tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post8418002277214508355..comments2024-03-18T06:16:18.802-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Observations at #8JA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-68958454786045394302010-11-04T21:57:13.096-05:002010-11-04T21:57:13.096-05:00@ Ruth. That's really encouraging.@ Ruth. That's really encouraging.Tara Mayahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09095632631554776002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-49868001185416150982010-11-04T16:02:08.482-05:002010-11-04T16:02:08.482-05:000Yowch & thanks for the comments. If anyone fe...0Yowch & thanks for the comments. If anyone feels "wild excitement" about epublishing, it would be me, having been in and out of full-time freelancing most of my life. If nothing else, i hope it will cut back on some of the "wild" envy I've seen among writers as a group. It is quite understandable, the feeling that if someone else is chosen, and blessed with an agent, it means there is even less chance it might happen for someone else, as in you. As said, I love the idea that everyone can now be let into the big tent.<br /> As for reading, I've noticed for a long time that none of the large professional group I hang with has read anything for years but work-related material. Everybody "used to read" for pleasure, but now has no time. nobody likes this at all, but it is the way it is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-19104233715053699962010-11-04T15:03:52.716-05:002010-11-04T15:03:52.716-05:00I'm still reading through the comments on this...I'm still reading through the comments on this post, but in the meantime ...<br /><br />At the World Fantasy Convention last weekend, I recorded a conversation between Michael Stackpole and myself about the state of publishing, ebooks, ebook pricing (with a bit about $2.99 and J.A. Konrath that starts around minute 16:00), and so on. It's available on my blog here:<br /><br />http://sciencefictionfantasybooks.net/?p=1419Moses Siregar IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14054458331242370871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-5047369810472164852010-11-04T13:15:37.728-05:002010-11-04T13:15:37.728-05:00@ Tara...I agree about writers being readers. I&#...@ Tara...I agree about writers being readers. I've never known a writer who wasn't an almost obsessive reader. Additionally, ereaders encourage people who usually aren't big readers to read more. Just yesterday a friend who's never been much of a reader was raving about her iPad. "I LOVE reading on my iPad," she bubbled.Ruth Harrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61110538428287987222010-11-04T11:21:06.074-05:002010-11-04T11:21:06.074-05:00Anon said, "Meanwhile, in an age when so few ...Anon said, "Meanwhile, in an age when so few have the time, money, and desire to read other people's books, but are BURNING to be published..."<br /><br />It's really an odd leap to assume that because someone is a writer who wants to be published one doesn't read. Most writers I know are voracious readers.Tara Mayahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09095632631554776002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-37517788030408123812010-11-04T06:24:32.528-05:002010-11-04T06:24:32.528-05:00@anonymous "Doggone, they've seen the lig...@anonymous "Doggone, they've seen the light. Traditional reading of dead tree books is largely over. Dying to appear in print is a boom market. Hand me the thousands and forget about wasting time pushing defunct hardcovers. I'm published, mom!"<br /><br />Sorry, I'm lost. I dont get what you're saying. I think your point is you dont like the excitement many writers feel about possible publishing ebks ... that writers are foolish to dream in this new world? Is that what you're saying?<br /><br />thanks<br />dr.cpe / archangelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-5258162363652955882010-11-03T22:26:37.879-05:002010-11-03T22:26:37.879-05:00Anon, are you talking about the Borders-Bookbrewer...Anon, are you talking about the Borders-Bookbrewer partnership? I have to say, of all the ebook platforms out there, this is the only major one which charges a huge up-front fee. And it's the only one (for that and a few other reasons) that I would probably recommend people skip.<br /><br />"Printing" ebooks SHOULD not be a moneymaking proposition. It's too doggone easy. My first try using Calibre, I installed and opened the program. Never having read a lesson or viewed a training video, I loaded my ms. and had exported .mobi and epub formats in under five minutes. Both of them came out flawlessly.<br /><br />Sure, some very complex formatting jobs will require special attention and some hand coding. But there are folks out there charging $200 to run your novel through free software that automates the process so well that they're looking at two minutes to export and another fifteen to scan the book for major errors.