tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post524386344697992832..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Journey of the Late AdopterJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-69460118928882845032010-09-07T10:24:19.924-05:002010-09-07T10:24:19.924-05:00Great point, bowerbird. You articulated something ...Great point, bowerbird. You articulated something I've been wanting to say.Moses Siregar IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14054458331242370871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-69870301890087870152010-09-06T16:09:31.770-05:002010-09-06T16:09:31.770-05:00" I am learning about prepping ebooks, but it...<i>" I am learning about prepping ebooks, but it's NOT design it's coding, and it's not fun or creative—my reason for being."</i><br /><br />Yes, book design on the Kindle is coding, but it is exactly as creative as doing regular layout.<br /><br />I downloaded a copy of a book on the iPad and the layout was fantastic. Whoever did the eBook for that one was being creative.<br /><br />I think once you dive in you will find it rewarding -- and HTML style coding can lead you in a lot more career directions.evilphiliphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10100843889719733921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-82166006809872900892010-09-06T11:35:19.976-05:002010-09-06T11:35:19.976-05:00This makes me happy/sad. I am happy that e-readers...This makes me happy/sad. I am happy that e-readers will possibly get more people to read more books, maybe. But it makes me sad because I am a print book designer. I am learning about prepping ebooks, but it's NOT design it's coding, and it's not fun or creative—my reason for being. <br /><br />I think print books—the special ones—keepsake volumes, will be still be around for a while longer than 2013, but so few that I may not have a design job anymore. <br /><br />Ironically, my favorite way to consume fiction is with audiobooks. My bad. On the other hand, I probably need a break from this job I've been doing the last 30 years. So I am practicing for my next career, "Welcome to WalMart, would you like a cart?"<br /><br />Of course we're all going to die in 2012, so why worry?<br /><br />Sue Campbell—book designerdesign4lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12749492115755787594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-40405363896191772422010-09-05T16:02:52.493-05:002010-09-05T16:02:52.493-05:00joe said:
> and once we reach
> a tippi...joe said:<br />> and once we reach <br />> a tipping point <br />> there will be no reason <br />> at all for authors to take<br />> a smaller royalty and<br />> sign with a publisher.<br /><br />and it's not just about money...<br /><br />as you have said lately, joe, and <br />seth godin recently reiterated, <br />it's about _control_.<br /><br />in terms of long-range _career_,<br />_control_ is more important than<br />the short-term monetary reward<br />(or lack of it). face the obvious --<br />new york is only interested in<br />squeezing you, getting as much <br />money out of you as they can,<br />and in the least amount of time.<br />they don't care about your career.<br />they throw your shit at the wall<br />to see if it sticks, and if it don't,<br />tough luck, kid, see you later...<br /><br />so _take_control_ of your work,<br />and take control of your career...<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-80908060278185930172010-09-05T15:43:06.948-05:002010-09-05T15:43:06.948-05:00@ Terry Odell,
Your ninety-nine cents offering is...@ Terry Odell,<br /><br />Your ninety-nine cents offering is a short story that's a sequel to <i>two</i> $9.99 books.<br /><br />Try a stand-alone story for sale instead. I know I'd be more willing to buy it.<br /><br />Robinpagerdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11643245474652726903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-6782520486920475282010-09-05T05:19:50.860-05:002010-09-05T05:19:50.860-05:00SO spot on - really good read and scarily true!! T...SO spot on - really good read and scarily true!! Thanks for the insight. I think it will move as quick as the ipod too....but here in the UK hopefully will be a bit later than 2013. Going on my blog:<br />Cheers!<br />LLaura Austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07864083141007984269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-58078391889017525632010-09-04T19:03:06.240-05:002010-09-04T19:03:06.240-05:00"But chain bookstores won't. And when the...<i>"But chain bookstores won't. And when they go, the Big 6 will go, and so will the majority of print."</i><br /><br />I think you underestimate the ability of large corporations to adjust to change. <br /><br />Yes, the Big 6 might become the Big 4 as book stores start to close up shop and people move from print to eBook, but the independent author will never be able to compete with the ability of the big print publisher to both improve the quality of a work (editing) and get that work in front of readers (marketing).<br /><br />They have the experience doing both and will continue to provide that service even if the percentage of royality that they pay out to authors in the future increases.<br /><br />A "Big 4" book will almost always be higher quality than a book you can write on your own and your "Big 4" ePublisher can still use their marketing muscle to make sure that Amazon, B&N and other eRetails push your book above the books from independent authors -- both on the online store side of things and in E-mail blasts.<br /><br />If memory serves, wasn't getting an E-mail blast part of your print deal with Amazon.com? If Amazon can push your book in an E-mail blast you know that they can push a book from a big publisher.