tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post5838473455344068587..comments2024-03-18T06:16:18.802-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Amazon Will Destroy YouJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger270125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-15635764825989112882016-03-08T22:28:29.935-06:002016-03-08T22:28:29.935-06:00I think that amid all this cheerleading one thing ...I think that amid all this cheerleading one thing is overlooked, and that is predatory behavior.<br />Amazon Advantage takes the same 55% discount that the distributors Ingram and Baker Taylor do. Yet it's a retailer. So how are the wholesalers supposed to live on zero margin?<br />And Createspace takes 60% discount for getting authors into the bookstores. <br />This kind of thing leads to fears that once Amazon kills the competition, they are going to stick it to everybody, because they have always been sticking it to the industry to get ahead - and getting away with it. <br />And is it a good thing to destroy bookstores?? I really don't think so.<br />But how are bookstores supposed to survive when the playing field is so uneven.<br />They are brick and mortar, high overhead locations, retailers trying to get by on max 40% discount, trying to compete against the giant that is getting 55 or 60% - with high volume and lower overhead.<br />If there were any antitrust law in this country Amazon couldn't destroy a whole industry like it is doing. But there isn't any. There's just "creative destruction."<br />Anyway, thanks for telling us for whom the bell tolls.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-86735186566551325752015-08-02T19:22:45.894-05:002015-08-02T19:22:45.894-05:00We are responding to this piece to bring to your a...We are responding to this piece to bring to your attention our<br /><br />recent experience with CreateSpace and Amazon. We self-published<br /><br />a nonfiction book "Shaming Justice: The Arizona State Bar and<br /><br />Supreme Court" with the former this month, and the latter is distributing<br /><br />it by taking orders online. In our experience these companies together<br /><br />are badly gouging authors. For a book listing at $20 we are receiving less<br /><br />than $8 per copy in royalties. Thought you might want to know.<br /><br />Bartus Trust<br /><br />ArizonaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-69593172472682461322012-09-11T12:45:08.211-05:002012-09-11T12:45:08.211-05:00Joe,
I just wanna work for Amazon 'cause ther...Joe,<br /><br />I just wanna work for Amazon 'cause there's no doubt in my mind that's where all the readers are at these days! You can look at profit levels across all boards and see a huge difference.<br /><br />MichelleMichelle Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667655940101782936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-17187889981074304702012-06-07T18:43:11.489-05:002012-06-07T18:43:11.489-05:00Just out of interest and seriously - are you on Am...Just out of interest and seriously - are you on Amazon's payroll? I love Amazon, think they are a great company but recently they have been making authors remove short stories from the Kindle store that are also available for free on webzines. Discuss.Gary Dobbs/Jack Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10935686140719743351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-76042661120722481332012-05-06T08:44:52.713-05:002012-05-06T08:44:52.713-05:00Joe, I've been pointing it out for twenty. Th...Joe, I've been pointing it out for twenty. That's when I began writing FOR electronic publication. I sold well for the Rocket, until it was purchased and yanked off the market. Since that happened to the month predicted and I knew how long it would be until e-readers were 'the new thing,' I wrote a lot of books for it. I wasn't at all surprised Amazon did it first. It's a good business. as long as one remembers it's a very big business...<br /><br />Dystopia, utopia,<br />The have and have not.<br />Social dynamic theory<br />Neatly fitted to a plot.<br />Science fiction will be<br />What it was again.<br />Thirty years of formula,<br />A literary sin.Sharon L Reddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05079633967227245051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-33735143423594122272012-03-15T09:45:31.189-05:002012-03-15T09:45:31.189-05:00"It's easy to hate your competition, espe..."It's easy to hate your competition, especially when the competition is kicking your ass."<br /><br />Well said! I don't have a lengthy blog comment, I just love that you said everything that I feel but haven't formed into words. I love Amazon and all it is doing for so many people and there is nothing wrong with that!