tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post2118459955974781209..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Monetizing Your Intellectual PropertyJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-2616364177968565582011-03-10T21:19:03.463-06:002011-03-10T21:19:03.463-06:00Hi, just bought a copy of Shapeshifters anonymous ...Hi, just bought a copy of Shapeshifters anonymous (For kindle), my first ebook purchase via amazon, for the K3. You have a post from techdirt and the $0.99 pricing to thank :)Kyhwanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12960713687707854272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-13520982867239076922011-03-09T21:58:54.024-06:002011-03-09T21:58:54.024-06:00Have you ever gotten negative feedback from someon...<i>Have you ever gotten negative feedback from someone who got it in one form and discovered the value package with other stories and got upset?</i><br /><br />Nope.<br /><br />Stephen King has done similar experiments, like with The Green Mile, which he released in six installments, then in one omnibus version with extensive rewrites.<br /><br />Readers are pretty savvy. And if they realize they've bought something twice, they can always return it for full credit.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11871381691018883102011-03-08T21:42:54.185-06:002011-03-08T21:42:54.185-06:00How do you keep track of all the different version...How do you keep track of all the different versions an e-book is released?<br />Have you ever gotten negative feedback from someone who got it in one form and discovered the value package with other stories and got upset?Christopherhttp://blog.crucialbusiness.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-7788618643959667372011-03-08T14:03:50.881-06:002011-03-08T14:03:50.881-06:00"anonymous" said:
> unlike someone ..."anonymous" said:<br />> unlike someone who has <br />> 20 years experience <br />> making media that has <br />> sold millions of copies <br />> to cricitical acclaim<br /><br />um, i don't think you get to<br />trumpet your track record<br />when you come in here as<br />one of the "anonymous" tribe.<br /><br /><br />> the buying public is <br />> rarely the best judge of <br />> what's good for the product <br />> and the market.<br /><br />that must be why you experts<br />have such a bad track-record<br />in predicting what we will buy,<br />so the only way you could get<br />"millions of copies sold" was to<br />ram it down our throats, using<br />the "cricitical (sic) acclaim" in<br />the media which _you_ operate.<br /><br />but we don't pay attention to<br />your "payola" game any more.<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-34045331809065716882011-03-08T05:36:34.743-06:002011-03-08T05:36:34.743-06:00> and even if it _is_ tiny, you
still might wan...> and even if it _is_ tiny, you<br />still might wanna listen to it.<br /><br />We do, and do make course corrections based on feedback sometimes. Rarely. <br /><br />However you'll find that unlike someone who has 20 years experience making media that has sold millions of copies to cricitical acclaim, the buying public is rarely the best judge of what's good for the product and the market.<br /><br />Many people like to talk about how a book could have been better, how they would have done something, etc. Sit down and write a full length novel sometime, then publish it. Then come back and tell us all about it, and what you learned Bowerbird.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-19589009045423098492011-03-06T15:11:25.933-06:002011-03-06T15:11:25.933-06:00j.a. said:
> Seems some people
> in the...j.a. said:<br />> Seems some people <br />> in the comments <br />> don't like bundling at all. <br />> Yet, it works. <br /><br />it "works" from _some_<br />standpoints. but not all.<br /><br /><br />> Bundling works in music. <br /><br />it does, does it?<br /><br />most people agree that<br />napster took off like it did<br />because the music-buyers<br />hated the record industry.<br /><br />why?<br /><br />most observers say that<br />those buyers felt that the<br />industry had cheated them,<br />thus felt zero compunction<br />about "cheating" in return.<br /><br />and the number-1 reason<br />music-buyers felt cheated?<br /><br />because they'd been forced<br />to buy albums composed of<br />a couple good songs mixed<br />in with a big bunch of "filler".<br /><br />and they had had no choice<br />but to accept this "bundling",<br />and buy the entire package<br />to get the pieces they wanted.<br /><br />so yes, this "vocal minority"<br />kept purchasing even while it<br />bitched to anyone listening...<br /><br />but once it got the chance to<br />_strike_back_, it seized on the<br />opportunity without hesitation.<br /><br />and the rest, as the saying goes,<br />is history...<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-64141301438819255392011-03-06T14:55:50.815-06:002011-03-06T14:55:50.815-06:00jenna said:
