tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post569367396069167488..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Stealing The FutureJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-92026554939233400152009-10-05T23:37:13.387-05:002009-10-05T23:37:13.387-05:00I had a similar feeling about it as well, but then...I had a similar feeling about it as well, but then I was torn, and then I wasn't.<br /><br />I think in the end it levels the playing field in an industry that was top heavy, but I do think that the fruit of our labors shouldn't be openly handed over for exploitation by those skilled in marketing.<br /><br />That's where I draw the line. I will enjoy (for free) other people's work, but I will refrain from using someone else's work for profit.C Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07686080976624518524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-71821613491955836462009-10-03T06:25:59.255-05:002009-10-03T06:25:59.255-05:00Google. We keep talking about publishers fighting...<b> Google.</b> We keep talking about publishers fighting for the copyright entitlements of o.p. books. <b> But wait!</b> In general, publisher relinquishes rights to books they allow to go out of print (usually over the course of a contract-specific time).<br /><br />It's called <i> rights reversion.</i> And the rights end up with the author (thank you).<br /><br />When my four o.p. mystery novels appear on googleBooks, I migt be really pissed off. But I haven't the resrouces to do a dang thing about it. And I own the copyright.<br />I just to get to sit here and watch it be stolen by a huge corp that is, yes, making money off my work that I still ficking own.<br /><br />Whether or not anyone would want to ever read on of these books is moot. That doesn't mean googleBooks can just take them away from me. Does it?GhostFolk.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942600698461250382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-34167441098903623532009-10-03T06:11:32.267-05:002009-10-03T06:11:32.267-05:00Joe, Joe, Joe. Dang difficult this. Got me. Sho...Joe, Joe, Joe. Dang difficult this. Got me. Should we just give up on controlling any of it? <br /><br />You have created a character (in particular) people care about. So make the money up-front on the one coming next? <br /><br />But what about authors whose careers are based on a a number of one-shot titles. Then their own name must get the up-front money for what's coming next?GhostFolk.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942600698461250382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-90150390911565578152009-09-30T23:45:55.077-05:002009-09-30T23:45:55.077-05:00If the rest of the world falls into place. AWESOME...<i>If the rest of the world falls into place. AWESOME. If they don't....weren't you really writing for yourself?</i><br /><br />That's a balanced way of thinking, and a great way to approach life.<br /><br />I have said before, though, that this is the Newbie's Guide to Publishing, not the Newbie's Guide to Happiness.<br /><br />I do write for myself. But I also write to make money. I like making money doing something I love, and I'm lucky to be able to.<br /><br />I wish I didn't worry about the money, because I'd be happier. But worrying really tends to light a fire under my ass, and I tend to get a lot more done...JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-92231515226201572352009-09-30T23:41:04.975-05:002009-09-30T23:41:04.975-05:00Why put ads if you were on such a financial roll w...<i>Why put ads if you were on such a financial roll with Kindle?</i><br /><br />Do you read my blog posts and comments, or just pick out bits that suit you? <br /><br />I've sold over 10,000 books so far. I'm pretty happy with that number, but I do think more and more ebooks will be pirated, because people are sharing files in the billions.<br /><br />How can you make money when everything is free?<br /><br />The same way Google makes money. Ads. <br /><br /><i>Now that Sony has priced theirs at $199 will this be the new revolution?</i><br /><br />It's a step forward. Next it will be $149, then $99, then you'll be able to buy ereaders at Walgreens just like mp3 players.<br /><br />More than 3 million people use their iPhones to read books. That's a huge market, and it's only going to get bigger.<br /><br />As for file sharing, it's human nature, and it isn't going away. <br /><br />As for integrity, you're anonymous, so you can't really comment on that with any authority, can you?JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-59964270995224723052009-09-30T23:02:54.841-05:002009-09-30T23:02:54.841-05:00And I repeat: if you want to keep posting here, ac...And I repeat: if you want to keep posting here, act like an adult.<br /><br />Anon 4.0 Laughs hard.<br /><br />This coming from a guy who readily admits he fills his Ipod illegally. <br /><br />Who readily admits he hijacks his Iphone to steal from Itunes.<br /><br />Who thinks artistic integrity means nothing. <br /><br />Why put ads if you were on such a financial roll with Kindle? <br /><br />Now that Sony has priced theirs at $199 willl this be the new revolution?