tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post8534066094986769262..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: No One KnowsJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-83481880009874522062014-04-28T00:21:58.591-05:002014-04-28T00:21:58.591-05:00"Release dates no longer matter (the best rel..."Release dates no longer matter (the best release date for an ebook is yesterday)"<br /><br />I'm starting to wonder if that is true for debut authors, and that's giving me some pause on how I should structure my current writing process.<br /><br />I've been working my way forward through the archives starting from back in 2009, and one of the recurring themes that I'm noticing is that one of the strong predictors of success is how many additional titles an author has available.<br /><br />Assume for the sake of argument that I'm able to bring all of the big four to bear on my debut title (excellent writing, cover, description and price). If someone does decide to take the leap on a complete unknown and actually likes the book, they'll look for other titles and see... precisely nothing.<br /><br />It will remain that way for a while, as I'm not at a point where I could reasonably expect to drop my day job and write full time. To make matters worse, the first title is part of a series, with an expected three to five titles in the series itself, and I'd like to expand out on that to include additional titles set in the world brought about by the events in the series.<br /><br />If I drop the book onto Amazon the moment it is ready for prime time, do I risk potentially alienating my audience by not having anything available for them to act upon? Isn't this doubly the case if the first book sets a proper "what happens next" hook at the end to entice further interest?<br /><br />I'm wondering if it might be better for a debut author like me to wait until I have at least three things I can offer before I make the first one available. If I do, anyone and everyone who discovers me via my introductory title can immediately proceed further down the rabbit hole, and I can thereby greatly increase the odds of generating fans... rather than people who once read something by me many months ago, and are far less likely to recognize (or wait for) the existence of next title in the series.<br /><br />Thoughts? Am I more likely to shoot myself in the foot by waiting and giving up present revenue than I am to disappoint readers that want to proceed forward in the series, but can't because the next title simply hasn't been written yet?VekTorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09884547607158702582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-57950185530494783752014-04-02T08:50:14.287-05:002014-04-02T08:50:14.287-05:00I really appreciate this post. Thank you for this ...I really appreciate this post. Thank you for this small cup of reality.annette drakehttp://www.annettedrake.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-79552953805129773122014-03-31T00:38:28.962-05:002014-03-31T00:38:28.962-05:00I would like to be lucky enough to have the luck t...I would like to be lucky enough to have the luck that means 'you have to keep trying until luck happens.' <br /><br />But the trouble is I don't know how I should keep trying. My recently published novel 'The Noble Terror' doesn't fit into any one of the established categories. So someone told me to call it 'Literary Fiction'. And it has a sharp satire, he improved the category for my novel : Literary Satire. Therefore, I have put my novel into the section of 'Literary fiction' , but because of this I am limiting my success. I have heard that literary fiction doesn't sell. My novel has mystery, comedy, and even magical realism. I don't know how to sell, how to keep trying...Shirishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06696805926838173326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-25747069769297274082014-03-26T15:25:22.711-05:002014-03-26T15:25:22.711-05:00You're right that we shouldn't keep compar...You're right that we shouldn't keep comparing ourselves to other writers. Writing the best book we can is much of it and having our book in the right place at the right time whether it is self-published or traditionally published. There is a luck factor to it.Dianne G. Saganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12846587955163424240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-82940172865070652082014-03-25T10:16:15.179-05:002014-03-25T10:16:15.179-05:00In fact, one of the reasons I refer authors to New...In fact, one of the reasons I refer authors to Newbie's Guide (the book) was that it showed what a large and sustained marketing and sales effort it takes to build a writing career.<br /><br />Yeah being strategic really helps - that's partly why I wrote a productivity book, and why I'm currently writing weight loss and entrepreneurship books. Those fields have large audiences who are motivated to buy. But even strategy isn't enough - I work really hard for each sale.<br /><br />I believe the successes based purely on luck are so rare as to be nonexistent. Even in the case of a seemingly "spontaneous" best seller like 50 Shades, there was probably a huge investment in PR.<br /><br />Not only does marketing take a lot of work, you have to get the details right. Subtleties of book illustrations or phrasing can really reduce your audience. Hillary Rettighttp://www.hillaryrettig.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-60651076906282509042014-03-25T10:05:26.959-05:002014-03-25T10:05:26.959-05:00Joe,
