tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post6875280378237288076..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Guest Post by Libby Fischer HellmannJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-30794637263939424092010-08-30T17:46:36.545-05:002010-08-30T17:46:36.545-05:00Sorry--missed the follow-up box the first time.
C...Sorry--missed the follow-up box the first time.<br /><br />Carry on. :DOpushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00372836062237009021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-82943358960459811002010-08-30T17:43:48.457-05:002010-08-30T17:43:48.457-05:00Hello all,
I have a question that no one's ye...Hello all,<br /><br />I have a question that no one's yet addressed.<br /><br />I've currently been involved in a similar discussion at Authonomy.com, the HarperCollins UK web-site where you can post a MS and receive critiques. (The Gaslight Journal was at #1 for the week of August 19.) Now that my MS is done, I've been considering my options. At first, I was all about the self-publishing route for it. I have several other downloads on Kindle and Smashwords, and doing well with those.<br /><br />However.<br /><br />Someone in one of the threads @Authonomy brought up a very valid point, and I wish to ask Joe and Libby about it:<br /><br />The comment contends that the self-publishing platform is more suited to only specific genres. I can understand how (and it seems to be the case for all) mystery writing would do very nicely in self-publishing. I've never heard a mystery writer yet complain about low eBook sales.<br /><br />But, is this true of <b>all</b> genres? Will my historical fiction have as bright a future to look forward to as the next fantasy/s/f, or will it do better with a DTB publisher? Or what about my upcoming novel of comedic essays, en par with <i>Naked</i> by David Sedaris? Will it do better on a bookshelf or as an eBook? Or is there truly a difference?<br /><br />Thanks.<br /><br />~~COpushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00372836062237009021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-67343638952199879982010-08-26T21:03:00.497-05:002010-08-26T21:03:00.497-05:00I understand Libby's thoughts completely, havi...I understand Libby's thoughts completely, having studied the industry at length, but I have to agree with Joe on the support. Most of the YA authors I run around with talk about how the publishers don't put much support behind them in terms of promotion.<br /><br />All of the conferences I attend for YA and children's lit go on and on about how you really have to be your own sales team and you can't count on the publisher.<br /><br />I'll be trying out the epublishing this fall. Wish me luck!Karly Kirkpatrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05032213203101470326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-50160754211044797382010-08-25T10:40:18.935-05:002010-08-25T10:40:18.935-05:00I'm for hedging my bets. Depending on my manus...I'm for hedging my bets. Depending on my manuscript, I'll either e-pub and/or POD, or submit to a traditional publisher. In some cases the advance might be worth considering a traditional publisher, plus it does look good in the bio. I'd tread very carefully reading the fine lines about ebook rights, however.<br /><br />Morgan Mandel<br />http://facebook.com/morgan.mandel<br />http://morganmandel.blogspot.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-55890630507139151182010-08-25T09:50:27.632-05:002010-08-25T09:50:27.632-05:00Have enjoyed all the comments on this topic... esp...Have enjoyed all the comments on this topic... especially Dafoalta. In our wired corner of the universe, we tend to forget that ebooks are not going to be accessible to everyone.. at least for a long time. I also like Paul Story's point that readers like to "press the flesh" of authors, and I don't know of a virtual way to do that yet. <br /><br />Thanks, Joe, for letting me sound off, and for anyone who wants to know more about me, go to<br /><br />www.libbyhellmann.comLibby Hellmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10693555214699897283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-48932543678401401182010-08-25T08:02:48.578-05:002010-08-25T08:02:48.578-05:00@dafaolta
"...How do we go about building an...@dafaolta<br /><br />"...How do we go about building an audience and reaching the people who will want to read our stuff if we can't make that 'Hi, how are you?'contact person-to-person? It's a lot harder..."<br /><br />I agree, dafaolta. This is why I am on the streets of Edinburgh handing out physical copies of my novel on an Honesty basis as I write this comment. In the last two weeks, I have personally spoken to well over 1,000 people in ones and twos and small groups. Each agrees to the following: To read the book within 1 month and to pay for it if they want Book Two in the series to be published (already written). If the story turns out not to be for them, I forgive the payment, but only if they pass their copy to another reader who agrees to the same terms. Thus I've designed the project so that - in a perfect world - each copy self-guides to find its reader - someone who will enjoy and pay for it.<br /><br />I do not ask for money or the details of those who take a copy. Everything is done on an honesty basis. I am putting 10,000 trade paperbacks out like this.<br /><br />The following links to a blog post from one of the readers who stumbled upon the project and wrote about it last night.