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-39539816765042182492009-09-30T22:50:39.486-05:002009-09-30T22:50:39.486-05:00Have you ever visited Zen Habits? (http://zenhabit...Have you ever visited Zen Habits? (http://zenhabits.net/) - He UNcopyrights his material. And, it seems to be working for him. Albeit, it's non-fiction. Just, an interesting concept.<br /><br />Here's the thing in writing, music or art, it can be hit or miss. It requires a lot of work on the artist's part. And for those who made it.....there are several more out there better. It's just whether or not the stars aligned, you worked to get your name out....etc.<br /><br />Follow your art, whatever your art is, to its end point. Love what you do. Do it because you love it. And do it for yourself.<br /><br />If the rest of the world falls into place. AWESOME. If they don't....weren't you really writing for yourself?<br /><br />I write because it keeps me sane. It helps be figure things out in life. It entertains others. I write for me. If someone else enjoys it, hot DAMN!<br /><br />but then, that may be the difference between ME and published authors ;)<br /><br />~Sybir<br />www.sybir.com<br />www.mindbodyspiritworks.com - check out MUSE - get your creative muse in line!Stacia Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06041665903048254553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-16904417307081775462009-09-29T20:07:39.446-05:002009-09-29T20:07:39.446-05:00I think this is very different, kind of out there ...I think this is very different, kind of out there but probably very good...I guess we will see. Interesting, thank you.Ladybirdhttp://ladybird33.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-398387424994811522009-09-28T14:47:14.787-05:002009-09-28T14:47:14.787-05:00Because you are a douchebag who can't be taken...<i>Because you are a douchebag who can't be taken seriously.</i><br /><br />You know I love anonymous cowards like you, but if you keep up with the juvenile name calling I'll have to block you.<br /><br />I'm not sure you actually tried to make any sort of point, and if you did it was lost underneath your insane ranting. If you don't agree with something, try to build an argument against it rather than knee-jerking yourself off.<br /><br />But I suppose that's too much to expect from someone too frightened to sign his name to his posts...<br /><br />And I repeat: if you want to keep posting here, act like an adult.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11324367161003946782009-09-28T12:35:29.183-05:002009-09-28T12:35:29.183-05:00Anon 4.0
"the rantings of a lunatic."
...Anon 4.0<br /><br />"the rantings of a lunatic."<br /><br />Finally, finally, finally seeing yourself for what you are!!<br /><br />"The ebook market is a level playing field. I can't hold my own against bestsellers in print, because I don't have the money behind me."<br /><br />Because you are a douchebag who can't be taken seriously.<br /><br />And your books are for 12 yr olds.<br /><br />And if they did put money behind you, how would they market you? The guy spurting blood with his bat puppet? Or the guy dressed up as the wonder twins?<br /><br />You can show all these stupid videos with the 3rd guy getting up to dance. Yes, wonderful you finally figured out the herd mentality. <br /><br />And the stealthismovie is also a worthless piece of junk. There are millions of people on youtube with fruity loops/Reason etc... etc... etc.. making unprofessional nonsense. None of which have any artistic ability, espeically the one kid who said he wasn't a musician!! They might get youtube clicks or share through rapidshare but how do you propose they pay for equipment? pay the rent? make a living? Actually have a life? Support a family?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-28646171897332128082009-09-25T23:36:15.636-05:002009-09-25T23:36:15.636-05:00In the context of copyright infringment and illega...<i>In the context of copyright infringment and illegal copying of books, the gatekeepers are the ones who make the books available to the public in an authorized way.</i><br /><br />The publisher is the gatekeeper. They decide who gets published. They decide the price. They offer the book to retailers. They're the one who goes after copyright infringement. Not Amazon. Not Borders.<br /><br /><i>will always prevail because any big unauthorized source will be shut down through copyright infringement litigation.</i><br /><br />Big unauthorized sources aren't the problem. The problem is 100 million individuals, who are impossible to shut down.<br /><br />The pirates learned from Napster. Napster was centralized. No current torrent sites host illegal files. The files are on millions of computers. This can't be policed. It can't be shut down. <br /><br />This isn't one entity, distributing files. This is millions and millions of people, sharing.<br /><br />Copyright is a thing of the past when it comes to digital content.<br /><br /><i>If all the publishers disappear, are the midlisters--already strapped for cash--going to be able to pay top freelance editors, cover artists, etc? I don't think so, and the overall quality of books will suffer.</i><br /><br />I agree. But systems will arise. Review systems, editing systems, recommendation systems.<br /><br />Yes, there will be more crap. But there will also be a greater opportunity for word of mouth to create hits.<br /><br />The ebook market is a level playing field. I can't hold my own against bestsellers in print, because I don't have the money behind me.