I'm thinking that a lot of the people w...Joe, <br /><br />I'm thinking that a lot of the people who are unhappy with book sales are underinvesting in marketing. Do you agree? If so, that's a controllable factor and good news because it significantly reduces the need for random luck.<br /><br />For ten years I taught business development at nonprofits, and nearly every undersuccessful or struggling business is underinvesting in marketing.Hillary Rettighttp://www.hillaryrettig.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-43874295260679129892014-03-25T03:51:59.281-05:002014-03-25T03:51:59.281-05:00It does seem to be the case that usually - though ...It does seem to be the case that usually - though not always - the harder people work, the luckier they get.Stephen Leatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08179238880325952527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-91713025216748227292014-03-24T11:14:46.604-05:002014-03-24T11:14:46.604-05:00My take: This is a business of exceptions. It alwa...My take: This is a business of exceptions. It always has been. All the arts are. And they've always been unfair. More so with gatekeepers, but even without, unfair.<br /><br />Then again, life's unfair. Why anyone would expect this biz to be different is beyond me.<br /><br />I have no disagreement with any of Joe's points. I've run a number of businesses, and done seven startups, three of which did well. They all should have. The majority didn't. Luck is also a factor in business. Publishing is a business, and most startups fail. Doesn't matter what industry. It's the exceptions that don't.<br /><br />This is a business of exceptions. All are, but this especially.<br /><br />Figure out how to be an exception. That usually involves risk. Lots of it. Figure out how to be relevant to an audience. Be an unstoppable force of nature.<br /><br />The odds suck. Deal with it.<br /><br />If it were easy...<br /><br />Russell Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03001000271305209429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-69559623368314727242014-03-23T13:51:06.470-05:002014-03-23T13:51:06.470-05:00Joe, Did you choose to use J A Konrath as your aut...Joe, Did you choose to use J A Konrath as your author name, rather than Joe Konrath, so as to have a gender neutral name, and therefore potentially appeal to a larger readership? Or did you choose to write about a female detective (Jack Daniels) to appeal to a female readership? I'm guessing that most mystery/crime readers are women. Thanks. Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-69848136024021612152014-03-21T05:35:30.529-05:002014-03-21T05:35:30.529-05:00Thanks for posting what you think we control. I ac...Thanks for posting what you think we control. I actually wrote it down to make sure I'm contributing to those things weekly.<br /><br />People focus too much on the future. The present is what matters. The act of writing. The act of building a network. Enjoying those actions simply because you enjoy doing them. If this is all for some end goal, you'll never be happy, and likely not a success.<br /><br />My two cents.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14735210976622027256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-57998305223185706762014-03-20T18:58:30.136-05:002014-03-20T18:58:30.136-05:00Joe, your “Pearls of Writing Wisdom” never end. Th...Joe, your “Pearls of Writing Wisdom” never end. Thanks again for sharing. My take away:<br /><br />Write the best entertaining books you can, maximize exposure, and provide reader value, giving luck an opportunity to flourish.<br /><br />You and others have proven that published eBooks are forever, but may not be “successful” until a future book attracts new readers, creating an appetite for the author. Write, write, and write. Build an inventory of quality products. Be ready for luck.<br /><br />Best of luck to all...<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13650618703761755628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-25261961452945235842014-03-20T14:52:48.140-05:002014-03-20T14:52:48.140-05:00Ouch. How do I get lucky? Certainly isn't happ...Ouch. How do I get lucky? Certainly isn't happening watching Sid the science kid with my 3 yr old. Dang.