> this is what differentiates
&g...jenna said:<br />> this is what differentiates <br />> fans and readers.<br /><br />i agree with you. thing is,<br />if you're selling e-books --<br />at under 5 bucks a pop --<br />you're selling to _readers_.<br /><br />you must find another way<br />to get money from _fans_,<br />since fans want to give you<br />_lots_and_lots_ of money,<br />not just a few bucks, and<br />_not_ for something that<br />anyone else can buy cheap.<br /><br />that's why i had mentioned<br />bob lefsetz up above, since<br />this is a big point of his, but<br />i forgot to do the follow-up.<br /><br />bob made observations that<br />people get pissed off when<br />the ticket-price for concerts<br />skyrockets. but the people<br />who are the most satisfied<br />are the fans who paid extra<br />(and it's a very big amount)<br />to meet the band back-stage.<br /><br />don't charge everyone extra<br />for the basic product, in the<br />feeble hope fans won't mind.<br /><br />because that doesn't make<br />_anyone_ happy, most of all<br />the non-fans who you need<br />to fill all those empty seats.<br />but also not the fans either;<br />they want something special<br />the other people don't have.<br /><br />charge as little as you can<br />for the basic product, to<br />try to get as many people<br />in the tent as possible, so<br />you can convert as many<br />as you can into true fans,<br />who'll _want_ to pay more.<br /><br /><br />> For instance: 1994 - <br />> I was a HUGE <br />> Smashing Pumpkins fan<br /><br />i really enjoyed your story. :+)<br /><br />it's nice and fun to hear a fan<br />talking about the entity of<br />their affection... touching...<br /><br />but here's the thing, jenna.<br /><br />none of that ephemera stuff<br />applies in the digital world...<br /><br />you were collecting _stuff_.<br />great... it's cool to collect...<br /><br />however, an e-book has _no_<br />"collector value", because it's<br />easily reproduced by people...<br /><br />my copy of "the list" is the<br />exact same as your copy...<br />and either one of us could<br />make countless other copies,<br />which are all the exact same.<br />so there's nothing to "collect".<br /><br />if your fans want to create a<br />"bundle", they have the pieces<br />so they can do it themselves.<br /><br />you want to sell your fans<br />something they don't have,<br />something that they cannot<br />do themselves. for thinking<br />along these lines, you should<br />read the blog of kevin kelly...<br />> http://www.kk.org<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-12153297672905263932011-03-06T14:19:41.681-06:002011-03-06T14:19:41.681-06:00"anonymous" said:
> You need to car..."anonymous" said:<br />> You need to carefully separate <br />> people's complaints from how <br />> they vote with their dollars. <br />> They are rarely in sync. <br /><br />i would agree with most of that.<br /><br />instead of "rarely", i woulda said<br />"often not", but close enough...<br /><br /><br />> Listen to the sales data <br />> and not the vocal minority.<br /><br />i'd disagree almost completely.<br /><br />unless that "vocal minority"<br />is tiny (i.e., less than 10%),<br />it is your _warning_signal_<br />that "you're doing it wrong."<br /><br />so you should listen to it...<br /><br />and even if it _is_ tiny, you<br />still might wanna listen to it.<br /><br />i'm not necessarily saying that<br />you should _bow_down_ to it,<br />or even appease it, but you<br />most definitely should _listen_.<br /><br />in days of old, you could afford<br />to ignore unhappy customers,<br />but as too many corporations<br />have learned already, today's<br />unhappy consumers go viral,<br />and that can cause problems,<br />big hard-to-solve problems,<br />problems to avoid if you can.<br /><br />and listening is a cheap way<br />to avoid those big problems.<br /><br />it's all about the relationship.<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-18908042456222600042011-03-06T00:21:00.627-06:002011-03-06T00:21:00.627-06:00Cameron asked...