<br /><br />I'm holding my own on Kindle, because no money is needed. No ads, no coop, no wide distribution.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-12622352924964437032009-09-25T19:40:05.100-05:002009-09-25T19:40:05.100-05:00Think he could shift 5000 $90 special edition hard...<i>Think he could shift 5000 $90 special edition hardbacks, and 200,000 DRM free $5 ebooks selling worldwide?<br /><br />If his expenses are 20% or so, he just made himself over a million dollars. Which might just be worth doing.</i><br /><br />His advances are already seven figures (probably eight, but who's counting?), so he can pretty much do anything he wants. I don't see him being motivated to jump into the self-publishing arena anytime soon (as in never), but maybe I'm wrong.<br /><br />But King and the other mega-sellers aside, the changes in publishing are going to have a larger effect on the 99.9% of writers who <i>don't</i> make the big bucks. If all the publishers disappear, are the midlisters--already strapped for cash--going to be able to pay top freelance editors, cover artists, etc? I don't think so, and the overall quality of books will suffer. <br /><br />That was my original point. It's not "a bunch of twaddle." It's a fact.<br /><br />Duh.Jude Hardinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-44058746901679424552009-09-25T17:58:19.364-05:002009-09-25T17:58:19.364-05:00They're the retailers. The gatekeepers are the...They're the retailers. The gatekeepers are the publishers. They offer discounts and pay coop to the retailers, which determines how many books you'll sell.<br /><br />Wrong. In the context of copyright infringment and illegal copying of books, the gatekeepers are the ones who make the books available to the public in an authorized way.<br /><br />The problem is that the legitimate gatekeepers (who make the books available to the public with the approval of the publishers) are challenged by OTHERS who make the books available to the public without such approval, namely filesharing sources.<br /><br />The legitimate gatekeepers (Amazon, BN, Borders, Indies) will always prevail because any big unauthorized source will be shut down through copyright infringement litigation. <br /><br />The example is Napster. It got big, then it got destroyed through litigation. Now who is thriving? The big supplies who are authorized by the suppliers and are on the right side of the copyright laws.<br /><br />There will always be infringers. However, if they get too big, they also get known and expose themselves to litigation which will destroy them every time.<br /><br />The copyright laws are working exactly as they should.Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10859927878400261464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-22413586673490445802009-09-25T17:15:44.357-05:002009-09-25T17:15:44.357-05:00The gatekeepers for books right now are primarly t...<i>The gatekeepers for books right now are primarly the booksellers, and of those the primary gatekeepers are Amazon, BN and Borders.</i><br /><br />They're the retailers. The gatekeepers are the publishers. They offer discounts and pay coop to the retailers, which determines how many books you'll sell.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-23639021347727632692009-09-25T16:06:11.531-05:002009-09-25T16:06:11.531-05:00The gatekeepers for books right now are primarly t...The gatekeepers for books right now are primarly the booksellers, and of those the primary gatekeepers are Amazon, BN and Borders. For the paper books sold by these gatekeepers, i.e., physical products, the fences are there. Customers must pay to get the product.<br /><br />The fences are less ridgid with electronic books, but at least right now in history, they are still there. A consumer must pay to get the electronic book.<br /><br />There are file sharing sites for ebooks. But they lack the organization, ease, thoroughness, customer review postings, quality and legitimacy of Amazon and BN. Also, the prices at these e-stores are reasonable. <br /><br />Although the publshing landscape is changing, I don't foresee ebooks becoming a "always free to everyone" market. That means that authors whose works get filted through the gatekeepers will continue to get paid for their creations. <br /><br />It's not all doom and gloom. For all you future Grishams out there, keep writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-33761620902620049632009-09-25T13:22:01.638-05:002009-09-25T13:22:01.638-05:00I'm better when it takes over
