tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post5426287724627723872..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Love is MurderJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-79597158072713147032011-02-07T16:52:26.390-06:002011-02-07T16:52:26.390-06:00Congrats on making yourself #1, you've definit...Congrats on making yourself #1, you've definitely earned it.<br /><br /><br />htttp://meganduncan.blogspot.com/Megan Duncanhtttp://meganduncan.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-56126441167531198182011-02-07T15:08:05.894-06:002011-02-07T15:08:05.894-06:00joe said:
> Just reread my post, and
> ...joe said:<br />> Just reread my post, and <br />> I don't see any anger there. <br />> Or whining.<br /><br />me neither.<br /><br />a lot of people see whatever<br />it is that they want to see...<br /><br /><br />> you know I've done my best to <br />> learn about <br />> the publishing industry, <br />> and tried hard to succeed. <br />> Success didn't come until I <br />> stepped outside the industry.<br /><br />success didn't come until <br />jeff bezos handed writers<br />the key to independence...<br /><br />it wasn't anything that _you_ <br />"learned" or did, other than to<br />put your books up for kindle,<br />which -- if i recall correctly --<br />you did because fans asked...<br /><br />if not for amazon groundwork,<br />you would still be in the slog...<br /><br /><br />> I've paid $1850<br />> for five bottles <br />> of Sam Adams Utopias<br /><br />i'd think that for _that_ price,<br />they would have given you<br />the whole six-pack... geez! ;+)<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-28270981875845497022011-02-05T17:52:57.137-06:002011-02-05T17:52:57.137-06:0040 fuckin thousand fuckin dollars in a fuckin mont...40 fuckin thousand fuckin dollars in a fuckin month? Fuckin smokin. Wow. I want to be Joe Konrath.<br /><br />RobRob Walkerhttp://www.robertwalkerbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-87095321083074931862011-02-03T18:42:55.851-06:002011-02-03T18:42:55.851-06:00Hey, I appreciate that you've shared this much...Hey, I appreciate that you've shared this much with us. I'm going to be a graphic novel creator (once my military time is done) and you've confirmed so many of the things I felt I was learning about the publishing industry as a careful observer before I jumped in. Thanks. What you've shared is profound - your process of sweeping away the myths we're being sold as creative people who want to make a living doing creative things and the fear/joy/ understandings/questionings/realizations of your transition of perspective helps those of us still on the path to have the confidence to trust the reality we see with our own eyes despite the obfuscation and harpy songs designed to cause us to recast our own truths into mirages that keep us in a maze. Sorry to be so flowery. I want to be succinct but also communicate to you that some of your readers really "get" what you've been saying. I dare say most of us wouldn't have been as freely generous to strangers as you've been with your insights, so thanks again. May you have continued success and frequent inspiration.knifighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00941138493234956277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-87871320809432232042011-02-03T13:09:57.307-06:002011-02-03T13:09:57.307-06:00Outstanding - or as we say in the south - good fer...Outstanding - or as we say in the south - good fer youbertcarsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14762219228479289310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-46534936252729852652011-02-03T12:24:07.735-06:002011-02-03T12:24:07.735-06:00I've paid $1850 for five bottles of Sam Adams ...I've paid $1850 for five bottles of Sam Adams Utopias, one from each year it was released, and $700 for a vertical flight of Dark Lord.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-34454165295956881312011-02-03T12:23:25.278-06:002011-02-03T12:23:25.278-06:00If you haven't checked it out yet, I think you...<i>If you haven't checked it out yet, I think you'll enjoy it.</i><br /><br />I just watched it. Power to the artist, man.<br /><br />We provide the content. We should be making the lion's share of the profit.<br /><br />The system, be in music, movie, or book, is bloated and poorly structured. Strip away the excess, do it yourself, and see the money you <i>should have</i> been earning.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-240355461784265952011-02-03T11:42:49.568-06:002011-02-03T11:42:49.568-06:00I empathize with you Joe. My day job is an IT guy,...I empathize with you Joe. My day job is an IT guy, people demanding attention all day long on everything from passwords to what laptop to buy their kids. Nights & weekends are spent teaching boy scouts & church kids. In the midst of it all I write novels & record audiobooks. Sometimes we just need to chill away from it all. <br /><br />That being said, if there was one last question you would answer I'd like it to be a break down of your favourite beers...cuz $1800 a bottle has me curious. I thought Hennepin & Chimay were high end.<br /><br />Basil<br />www.basilsands.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152540665352170999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-87265692350195942462011-02-03T11:39:51.119-06:002011-02-03T11:39:51.119-06:00Joe,
You rock in so many ways and this blog is de...Joe, <br />You rock in so many ways and this blog is definitely one. Enjoy your well-deserved success. <br />Cheers,<br />KendallKendall Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18187117992380108891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-37777141215724820932011-02-03T10:45:02.411-06:002011-02-03T10:45:02.411-06:00I'm glad to see you post that you weren't ...I'm glad to see you post that you weren't angry. Sometimes things sound differently online than intended even with writers. <br /><br />If you don't enjoy going to conventions, talking to fans or even blogging then it is great that you're at a point when you don't have to do them any more. You deserve and have earned every bit of success you've gotten. I haven't posted here very often, but I have followed your blog for a long time and it has been more help to me and a lot of other people than you can possibly know.<br /><br />All the best.J. R. Tomlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01109874615059334200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-88824140841991862842011-02-03T10:44:53.656-06:002011-02-03T10:44:53.656-06:00A quick note to say that I watched Kevin Smith'...A quick note to say that I watched Kevin Smith's little speech from this year's Sundance and it reminded me a lot of your views on the publishing industry. If you haven't checked it out yet, I think you'll enjoy it.<br /><br />Also, a thanks to say that many of your blog posts have played a aprt in my decision to self pub a novel in the coming weeks...this coming from someone with a moderate small press background. Thanks.Barry Napierhttp://www.barrynapierwriting.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-31303851369511970182011-02-03T10:44:00.106-06:002011-02-03T10:44:00.106-06:00So, you don't enjoy going to things at all?