"...I have a novella that wi...Cameron asked...<br /><i>"...I have a novella that will be published in a couple of weeks. I also have a short story that's ready to go. I'm trying to figure out a) how to price them, and b) which one I should post first. Any general advice on those questions?..."</i><br /><br />Cameron - What are you waiting for? If the short story is ready to go, and you've exhausted all the print magazine markets you wanted to send it out to, go ahead and put it up now for $0.99 (be sure you're clear in the description that it's a short). Then, in a couple of weeks, or whenever the novella is ready, post it for $1.99 (again, list it as a novella in your description). It's also a good idea to put a note of some sort on the cover that it's a novella or short story.<br /><br />Later, when you have enough short stories that share a common theme, you can go ahead and bundle them with a new story or two and sell the collections at higher prices. <br /><br />Bowerbird suggested that you combine the two stories now -- you could, if they have something in common that would make the collection make sense, but there's no reason to <i>only</i> combine them when each story can <i>also</i> be out there working on its own for you. This is a great time for short fiction "singles." People are finding that they like to read while they're waiting in line at the bank or at the dentist or in all sorts of other situations, and while a lot of people like long ebooks, many people are finding that short fiction on their smartphones is a great way to fill the time. And $.99 for a good short story or $1.99 for a novella is a very reasonable price.<br /><br />Remember, too, that you don't have to post everything all at once, although keeping to some sort of regular schedule is helpful both for you (on the production side) and the audience you're building (on the expectation side). I've been using this method to get my name out there while working on a book -- putting one or two shorter pieces out every couple of weeks, and then returning my focus to writing the book. I have seven "singles" out now, of varying length, and I'm getting good response from them. <br /><br />Bottom line (as I see it): there's no rush for you to put everything up right away. Ebooks are new and hot, and things will change as the market figures out how to respond to the flood, but it's pretty certain that they're not going away. On the other hand, if the stories are ready to go (and you are, too), there's also no reason to hold off.<br /><br />Good luck with it! And welcome to the new world of publishing!Leigh Saundershttp://www.camdenparkpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-32395681867147529112011-03-05T18:31:05.131-06:002011-03-05T18:31:05.131-06:00J. A., you are my indie idol! Thanks so much for g...J. A., you are my indie idol! Thanks so much for great advice, which I intend to follow. To think that just a few months ago I was confident I'd go the traditional publishing route. A few rejections and requests for partials and fulls later, I realized that life was too short to wait for someone, I don't know from Adam, to decide whether I was worthy of being in print.<br />That's when I found your blog. And now, I can't wait to upload my first mystery novel on Kindle. Just a few more days! It's such a joy to control your own destiny!<br />Cheers!Lada Rayhttp://ladaray.com/default.aspxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-62708537489831420892011-03-05T17:06:38.143-06:002011-03-05T17:06:38.143-06:00I've been planning on doing this for quite a w...I've been planning on doing this for quite a while. I intend to have the short stories for free on my blog, and have them as ebooks for .99 and in collections for 2.99. My fear, though, is the length of the stories. Most of my stories (with the exception of a few flash fiction stories) fall between 2500 and 3500 words. I will obviously tell how many words they are in the descriptions, but are these too short for solo e-publication?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.professorbeej.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.professorbeej.com</a>B.J. Keetonhttp://www.professorbeej.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-34262510505045952152011-03-05T09:33:48.956-06:002011-03-05T09:33:48.956-06:00You need to carefully separate people's compla...You need to carefully separate people's complaints from how they vote with their dollars. They are rarely in sync. <br /><br />When fans says "That's it, I'll never buy another Konrath title ever again - he's reselling old stuff!" you can bet that many of them are buying it anyway for the new content.<br /><br />Listen to the sales data and not the vocal minority.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-13337089795360056112011-03-05T00:54:43.590-06:002011-03-05T00:54:43.590-06:00I will bookmark this page and have my friends chec...I will bookmark this page and have my friends check up here often. I am quite sure they will learn lots of new stuff here than anybody else.India Travel Guidehttp://www.veethi.com/india_travel_guide.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-60695743062111152132011-03-05T00:05:43.451-06:002011-03-05T00:05:43.451-06:00@Basil
Yes, the new cover is preferred. Like I sa...@Basil<br /><br />Yes, the new cover is preferred. Like I said, much bravery to do your own covers. Good on ye.<br /><br />dr.cpeArchangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18358062143743621676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-41080507200147818932011-03-04T23:08:22.962-06:002011-03-04T23:08:22.962-06:00@Basil Sands
I like the 'Geeks Rule!' cov...@Basil Sands<br /><br />I like the 'Geeks Rule!' cover I see.antareshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00928062661776005108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-84531791187181346662011-03-04T22:53:48.748-06:002011-03-04T22:53:48.748-06:00This is just the blog I've been looking for. I...This is just the blog I've been looking for. I'm new here, so thank you! I look forward to reading your work in the very near future!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00242549135380401097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-72548460487127600962011-03-04T21:26:18.654-06:002011-03-04T21:26:18.654-06:00@Basil I prefer this current book cover.