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09799511168994952895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-33371421943056110922012-03-10T18:35:59.855-06:002012-03-10T18:35:59.855-06:00Amazon is a miracle! I'm not sure if you'l...Amazon is a miracle! I'm not sure if you'll read this because it's to an old post but I just wanted to say thank you, JA Konrath. I've always wanted to be a writer. For years I have gone unpublished after being rejected by every agent I have come in contact with. It was over a year ago that I discovered your blog and became inspired. I uploaded one of my books to amazon's indie pages but unfortunately I went months without a single purchase. I felt utterly disenfranchised and decided that epubbing was not the way to go. So I tucked my tail between my legs and went back to begging the big dogs. <br /><br />I wrote another book and tried to get it published over the past few months. I literally sent it out to about 150 literary agents and yet again every single one of them turned me down. I decided that was it. I returned to your blog and devoured just about every post you've written. I recently uploaded my newest book to amazon kindle through KDP earlier this week. And within the past 19 and a half hours, about 50 people downloaded my work. 50 people may not seem like much to a veteran but for me, it seems almost life changing. I went years without my work ever being read by anyone when I was at the mercy and rejection of literary agents. And now I feel so empowered. The future is looking incredibly bright and I can't wait to increase my back catalog. Thank you Amazon for the incredible opportunities and thank you JA Konrath for the insurmountable inspiration. I will forever be thankful.A.L. Pattersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10377452999221357524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61711898079785755382012-02-27T23:40:16.157-06:002012-02-27T23:40:16.157-06:00Very well said. I had a great time reading it. I a...Very well said. I had a great time reading it. I am impressed with your insights. Big thanks for sharing.<br /><br />MichelleMichellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09273211398317891777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-90825595048327585302012-02-27T19:21:17.627-06:002012-02-27T19:21:17.627-06:00In the past week, I had a short story published in...In the past week, I had a short story published in an anthology via CreateSpace and Amazon (see my blog if you want to support some upcoming writers). I can see why Amazon is looming large on the horizon for mainstream publishers - I submitted the story in January, an editor had got back to me within a couple of weeks, and in the space of about a month it's on the virtual shelf and winging its way around the world to postboxes and Kindles. <br /><br />The process is relatively painless and, compared to regular publishing, exceptionally swift. Publishing houses just cannot compete, but it seems like they don't really want to. For an editor to look at your work, you're expected to send it once and sit around for three to six months waiting on their unlikely reply. Nobody communicates like that in the real world and no writer can reasonably expect to get enough material 'out there' to make a name for themselves under that kind of model. And readers or consumers do not take kindly to sitting around waiting for months on end for a largely finished product to be released. The world has changed; publishers have to adapt or natural selection will see them off.The Mikehttp://themikewrites.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-26981036330408672322012-02-27T14:19:21.263-06:002012-02-27T14:19:21.263-06:00Too bad so many indie publishers and e-book retail...Too bad so many indie publishers and e-book retailers are caving to PayPal's censorship attempts (Smashwords, Bookstrand, etc) <br /><br />So far it's erotica in PayPal's cross-hairs, but what next?<br /><br />I understand how hard it is for small businesses who rely on PayPal to process payments to fight back. <br /><br />All the more reason all writers need to speak out against PayPal's censorship.<br /><br />Many of the author's books PayPal is demanding be pulled for obscene or objectionable content (i.e, on-the-fringes sex) are still for sale by their own parent company EBAY.<br /><br />Protest by speaking up and closing your PayPal and EBay accounts!Sheri Harthttp://www.sherihart.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-58532848784668749882012-02-23T08:36:54.025-06:002012-02-23T08:36:54.025-06:00Don't know if anyone's still following thi...Don't know if anyone's still following this thread but here's some news that will stir up the Amazon haters:<br /><br />"You see..they're eeeevilll!"<br /><br />Link to a blurb on the article <br /><a href="http://http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203918304577239530843032716.html" rel="nofollow">here</a><br /><br />I don't think the full story and details are out yet but apparently the publishing group tried pulling a fast one on Mr. Bezos. <br /><br />Won't matter to the A-train haters.David L. Shutterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357694121376734716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-28015291362565027202012-02-22T13:49:50.581-06:002012-02-22T13:49:50.581-06:00Agree with Bradford. This sounds fairly amazing, b...Agree with Bradford. This sounds fairly amazing, but all I see are cheapie zombie apocalypse books. So it's 99 cents. It's not exactly Dickens.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-14574672301406819522012-02-22T10:48:45.982-06:002012-02-22T10:48:45.982-06:00@Jave Viner I suppose no one cares that Amazon'...