<br /><br />Add in the fact that a certain percentage of books will remain in print (Stephen King, James Patterson, J.K. Rowling & books from celebrity authors.) and the foundation of what big publishers do remains almost the same even as the public moves from paper to eInk.<br /><br />Not everyone is going to survive in a changing environment, but ask any gardener how difficult it is to keep out 100% of the weeds.<br /><br />A few of the big publishers might get pruned out, but they will grow back.evilphiliphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10100843889719733921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-65809944205356107662010-09-04T14:16:04.481-05:002010-09-04T14:16:04.481-05:00I have tried to sell my paperbacks for "Ameri...I have tried to sell my paperbacks for "America's Galactic foreign Legion," but in August only sold 5 in August. In that same month I sold 500+ Kindle books of AGFL.<br /><br />The Kindle eBook owners are avid readers, and I have no choice anyway because my books are only sold online. Bookstores will not put a POD book on their shelves.Walter Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03221874622830527655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-45613235208774607762010-09-04T13:52:22.042-05:002010-09-04T13:52:22.042-05:00Heather said:
is computer/electronic phobic
Th...Heather said:<br /><i> is computer/electronic phobic </i><br /><br />There will be those for a bit. But my 'late adopting' parents, also in their 60's, are Kindle fans now. <br /><br />Neil<br /><br />ps<br />Mea Culpa for signing my last post with another blog username... oops.wannabuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04297458705683991405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-15325217144404164752010-09-04T10:23:43.952-05:002010-09-04T10:23:43.952-05:00I'm sold on ereaders and prefer them over prin...I'm sold on ereaders and prefer them over print, but my mother, who is in her 60's, is computer/electronic phobic and refuses to jump on the train, so I have to gift her lit in print. She is beyond a late adapter. She's a no-thank-you anti-adapter.Heather Dearlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15870294050733092011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-64908737373481895972010-09-04T09:10:17.645-05:002010-09-04T09:10:17.645-05:00Just put you on my blog, Joe, with the title '...Just put you on my blog, Joe, with the title 'THE WORD on ebooks'. Check it out at www.wilsonwritings.com. You do good work.Alex Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09922660019009103885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-69422646094943273882010-09-04T02:08:50.868-05:002010-09-04T02:08:50.868-05:00I agree with Scott,
Books will go more the way of...I agree with Scott,<br /><br />Books will go more the way of videos. The decline of chain bookstores will be accelerated due to how few customers represent the majority of the business. <br /><br />e-books are 8.5% of the market growing by 0.5% per month. Argue what you want as the tipping point. We're approaching it. <br /><br />As soon as there is a $199 ruggedized Kindle, my daughter gets one. (Hey, Motorola ruggedized an Android cell phone which is a more fragile device than a Kindle...)<br /><br />I just found out two retired ex-coworkers switched to Kindles. Their grandkids pushed them to adopt... <br /><br />The only people I know holding onto paper read less than 4 books per year. Most are defecting to cell phones/laptop e-books. Amazon was wise to seed the market with their multi-platform approach. <br /><br />Lightsaberwannabuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04297458705683991405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-19549568768939455742010-09-03T20:24:00.112-05:002010-09-03T20:24:00.112-05:00I remember feeling that way about girls--when I wa...I remember feeling that way about girls--when I was eight.Rex Kuslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629682795065138786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-49571458167084680992010-09-03T19:38:26.196-05:002010-09-03T19:38:26.196-05:00Beyond true, I was very resistant to Kindle, or an...Beyond true, I was very resistant to Kindle, or any ereader. But that was only because I hadn't tried one. It took about 10 minutes to change my mind once I had one in my hands.Staceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12341753924567212850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-10435205416473747492010-09-03T17:45:07.176-05:002010-09-03T17:45:07.176-05:00@Verilees: That’s me. :) I’m thrilled to hear you ...@Verilees: That’s me. :) I’m thrilled to hear you loved Thin Blood. I hope you enjoy Sleight Malice just as much.<br /><br />Cheers<br />VickiVickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02678687120165473412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-25059892125085463542010-09-03T17:37:45.341-05:002010-09-03T17:37:45.341-05:00@Vicki: Oh, you are Vicki Tyley. Loved Thin Bloo...<b>@Vicki:</b> Oh, you are Vicki Tyley. Loved <b>Thin Blood</b> and I'm going to be starting on <b>Slight Malice</b> soon. I actually found you because of a post by your agent I saw somewhere. <br /><br />Looking forward to more thrillers in the future.Verileeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15903904471192374248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-56422952482824724702010-09-03T17:25:04.907-05:002010-09-03T17:25:04.907-05:00Agents aren’t just salesmen, or at least mine isn’...<i>Agents aren’t just salesmen, or at least mine isn’t. He wears many hats, not least editor and mentor. My success isn’t just down to my hard work.</i><br /><br />Good points, Vicki. A lot of agents are excellent editors because they used to be editors before they were agents.Eric Christophersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03959682464031525374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-91770812113123595362010-09-03T17:21:22.350-05:002010-09-03T17:21:22.350-05:00Joe,
