tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.comments2024-03-18T06:16:18.802-05:00A Newbie's Guide to PublishingJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger61928125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11235569123350002852024-02-15T09:38:24.263-06:002024-02-15T09:38:24.263-06:00I sincerely hope that AI doesn't take over the...I sincerely hope that AI doesn't take over the world of writing. I can't imagine that it could, but boy is that thought scary!Laura Shermanhttps://laurasherman.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-70301209456057169482024-01-30T11:47:12.267-06:002024-01-30T11:47:12.267-06:00AI producing written works is here to stay. They c...AI producing written works is here to stay. They can outlaw it but it will still be available if someone really wants to find and use AI. So better to learn to live with it. <br /><br />I also think there may be a time when AI writes as well as or better than human writers. And I think at some point readers will be fine with that. What's wrong with a good pastiche of Sherlock Holmes written by AI? Conan Doyle isn't writing new Holmes stories. Mark Asherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13758940020912520294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11356592570680859712024-01-08T11:40:01.096-06:002024-01-08T11:40:01.096-06:00wondering what's changed in 2024...wondering what's changed in 2024...Daalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09710938238039411166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-52641148926413817002023-12-02T05:03:11.040-06:002023-12-02T05:03:11.040-06:00Thank you for the actionable insights that I can a...Thank you for the actionable insights that I can apply to my life.Joreelshttps://stargambling.net/es/casinos/review/joreels-casino.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-13471128705913856902023-11-27T20:08:02.675-06:002023-11-27T20:08:02.675-06:00Good to hear from you again, Joe. Welcome back.Good to hear from you again, Joe. Welcome back.T. M. Bilderbackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10543827916764604918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-59186032139137327572023-11-09T21:29:55.098-06:002023-11-09T21:29:55.098-06:00>>>Do you see this window closing?
Yes. ...>>>Do you see this window closing?<br /><br />Yes. It will be ugly.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11496827119848251802023-11-09T18:32:42.488-06:002023-11-09T18:32:42.488-06:00That was refreshing, thank you! But one sentence g...That was refreshing, thank you! But one sentence gave me a little shiver - 'Writers have a window where we can use AI to make better books...' Do you see this window closing? Pennynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-27021125923237134392023-11-06T15:24:33.375-06:002023-11-06T15:24:33.375-06:00"Is part of the reason you abandoned blogging..."Is part of the reason you abandoned blogging because Amazon went all-you-can-eat subscription, instead of the writer having as much capacity to develop a one-on-one relationship with a reader, who had to invest in an individual writer, and therefore allowed the writer to develop an email list?"<br /><br />I'm not sure I understand the question. Amazon has had Kindle Unlimited for a long time, and while it initially hurt my sales the overall income found its level and it's been fine.<br /><br />One-on-one relationships with readers are dependent on how much a reader wants to reach out. Do they find your website and sign up for your newsletter? Follow your new releases on Amazon and BookBub? Follow you on social media? Zon had nothing to do with newsletter lists.<br /><br />"I mean, you had developed this advantage over the years, but the "newbys" reading the blog would no longer have as much ability to do this, hence, a damper on part of its utility."<br /><br />I'm not sure what you mean by an advantage. I was lucky to be published by Hyperion, and later Hachette. I was lucky Amazon invented the Kindle and allowed self-publishing. I took some chances, and it turned out pretty good, but I never got a Lee Child or Janet Evanovich push from trad pubs, and I never got a huge push from Zon. I was right place/right time, and I'm pleased I have fans and readers who follow me, but I think that can be done today with some grit and some luck, and I don't think it has gotten harder.<br /><br />Do writers still need agents and trad pubs? Some do. Those can help you make money without spending tens of thousands of dollars in ads. <br /><br />What's the secret to continued income? I'd say first and foremost is a big backlist. I have over 100 ebooks. All I need is for each to make a few bucks a day to make a good living.