<br /><br />This is NOT a Good Deal.<br /><br />Of course, now Amazon is offering to take your ebook to Createspace for only $89... I could cry. Seriously; if you have a well formatted ebook, then you already have the well-formatted PDF file it was made from, so why are you paying someone to generate something you already have?<br /><br />I am torn. If people are insanely stupid, then these sorts of things will earn the companies involved a lot of money. If people are even vaguely interested in looking up the process and trying it themselves first, then they will learn that your average eight year old can probably turn a manuscript into an ebook and Createspace ready PDF, so these offers should earn next to nothing.<br /><br />Which do you think it's gonna be? ;)KevinMchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01965779928268962182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-78206363538105097362010-11-03T19:32:17.087-05:002010-11-03T19:32:17.087-05:00Hey, I like the Borders proposal. Well worth it to...Hey, I like the Borders proposal. Well worth it to me to have a professionally (one hopes) prepared book ready for multiple sites and only have to deal with one person from beginning to end of process. (one hopes.)<br /> Meanwhile, in an age when so few have the time, money, and desire to read other people's books, but are BURNING to be published, what better way to find a need and fill it, than to offer to streamline the epublishing process for them? Fine idea there.<br /> Would you rather have people fork over 5-14 bucks for a heavily discounted book at Costco, or hundreds to thousands and thousands (Harlequin sub press) in order to have their well-intended, but overwhelmingly amateur-hour manuscripts published, somehow, someway?<br /> Doggone, they've seen the light. Traditional reading of dead tree books is largely over. Dying to appear in print is a boom market. Hand me the thousands and forget about wasting time pushing defunct hardcovers. I'm published, mom! Don't matter if no one reads the thing. It just feels good, and nothing wrong with that, folks. I still love the idea of everyone who wishes being in print. Hurts no one, makes people happy, and the publishers should be happy as heck with their hyper-enhanced end of the deal also.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61955544530257356252010-11-03T12:16:37.502-05:002010-11-03T12:16:37.502-05:00@Boyd- I don't know how many 300K advances are...@Boyd- I don't know how many 300K advances are being given out now. I would venture to guess not too many; especially for a new author. <br /><br />If someone is as lucky as you Boyd, I'd agree. But not everyone is in that position. Most people won't be in that position.<br /><br />@validation- to me this is such a nebulous term. Validation will mean different things to different people.<br /><br />@selena- The elections say that when the democrats are given the ball they have to learn how to run with it -- in the right direction! It wasn't fair what Obama inherited, but he also didn't take a good first step. Health care should have been something he dealt with in his 2nd term. <br /><br />youtube.com/robchristopherwriter<br />www.twitter.com/robchristopherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-86278186369902487972010-11-03T10:14:10.120-05:002010-11-03T10:14:10.120-05:00When the other side runs out of talking points to ...<i>When the other side runs out of talking points to bring up for their side, and resorts to attacking your credibility instead, in general the *attacker*, not the attacked, is the one who loses face.</i><br /><br />Oh I don't know. Yesterdays elections tell a whole different story.<br /><br /><i>If you turn down that $300,000 advance, you should be aware that you are taking a risk, just like the publisher is taking a risk offering it to you in the first place.</i><br /><br />Life is risk. What I like about Joe is he encourages folks to get off their duffs and ACT one way or the other instead of sitting on the fence, watching the parade march by them.Selena Kitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17783685215421352626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-9637956897740685482010-11-02T14:19:28.824-05:002010-11-02T14:19:28.824-05:00Sure, jtplayer... But when you are having a discu...Sure, jtplayer... But when you are having a discussion on an issue, bringing up data, opinion, and thoughts about that issue - without getting into character smearing at all - and the other side drops into character smearing...well...it's a pretty good sign that you've won the debate.