<br /><br />http://www.concretesolutions.org.uk/?p=702<br /><br />It is too early to call, but right now, the reaction and results are fantastic and if they continue this way, over twice the number of payments will be made than I need to call the Honesty Edition a success.<br /><br />Writers need to be creative on many levels and we should be willing to take risks (as JAK has). At least our fate lies where it should - in our own hands.Paul Storyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04531300864566632452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-84817151064809321892010-08-25T02:59:43.780-05:002010-08-25T02:59:43.780-05:00I was interested to see this post. Thank you, Libb...I was interested to see this post. Thank you, Libby, for making some important points. It was kind of you to expose yourself here and it has been interesting to see the range of responses.<br /><br />To the people who are concerned about the quality of the self-pubbed books available on Amazon and elsewhere: I find that the ability to download a sample onto my iPod and read it at my leisure is a major bonus to the platform. I don't have to read any more than I want, within the limits of the sample size. I've bought some books because I liked the sample, I've deleted many samples because they were not what I'd thought/hoped they were.<br /><br />I can remember reading comments from the time when typewriters were new ideas, to the effect that these were dangerous to the quality of literature because it would make it easier for anyone to write. They resurfaced at the time that desktop word-processing machines were getting the same criticism. It's funny to be here as we do it again. 3rd time's a charm?<br /><br />As a librarian, I see the tipping point further down the road in terms of circulating electrons. My system is unlikely to get into ebooks, mostly because so few of my patrons have access to readers when so many of them need us to connect them to the internet in the first place. There is also the cost of providing the infrastructure to track book rentals, which would be prohibitive in an environment where we are struggling to keep our branches open.<br /><br />That said, I foresee the POD industry will be the way systems like ours and those in many schools will be able to provide books for our patrons. We tried Playaways, preloaded audio devices & once the novelty wore off they've gathered dust. I don't think preloaded readers would do much better unless they targeted kids &/or teens who might be open to a new format. The cost of lost or damaged units would likely shoot that down.<br /><br />In any case, however you do it, the whole process has to start with a good,well-told story. If we can't give our fans that, it doesn't natter where or how we get our work out to them. Editing is always going to be necessary, and how much will always depend on where the manuscript starts in terms of quality & clarity. If you are foolish enough to write your last word today & pop your opus up on Amazon tomorrow, with only your own hands and eyes ever seeing it, well... Darwin rules!<br /><br />The biggest thing I see as a barrier between the newbies like me and the pros like Joe is: it's hard to do a drive-by signing of electrons. How do we go about building an audience and reaching the people who will want to read our stuff if we can't make that 'Hi, how are you?'contact person-to-person? It's a lot harder now.dafaoltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02267343560982775574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-79356835081534630222010-08-25T01:28:15.634-05:002010-08-25T01:28:15.634-05:00@dr. cpe
right underneath a review when you'r...@dr. cpe<br /><br />right underneath a review when you're logged into Amazon it should say: Was this review helpful? Then you just click yes or no.Zoe Wintershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16894617471588430203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-9750507820192461472010-08-25T01:26:14.647-05:002010-08-25T01:26:14.647-05:00Thriller Lover,
Thanks for clarifying your positi...Thriller Lover,<br /><br />Thanks for clarifying your position (that you actually want to read more self-pubbed books but the good stuff, lol.)<br /><br />Most people argue from the perspective of not really wanting to read self-pubbed books.<br /><br />One of the arguments put forth is that that's the point of book bloggers and reviewers, is these people who go out and they happen to find a gem, they blog about/talk about it, etc.<br /><br />You might try checking out what's available at IndieReader.com. They vet self-pubbed work.<br /><br />I know a lot of good indie authors. Most of them are romance though because that's what I write. Though you might like M.T. Murphy. <br /><br />He wrote a book called Lucifera's Pet that I loved. It's a werewolf/vampire book, but nothing like a lot of what's out there. <br /><br />Levi Montgomery is also really good. In his case: Don't judge a book by it's cover. I think his covers look self-pubbed but he's a very good writer!<br /><br />Neither write what you would call "thrillers" though.<br /><br />I guess I just don't find it that hard to find good books. It might be because I interact and engage personally with a lot of talented indies. I get lots of recommendations that way as well as through Amazon based on my other purchases.<br /><br />I do think you're bound to run into some crap, but the better something is selling and the better the other reviews, the greater the odds that the book is decent.Zoe Wintershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16894617471588430203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-69664517421466886722010-08-25T00:46:10.770-05:002010-08-25T00:46:10.770-05:00thriller lover