Meant to say &q...<i>I'm better when it takes over</i><br /><br />Meant to say "I'm betting", but there's probably a Freudian slip in there... ;PJA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-55952709453315917042009-09-25T13:20:54.368-05:002009-09-25T13:20:54.368-05:00In time, I believe copyright laws will protect aut...<i>In time, I believe copyright laws will protect authors... particularly authors at established houses.</i><br /><br />It's easy to sue Google.<br /><br />Try suing 40 million people who have downloaded copyrighted content in the last week alone.<br /><br />Copyright won't protect anything. This isn't about going after a single website, or company. This is about going after everyone who downloads the content.<br /><br />8 billion downloads on Mininova alone. You can't police that. It's ridiculous to even try.<br /><br />@Jude - The quality of books will go down, guaranteed. <br /><br />But if I were an editor, or an agents, I'd learn what I've been preaching, start talking to authors, and help ease them into this market, taking perhaps a 10% fee for editing, formatting, and uploading.<br /><br />Then we'll have well-written, well edited books.<br /><br />The incentive to create, and to share, is NOT tied to a paycheck. Look at the users uploading Youtube videos, getting paid nothing.<br /><br />But I do write to get paid. Absolutely. So I'm trying to figure out how to keep getting paid, because I don't think the current model will be around forever.<br /><br />Advertising pays for the Internet, TV, and periodicals. It can handle paying for ebooks.<br /><br /><i>Sanity, ethics, and law will rule in the long-term. I would put my money in that camp, not the pirate camp.</i><br /><br />Did you watch the video, Stacey?<br /><br />It's human nature to share files. It has nothing to do with sanity--we all share and communicate every day. Ethics don't apply, because a growing portion of society doesn't believe file sharing is wrong. And the law is useless when it comes to policing individuals.<br /><br /><i>ethics and logic are most definitely not strong suits of media companies.</i><br /><br />LOL. So true. <br /><br />I believe the company taking the risk to sell art is entitled to a profit. But I also believe that $15 is too much for a music CD --especially when the artist is making twenty cents for each one sold. And millions of people agree with me. <br /><br />Guess what? $9.99 is too much for an ebook. <br /><br /><i>Why are they settling for a measly $3 in royalties per hardcover copy when they could be making five times that much by doing it all themselves?</i><br /><br />The ebook market is still growing. I'm better when it takes over, you'll see authors begin leaving publishers and signing contracts directly with Amazon, B&N, and iTunes. Like I'm doing.<br /><br />Of course, I could be wrong. But looking at the history of music and newspapers, I think I can pretty much follow the trends.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-67595431114226882332009-09-25T11:27:26.902-05:002009-09-25T11:27:26.902-05:00That's an illogical response, as the previous ...That's an illogical response, as the previous discussion was 'what if there weren't any', not 'why don't these guys now'?<br /><br />The reasons they don't are pretty bloody obvious. (And if Stephen King can't get himself more than $3 per hardcover, well, then he sucks at negotiating, or his representatives do).<br /><br />If publishing is GONE then of course there is no money in it. Duh. It is also wet when it is raining.<br /><br />What you have to try and argue is why Stephen King wouldn't be selling his next book himself - or set something up to do so.<br /><br />With some of the competition taking their bat and ball and going home as you suggest, he now has a bigger slice of the market that is left, too.<br /><br />He subcontracts some freelance editing and printing.<br /><br />Probably not going to sell as many as he would previously, but going to be getting a much, much bigger slice of the cash.<br /><br />Think he could shift 5000 $90 special edition hardbacks, and 200,000 DRM free $5 ebooks selling worldwide?<br /><br />If his expenses are 20% or so, he just made himself over a million dollars. Which might just be worth doing.Blue Tysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01090584083476832111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-72966058980396067002009-09-25T10:47:22.978-05:002009-09-25T10:47:22.978-05:00There's no logical reason why that would be th...<i>There's no logical reason why that would be the case, though.</i><br /><br />Of course there is. If there's no money to be made in publishing, all the best people (agents, editors, cover artists, sales reps, etc.) will earn their livings doing something else. There will still be books, but the quality will take a nose dive.<br /><br /><i>If every publisher disappears tonight, Joe is still selling his books tomorrow.<br /><br />So is Stephen King, and Dan Brown and James Patterson etc.</i><br /><br />Um, if any of those authors could have done what they did without their publishers, don't you think they would have? Why are they settling for a measly $3 in royalties per hardcover copy when they could be making five times that much by doing it all themselves?Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-393014511054932462009-09-25T10:27:19.567-05:002009-09-25T10:27:19.567-05:00"I would, if the 0.1 squillion was self-publi..."I would, if the 0.1 squillion was self-published rubbish."<br /><br />There's no logical reason why that would be the case, though.<br /><br />If every publisher disappears tonight, Joe is still selling his books tomorrow.<br /><br />So is Stephen King, and Dan Brown and James Patterson etc.<br /><br />Then there's the millions of books already published.<br /><br />For every author that spits the dummy or gives up in this situation, there'll be someone new come along.Blue Tysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01090584083476832111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-46328376575661918632009-09-25T10:20:17.291-05:002009-09-25T10:20:17.291-05:00I wouldn't be, ethics and logic are most defin...I wouldn't be, ethics and logic are most definitely not strong suits of media companies.