<br /><br />When the other side runs out of talking points to bring up for their side, and resorts to attacking your credibility instead, in general the *attacker*, not the attacked, is the one who loses face.KevinMchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01965779928268962182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-35124269672514982592010-11-02T07:24:10.322-05:002010-11-02T07:24:10.322-05:00Re: "But I think it is generally true that wh...Re: "But I think it is generally true that when someone starts attacking your character, rather than your points, you've pretty much "won" that debate. They don't like your points, but they can't argue with them, so they attack you instead."<br />-------------------<br /><br />You know man, I'm gonna have to call bullshit on that.<br /><br />Plenty of people of dubious character make valid points. They just do it in a snarky, condescending, mocking, impolite, generally shitty way.<br /><br />And sometimes that deserves to be challenged, or "attacked" as you put it (another overused word IMO). It does not mean at all that the argument has been won by the douche bag, it merely means they are being called out for their behavior.<br /><br />Nobody wants to argue (or debate) with a knucklehead.<br /><br />I also believe that a person's background is fair game. Opinions are fine, but when you start criticizing someone on specific points, perhaps even denigrating them in some way as you make your argument, then your own qualifications become relevant. If only to separate you from the blowhards spouting uneducated nonsense.jtplayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14231456054855215404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-19005588239910406752010-11-02T04:58:00.511-05:002010-11-02T04:58:00.511-05:00Thanks for another great post, Joe.
One of the gr...Thanks for another great post, Joe.<br /><br />One of the great strengths of this blog is the willingness of the readers to comment, I think, and I usually enjoy reading the comments as much as the actual posts.<br /><br />I think it's always good to read other people's viewpoints. That's when you're forced to think about your own points.<br /><br />If we all agreed, there wouldn't be much of a debate, now would it?<br /><br />But I think it is generally true that when someone starts attacking your character, rather than your points, you've pretty much "won" that debate. They don't like your points, but they can't argue with them, so they attack you instead.Stitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03206873570587284561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-15225724600112557882010-11-02T01:10:54.524-05:002010-11-02T01:10:54.524-05:00Anon,
Your press release behind:
http://phx.corp...Anon,<br /><br />Your press release behind:<br />http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1486648&highlight=<br /><br />"In addition, Kindle book unit sales continue to overtake print on Amazon.com, even while print book sales continue to grow. During the past 30 days, Amazon.com customers purchased more Kindle books than print books--hardcover and paperback combined--for the top 10, 25, 100, and 1,000 bestselling books on Amazon.com."<br /><br /><br />PURCHASED is the key word.<br /><br />Note:<br />1. Amazon is selling more print books.<br />2. Ebooks now are *purchased* at a rate higher than pbooks.<br /><br />No ambiguity. Amazon is gaining market share.<br /><br />Neilwannabuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04297458705683991405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-71608654336566691712010-11-01T18:19:47.124-05:002010-11-01T18:19:47.124-05:00I've heard that Amazon includes all the free d...I've heard that Amazon includes all the free downloads in their ebook 'sales' so if that's true then Grisham is still selling more hardcovers - very much so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-15679225415652832682010-11-01T18:12:16.402-05:002010-11-01T18:12:16.402-05:00As far as I'm concerned, the idea is to produc...<i>As far as I'm concerned, the idea is to produce the best book possible, however it gets published.</i><br /><br />Amen.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-19541774660077216482010-11-01T18:10:28.913-05:002010-11-01T18:10:28.913-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-14778209257289093552010-11-01T17:19:46.617-05:002010-11-01T17:19:46.617-05:00and for those who'd like to
know more about bo...and for those who'd like to<br />know more about bowerbirds...<br /><br />> http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/07/bowerbirds/morell-text<br /><br />> http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/07/bowerbirds/laman-photography<br /><br />national geographic just<br />can't get enough of us...<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-79907637980156372262010-11-01T16:24:34.696-05:002010-11-01T16:24:34.696-05:00Peace brother...it's all good man.