thanks, I didnt know peeps voted on...thriller lover<br />thanks, I didnt know peeps voted on reviewers. I've not done that, not even sure how to, but usually am on whichever site trying to find book heard mentioned on radio but only heard 2 words of 7 word title, so am busy flapping through keywords. lol<br />dr.cpeArchangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18358062143743621676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-62873609839610817862010-08-25T00:22:10.277-05:002010-08-25T00:22:10.277-05:00Archangel,
An Amazon reviewer's ranking is de...Archangel,<br /><br />An Amazon reviewer's ranking is determined by how helpful their reviews are to users of the website. So the reviewers are reviewed also in this sense.<br /><br />Personally, I find many of the customer reviews on Amazon to be quite helpful. I don't take all of them all seriously, but some of the reviewers are really good at what they do.Thriller Loverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17114250575884638523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-44259864931486844342010-08-25T00:16:57.201-05:002010-08-25T00:16:57.201-05:00Well Zoe,
As an Amazon reviewer, I don't cons...Well Zoe,<br /><br />As an Amazon reviewer, I don't consider myself part of the sifting process. That's the job of agents and editors and publishers. And that's a full time job for them -- I don't have the time to assume such a role. <br /><br />Ultimately I'd like to review more self-published books because I'd like to connect more with writers outside of the big 6 publishers. But right now, I see thousands of titles, and I simply don't have the time to sample a page of each title.<br /><br />As for small press books, most of them are professionally reviewed by the trade publications, and that's how I become aware of which ones are worth trying out.Thriller Loverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17114250575884638523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-47550484245973224992010-08-24T23:27:19.807-05:002010-08-24T23:27:19.807-05:00Actually, I am thinking of having my books profess...Actually, I am thinking of having my books professionally recorded. I can get them into distribution at audible.com overdrive.com and several other places I can't think of off the top of my head right this second.<br /><br />There is a site called perfectvoices.com (I think that's the site) and it's run for independent authors. You can pay a lower fee per recorded hour and take less royalty per book sold. Or you can pay more and take more royalty. There is a tier where you pay for basically work-for-hire and all profits afterward are yours. They get you into distribution in the places I mentioned plus others. It was recommended to me by the people at Springbrook Audiobooks.<br /><br />I may check it out. Since I listen to so many audio books myself I would LOVE to have my work professionally narrated and available at places like Audible.Zoe Wintershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16894617471588430203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-51682235470254842142010-08-24T21:25:11.520-05:002010-08-24T21:25:11.520-05:00@zoe
like the way you think; you might be able to ...@zoe<br />like the way you think; you might be able to tell with just simple tracking chart/ daily post on where you are on amaz. lists/ then do your interview, note review... then for at least 14 days after, track and post amaz. numbers. I have I think 5 books, and maybe 15audiobks on amaz, and track right before doing a radio or online interview. One of my books is today, I think, (peeked just now) #3 in 'feminist' which is funny because I have never called myself a feminist, one is #2 in 'folklore', another is #2 in spiritualism (again other amaz. people choose must these cats, not me ) and #10 in 'supernatural'-- etc, not to mention 402,454 in 'books in general' for one, and equally in the jillions ranking for another. Feathers one day, chicken the other. <br /><br />All this said just to make this point, before radio interview last week and blog interview/ article written by me 3 weeks ago. the 3,3, 2, and 10 works on amaz. were in the high hundreds. I did not mention in those interviews the two books in the kajillions before and still now. I am not sure they could have shot into 'top' anything cat, but I think would have possibly come into the hundreds instead of where you see them now. Just my two cents worth about tracking that works for the way I work. I also hope many authors here including you Zoe will consider putting your works into audio if you havent yet. That too is low tech, high quality medium. Tho I am not sure Amaz allows audio by self-pubs? But think mp3 is good also, and personally drive a pickup truck with no mp3 player so like cds fine<br /><br />thanks<br />dr.cpeArchangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18358062143743621676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11144047819533555852010-08-24T20:47:18.163-05:002010-08-24T20:47:18.163-05:00Hey Dr. Cpe I think you make a lot of really good ...Hey Dr. Cpe I think you make a lot of really good points. At the end of the day a review is just one person's opinion of a book. And word-of-mouth will win the day. However, when it comes to book review bloggers, I've had a lot of sales happen as a result of those blog reviews when the blogger has a decent-sized audience.<br /><br />I know because I've watched my sales rank jump after a flurry of marketing activity. This was easier to ascertain earlier on, obviously.<br /><br />Now I've got so many different ways I'm getting my name out there that I've gotten to the point where I don't know what's working for me and what isn't.<br /><br />I think there are always going to be those few brave souls who like panning for gold and finding books others have missed. When enough of those people stumble upon a book and tell their friends, word of mouth starts to grow.Zoe Wintershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16894617471588430203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-289384465386349882010-08-24T20:03:46.752-05:002010-08-24T20:03:46.752-05:00@Zoe