Russell ...@Basil I prefer this current book cover.<br /><br />Russell Brooks<br />Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pandoras-Succession-ebook/dp/B00486U6O2" rel="nofollow">Pandora's Succession</a>Russell Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13877653195121083326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-3876431507196113342011-03-04T20:13:28.491-06:002011-03-04T20:13:28.491-06:00Seems some people in the comments don't like b...Seems some people in the comments don't like bundling at all. Yet, it works. <br /><br />Bundling works in music. Greatest Hits albums with a few new songs and/or remixes. The true fans buy it to get the new work, while it also attracts casual buyers who may not have bought all the previous albums. <br /><br />No one gets mad at the music industry doing it. The songs are clearly labeled, so the buyers know exactly what they are getting.<br /><br />I don't see any problem with it for short stories for the same reason. So long as the description clearly marks what is available in the collection, then why not? It's not a trick. It's a convenience to a different type of reader who may not be interested in buying the short stories individually.<br /><br />By the way, <a href="http://deanwesleysmith.com" rel="nofollow">Dean Wesley Smith</a> has been suggesting this for a while now, too. Put out the short stories individually for .99 cents. Then also bundle them in 5-packs and 10-packs at different price ranges. It's working well for him.<br /><br /><a href="http://starcatcherpub.com" rel="nofollow">J.A. Marlow</a>J.A. Marlowhttp://jamarlow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-28233304328832094972011-03-04T19:31:56.659-06:002011-03-04T19:31:56.659-06:00Thanks, Selena! Looking forward to your cover tomo...Thanks, Selena! Looking forward to your cover tomorrow.<br /><br />Love the Symbios cover, Joe. Did Carl Graves do that one?S.J. Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12947499917626378222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-48856468033406030072011-03-04T18:57:51.451-06:002011-03-04T18:57:51.451-06:00I love the cover review blog, it's totally fun...I love the cover review blog, it's totally fun! :)Selena Kitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17783685215421352626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-92156623637315564502011-03-04T16:53:01.407-06:002011-03-04T16:53:01.407-06:00@Basil--I like the new one much better. The blurre...@Basil--I like the new one much better. The blurred font on the original gave me a headache, lol.<br /><br />@Jenna--Thanks! I already have 25 authors queued up for review. I'm planning to send all of them, and anyone else who submits a cover in the next few days, a free copy of <i>Journey Into Darkness: A Kim Journey Thriller</i>. So come on over and play, everyone!<br /><br /><a href="http://coverartreview.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Cover Art Review</a><br /><br /><a href="http://tiny.cc/4280n" rel="nofollow">Journey Into Darkness: A Kim Journey Thriller</a>S.J. Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12947499917626378222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-55549692347257947452011-03-04T16:33:16.058-06:002011-03-04T16:33:16.058-06:00I just want to add that I _also_ think Jeroen is a...I just want to add that I _also_ think Jeroen is an amazing cover artist!<br /><br />He did my cover for <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OEINV6" rel="nofollow">Shackled</a></i> and I love it! I've also signed him on to do the covers for my upcoming (YA) Icarus Helix series.<br /><br />I highly recommend him!<br /><br /><a href="http://jemedrick.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">J. E. Medrick</a><br /><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OEINV6" rel="nofollow">Shackled</a></i>J. E. Medrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09505810773159064262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-87167668286820253342011-03-04T16:04:16.809-06:002011-03-04T16:04:16.809-06:00Basil, I think your "Geeks Rule!" cover ...Basil, I think your "Geeks Rule!" cover is just fine, especially for a short story...but, hell, since I don't really pay much attention to covers when I buy books, I suppose my opinion may be a bit skewed.Rebecca Stroudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15138742710462541038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-64023779720369090272011-03-04T15:32:15.996-06:002011-03-04T15:32:15.996-06:00#Geeks Rule Cover:
Thanks for the input folks. Na...#Geeks Rule Cover:<br /><br />Thanks for the input folks. Nathan Lowell gave a bit of help and employed some suggestions and <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/45135" rel="nofollow">here's the newly designed one, waddaya think?</a><br /><br />And in gratitude for the input and just because it is a beautiful Friday afternoon in Alaska here's a coupon code to get <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/45135" rel="nofollow">"Geeks Rule"</a> for free at Smashwords!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/45135" rel="nofollow">"Geeks Rule"</a> Free eBook Coupon: ZK43X<br /><br />For that matter, here's a coupon for <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/24878" rel="nofollow">my novel "Faithful Warrior"</a> as well...just because.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/24878" rel="nofollow">"Faithful Warrior"</a> Free eBook Coupon: NE49S<br /><br />EnjoyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152540665352170999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-74718800172687409672011-03-04T13:32:24.005-06:002011-03-04T13:32:24.005-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.bowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.com