I...<i>So, you don't enjoy going to things at all?</i><br /><br />I did appearances for 8 years. That's enough for me.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-3074116006785924862011-02-03T10:39:09.365-06:002011-02-03T10:39:09.365-06:00@Joe:"Success didn't come until I stepped...@Joe:<i>"Success didn't come until I stepped outside the industry."</i><br /><br />Thanks in part to your blog, that will become the industry norm. :) <br /><br />@Selena:<i>"I'm sure it will feel very very different in the future. <br />"</i><br /><br />I 2nd that. By all means sit back and put your feet up. At some time in the future, a few trade shows might not seem like such an ugly idea. <br /><br />I'm in shock at the 'destitute lifestyle' the old system impossed on authors. Something is very wrong when the 'talent' earns the smallest slice.<br /><br />Interesting link:<br />http://seekingalpha.com/article/250507-amazon-positioned-for-50-overall-market-share-by-end-of-2012?source=yahoo<br /><br />"meaning that Kindle sales were 40 percent of the total sale in all formats for Room"<br /><br />From that link on Christmas:<br />"About 3 million to 5 million e-readers were activated last week." <b> note: Christmas week</b><br /><br />and:<br />"the number of titles with greater ebook sales than print sales had grown from the 18-19 range for the first three weeks after Christmas to 23 of the top 50."<br /><br />and, not exactly pertaining to this crowd:<br />"However fast you think this change is happening, its probably happening faster than you think."<br /><br />Judging from the few indie author reported January sales... Everything is happening *fast*!<br /><br />Neilwannabuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04297458705683991405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-46025132480282325192011-02-03T09:57:06.259-06:002011-02-03T09:57:06.259-06:00Healthy boundaries are...well, healthy. Otherwise,...Healthy boundaries are...well, healthy. Otherwise, you get crazy and burned out and have no danged time to write! I've had to do the same thing myself and I totally get it. <br /><br />I'm sure it's gratifying and a relief to realize that public appearances and all the traveling is now a choice and not a necessity to keep your career alive.<br /><br />You may choose to do it, on occasion, but I'm sure it will feel very very different in the future. <br /><br />Have fun in Chicago!Selena Kitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17783685215421352626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-87190151055253236192011-02-03T09:48:51.495-06:002011-02-03T09:48:51.495-06:00Joe,
I'm glad you're seeking balance in y...Joe,<br /><br />I'm glad you're seeking balance in your life. <br /><br />Writing demands nearly all of me. I don't have Facebook, twitter, blog, and I don't offer up my email address to fans. My contribution to them is my writing, and that takes so much out of me that I don't have more to give. I sell plenty, so I figure my writing does the talking, and my writing is what ultimately sells -- promotion is fine but a good book is what sells.<br /><br />I totally get the JD Sallinger lifestyle. It works. Focus your energy on good writing, and the rest will follow.<br /><br />RMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-85414662935960960342011-02-03T09:47:51.981-06:002011-02-03T09:47:51.981-06:00So, you don't enjoy going to things at all?