a lot of us would like reviewers of the revie...@Zoe<br />a lot of us would like reviewers of the reviewers. So many on amazon whether 'vine' or other kinds of reviewers might have a tally of 'likes' but this tells us who are voracious readers nothing about what this reviewers' biases are, what their preferences are, what their criteria is, what depth they have. A breif bio wont do it. With proliferation of reviewers who have no gatekeeper (not saying anyone ought) have to slog through reviewers as much as ebooks , as much as subject cats of print books. <br /><br />Some suggest strongly and i think rightfully so, that reviewing be done away with and instead, there be a catalog by genre and interest area compiled at a central locus. But in a sense, at Amazon, that's already in listmania... which could be heartily expanded. Yet again, the plethora of reviewers, make for rough riding to get the gist. And some reviewers write so long, cant make it through. <br /><br />Many authors, in my humble opinion, think a review by a stranger can mean a lot to sales. Maybe. But the odds are long. Cant tell you the number of authors who sell well and who consistently go unreviewed. Am a contributing editor for The Bloomsbury Review for twenty years and am well aware from the inside out how ten reviewers can all read same book in any cat and come away with ten diff range of thumbs from up to down. If the only issue is separating wheat from chaff, that is ever so subjective. And most of us have thrown away at least one good thomas jeff on a book that was touted by an unknown or well known reviewer and wished we had taken the kids for 'zza instead. <br /><br />I believe word of mouth is the strongest way of helping people to know your work. As well as blog traveling/ guest interviews/ and radio interviews; stations are starved for content. Newspapers, small review mags, etc. are no longer king. That might in one way be good. But, replicating what didnt work for the majority again, dont know about that. Think, like I said, long long shot. <br /><br />dr.cpeArchangelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18358062143743621676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-67056085670378118382010-08-24T19:16:51.658-05:002010-08-24T19:16:51.658-05:00If you're a top ranked reviewer on Amazon, are...If you're a top ranked reviewer on Amazon, aren't you supposed to be a part of that sifting process?<br /><br />You really can't find books to read? As a top reviewer is there no one else's reviewing viewpoint you trust on Amazon or elsewhere?<br /><br />You really need something to be "NY pubbed?"<br /><br />I say NY pubbed and not small press pubbed because seriously, if a self-publishing author does it "right" you are unlikely to know they are self-published unless they just tell you. They'll likely have an imprint set up and a professional looking book, etc.<br /><br />They will blend with all the other small press books.<br /><br />Do you need a special system to help you wade through the small press books? If not, why do you need it for self-pubbed books?<br /><br />I'm sorry, I'm really not trying to be rude here. But I truly don't understand what is so difficult about this. <br /><br />Not a single indie has asked you or anyone else to "wade through the self-published drek to find the gems".<br /><br />Keep shopping how you normally shop. You're likely to read some self-published work and not even know it's self-published. And it doesn't matter one way or the other. If the book is good, it's good. If it's bad, it's bad. Forget about "how it came to market".Zoe Wintershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16894617471588430203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-24979280234764260662010-08-24T18:23:08.932-05:002010-08-24T18:23:08.932-05:00I think the main issue is how does someone like me...I think the main issue is how does someone like me (a highly ranked reviewer on Amazon) pick and choose the good self-published e-books over the bad. <br /><br />To me, the big publishers perform an important screening process. <br />There are at least 10-15 debut suspense novels per year that the big 6 pay big money to acquire and promote. Not all of them are good, but they usually have something special to offer (THE PASSAGE by Justin Cronin and STILL MISSING by Chevy Stevens are two very recent examples). I try to read as many of these books as possible, and I usually find the experience rewarding.<br /><br />I wouldn't mind reading the best 10-15 Kindle thrillers out there, but I have no idea what they are, and there's no neutral third party that can separate the good from the bad. <br /><br />There used to be a website that reviewed self-published novels and told you which ones were good, perhaps we need a Kindle version.Thriller Loverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17114250575884638523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-2872055960465879502010-08-24T17:09:42.958-05:002010-08-24T17:09:42.958-05:00@Zoe
"Nothing is free."