@Jave Viner <i>I suppose no one cares that Amazon's business practices are on par with the Wall Street banks that sold faulty mortgages to poor people and wrecked our economy.</i><br /><br />I know what you're trying to say, but that isn't a very good analogy at all.<br /><br />What the banks did was to create a bubble generated on the basis of exotic instruments (bundled mortgage-backed securities and credit default swaps, among others) with extremely poor risk management involved. They relied upon models that estimated average-case scenarios and were not capable of calculating a systemic fault - which was what ended up happening.<br /><br />The creation and marketing of these financial instruments trickled down and across the mortgage industry, coupled with historically low rates (which have now gone even lower due to Fed action for the economy).<br /><br />So you end up with a bunch of extremely large banks tossing hot potatoes back and forth and not realizing that they're all at high risk due to extreme leveraging. Which is why massive banks toppled on both sides of the Atlantic. And of course the aftershocks rippled across the entire mortgage industry.<br /><br />The people in banking who initiated all this were richly rewarded and many banks were bailed out and bonuses were preserved. People whose mortgages were underwater or going into adjusted-rate mode looked up and saw yellow liquid pouring over their heads and were told to act like it was raining.<br /><br />I have never worked in the mortgage industry, but this is pretty much what happened with the whole banking and mortgage debacle. And unfortunately, as I said, it doesn't make a good analogy with Amazon.<br /><br />To be honest, I'd think Barnes & Noble's rise would probably come closer to some aspects of Amazon. B&N was quite aggressive and drove many small indie stores out of business while going head-to-head and battling Borders for primacy. B&N also involved itself in all manner of expanded operations, including taking over operation of some university bookstores (with good and ill effects), etc.Matthew Lee Adamshttp://www.matthewleeadams.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-19432702855381782272012-02-22T09:19:07.898-06:002012-02-22T09:19:07.898-06:00Wow, an Amazon love fest. I suppose no one cares t...Wow, an Amazon love fest. I suppose no one cares that Amazon's business practices are on par with the Wall Street banks that sold faulty mortgages to poor people and wrecked our economy. Amazon workers are paid minimum wage without rights the same as Walmart and states that are on the verge of bankruptcy are loosing tax dollars because Amazon is exploiting loop holes in internet law. http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2011/06/08/Amazons-Tax-Evasion-Strategy-Hurts-State-Budgets.aspx#page1 Another reason why they're winning and the big 6 might lose.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01311374271571362187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-34173241135966917152012-02-21T22:05:06.215-06:002012-02-21T22:05:06.215-06:00http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/05/indie-bookst...http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/05/indie-bookstores-boycott-konrath.htmJA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-60897797252955875552012-02-21T20:55:16.925-06:002012-02-21T20:55:16.925-06:00I think one thing is missing from this take, and t...I think one thing is missing from this take, and that is that some readers love print, and many readers love bookstores. Not because they charge more than Amazon, but because they do something Amazon doesn't.<br /><br />I'm definitely not whining or blaming Amazon for what they do well. I say, more power to them. But I give a little cheer every time a new bookstore opens and starts to thrive (hello, Ann Patchett). <br /><br />I think you're right, Joe--there's a human connection and by listening to you and Barry, et al, Amazon is making use of that.<br /><br />I'm just not convinced they're the only ones to do so.jenny milchmanhttp://suspenseyourdisbelief.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-60385259912769294002012-02-21T17:38:00.157-06:002012-02-21T17:38:00.157-06:00"For years I've been telling publishers a..."For years I've been telling publishers and booksellers how they can compete. I haven't seen any of them follow any of my suggestions."<br /><br />On behalf of independent booksellers, I'd love to hear your suggestions - those affordable on their meager budgets, that is. Links please?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-50446128680740980762012-02-21T16:59:46.764-06:002012-02-21T16:59:46.764-06:00"It's easy to hate your competition, espe..."It's easy to hate your competition, especially when the competition is kicking your ass."<br /><br />I LOVE that!Morbideushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08541581002748385082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-56800783926837628222012-02-20T17:07:38.876-06:002012-02-20T17:07:38.876-06:00The only thing as dire as how traditional publishe...The only thing as dire as how traditional publishers treat authors is how indie and mainstream/studio film distributors treat filmmakers. These folks are cut from the same cloth.