And art in...Peace brother...it's all good man.<br /><br />And art in any form is good.<br /><br />Getting young kids involved is even better. <br /><br />I have two and have gently pushed them in an artistic direction for years. Sports are good, but sometimes I feel there is too much emphasis put on that.<br /><br />Anyway...I'm off track. Have a nice day bird.jtplayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14231456054855215404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1295403824728537472010-11-01T16:14:25.533-05:002010-11-01T16:14:25.533-05:00jtplayer said:
> So you're an L.A. hipste...jtplayer said:<br />> So you're an L.A. hipster <br />> with a snarky attitude.<br /><br />no. i mean "yes". <br /><br />wait, i mean "maybe"...<br /><br />i mean "yeah, so what, <br />mister so-called 'player'?"<br /><br />oh, i'm so confused...<br /><br />what's the right answer? ;+)<br /><br /><br />> Figures.<br /><br />ok good, yeah, player,<br />you've got me pegged.<br /><br /><br />> But what the hell...<br />> since I live in So. Cal. <br />> I'll just have to cruise on over <br />> and check your bad self out. <br />> See how the cool kids do it.<br /><br />that'd be great.<br /><br />da poetry lounge.<br />tuesdays, 9pm-midnight.<br />at greenway court theater.<br />544 n. fairfax, near melrose.<br />$5 entry. (sometimes free.)<br />free parking north of theater.<br /><br />give me a call in advance<br />and i'll buy you a few beers.<br />(offer good for everyone!)<br />310.980.9202<br /><br />(holy crap, a phone number!<br />that's not what a person who's<br />"anonymous" would ever give,<br />let alone a meet-up invitation.)<br /><br /><br />> See how the cool kids do it.<br /><br />well, yes, you will see <br />how the cool kids do it.<br /><br />urban kids love poetry.<br />which gives me hope<br />for humanity's future.<br /><br />as a bonus, you'll also see how<br />this old fat ugly hippie does it.<br /><br />two for the price of one...<br /><br />(or maybe, just maybe,<br />the cool kids are indeed<br />old fat ugly hippies...)<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-39548899961033765692010-11-01T15:54:42.043-05:002010-11-01T15:54:42.043-05:00Re: "first of all, i'm a guy, not female....Re: "first of all, i'm a guy, not female."<br />---------------------<br /><br />Well you got me there...I made an assumption and missed. Oh well.<br /><br />As far as your criticisms being veiled or not, what can I say? We are often the last to see our own shortcomings. <br /><br />Have fun with that one birdie ;-)jtplayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14231456054855215404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-42503349113028465602010-11-01T15:45:16.238-05:002010-11-01T15:45:16.238-05:00jon said:
> don't pull me into
> th...jon said:<br />> don't pull me into <br />> this whole debate of <br />> "real" versus "not real" <br />> publishing.<br /><br />jude already did pull you in.<br /><br />in the very comment where<br />he told us about your service!<br /><br />which i thought was cheeky...<br />enough so that i commented.<br /><br />but i think it was clear to all<br />that you're working in support<br />of self-publishers. now if only<br />your "friends" didn't sabotage<br />that clarity with their own mud.<br /><br />***<br /><br />jtplayer said:<br />> The bird obviously <br />> fancies herself <br />> the "enlightened" one, with<br />> her constant subtle digs and<br />> very thinly veiled criticisms. <br /><br />first of all, i'm a guy, not female.<br /><br />second, i'm not "enlightened", but<br />i _pay_attention_, i always have,<br />for several decades now. it pays.<br />so i highly recommend it. really!<br /><br />third, my "digs" might be "subtle",<br />or not, depending on sensitivity,<br />but my criticisms are not "veiled"<br />at all, let alone "thinly veiled"...<br /><br />***<br /><br />selena said:<br />> Any way to<br />> stand out in a crowd.<br /><br />i control linebreaks in my posts.<br />because i'm a poet... so sue me...<br /><br />but it's not to "stand out"...<br /><br />it's to make a "subtle" point<br />about the inferior quality of<br />the tools that we are using,<br />i.e., about reading in browsers.