think it's despicable.Alexandra Sokoloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881770599534651858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-15955824023863203782012-08-30T16:34:53.135-05:002012-08-30T16:34:53.135-05:00I can. People posting reviews on Amazon are not pr...<i>I can. People posting reviews on Amazon are not professionals. That's a BIG difference. </i><br /><br />Actually, Alan, I know for a fact that publishers send review copies to Amazon's top reviewers.<br /><br /><i>But I think that's a big fallacy of yours to examine only facts with logic. There is truth of the heart.</i><br /><br />That is why 2 + 2 = 7, because I really really really feel it in my heart.<br /><br /><i>I wonder, if we could make back 10 or perhaps 20 years back and ask a less cynical Joe. What would he reply ? </i><br /><br />I like that question.<br /><br />I began an idealist, like everyone else. But legacy publishing forced me to be pragmatic. After all the rejections, and all the stupid things my publishers did, despite the tremendous amount of hard work I put into my career (find someone else who signed at 1200 bookstores) I began to understand that there is no fairness in this industry.<br /><br />Reviews are a tool, not an ideology. They don't exist to level the playing field or equally distribute happiness and fairness to all writers.<br /><br />Don't get angry at someone who uses a tool more effectively than you do. There's no outcry against the dozens (hundreds?) or other writers who used that review service. The mob is after Locke, because he is more successful than they are and they want to attribute his success to cheating because that's an excuse for why they didn't have the same success.<br /><br />Simple as that.<br /><br />As for readers--my guess is they don't care. There are thousands of 1 star reviews by readers who say: "This book had a bunch of 5 star reviews so I tried it, but I hated it and got a refund. All those reviewers are nuts."<br /><br />Readers can figure this out just fine.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-71951236768076854152012-08-30T16:03:07.420-05:002012-08-30T16:03:07.420-05:00Joe said : "Can someone explain how this is v...Joe said : "Can someone explain how this is very different from hiring a publicist to send out free review copies? "<br /><br />I can. People posting reviews on Amazon are not professionals. That's a BIG difference. <br /><br />People who read magazines and newspaper know there are ads on them. They can at least suspect a link between the critics and the guys if the same magazine who bought the ads. <br /><br />Now, imagine, you are a guy who had a mitigated opinion on a book. You post your comment and rank it with 3 stars. <br /><br />Then, your post is buried under 20 other posts, with 5 stars. If you happen to learn author X paid for these reviews, wouldn't you feel outraged ? Wouldn't you think it's treachery ? That it's power of money against power of the word of one sincere individual ?<br /><br />The same treachery you will feel, as an author, if someone who didn't read your book gave it a one star.<br /><br />I know what you will reply me. That is still feelings. But I think that's a big fallacy of yours to examine only facts with logic. There is truth of the heart.<br /><br />I wonder, if we could make back 10 or perhaps 20 years back and ask a less cynical Joe. What would he reply ? <br /><br />What do you think the majority of readers of that debate will think (apart from the thing that a debate of authors turn out to be a debate of egos and that you can't win against Joe Konrath) ? <br /><br />I'll tell you. They will think, and rightly so, it is no use posting a review, because all of them are ads. And we will all loose. Because there will be no more sincerity in any review in the net. <br /><br />A very cynical world indeed...<br /><br />Alan Spadehttp://emmanuelguillot.over-blog.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-81960652945423121422012-08-30T15:44:32.909-05:002012-08-30T15:44:32.909-05:00iInteresting article in today's Toronto Globe ...iInteresting article in today's Toronto Globe & Mail.<br />http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/brand-writer-is-a-brand-not-a-writer/article4508474/M.Raoul Boyernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-64953666254940203812012-08-30T13:36:15.567-05:002012-08-30T13:36:15.567-05:00Thank you Mr. Shutter. You caught that wordplay hu...Thank you Mr. Shutter. You caught that wordplay huh? Every day it seems I'm reading an article about a traditionally published author jumping to the dark side. Crazy times we're living in...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03254054840867116727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-10524502386052302522012-08-30T13:01:07.934-05:002012-08-30T13:01:07.934-05:00Qwantu
Very nice piece. I particularly liked the ...Qwantu<br /><br />Very nice piece. I particularly liked the part where the Publishers "employed" agents.<br /><br />Listening to the hundreds of published authors, who now speak openly about their past lives, that does seem to have been the case all along.David L. Shutterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357694121376734716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-27023394191068593312012-08-30T12:45:32.317-05:002012-08-30T12:45:32.317-05:00The original NYT article states that financial rel...<i>The original NYT article states that financial relationships between authors and reviewers must be disclosed, per FTC guidelines.</i><br /><br />I'm pretty sure Locke wasn't in touch with the individual reviewers. He was in touch with the guy brokering the reviews.