tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post1251969096225846151..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Guest Post by Lee Goldberg (and Konrath talks numbers)JA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-39957643125224126502011-12-14T01:16:57.591-06:002011-12-14T01:16:57.591-06:00The Monk books, like the Diagnosis Murder novels t...The Monk books, like the Diagnosis Murder novels that I wrote before, were licensed tie-ins. That means I was hired for an advance, and given a tiny royalty, to write books based on characters that belong to someone else. I was a hired hand…albeit one paid very well by tie-in standards.Do best, no regret!<a href="http://www.giubbottimoncleroutlet2012.com" title="giubbotti moncler outlet 2012" rel="nofollow">giubbotti moncler outlet 2012</a> good topic, I will concern on.moncler jacketshttp://www.monclerjackets2011outlet.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-51138683288000860792011-11-19T10:43:37.663-06:002011-11-19T10:43:37.663-06:00I get excited reading a blog like this which discu...I get excited reading a blog like this which discusses numbers going back years. The possibilities of self-publishing are staggering.<br /><br />I'm happily self-published with two romances that were rejected because they were sweet, meaning not sexy, and historical Western, not contemporary--both not the subgenre traditional romance publishers buy. Yet in 6 months, I've sold almost 30,000 books and made about $23,000, far more than if I'd been traditionally published with these two books. The third book in the series goes up soon. I'm looking forward what may happen.Dr. Debra Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04556327521528996385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11884712980053340312011-11-16T15:28:02.952-06:002011-11-16T15:28:02.952-06:00I've been following your blog for a little ove...I've been following your blog for a little over a year now. I was in the middle of selling my book the traditional route last Feb. I had a stellar agent and the big boys were looking at my book. It was awesome! Then they started asking me to explain how I got over 25K facebook fans, and why that would help sell my book. I was floored. How did they not know that? How did they not see these wonderful fans as a pre-sold group of people anxiously awaiting the release of my book? Why the hell did I have to explain this? I couldnt wrap my head around it. <br /><br />The publishers have no clue how to do anything different than what they've always done. Social media? Social networking? Social marketing? No clue. When I found myself explaining to them why the facebook fan base, with over half a million interactions a month, was important and what it meant - I was heartbroken. They were supposed to know more than me. I was just a girl with a book and a knack for social media. Yeah, Im smart, but they were supposed to be smarter. They were supposed to know how to utilize that fan base to the max. <br /><br />They didn't. <br /><br />So, I pulled my MS & walked away. And its not just over social media. Its because the world is changing, and facebook is one facet of that changing world, and the traditional publishers seem to have their heads stuck in the sand allowing life to pass them by.<br /><br />Guys like Joe are awesome for posting this info and all the numbers and stats. Without him, I'm be banging my head into a wall giving social media lessons instead of working on my next book. <br /><br />Joe's awesome! That's all I'm saying.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-21550292311325364802011-11-16T12:55:30.029-06:002011-11-16T12:55:30.029-06:00Thank you from a newbieThank you from a newbieSharon Kingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-86089447815762160002011-11-16T11:22:22.525-06:002011-11-16T11:22:22.525-06:00Thanks for the hard data and words of encouragemen...Thanks for the hard data and words of encouragement! I just finished my first novel (yay me) and while I am seeking to have it "published" (per 20th century definition), it is remarkable to me, having spent my adult life in the high-tech sector, that I can write my own book, design my own cover, upload it to Kindle, have it made available to a (potential) audience of tens of millions, around the world, and have nearly a 70% royalty. <br />Yes, I worry about the future Amazon. But that's a small worry, like you suggest.<br />Regards,<br />BrianBrian S Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13157766736162157457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-23404906210917806672011-11-12T05:17:34.461-06:002011-11-12T05:17:34.461-06:00Lee - Great post! Joe - thanks for the numbers - ...Lee - Great post! Joe - thanks for the numbers - compelling as usual. I just wanted to pop in for a moment and add some of my personal experience. This year I have sold over 80,000 e-books. My last e-book, "Darkness Exposed" stayed on the Hot New Releases list for Women Sleuths for four weeks (the length of time Amazon allows a book to be a hot new release) and I played leap frog sharing the top three spots with Janet Evanovich and Sue Grafton during that time. I am trying to get a print deal - I now have a NY agent. But its REALLY nice to be in the drivers seat. In my contract I keep all of the e-rights to my works. <br />Yes - this can be done!!! <br />Best of luck to all<br /><br />Terri ReidTerri Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13225630410809985969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-67189833619813874762011-11-11T11:11:07.306-06:002011-11-11T11:11:07.306-06:00As far as I know, the publisher intends to end the...As far as I know, the publisher intends to end the series with my final book.<br /><br />LeeLee Goldberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13442268370192897461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-12637048379838255492011-11-11T03:23:29.258-06:002011-11-11T03:23:29.258-06:00Hello Mr. Goldberg !