Is this an accurate outline of your success?...Joe,<br /><br />Is this an accurate outline of your success?<br /><br /><br />(A) You developed your craft to the point that you secured a good agent and sold to a major publisher.<br /><br />(B) SERIAL launched on Kindle at $0.00. (200,000 downloads?) AFRIAD launched at $1.99. (??? downloads?) With this, your publisher planted the seed for your moneybomb.<br /><br />(C) You used your unpublished backlist smartly to fuel instant rapid growth.<br /><br />(D) Amazon’s recommendation system connected you to readers, and now accounts for 90% of your sales. Amazon’s 70% royalty is spinning your works into gold.<br /><br />(E) You keep cranking out quality novels.<br /><br />(F) You encourage all authors to skip steps A, B, and C.<br /><br /><br />- JackJack H. H. Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15495812906987846109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-84740895543237955212010-09-03T15:42:08.788-05:002010-09-03T15:42:08.788-05:00@Devon
“It's amazing you can still walk after...@Devon<br /><br /><i>“It's amazing you can still walk after being bent over like this.”</i><br /><br />LOL Oh, so cynical. Agents aren’t just salesmen, or at least mine isn’t. He wears many hats, not least editor and mentor. My success isn’t just down to <i>my</i> hard work.<br /><br />Cheers<br />VickiVickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02678687120165473412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-15498511575452154452010-09-03T15:22:46.225-05:002010-09-03T15:22:46.225-05:00One of the good people at Oceanview just sent me t...One of the good people at Oceanview just sent me the link to a new site for small press and indie authors. Check it out.<br />http://www.bestsellerbound.com/Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-65044604280365235242010-09-03T09:45:24.027-05:002010-09-03T09:45:24.027-05:00I'm thinking the device of the future will hav...I'm thinking the device of the future will have a flexible display that rolls up and retracts into a cylinder. The whole thing, when not in use, needs to fit in a pocket or purse. You push a button, and the display pops up out of the cylinder, and unrolls. You hold it by the cylinder like a fan. Ear phones plug into the bottom of the cylinder. Families will be spending quality time together, each watching/reading their own stuff.Rex Kuslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629682795065138786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-28753545485023688712010-09-03T09:00:44.167-05:002010-09-03T09:00:44.167-05:00I've had an ereader for a while now and it mos...I've had an ereader for a while now and it mostly sits on a counter, untouched. Old habits die hard and I tend to reach for a paperback when I have a chance to read. <br /><br />But that's just me. I think you're mostly right in your timeline, and I think you're right that bookstores will go the way of the music stores—which is a shame. I like bookstores. I liked music stores, too. I also like—no, love—libraries, and I fear they'll be gone, too.<br /><br />But times change and unless we change with them, we're left behind.Rob Gregory Brownehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12785299355462748009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-54021969744831423902010-09-03T08:59:42.119-05:002010-09-03T08:59:42.119-05:00I'm a believer! That's why I'm on boar...I'm a believer! That's why I'm on board now. I don't want to look back in 2 years (that was my estimate too, of when it'll hit it's peak, and I was also thinking of how the iPod revolutionized music) and say, damn, I wish I would've done it. My YA ebook, INTO THE SHADOWS, will be available later this fall. I already have an awesome cover, thanks to Joe's cover designer, and his formatter is doing the dirty work for me. Thanks so much Joe, for doing what you do, you're an inspiration!Karly Kirkpatrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05032213203101470326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-55227302853148383342010-09-03T08:52:42.603-05:002010-09-03T08:52:42.603-05:00Think of it as an agent in the new age.
I read bo...<i>Think of it as an agent in the new age.</i><br /><br />I read both of those blog posts, and it sounds just like every other story about someone who couldn't get published so they turned to self publishing. The only difference is you're actually rewarding your agent for not being able to do his job and sell your book. It's your money, and you're free to flush your pennies away however you want, but don't kid yourself about it being a new age. <br /><br />Agents provide a service. If they can't do that service they don't get paid. This arrangement garauntees they'll make an effort to do their job. If agents start expecting their clients to pay them from royalties on self published books they couldn't sell, then what is going to motivate them to get out there and sell your book to start?<br /><br />It's amazing you can still walk after being bent over like this.Devonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10568445695426133064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-34308605770976207102010-09-03T05:52:57.724-05:002010-09-03T05:52:57.724-05:00Have you read the thread about you on Mobilereads....Have you read the thread about you on Mobilereads.com? <br /><br />http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88126Chicki Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866110558880351017noreply@blogger.com