<br /><br />Can someone explain how this is very different from hiring a publicist to send out free review copies? <br /><br />Locke stated he wanted honest reviews. If it's true that the service paid more for 5 star reviews, that's a stickier issue. <br /><br />As for reviewers being paid, that's been going on for hundreds of years. It's bad if an author pays, but not the author's publisher in the form of ads which support the paper that prints them? Or because that's one step removed, people think it's okay? <br /><br />The whole industry gives away free books in order to get reviewed. Everyone is okay with that. Everyone is okay with pro reviewers getting paid. Everyone is okay with publishers buying ads in periodicals that review their books.<br />JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-39279728223217840342012-08-30T12:42:08.297-05:002012-08-30T12:42:08.297-05:00Thank you sir!Thank you sir!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03254054840867116727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-30831466618409501882012-08-30T12:37:58.837-05:002012-08-30T12:37:58.837-05:00A paid endorsement doesn't carry quite the sam...<i>A paid endorsement doesn't carry quite the same weight as one that was offered freely, IMO, so in that way readers were misled.</i><br /><br />You're also supposed to disclose if you received the book for free from the publisher or author, but that's not done very well either (except at the bottom of some blogs.) <br /><br />In the end, if this is the extent of wrong-doing and duping of readers, I think that's a pretty small issue to be considered a scandal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-22798923715436144122012-08-30T12:35:52.558-05:002012-08-30T12:35:52.558-05:00Nicely done, Qwantu.Nicely done, Qwantu.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-76576618414204275352012-08-30T12:16:50.509-05:002012-08-30T12:16:50.509-05:00A blog I wrote on the issue: http://www.pantheonco...A blog I wrote on the issue: http://www.pantheoncollective.com/the-world-has-moved-on<br /><br />J.A. you can use the full blog if you wish...it was inspired by you and this discussion anyway!<br /><br />QAAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03254054840867116727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-39580729056237388862012-08-30T12:10:35.135-05:002012-08-30T12:10:35.135-05:00Locke didn't have an unfair advantage. Anyone ...<i>Locke didn't have an unfair advantage. Anyone could have done what he did.</i><br /><br />And they did. In droves. The company was making $28K a month selling bogus reviews, so the issue goes a lot deeper than a single author. I don't understand the lynch mob mentality against Locke, when there were so many others doing the same thing.<br /><br /><i>"Yeah, but we didn't know it was paid advertising."</i><br /><br />To me, that's the larger issue. The original NYT article states that financial relationships between authors and reviewers must be disclosed, per FTC guidelines. <br /><br />A paid endorsement doesn't carry quite the same weight as one that was offered freely, IMO, so in that way readers were misled.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1688935890955648822012-08-30T11:32:54.888-05:002012-08-30T11:32:54.888-05:00First, I don't think anyone should be tossing ...First, I don't think anyone should be tossing out <i>illegal</i> as an accusation. <br /><br />The more interesting question is if this action (paying for reviews, with some expectation they would be positive) is in any way unethical or "cheating".<br /><br />I think it's likely, though the authors paying for reviews may not have cared, they had a reasonable expectation that the reviews would be biased positive. Examples of the work would have shown this, plus that's the logical incentive of the revieing company as negative reviews push away business.<br /><br />However, knowing that bias exists seems are far cry from engaging in ethically questionable activity. <br /><br />Who was harmed by the action? Other authors? Not likely. Even if a thousand authors bought reviews, and they were all positive, and they all impacted the rankings and amazon promotion (which still isn't confirmed and evidence suggests it is a partial or weak factor) it still wouldn't reduce the audience for another author's books.<br /><br />"But they would get better positioning and therefore unfair promotion," some say. If that is unethical, the purchasing of better positioning, well the crusade to stop that activity will be a long one. And an unwarranted one. Advertising, though annoying, isn't unethical.<br /><br />"But he did it and didn't tell anyone." I go to bookstores often. I have no idea which books were selected by staff vs placed due to paid placement. No idea. <br /><br />"Two wrongs don't make a right." True, but there's no wrong. Some authors paid for reviews. Big deal. Really. Some people paid for someone to say nice things about their product. Watch TV recently?<br /><br />"Yeah, but we didn't know it was paid advertising." Pretty sure we already covered that.<br /><br />Look, you don't like what he did. What they did. You think some of them got extra sales for doing it and it makes you mad. Okay. Be mad, but you being mad doens't make it wrong.<br /><br />And no, I didn't forget about the whole "it hurts all indie authors because people will think all reviews of indie books are garbage."<br /><br />The average person buying a book on amazon doesn't know who publishers are. Still a good sounding name on it and they have no idea. Put a bad cover on it, and they'll know it's not done by someone professional.<br /><br />People don't know if it's indie if it's well done, and won't judge reviews as indie vs traditional. If this makes all reviews of questionable value and importance, well, they probably were anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com