<br /><br />but your complaints make me<br />wonder if you're doin' it wrong.<br /><br />are you reading the comments<br />on the "leave a comment" page?<br /><br />that is, does the top of the page<br />start with "post a comment on:"?<br /><br />if so, you're "doin' it wrong"...<br /><br />the column for comments there<br />on that page is far too narrow,<br />and my lines break unnaturally.<br /><br />instead, click on the post's title<br />-- it'll be listed in orange, here<br />the title is "observations at #8" --<br />and you will be taken to a page<br />where the original post resides,<br />with the comments underneath.<br /><br />the difference is, on that page,<br />the column is slightly wider and<br />my lines won't wrap unnaturally.<br /><br />if you jump from the main page,<br />don't use the "## comments" link.<br />instead, click on the post's title...<br /><br />***<br /><br />are we done talking about me?<br />can we get back to the topic?<br /><br />and, in the future, when someone<br />starts discussing _me_ instead of<br />the topic, you should realize that<br />it's because they have no counter<br />to the argument that i just made.<br />you might wanna factor that in...<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-71355128715317137452010-11-01T15:44:54.222-05:002010-11-01T15:44:54.222-05:00So you're an L.A. hipster with a snarky attitu...So you're an L.A. hipster with a snarky attitude.<br /><br />Figures.<br /><br />But what the hell...since I live in So. Cal. I'll just have to cruise on over and check your bad self out. See how the cool kids do it.jtplayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14231456054855215404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-67452804285629845622010-11-01T15:42:03.114-05:002010-11-01T15:42:03.114-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.bowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-45881804253119946012010-11-01T15:15:53.258-05:002010-11-01T15:15:53.258-05:00jude said:
> I'm just wondering why
>...jude said:<br />> I'm just wondering why <br />> an authority such as yourself <br />> chooses to remain anonymous. <br /><br />i'm a big supporter of writers.<br /><br />because i love words...<br /><br />so it makes me sad when <br />someone who claims to be <br />a writer shows that they <br />know so little about words <br />that they don't even know<br />the difference between<br />"anonymous" and <br />"pseudonymous".<br /><br />anyone who has been following<br />the saga of electronic-books in<br />cyberspace discussion forums<br />at any time in the last 15 years<br />has encountered "bowerbird"...<br /><br />now let me say that i am glad<br />that it is no longer just techies<br />who're involved in such forums;<br />but you writers who're just now<br />catching on should catch up...<br /><br />just because you finally learned<br />you can make money off e-books<br />doesn't mean that's _all_ you will<br />need to know, now and forever...<br /><br />because there are a lot of people<br />who you should be thanking now,<br />as they helped make it happen...<br /><br />i, for one, don't need your stinkin'<br />gratitude... but karma is a bitch,<br />and if you remain ignorant about<br />the individuals like michael hart<br />who carved out the highway upon<br />which you are now cruising along,<br />she will find a way to punish you.<br /><br /><br />> You obviously know more <br />> about publishing than ANYONE, <br />> so it would be nice to know <br />> where I could buy your book.<br /><br />well, since you're so interested,<br />jude, i'm a performance poet...<br /><br />active on that scene here in l.a.<br />for some 25 years now, growing<br />performance poets to blossom...<br /><br />and 15 years at slam nationals.<br />where the party happens, baby...<br /><br />i rejected print -- or, as i put it, <br />"spelled-out words" -- in favor of<br />the stage a very long time ago...<br /><br />but if you wanna come to l.a.,<br />i perform every tuesday night in <br />a duo named "opposed thumb" at <br />a venue called "da poetry lounge",<br />which pulls in a crowd of 150-300<br />each week for open-mike poetry!<br />it's hardly the place to perform if<br />you really wanna be "anonymous".<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.com