I love the way you wrote all...Hello Mr. Goldberg !<br /><br />I love the way you wrote all Monk's characters ! You did a great job and I love you so much for that !<br />But I'm still sad to say goodbye for the second time to Monk ! So do you know if someone else would be hired to keep on writing Monk's cases ? <br />Thank you again for your great job !<br />Bye !Bryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03579622075769598852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-46303871051998751572011-11-10T17:12:34.189-06:002011-11-10T17:12:34.189-06:00Good post, Lee and Joe.
Received a pass notice fr...Good post, Lee and Joe.<br /><br />Received a pass notice from an agent today on my baseball novel, the last project I sent out before taking the eSP plunge. Guess I'll eSP it too.David A. Toddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16825539283421597579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-27106263178500115732011-11-10T13:19:03.791-06:002011-11-10T13:19:03.791-06:00Saw this on twitter today...
@PublishersWkly New ...Saw this on twitter today...<br /><br />@PublishersWkly New sales and marketing structure at Simon & Schuster will shift resources from print to digital; story coming shortlyLee Goldberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13442268370192897461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-19212900975298032252011-11-10T05:00:22.999-06:002011-11-10T05:00:22.999-06:00@wannabuy
I don't think it is, I just don&#...@wannabuy<br /><br /><br /><br />I don't think it is, I just don't agree paper is past tense :)Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14889115520039648017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-47250619253068463842011-11-09T21:33:56.121-06:002011-11-09T21:33:56.121-06:00@ Selena "You've almost broken the top 10...@ Selena "You've almost broken the top 1000 on Amazon. I didn't wait for the ebook version. Welcome back. :)"<br /><br />thanks Selena for your support on this HB. The ebk of same, Untie The Strong Woman HB, (my first ebk) is with Cheryl for layout as we speak... and in terms of support S : Right back at you hermanita. <br /><br />dr.cpeArchangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18358062143743621676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-62227984729698069832011-11-09T20:15:53.455-06:002011-11-09T20:15:53.455-06:00It's easier for the writers that use to be tra...It's easier for the writers that use to be traditionally published than it is for one that has never been published. Nobody knows who we are, and even though we work our ass off, we won't have the success many of you do. We don't have a backlist, and if you do and don't put it out there then that's just stupid. I don't have the money to invest in something that will never even make me the money back. I put two short stories together and sold 6 on Smashwords. I paid $15 to have it formatted for Amazon, although afterward I learned how to do it myself. I'll never make the $15 back either. All the time on Facebook and Twitter has amounted to nil for me. Not that I haven't tried because I have. I have two novels that at this point I have no hope to publish, so for me trying to get it traditionally published is a good move. It's not about paper, it's about needed exposure, editing won't hurt either. <br /><br />Good luck Lee. I love your books Joe, and can't wait until Stirred comes out.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00741339742186444605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-77376471466928890192011-11-09T14:18:07.931-06:002011-11-09T14:18:07.931-06:00Go Lee! (cheering)
I remember reading this blog n...Go Lee! (cheering)<br /><br />I remember reading this blog nearly two years ago, intimidated as hell about the whole notion of epubbing my backlist. I had so much to learn -- but nothing to lose. I had also let the traditional publishing world stomp all over my confidence until there was nothing left. I remember thinking "Wow, if I could just do a tiny fraction of what these other authors are doing with ebooks, that would be so exciting."<br /><br />If I'd only known then what I know now! LOL<br /><br />I have made more money in NINE MONTHS from 7 backlist ebooks than I made in NINE YEARS off of 9 print books. It has totally changed how I feel about publishing and myself as a writer. I actually get angry when I think about what I allowed the publishing machine to do to me as a person. They convinced me that my career had cratered because "readers just aren't buying what you write. Sorry." <br /><br />Ya know what? They were WRONG! Readers are definitely buying what I write. And they're clamoring for more. To me, that's the best part. Yes, the money's great. (Really, REALLY GREAT *G*) But I'm actually excited about writing again, and that's even better. Traditional publishing sucked the soul out of me. Epublishing gave it back.