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-22778660446206533502014-03-20T14:42:16.038-05:002014-03-20T14:42:16.038-05:00Word. Thanks for keeping it real. Sometimes we get...Word. Thanks for keeping it real. Sometimes we get caught up in the "dream" of it all, somehow thinking we're owed success if we write a book or a bunch of them. Especially when reading about those other lucky bastards, ehem, I mean, fellow writers, who are making millions because... who knows? But they put in the work, they did their time in the chair and were ready for the luck when it came knocking. <br /><br />That's my take away here, whether or not that was your message. ;)Kelly Byrnehttp://www.authorkellybyrne.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-75504870054644570052014-03-20T13:53:09.947-05:002014-03-20T13:53:09.947-05:00Continued hard work and preparation doesn't me...Continued hard work and preparation doesn't mean luck will happen. It increases the chances it might happen, and it's a nice motivational sound byte, but in the case of sports the concept of the "best" cannot be determined by a single game. Or even several games. Luck plays a huge factor in who wins.<br /><br />Consider this:<br /><br /><a href="http://freakonomics.com/2012/11/09/does-the-%E2%80%9Cbest%E2%80%9D-team-win-the-world-series/" rel="nofollow">http://freakonomics.com/2012/11/09/does-the-%E2%80%9Cbest%E2%80%9D-team-win-the-world-series/</a><br /><br />Does this also apply to the randomness of bestsellers? Probably. At any given time, anything can happen. Any book could become a bestseller for any reason, though the vast majority won't. You can try to nudge things to happen, but you don't ever have control.<br /><br />That doesn't mean we don't have to try hard. But we shouldn't delude ourselves that trying hard will equal success.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-84668548667428454992014-03-20T13:08:08.365-05:002014-03-20T13:08:08.365-05:00As that great philosopher Curly Howard once said: ...As that great philosopher Curly Howard once said: If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed.<br /><br />Write, edit, publish, repeat. That's my plan for 2014. Add in a slight amount of promotion, but not much. It's a numbers game and my goal for this year is to increase my numbers.Merrill Heathhttp://merrillheath.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11411129976349987102014-03-20T12:47:04.071-05:002014-03-20T12:47:04.071-05:00This post both depressed and inspired me. Thank yo...This post both depressed and inspired me. Thank you for that bit of reality. I needed it today.Amy Keeleyhttp://amykeeley.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-44882701197270999402014-03-20T12:20:59.516-05:002014-03-20T12:20:59.516-05:00Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi believed t...Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi believed that luck was where preparation meets opportunity.<br /><br />Write, write the very best you can. (He also said, Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect). Keep writing.<br /><br />Do all you can to create the opportunity (to sell books) this is marketing. If what you're doing doesn't work, find something new.<br /><br />I'm just learning all this so forgive me for being late to the game. Thought I'd share it because it can't be said too often.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16620367133264855090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-90846389098033801332014-03-20T10:19:29.817-05:002014-03-20T10:19:29.817-05:00I think I really needed this post right about now....I think I really needed this post right about now. I published my first novel, a sci-fi thriller "Convergence," almost a month ago. It's been a bit of a struggle to get sales outside of my immediate sphere of influence, but those sales that have it made it beyond that sphere have been because of great luck. I sent out a press release shortly after publication when I found out that Read an eBook was happening (a week after my publication), hoping to tie the release into that event and snag some local coverage. Nada. Not a peep.<br /><br />Then, my wife shared a note on her Facebook about the book's release. Then one of her friend's commented, tagging another friend, who is a book reviewer. She now has a copy of Convergence and will be reading it soon (and hopefully she likes it!).<br /><br />I just got two-five star reviews from Amazon customers, and next week an interview I did will be hitting the web. Hopefully some more reviews will go live prior to that, and I can kind of capitalize on this, ahem, convergence of events. <br /><br />So I definitely think part of this is luck, and part of it is my working on making this luck happen. It certainly hasn't been easy, but it has been personally rewarding. Joe, I've been reading your blog and books for quite a while now; thanks for the sound advice and reality-checks along the way!