tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post8490317542276588020..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Guest Post by Kevin HardmanJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-81792035784328285442013-07-07T04:25:10.058-05:002013-07-07T04:25:10.058-05:00M.F.: I'm glad things worked out for you - es...M.F.: I'm glad things worked out for you - especially in terms of being able to get categorized based on a keyword (assuming that's what you meant by "search word"). Unfortunately, that didn't work for me.<br /><br />The other thing is - and I had assumed this was common knowledge but maybe it isn't - you can't NOT pick a category. In other words, you have to pick SOMETHING or it won't let you publish. (In my case, I don't even think it let me advance to the next page.) Thus, I ended up picking the single superhero category they had available. <br /><br />It wasn't perfect, but again, few things in life are. As they often told us when I was in the military, not everything we do can classified as right or wrong; sometimes there's just good and bad judgment - and not everyone will agree on which is which.Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05226233798269875346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-74390921544843960122013-07-06T17:42:33.303-05:002013-07-06T17:42:33.303-05:00I had the same "category" problem with m...I had the same "category" problem with my fantasy book Blood Brothers. I thought it best qualified as "sword and sorcery", like the old Conan stories, because it didn't have a plot that focused on massive, world-changing events (which is what the "epic fantasy" category best describes). But "sword and sorcery" wasn't a category I could pick, so I ended up choosing "epic" instead. And then I saw that "sword and sorcery" was a category on Amazon, it just wasn't one you could pick when you published the book. So I added "sword and sorcery" as a search word, and now it shows up there too.<br /><br />Another thing worth mentioning, I think, is that I also put my book in the "metaphysical fantasy" category. Why is that worth mentioning? Because the "metaphysical fantasy" category has a fraction of the number of titles that are listed in the "epic" category. My book often makes the top 5 for metaphysical fantasy, which gives it (I hope) more visibility, but it rarely makes the top 100 for "epic."<br /><br />One last thing I'd like to mention is that I recently used ebookbooster (which Joe recommends), and I personally didn't think it was worth the $40. I'm planning on writing about why on my blog.M.F. Sorianohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07701702635814547705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-62352917608549671852013-07-06T12:35:23.781-05:002013-07-06T12:35:23.781-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.C Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550901066508791798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-73227651864544236112013-07-06T12:33:47.601-05:002013-07-06T12:33:47.601-05:00Thanks to Kevin Hardman
AND
Robert W. Walker !Thanks to Kevin Hardman<br />AND<br />Robert W. Walker !C Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550901066508791798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-74340575429335283702013-07-06T08:10:42.778-05:002013-07-06T08:10:42.778-05:00It would appear we are all under the control and i...It would appear we are all under the control and influence of the BOTS...<br /><br />It is almost as insidious as having a social security number.<br /><br />It can drive you KARAZY....<br /><br />I suggest everyone do as I have done this calendar year - write a new collection of short stories, add a 12th book to your crime series, create a 3rd book so large it must be sliced into 3 books with option to buy the boxed set. That adds SIX new titles so far this year to my bookshelf. Try that.<br /><br />Robert W. Walker (Rob) is the designation or destination on Facebook where I spew forth Tips on Craft and publishing. KDP kindle forums under voice of the author find the largest thread on these forums - nearly a half million views/reads under "What Mioves Kindle books off the Shelf" with moves misspelled for character.<br /><br />Rob Walker<br />www.robertwalkerbooks.comRob Walkerhttp://www.robertwalkerbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-21837011705442784102013-07-06T07:17:09.171-05:002013-07-06T07:17:09.171-05:00Colin....glad you're enjoying it! Hope you fi...Colin....glad you're enjoying it! Hope you find it helpful... -jimajabbiatihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17654127244275207376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-43353155386322900592013-07-06T00:52:17.278-05:002013-07-06T00:52:17.278-05:00Mike Dennis:
I see where you're coming from on...Mike Dennis:<br />I see where you're coming from on the motivation boost that a few sales can provide when sales have slumped. At the same time, don't totally dismiss Joe's (and others') opinion.<br /><br />Throttling back so that you're not dependent upon that boost could benefit you in the long run. When you're not consumed by the need for a sale, you can focus more heavily on creating and improving elsewhere.<br /><br />I love to see a sale, any sale. Hell, I got a buzz the other day off a 4-star rating on Goodreads. The key for me is to harness that buzz and dive into my next work and not worry about what's going on beyond my control.<br /><br />Just my 2c. YMMV.Alistair McIntyrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08549555602692910018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-20794400942550714652013-07-06T00:15:16.581-05:002013-07-06T00:15:16.581-05:00Great post but... I still do not understand the ra...Great post but... I still do not understand the rankings! I have three books out and rank on four lists. I make enough to pay the rent plus some (never thought that would happen!) but my less than stellar first book ranks way higher than my much better third book. It has been a year so I am at a point that I don't obsess anymore but when I do check Amazon,I am always confused by the numbers. Gah, back to writing.Amber Jaegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06732398944756043388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-42821309805629807762013-07-05T23:13:37.327-05:002013-07-05T23:13:37.327-05:00I'm consumed with checking for that next sale ...<i>I'm consumed with checking for that next sale to see what it does with my ranking.</i><br /><br />I'd suggest that every time you want to check for a sale, instead you work on your next story.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-67270271721537108102013-07-05T22:47:18.623-05:002013-07-05T22:47:18.623-05:00Must admit I check my sales ranks a few times a da...Must admit I check my sales ranks a few times a day. I'm trying to wean myself off, but it's not as easy as it sounds....<br /><br />Intellectually, I know if I applied all that energy to another story, I could get more written faster, but there is still that siren call of wanting to know how my 'babies' are doing! :)Hollis Shilohhttp://www.amazon.com/Hollis-Shiloh/e/B00BPXIMWOnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-19495740042954592452013-07-05T21:29:26.983-05:002013-07-05T21:29:26.983-05:00Joe sez: "Like reading reviews, watching rank...Joe sez: "Like reading reviews, watching rank just isn't necessary..."<br /><br />Joe, with all due respect, I must disagree. For those of us who sweat out each individual sale, watching rank is very necessary. If, during a particular day, I sell two copies of one of my ten titles (which these days is a rarity), my ranking leaps upward and gives me cause for cheer. I've had very little to cheer about in three years of self-publishing, so believe me, I really look forward to those rare moments of excitement.<br /><br />Now, if I were selling in large quantities, assuring me of high rankings, I could breeze through each day knowing my books were holding stable in a relatively high ranking. I would know the money is flowing in, and I would know my daily sales were sufficient to prop up those rankings, so I wouldn't have to be obsessively checking them.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I'm not in that position, so I'm consumed with checking for that next sale to see what it does with my ranking.Mike Dennishttp://mikedennisnoir.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-53739009021588426082013-07-05T21:25:11.274-05:002013-07-05T21:25:11.274-05:00Hi Kevin,
Thanks for a very informative post. I c...Hi Kevin,<br />Thanks for a very informative post. I can understand why this would be an important consideration in maximizing awareness. I must say that I linked to your first post, and read it and this post thoroughly, and although very intrigued by the awesome covers, I was left with the impression that they were both graphic novels. I have very little interest in graphic novels and therefore did not look into them further. I think Jude brings up a great point that you might consider. <br /><br />Also, as a point of interest. On tablets (I do most of my reading on a Playbook), the "Click to Look Inside" is a bit fiddly and I rarely use it.<br /><br /><br />A.J.<br />I'm loving your book on writing so far. Very interesting and fun read.<br />Colin Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02511279879308565952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-47980465709079123062013-07-05T20:59:46.927-05:002013-07-05T20:59:46.927-05:00I see what you mean. They need to add a "Supe...I see what you mean. They need to add a "Superhero" category under Fiction > Fantasy. You should suggest it!Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-38720260191024086012013-07-05T20:42:36.264-05:002013-07-05T20:42:36.264-05:00Jude: You raise a good point, but no, I don't...Jude: You raise a good point, but no, I don't think it's confusing to readers. For instance, there's a preview and it is evident pretty much immediately that my book is not a graphic novel. <br /><br />Unfortunately, few things in life are perfect. For me, this was much like spinning the big wheel on The Price is Right: "Whoever comes closest without going over..."<br /><br />As to a category like "popular culture," I don't think my book would fit because my characters are not "popular." I see things in that category like Barbie, Dora the Explorer, Sesame Street, Mutant Ninja Turtles... Iron Man is there, but it's because he's popular, not because he's a superhero.Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05226233798269875346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-88751498412027798922013-07-05T20:12:59.534-05:002013-07-05T20:12:59.534-05:00So isn't that confusing to readers?