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61563612305880347322023-11-06T15:03:18.669-06:002023-11-06T15:03:18.669-06:00Is part of the reason you abandoned blogging becau...Is part of the reason you abandoned blogging because Amazon went all-you-can-eat subscription, instead of the writer having as much capacity to develop a one-on-one relationship with a reader, who had to invest in an individual writer, and therefore allowed the writer to develop an email list? I mean, you had developed this advantage over the years, but the "newbys" reading the blog would no longer have as much ability to do this, hence, a damper on part of its utility. <br /><br /><br />Nevertheless, good to see you back, if only on an ad hoc basis!Nik V.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16605902266012471360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-62217548119249179702023-10-28T15:40:14.129-05:002023-10-28T15:40:14.129-05:00You're busy, you don't need to get back to...You're busy, you don't need to get back to me. Just wanted to say how much your wisdom and experience is appreciated. Your last entry is a lot to get through and will take many days, but it's good to keep up to date.<br /><br />I did have a chuckle when you mentioned "in the style of James Patterson." Though a publishing powerhouse, I find I can't find his style, though it's been years since I flipped the pages of his latest at Costco, which is the only place I've seen them bought, both by middle-aged women who, for good or bad, are the book buyers of these times, perhaps all times. Nevertheless, it made me leave Costco in a sad state, which is a rarity. <br /><br />Thanks again and keep up the good work.<br /><br />Steve B.Steve Bennettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-29462508233248935232023-10-23T09:49:15.781-05:002023-10-23T09:49:15.781-05:00Interestingly, digital photography was bad for Kod...Interestingly, digital photography was bad for Kodak not because of the advent of digital but because Kodak decided that film quality was so superior that no one would want digital. They owned many businesses patents on digital photography and did nothing with them until far too late in the game. They failed to get that their industry was ripe for disruption, then failed to get that disruption was underway, because they were so enamored of quality of photo vs. quantity, ability to see results right away, and ability to share with others easily at a low cost.TracyAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-85905082667411281232023-10-14T20:40:49.163-05:002023-10-14T20:40:49.163-05:00I enjoyed reading this! You make excellent points....I enjoyed reading this! You make excellent points. Ingridhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04899058994931636288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-3942559690439658682023-10-14T04:48:10.858-05:002023-10-14T04:48:10.858-05:00Your blog was a big part of why I went the self-pu...Your blog was a big part of why I went the self-publishing route. It changed my life. Thank you, Joe. <br />Great rant! It made my day to see you'd posted your thoughts on AI and the AG lawsuit. I agree with almost all of them. AI is here to stay, and the outcome I fear is the power of AI being guarded by publishers and studios who purposefully limit content creators access to the tech while exploiting it themselves. DSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-4416973907863853662023-10-13T07:21:14.641-05:002023-10-13T07:21:14.641-05:00Thanks, Joe, it's great to hear from you again...Thanks, Joe, it's great to hear from you again. We've missed your fisking :) Joanna Pennhttp://www.thecreativepenn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11376396639289131102023-10-10T18:14:30.857-05:002023-10-10T18:14:30.857-05:00Huge fan here, I was just wondering if you’re stil...Huge fan here, I was just wondering if you’re still working on Timecaster Steampunk? It disappeared from Amazon, and I’ve been anxiously awaiting the read! Super fun seriesElinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-14564735474650191092023-10-10T18:13:01.191-05:002023-10-10T18:13:01.191-05:00Are you still working on Timecaster Steampunk? I’m...Are you still working on Timecaster Steampunk? I’m very excited to read it!Elinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-54797557678204310822023-10-08T00:00:02.498-05:002023-10-08T00:00:02.498-05:00Thanks, Jim.