I...So, you don't enjoy going to things at all?<br /><br />I used to go to comic book conventions to work as a reporter, and I liked and still like actually getting to see people I normally only communicate with online. <br /><br />Of course, I am a gregarious egomaniac, which helps.<br /><br /><a href="http://hyperpulp5000.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"><strong>HyperPulp 5000: Fresh Fiction Daily, Now With Added Pulp Goodness</strong></a>Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12806373510709724947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-3696528274030881702011-02-03T09:17:21.291-06:002011-02-03T09:17:21.291-06:00I understand, Joe. Just reading the hundreds of co...I understand, Joe. Just reading the hundreds of comments to your posts takes me away from the writing for too long. But I do enjoy most of those comments. And I particularly enjoy your posts.<br /><br />And it's great to get fan mail. But once you start getting more than two to three per day, particularly if they are asking for advice, it begins to overwhelm.<br /><br />Then there's Facebook, maintaining your website, getting book covers made, having books edited, etc., and most importantly, family time and me time.<br /><br />If you never do another thing to help indie writers, Joe, you've already done more than we could have possibly hoped for. As you say, everything an indie needs to know is already on this blog. Great job! Many of us would be nowhere right now without your generous efforts.Robert Burton Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07821314494504718440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-73596074600499077142011-02-03T09:16:56.662-06:002011-02-03T09:16:56.662-06:00Hey Joe - thanks for the service of writing this b...Hey Joe - thanks for the service of writing this blog. You've traveled a long road to reach this level of financial success and it appears you are taking some time to enjoy it. <br /><br />I do hope that you continue to share your experiences and maintain your blog as a forum for those who are not as far along the path as you. That alone is a huge service to us. <br /><br />So, thank you for your inspiration and unselfishness in sharing your experiences and reminding us that success is more about making the pie bigger for all and not just carving-out a bigger slice for ourselves. <br /><br />www.LieMerchants.comJames Viserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04689551338080985311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-49860412451140893172011-02-03T08:58:08.372-06:002011-02-03T08:58:08.372-06:00Just reread my post, and I don't see any anger...Just reread my post, and I don't see any anger there. Or whining. <br /><br />I've been toying with the idea of making my email address private like a lot of bestsellers do, but instead I stated clearly on my webpage that I can't answer all email. <br /><br />I'll still blog because I enjoy it. I'm lucky enough to focus on things that I enjoy, like writing. How nice it is to actually be a writer, not a speaker/salesman/promoter.<br /><br />For those readers who have followed this blog from the beginning, you know I've done my best to learn about the publishing industry, and tried hard to succeed. Success didn't come until I stepped outside the industry.<br /><br />All the things I thought I had to do, like traveling, book signing, speaking, teaching, promoting--didn't lead to success. So it doesn't make sense to do those things anymore, especially considering how difficult they are.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-72053574598031254072011-02-03T08:55:43.658-06:002011-02-03T08:55:43.658-06:00Easy, Joe. You're committing the cardinal sin ...Easy, Joe. You're committing the cardinal sin of blogging --- admitting a desire to be left ALONE once in a while!<br /><br />Enjoy your success. Thanks for all your effort, and all the inspiration you provide.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-70980511169958979212011-02-03T08:52:40.483-06:002011-02-03T08:52:40.483-06:00I'm sure that with success come too many peopl...I'm sure that with success come too many people wanting a piece of you, making it necessary to sever a plethora of ties. I hope, however, that some small part of you still believes in giving back to the writing community.Joan Sweenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06009444547398530715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-19175841665641801212011-02-03T08:46:34.068-06:002011-02-03T08:46:34.068-06:00wasn't aware you weren't talking to anyone...<i>wasn't aware you weren't talking to anyone anymore, so sorry for bothering you.</i><br /><br />No offense meant by it, Brian, but I get over a dozen requests per day, mixed in with all the fanmail.I simply don't have time to help the world. Nor should I. After all, no one helped me.<br /><br />Anything you need to know about publishing is on this blog somewhere.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11128980777405432022011-02-03T07:34:15.440-06:002011-02-03T07:34:15.440-06:00Did someone pee in your cornflakes this morning? G...Did someone pee in your cornflakes this morning? Geesh. <br /><br />Best of luck anyways!Traci Hohensteinhttp://www.msthriller.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-41542637613684828982011-02-03T06:51:33.630-06:002011-02-03T06:51:33.630-06:00Joe, does this mean it was all a ruse? You don'...Joe, does this mean it was all a ruse? You don't really love us? Bummer that you had to suffer so much, my friend! Well anyway, thanks for the posts - you've been a huge part of my education, in spite of the price you paid.Lynne Spreenhttp://www.AnyShinyThing.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-47328191647908974342011-02-03T05:30:04.595-06:002011-02-03T05:30:04.595-06:00Assuming my flight can land at O'Hare, I'l...Assuming my flight can land at O'Hare, I'll be there. I enjoy LIM. I know how you feel about the whole promotion thing. When I started being published, I decided to do only promotion that I felt like doing because, like you, I have no idea if anything really 'works' or not. It's made my publishing journey a nice mix of fun and profit. <br /><br />I'll be leaping into self-publishing later this year with some books whose rights were returned to me. Hope I succeed even a tiny bit as well as you! I'm switching genres with those books, so it'll be an interesting experiment, that's for sure.<br /><br />Oh, and glad to hear you're bringing the booze. I was going to suggest you pick up the bar tab, but a few expensive bottles is okay, too.<br /><br />See you there!J Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04016624838926050085noreply@blogger.com