I mean, t...So isn't that confusing to readers?<br /><br />I mean, there's an "Espionage" category under "True Crime," but I don't think Joe would want to put his Chandler novels in that category, even if it was the only "Espionage" slot available, because the books are not True Crime.<br /><br />Have you researched the categories other superhero novels are placed in? I noticed Iron Man 3 is in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Children's eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Popular Culture.<br /><br />Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-37729932666845248932013-07-05T19:55:06.019-05:002013-07-05T19:55:06.019-05:00Jude: It is in fact NOT a graphic novel, and that&...Jude: It is in fact NOT a graphic novel, and that's actually what started me down this find-the-right-category path. The only superhero category I could see (or select) was under "graphic novel." Ergo, that's the one I chose. (Any port in a storm, as the old saying goes)<br />Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05226233798269875346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-62493176954304282892013-07-05T19:36:31.376-05:002013-07-05T19:36:31.376-05:00Kevin, just wondering why you put your book n the ...Kevin, just wondering why you put your book n the graphic novel category. Is it a graphic novel?Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-21391359261161997302013-07-05T18:27:05.985-05:002013-07-05T18:27:05.985-05:00Tabitha: Hopefully some of what I've shared w...Tabitha: Hopefully some of what I've shared will be helpful. I know that I've personally learned from it, but - as they say - experience is the best teacher. However, if you can learn from someone else's experience, then you are an excellent pupil.<br /><br /><br />A.J.: Thanks for your kind words. As to the "unselectable" categories, I think what KDP actually said in my case was that the "category browse path" was not available for selection yet, but they are continuing to work to increase those options (and in the meantime they added it for me). Joe obviously makes a great point about not obsessing over this stuff, but I think it's worthwhile to note the categories of other books in your genre to determine whether you are in the best position for potential fans to find you.Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05226233798269875346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-35023104083265194092013-07-05T17:35:34.323-05:002013-07-05T17:35:34.323-05:00Kevin,
Excellent post. Will definitely keep the i...Kevin,<br /><br />Excellent post. Will definitely keep the info in mind as I track my work...especially the "more specific" categories you can't select yourself. Will be checking on that right away... The NORTAV Method just hit #59 in Writing, Research, and Publishing Guides (thanks to this guest blogging extravaganza), and now I'm thinking there must be a more granular category I'm missing. <br /><br />Thanks for the heads up!<br /><br />--JimA. J. Abbiatihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10783281647919252247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-27578694550363310642013-07-05T15:47:31.269-05:002013-07-05T15:47:31.269-05:00Hey, anyone know what email Joe Konrath uses. I...Hey, anyone know what email Joe Konrath uses. I'm trying to guest post as well, but not sure I've got the right email. Thanks!WayneThomasBatsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-46805370418888624452013-07-05T14:03:24.308-05:002013-07-05T14:03:24.308-05:00Kevin, thank you for the valuable information.Kevin, thank you for the valuable information.Tabitha Mainenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-8553668789718259722013-07-05T13:55:12.387-05:002013-07-05T13:55:12.387-05:00Jill: Thanks for clarifying, but no offense was t...Jill: Thanks for clarifying, but no offense was taken. I construed your comment as being informative and supportive.Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05226233798269875346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11551209602513397292013-07-05T13:42:38.228-05:002013-07-05T13:42:38.228-05:00Kevin, LOL. I meant just a general being obsessed,...Kevin, LOL. I meant just a general being obsessed, not you personally. Jill Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10754506629717417267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-69481318273070339362013-07-05T13:26:53.548-05:002013-07-05T13:26:53.548-05:00Jude: I don't know if they were right or wrong...Jude: I don't know if they were right or wrong, but when I did what they said the rankings showed up. It may be a function of automatically creating a Kindle version from the Creatspace edition.<br /><br />Mark: LOL! I didn't mean to sound obsessed; it's just that I could see that there was a problem. For instance, when I saw that I wasn't in the same superhero category as all the other superhero books out there, my thought was that readers of that genre would have trouble finding me, because I wasn't where I was supposed to be. Those were the kinds of things I was trying to fix; the ranking served more of a GPS function by letting me know when I was properly situated.<br /><br />Jill: Thanks, and again I didn't mean to sound obsessed, just pointing out what were probably rookie mistakes on my part. In retrospect, I probably should have placed more emphasis on the fact that I was trying to get into the proper categories as opposed to fix a ranking issue. Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05226233798269875346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-87513493518957647062013-07-05T12:43:40.574-05:002013-07-05T12:43:40.574-05:00Kevin, thanks for a great post. We walk a fine lin...Kevin, thanks for a great post. We walk a fine line between being informed and being obsessed. So, back to writing the next book, because I can control that. :)Jill Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10754506629717417267noreply@blogger.com