1. Make people afraid.
2. Get them ...Thanks, Jim. <br /><br />1. Make people afraid.<br />2. Get them to turn to you for help.<br />3. Make them pay you forever.<br /><br />Welcome to the wonderful world of Guilds.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-35036215558619866422023-10-07T12:33:53.122-05:002023-10-07T12:33:53.122-05:00Having a CMO like BMI or ASCAP simply meant that t...Having a CMO like BMI or ASCAP simply meant that the "rights" that those organizations monitored got engulfed by the corporations, not the actual creators. Joe Country writes a great song, but to get it recorded, he has to agree to share rights with the producer, the singer and various others. And the publishing company that receives those payments is also owned by the same entities that are "paying" the royalties through the CMO.<br /><br />YOU taught me that a creator needs to retain the rights to their creation and bulldog anyone that refuses to pay what the contract states they owe. The Authors Guild simply wants to inject themselves in between the "publisher" and the creator to get their slice of that pie with a CMO.<br /><br />The English teachers at my community college just had a long discussion about critical thinking and the use of annotation to develop it. Your fisks are a great example.jim kosmickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08085710372093169851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-74816597631934382772023-10-02T03:09:23.392-05:002023-10-02T03:09:23.392-05:00The question is, given that this is dated 2015 and...The question is, given that this is dated 2015 and recommending strike against contracts, and now it's 2023 and the WGA just won better contracts through nearly 6 months of strike, whether do you count as a prophet. Or is it too different from what you had in mind to count?ai83https://www.blogger.com/profile/18412593235486209707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-68352373623126819552023-09-30T11:25:51.999-05:002023-09-30T11:25:51.999-05:00>>Beautiful rant.
Thx!
>>it’s pretty...>>Beautiful rant.<br /><br />Thx!<br /><br />>>it’s pretty complex and messy.<br /><br />Thx, Derek. That CMO idea is one of the most repulsive, ridiculous, and downright fascist things I've ever heard connected to the publishing industry. Thought Police anyone? And 10,000 authors signed it. Unbareable. <br /><br />>>Your blog is the reason I went down the self publishing route 10 years ago and it was the best decision. <br /><br />Glad it's working out! I can't say I've missed blogging, but I have missed thoughtful comments like this.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-41171917615161082872023-09-30T09:09:36.939-05:002023-09-30T09:09:36.939-05:00Joe, good to see you weigh in on this, what a fun ...Joe, good to see you weigh in on this, what a fun read. Your blog is the reason I went down the self publishing route 10 years ago and it was the best decision. Thanks for caring about other authors and going out on a limb to make a difference. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-48713547402663615362023-09-30T08:14:04.529-05:002023-09-30T08:14:04.529-05:00Great post - it’s pretty complex and messy but it’...Great post - it’s pretty complex and messy but it’s nice to hear a balanced approach.Derek Murphyhttps://www.creativindie.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-66791319666988273542023-09-29T13:09:49.064-05:002023-09-29T13:09:49.064-05:00Beautiful rant.Beautiful rant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-56232932475816083522023-09-29T09:57:24.723-05:002023-09-29T09:57:24.723-05:00Back when I was blogging I made many mistakes, but...Back when I was blogging I made many mistakes, but the reason I quit was twofold.<br /><br />First, it was taking up a lot of time posting and replying to posts when I could have been writing fiction.<br /><br />Second, I was so in love with the sound of my own voice and incensed by the many very real injustices in the publishing world that it made me a more cynical, and less loveable, human being.<br /><br />I don't want either of those things to happen again. I will try to stop by the comments and address them (assuming I still have any relevance to garner comments), but I'm not going to obsess over it so it make take a while for me to respond.<br /><br />Also, just because I blogged about this topic doesn't mean I'm back to blogging. I dunno what the future holds. A lot has changed in the last few years, all of it positive, and I don't know if being an author activist is something I want to do. Maybe, if I have something to talk about, I'll blog again. But it will never be like the old days where I was fisking every pinhead with a bad idea and getting outraged by writers getting screwed.<br /><br />I'm older. I'm wiser. I'm kinder. I'm lamer.<br /><br />Anyway, thanks for reading. Welcome to the world of publishing in 2023.<br /><br />Joe JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-50277709472576029732023-05-29T17:07:43.515-05:002023-05-29T17:07:43.515-05:00thanks much for this great info - much appreciate,...thanks much for this great info - much appreciate, as I'm seeking a literary agent. btw, I love anything to do with books & would be thrilled if you’d write a guest blog post for my site, which is for anyone who loves writing, books, and all the arts. If you think it might be fun or helpful to have my followers (who total about 10k across my various social media) meet you, here’s the link for general guidelines: https://wp.me/p6OZAy-1eQ - best - da-ALDaalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09710938238039411166noreply@blogger.com