<br /><br />Julie Ortolon<br /><a href="http://www.julieortolon.com/books/survival-guide/" rel="nofollow">The Ebook Revolution Survival Guide for Authors</a>Julie Ortolonhttp://julieortolon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-88840175778641963092011-11-09T12:10:37.941-06:002011-11-09T12:10:37.941-06:00Lee, I can't even imagine going through making...Lee, I can't even imagine going through making a decision like that. Heck, when an editor at St. Martin even wanted to LOOK at one of the novels I was about to self-publish I nearly had a heart attack in forcing myself to say No. <br /><br />Quitting from Penguin with a successful series? Guy, you have cajones. Kudos to you.<br /><br />Joe, people are always going to attack you. Nothing new there. As you say, change is scary and and your guests say things people are scared of hearing.J. R. Tomlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01109874615059334200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-8713237211544788512011-11-09T12:06:52.887-06:002011-11-09T12:06:52.887-06:00Me thinks the Big Six and their minions are hasten...Me thinks the Big Six and their minions are hastening their demise. For those who haven't seen this, fair warning about agents who offer contracts with a Perpetual Agency Clause.<br /><br />http://thewritersguidetoepublishing.com/why-i-turned-down-a-new-yorkhollywood-agentScott Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11276077650234517880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-74220691385854785342011-11-09T11:54:51.529-06:002011-11-09T11:54:51.529-06:00Two things have completely changed my life on this...Two things have completely changed my life on this blog. The first, Joe's posting of e-book sales numbers showing us that indie authors CAN SUCCEED, more now than ever (I first caught wind of this back in January).<br /><br />And the second, the posting of the link to 1K Guy's enormous success. If you haven't already, go take look . He's the real deal and his wisdom seems to be right on the money.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/writing/comments/m2ejo/broke_1000_in_one_day_for_the_first_time/" rel="nofollow">Here's the link so you don't have to look around.</a>Scott Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11276077650234517880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-65816958231665770782011-11-09T10:59:12.411-06:002011-11-09T10:59:12.411-06:00@Archangel
You've almost broken the top 1000...@Archangel <br /><br />You've almost broken the top 1000 on Amazon. I didn't wait for the ebook version. <br /><br />Welcome back. :)Selena Kitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17783685215421352626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-89700443266506007412011-11-09T09:20:49.833-06:002011-11-09T09:20:49.833-06:00Wishing you the best of luck, Lee! Although, it so...Wishing you the best of luck, Lee! Although, it sounds like you're doing just fine. <br /><br />Good insight, Joe. As always.Michelle Mutohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17838640384993059492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-30106939609304152172011-11-09T09:15:52.829-06:002011-11-09T09:15:52.829-06:00What would happen if each paper book was printed w...<i>What would happen if each paper book was printed with a unique code that gave access to a free download of an ebook version?</i><br /><br />Three years ago I was a speaker at the Google Unbound conference, where I addressed over a hundred publishers. I said the same thing.<br /><br />People weren't listening to me then, either.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-28051671939815676072011-11-09T07:42:31.215-06:002011-11-09T07:42:31.215-06:00Thank you, Lee...and welcome to the dark side. ;)
...Thank you, Lee...and welcome to the dark side. ;)<br /><br />Joe, thanks for going over the numbers again. Always good to see some positive reinforcement.<br /><br />Would like to point out this nugget of goodness for folks to contemplate at their leisure:<br /><br />http://www.reddit.com/r/writing/comments/m2ejo/broke_1000_in_one_day_for_the_first_time/<br /><br />This is a guy who's yanking in a grand a day at the moment. Of course, he's castigated from afar at such places as Absolute Write for being a poseur, a liar, and dear God, does he actually espouse the 80/20 paradigm?<br /><br />There are lots and lots and lots of frightened writers out there who are just plumb worried that everything they've been taught for the past several decades is either changing or simply going away.