<br /><br />Google, of course, is interested in promoting huge numbers of books currently NOT being sold.<br /><br />e.g. authors that current publishers do not give a rat's arse about - and in fact likely prefer to have repressed, as it is more competition for the current run of the usual stuff<br /><br />Again, if publishing is such a woe-is-me marginal low return enterprise, how do they afford all this legal action? (Amazon of course is a different story).<br /><br />Google could also come up with entertaining counteractions - you specific publishers don't want this? Fine, we drop you from our search indexes - same with the authors. They could do the same thing to Amazon, of course - make sure links to their products don't show up - and that library books appear before the commercial variety. That would be pretty entertaining.Blue Tysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01090584083476832111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-71600635627472364942009-09-25T10:10:15.034-05:002009-09-25T10:10:15.034-05:00If it was suddenly only 0.1 squillions who would c...<i>If it was suddenly only 0.1 squillions who would care, in the longer term?</i><br /><br />I would, if the 0.1 squillion was self-published rubbish.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1913247527208223812009-09-25T10:02:29.217-05:002009-09-25T10:02:29.217-05:00Copyright laws have about as much chance of protec...<b>Copyright laws have about as much chance of protecting people from human nature</b><br /><br />That's not what copyright laws are protecting us from. Copyright laws are in place to prevent companies like Google scanning your book without authorization and selling it on their site.<br /><br />Look, here's the deal, if your book shows up on Google Books and you didn't authorize it and the publisher didn't authorize it, and the only entity making money from it is Google that is against the law.<br /><br />Publishers will sue. Mobipocket and Amazon will sue. Sony's e-book division will sue. And Google will back down because what they're doing is in direct violation of copyright law.<br /><br />Sanity, ethics, and law will rule in the long-term. I would put my money in that camp, not the pirate camp.Stacey Cochranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14128613653591282474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61067953108150776482009-09-25T09:51:27.817-05:002009-09-25T09:51:27.817-05:00Joe,
Yeah, it is pretty amusing to see the intern...Joe,<br /><br />Yeah, it is pretty amusing to see the internet clueless pontificate like that.<br /><br />Stacey,<br /><br />Publishers spending more money on lawyers and entertaining legal battles is money they don't have to spend on authors, or books.<br /><br />Copyright laws have about as much chance of protecting people from human nature and being pissed off with asinine media shenanigans as the likelihood of a sudden influx of retrograde porcine aviators.<br /><br /><br />Jude,<br /><br />'Lesser the quality'? If that is a publishing professional, the quality is already gone.<br /><br />There's a squillion books published a year, it appears.<br /><br />If it was suddenly only 0.1 squillions who would care, in the longer term?<br /><br />The 'but-but-but if there's no status quo there will be no good stuff' argument is a complete load of twaddle.Blue Tysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01090584083476832111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-75685021035448074952009-09-25T09:34:19.386-05:002009-09-25T09:34:19.386-05:00Here's the part of Nathan's post I mostly ...Here's the part of Nathan's post I mostly agree with:<br /><br /><i>I know there are lots of bitter types out there who would love nothing more than to stomp on the grave of publishers, but if they fall it's going to have a profound effect on the quality of books. <br /><br />Now... There will always be books. Publishers or no publishers, agents or no agents, paid authors or no paid authors, people are going to write, and some will write very well no matter what. But I think the overall quality of books would suffer tremendously if very few people can make any money doing it. Not only because there wouldn't be publishers to edit and copyedit and market, but the fewer people who can make any money or spend any time writing books because they have no hope of getting paid will result in lesser the competition and lesser the choice and lesser the quality.</i><br /><br />A long time ago, before <i>Bloody Mary</i> came out I think, we were discussing the reasons people write. I can't remember exactly what I said, something about nourishing the soul, and you said, "Get real, Jude. We write to make money." Those were your exact words. I agree with you more now than I did then, and by virtue of <i>I don't believe the incentive to create is directly tied in to a paycheck</i>, I can see that you agree with me more now than you did then. So I think Nathan nailed it in the above paragraphs. If there's no way for authors to make money, the quality of literature and literacy will diminish.<br /><br />And I can't believe advertising is going to be the answer.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.com