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-80944303627862433752014-03-20T07:34:09.301-05:002014-03-20T07:34:09.301-05:00Whew! Luck, indeed. But I'd rather write and h...Whew! Luck, indeed. But I'd rather write and hope for luck than not write at all. Writing is in my blood and bones and body, and for that I'm thankful. And if I hit paydirt? All the better, but it's not what's driving me to do this. An insane need to tell stories is.<br /><br />Thanks for a great post.Terri Herman-Poncehttp://terriponce.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-5903569629505106572014-03-20T07:27:59.217-05:002014-03-20T07:27:59.217-05:00I've gotten lucky and sold a lot of copies of ...I've gotten lucky and sold a lot of copies of my WOOL tie-in, Karma of the Silo. Top 100 lucky. But I have other books that haven't sold as well. Yet! <br /><br />Enjoying the writing is its own reward. I try to remember to do that. <br /><br />I also love the indie ethos of extending a hand, like Anonymous above, who made helpful suggestions to another author. This is a great and exciting time to write books.<br /><br />Thanks for another classic, Joe. Patrice Fitzgeraldhttp://www.patricefitzgerald.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-77001644741240032092014-03-20T02:33:52.559-05:002014-03-20T02:33:52.559-05:00This comment is for Sharon. There are some things ...This comment is for Sharon. There are some things you can try. <br /><br />One, your covers aren't branded right for genre. I had to read your bio to figure out what genre your books were in. Study urban fantasy covers. Also science fiction covers involving planets. Yours are too generic.<br /><br />Second, get your pricing down inside where the bestsellers in your genres price. That means 3.99 to 4.99 max for a novel. <br /><br />Third, create some loss leaders that *directly* tie into your books. I'd recommend you read "Write, Publish, Repeat" to learn how funnels work. You want to sell, you need to give people an easy in to your work.<br /><br />Yes, it is a lot luck. But there are things you can control, like covers, blurbs, proper genre branding, funnels, etc that will help. The nice thing is, even if you fail at first, keep trying new things and you might succeed later. Hope that helps!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-48412905747098076562014-03-19T23:54:41.794-05:002014-03-19T23:54:41.794-05:00This post really struck a chord for me. Been feeli...This post really struck a chord for me. Been feeling pretty down on myself. Started writing full-time almost exactly 5 years ago; started self/indie publishing in July last year. I just published my 11th title today (including 3 novels). So far, I haven't even sold enough to meet the thresholds for getting paid ANYWHERE. I know it takes time, but I really thought I'd be doing better by now. I've started making pro sales on my shorts, but I love the idea that "luck means you have to keep trying until luck happens."<br />Thanks. I needed that. Especially this week. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04535304651686097060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-82666336876110022462014-03-19T20:16:42.609-05:002014-03-19T20:16:42.609-05:00I could be wrong, but I thought the time of releas...I could be wrong, but I thought the time of release did matter. Isn't summer a slower time? I rushed to get some of my stories out during the bad weather, and one of them did pretty well. (Of course, it could be the cover art, or that I priced low to begin with, or some other factor.) <br /><br />I also found this book helpful in understanding more about writing descriptions and picking good key words on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E04F6D8<br /><br />I always get something from your posts, Joe: thank you. :-)hollis shilohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04585509044252127013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-41180863116542106382014-03-19T20:08:17.193-05:002014-03-19T20:08:17.193-05:00Joe: This is a great post. "It all comes down...Joe: This is a great post. "It all comes down to luck." "Learn to live with it." These are words to remember. Meanwhile, I'll keep writing and be grateful whenever a stranger buys one of my books. I never thought the world owes me a living, so I'm okay there.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11560755679498126758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-27410014815540097742014-03-19T20:07:31.831-05:002014-03-19T20:07:31.831-05:00Bentley Little is not online, does not interact wi...Bentley Little is not online, does not interact with fans, and writes a book a year. The guy obviously got very lucky.Mean Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02635990619960490383noreply@blogger.com