<br /><br />Then there are others who are willing to step up and do it for themselves. Where some are paralyzed by fear, others surge forth in doubt.Stephen Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08553469605843916631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-28398356931714842472011-11-09T07:33:55.671-06:002011-11-09T07:33:55.671-06:00My young daughter wants her good night stories on ...<i>My young daughter wants her good night stories on Mommy's iPad. Or she wants me to read kid's books that I have on my Kindle</i><br /><br />Wannabuy<br /><br />That's what I see every day of the year between my three kids, two nieces and their swarms of friends. Kids today are using digital devices for EVERYTHING.<br /><br />Clearly this is one simple indicator of future consumer habits being totally overlooked by the legacy debaters.David L. Shutterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357694121376734716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-20193458497646080622011-11-09T06:02:31.820-06:002011-11-09T06:02:31.820-06:00Legacy publishers are in the business of "pro...Legacy publishers are in the business of "programming our consumption" (see Seth Godin : http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/11/the-extraordinary-revolution-of-media-choice.html - an excellent read for anyone on the bleeding edge of entertainment). They have access to a varying, but finite amount of shelf space, on which they (of course) want to put max-selling books. And (again of course), they do their best PR effort to make max out reader/buyer interest in the books on that shelf space. So legacy pub'ers sell shelf space and PR to the writer. Now writers no longer need the shelf space. So the paper-vs-ebook debate is really pointless. It's the PR that's important - "PR" meaning everything that is done to maximize reader/buyer attention & interest (cover, promo, price, authors web-siting together for sharing of fans/customers, ...). Given the legacy pub's preference for mass-appeal books for their shelf space, the price of outsourcing PR to legacy pub will be that the writing is tailored to mass-appeal. If one is fortunate enough to do that easily, it's only a matter of getting the price (i.e., royalties agreement) right, I guess. If not - or if the writer is a manio-progressive like Joe K. - the writer must do also do PR. The legacy pub'ers already have competition on that point - like cover and formatting services for e-books. So why not try to focus the thinking and discussion on the best ways to do and get PR? Debating paper vs. e- is always entertaining, but it doesn't contribute to PR or sales ;o)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-50676647529450987982011-11-09T05:47:01.132-06:002011-11-09T05:47:01.132-06:00Ray,
That's exactly the math I've been do...Ray,<br /><br />That's exactly the math I've been doing. And I think you're absolutely right.<br /><br />I'm a short story writer. I guess if I write and publish 4-8 short stories a month, all I'll need is a fan base of about 5,000 people worldwide to make 100K a year.<br /><br />Convincing 5,000 from 7 billion people that you're a good writer can't be such a difficult thing. It surely will take time, persistence and a lot of motivation, but it's definitely feasible.<br /><br />For some people it will be easier to convince only one guy who's responsible for a huge marketing budget, but for most of us it's going to be a matter of reaching readers directly.Lucas Nicolatohttp://www.amazon.com/Inside-Darkness-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B005W466TI/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1320839112&sr=1-6noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-62246086488591144082011-11-09T04:13:50.528-06:002011-11-09T04:13:50.528-06:00"Some do but most indie authors live in obscu..."Some do but most indie authors live in obscurity. After all, there are only 10,000 books in the top 10,000."<br /><br />That's what I thought until I ran the numbers. <br /><br />The truth is, not everyone can be Konrath... but it's for the people who "live in obscurity" that indie publishing really makes a difference.<br /><br />Say you are a writer who is a small, niche writer. A writer who, worldwide, has only 5,000 fans.<br /><br />You couldn't be published by traditional publishers, the numbers don't work.<br /><br />If you sell 5,000 books a year WORLDWIDE, you won't be in *any* bestseller list, and all your author friends will look down at you. <br /><br />BUT, say you can write 4 eBooks a year and sell 5,000 copies of each at $4.95.<br /><br />You're making $78k a year.<br /><br />And you're doing so as an obscure author whose author friends will look down on as a failure.<br /><br />That's the math for an obscure author selling at numbers that would mean traditional publishing would close them down after the very first book .Thomas Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11715429699387552563noreply@blogger.com