<br /><br />I love that these new options are removing the middleman -- traditionally an incompetent, lazy, narrow-thinking fool who only works hard when his job is threatened.<br /><br />A very close author friend complains frequently about how his traditional publisher constantly misses marketing opportunities and moves at the pace of a geriatric snail.<br /><br />Finally, after almost a hundred years, authors have options, and those options are giving them control.<br /><br />Love your no-nonsense perspective.<br /><br />The time for nonsense is past.Phantom of Pulphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03684169251989469824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-54907393125129667022012-02-20T17:04:29.050-06:002012-02-20T17:04:29.050-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Phantom of Pulphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03684169251989469824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-24537685148344006172012-02-20T17:00:12.154-06:002012-02-20T17:00:12.154-06:00The disdainful practices [such as ignoring emails]...The disdainful practices [such as ignoring emails] of traditional publishers [such as an independant I signed with in Oct.2010 for a preposterously yet-to-be-released novel] are contributing to their shrinking market share. Like an earlier blog of yours said, publishers need the content providers, not the other way around. A typical example is that I completed a second novel and published it myself on Amazon while this other book is still in limbo with the no-email-answering publisher. Amazon answers emails and helps the writer with their books.MilodonHemihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14944039368686154381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-4024681204872435112012-02-20T16:53:35.171-06:002012-02-20T16:53:35.171-06:00I've been downloading and reading your informa...I've been downloading and reading your informative blogs since last year and I agree completely with the "palpable disdain for writers" you mentioned in one post. Since I signed a wack book contract with an independant publisher in Oct. 2010 for my "first" novel" [that hasn't even been released yet and no emails answered] I've finished another novel and published it myself on Amazon Kindle Direct---Amazon answers emails,[unlike this independant I signed with] and make efforts to help the writers and answer my questions. Now I need to bone up on publicizing the book, but it's been a good process so far. By Joe MooreMilodonHemihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14944039368686154381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-6340663865853018532012-02-19T15:08:43.391-06:002012-02-19T15:08:43.391-06:00I have no doubt that Amazon is the Microsoft of th...I have no doubt that Amazon is the Microsoft of the e/publishing industry. As to distribution, their ebooks are only distributed through amazon, which is fine, but leaves other ebooks out of the loop. But it doesn't matter since the Kindle is beating other ereaders into submission. <br /><br />As to paperbooks. Right now, and probably for the next few decades, paper books will still be produced because people still love them. Heck, I still love them. But Amazon's distribution for their Creatspace print books is through Ingram. Amazon isn't a distributor, but they are working with the world's largest one.:)<br /><br />One day, a long time ago, people wondered at the viability of Amazon. Now they are winning the race.Karen Daleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06863449247777478067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-48356860674766955452012-02-19T14:29:35.961-06:002012-02-19T14:29:35.961-06:00Excellent post! I'm a reader and I'm enjoy...Excellent post! I'm a reader and I'm enjoying watching what is happening in the publishing world. My only complaint about Amazon is concerning their geographic limitations. I am Canadian and have friends in the Orient and we don't have access to the same selection of books and subscriptions that most Americans do. I do understand that some of it comes from contracts in already in place that must be followed. If Amazon is going to take over the world, it needs to take over the world, not just part of it :)Sugarbeathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18098238900053899847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-72489089900364368112012-02-19T09:01:45.235-06:002012-02-19T09:01:45.235-06:00So let me get this straight: calling Amazon "...<i>So let me get this straight: calling Amazon "evil" is whining", but calling the Big 6 "evil" is courageous?</i><br /><br />Not at all.<br /><br />Pointing out that Amazon is good for authors and customers lays to rest the claim they are evil.<br /><br />The Big 6 are harming customers with DRM, windowing, high ebook prices, and a host of other bad business practices, and they are treating writers unfairly in ways I've been painstakingly detailed for 3 years.<br /><br />Poitning that out doesn't make me courageous. It makes me aware.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.com