Precisely my p...<b>@Zoe</b><br /><br /><i>"Nothing is free."</i><br /><br />Precisely my point. Bad business people, indeed.Stitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03206873570587284561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-71875962047953844792010-08-24T16:28:39.706-05:002010-08-24T16:28:39.706-05:00I have been in the same boat as Robin O'Neill ...I have been in the same boat as Robin O'Neill for about 11 years. My publisher, a big NYC one, did pretty much a big fat ZERO to promote me in any way other than putting me in their catalog and maybe a couple other connections. I even offered to get myself to signings, and all they did was shrug. I had to design, run and pay for ads in print magazines myself. <br /><br />I have one last submission in at DAW, and if they pass, I'm self-publishing. At least then I get more than .92 cents per book and I'm in control of marketing and the cover art.Willow Polsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16517922258697469699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-3249201404762755782010-08-24T14:24:12.538-05:002010-08-24T14:24:12.538-05:00This is excellent. The balance is something everyo...This is excellent. The balance is something everyone in the ten thousand MFA programs in Poets&Writers has to consider the pros and cons mentioned here. I see nowhere else for so many writers to go but into the cloud, and let internet readers pick and choose.B&N controls the publishers, and the both are on the ropes. With a resurgence in independent bookstores, lit may survive and grow. We're not all Jonathan Franzen, nor are we Joe Konrath. But we do all see the need for expression not filtered by NYC.Neil Crabtreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09824553597223668295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-89350546652552382010-08-24T11:02:14.088-05:002010-08-24T11:02:14.088-05:00I live in Europe.
I write in Dutch and English. ...I live in Europe. <br /><br />I write in Dutch and English. <br /><br />For my Dutch written work I will seek a publisher, because E-Books are less common in my country and POD is still expensive.<br /><br />My English written story's I plan to self-pub in E-Book first then closely followed in POD.<br /><br />I do believe by the time I got my manuscripts ready to publish the tipping point of E-Books has been reached. <br /><br />I do feel there is no time for me to waste getting a publisher to publish my English work. <br /><br />Taken into account getting one is not guaranteed and if I do it will take additional time to publish.<br /><br />There is a small window of time available. I do not plan to miss it.A.Rosariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04096929349239533058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-69512201956258924502010-08-24T07:06:27.588-05:002010-08-24T07:06:27.588-05:00Let's please remember to stay civil.Let's please remember to stay civil.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-6853068348511343742010-08-24T02:47:34.276-05:002010-08-24T02:47:34.276-05:00commenting again to subscribe to this thread. Sorr...commenting again to subscribe to this thread. Sorry.Zoe Wintershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16894617471588430203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-3280449439338583442010-08-24T02:38:26.430-05:002010-08-24T02:38:26.430-05:00@Stitch
IMO authors thinking they get all this st...@Stitch<br /><br />IMO authors thinking they get all this stuff from their publishers "for free" is only one of the many reasons most authors are not good business people. <br /><br />You either pay for it on the front end and it's all yours forever and ever amen (ala self-pub) Or you pay for it forever on the back end by getting a royalty instead of all the profits.<br /><br />Nothing is free.Zoe Wintershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16894617471588430203noreply@blogger.com