tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post7814567959636728489..comments2024-03-18T06:16:18.802-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: 1846 and 1762JA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger175125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-25861313705925201682011-04-17T08:06:23.474-05:002011-04-17T08:06:23.474-05:00Joe, are you seeing numbers like these for other g...Joe, are you seeing numbers like these for other genres than thrillers? Thrillers were outselling other types of books even before ebooks and starring on best seller lists.Lev Raphaelhttp://www.levraphael.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-39036438498542214922011-03-21T13:26:53.083-05:002011-03-21T13:26:53.083-05:00You make it look so easy. I hope my coming adventu...You make it look so easy. I hope my coming adventure is as profitable. I'm learning my your example.JVRChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467257065784931223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-88405420504617166362011-03-17T17:17:27.561-05:002011-03-17T17:17:27.561-05:00Joe Said:
"I hope you're buying a lot toy...<b>Joe</b> Said:<br />"<i>I hope you're buying a lot toys! </i><br /><br />I've now got a full size beer cooler, filled with $6000 worth of rare, expensive beer." <br /><br />Hehheh... Well done! You and my husband would get along very, vey well… <br /><br /><br /><b>Michael</b> said:<br />"My numbers are nowhere near yours, but I have sold 2,557 books so far this month and you are a big reason why."<br /><br />Michael that's WONDERFUL! Congratulations!!! :D I'm proud to have worked with you, that's for sure. And WHEN is the sequel to <i>Mighty and Strong</i>, please? I'm dying here… <br /><br /><br /><b>Sam</b> said: <br />"Amazon deleted the Kindle edition of <i>Water for Elephants</i>."<br /><br />Ah, crapola. I'm sorry, Sam! But that ranking will go back up, hopefully as the movie release gets closer, and more people buy the new version. Robert Pattinson has to be good for SOMETHING here. But this is an example of how NY doesn't make sense. I mean, keep the rankings and reviews and just CHANGE THE COVER!!?!?!? Of course, it is also possible that the small press that the author previously went with ran out of contract length on the title, and the tale went to a new publisher. Or something like that. But WfE was from a very small press, and this success was unprecedented for them. It's also possible that they didn't have the rights to use a tie-in cover, and some other poo happened with that. Anyhow, keep us posted, Sam! <br /><br /><br /><b>@Selena</b> - you certainly have had a run of crap with your books, haven't you? But I hope that your sales are still good across the board. <br />As for your Google ebooks, do you have the titles available for download from your own site and linked to Google? That seems to be working for some… I'd be interested to hear your thoughts (and you can email them to me if you'd rather not reply here lundeenliterary@gmail.com ).<br /><br /><br />Jenna<br />@lundeenliterary<br />www.lundeenliterary.comLundeen Literaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06706378156366979277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-5201608070053534082011-03-17T13:53:07.890-05:002011-03-17T13:53:07.890-05:00Mr. Konrath,
It is with the utmost respect I say: ...Mr. Konrath,<br />It is with the utmost respect I say: I hate you. Up until I began reading your blog, I was content with my lot in life of sending out three paragraph query letters to agents who may or may not have read them so they could reject me on the basis of how my 320 page novel distilled down into said paragraphs. But now you've thrown my life into upheavel. Without gatekeepers, what happens to the world? Where do we go without the status quo? You've lit a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel and the more I read your posts (and those of your guests), the more I realize that small light is a train roaring toward me. Query letters be damned. Gatekeepers be damned. Self-pubbing, here I come. Make room for me on the train.<br />And, Mr. Konrath, thank you for making me hate you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61249125221470088942011-03-17T06:47:38.622-05:002011-03-17T06:47:38.622-05:00This book is available in Hungarian translation? I...This book is available in Hungarian translation? I did not find a store or the neighborhood, but not even the biggest online bookstores (www.konyv-konyvek.hu).boros1124https://www.blogger.com/profile/03758701195095554616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-18043917896880602522011-03-15T22:24:38.961-05:002011-03-15T22:24:38.961-05:00Is that just your take, or what your books are doi...Is that just your take, or what your books are doing total? I know you have books where you have partners, so are your sales your share or just how the books are doing overall? <br /><br />Not that it matters in the least, I'm just intensely curious and a bit boggled by it all. ;)Sariah Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06606312014221875944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61969582382773560182011-03-15T22:16:12.137-05:002011-03-15T22:16:12.137-05:00robin said:
> bowerbird -
> Your math
...robin said:<br />> bowerbird - <br />> Your math <br />> is screwed up <br /><br />[heavy sigh] ;+)<br /><br />it's not "my" math, robin.<br /><br />it's the accounting used<br />by the corporate houses.<br /><br />but first, let me say that<br />the accounting that _you_<br />gave was straightforward<br />and makes perfect sense.<br /><br />now if only the publishers<br />operated the same way...<br /><br />but there are "reasons"<br />why they do not...<br /><br />to wit...<br /><br />> if they make <br />> 6x more profit <br /><br />ok, the very first thing<br />you need to know is that<br />you _never_ start at the<br />"profit" end of the beast.<br /><br />indeed, the goal of the<br />corporate accountant<br />is to never let "profit"<br />be generated at all,<br />except if it's needed<br />for a quarterly report.<br /><br />the main reason is that<br />profits get _taxed_ and<br />the aim is to avoid taxes.<br /><br />but also, all kinds of<br />ugly escalator clauses<br />get kicked in as well<br />if there are "profits",<br />so you try to avoid 'em<br />until they are too big to<br />pretend they don't exist.<br />as in harry-potter big...<br />or twilight-big... got it?<br /><br />that's why _most_ books<br />"fail" to earn out...<br /><br />the accountants stacked<br />the deck to hide profits...<br /><br /><br />> if they make <br />> 6x more profit <br />> (36x as many sales) <br />> they have more income <br />> to cover their expenses. <br /><br />yes, it makes perfect sense.<br /><br />at least it would, in a world<br />that wasn't _intentionally_<br />transformed to be bizarre...<br />(i.e., the world of publishing.)<br /><br /><br />> The expenses <br />> do not increase <br />> the more books are sold <br />> - it is the same <br />> whether they sell <br />> 1 book or 100,000.<br /><br />here's where you start to<br />reveal a few cracks, robin.<br /><br />what you've just said there<br />is absolutely true, yes, but<br />_only_ for a digital product.<br /><br />the variable cost for each<br />additional unit of a digital<br />product is absolutely zip...<br /><br />and if the corporations had<br />built their business model<br />for _digital_ products, then<br />that model would reflect it.<br /><br />but their business model is<br />geared to _physical_ products.<br /><br />and physical products have<br />a cost-structure that's almost<br />_the_complete_opposite_...<br /><br />the fixed-cost for a physical<br />product typically makes up<br />a good chunk of its costs,<br />but their _variable-costs_<br />are often just as significant,<br />and at times even more so.<br /><br />publishing is one such case.<br /><br />each copy has to be handled.<br />it has to be printed&bound,<br />and trucked to a bookstore,<br />and placed on a shelf, and<br />rung up on a cash-register.<br />and all of this costs money.<br /><br />so, if we are in the world of<br />physical books, it makes a<br />_huge_ difference whether<br />we sell 1 book or 100,000.<br /><br />due to those variable costs.<br /><br />so the publishers created<br />a business model that can<br />absorb such variable costs,<br />a model where each copy<br />dedicates a portion of its<br />income to the "overhead",<br />even if all the "overhead"<br />has already been paid for.<br /><br />so that's how corporations<br />structured their business,<br />and wrote their contracts,<br />and trained their minds...<br /><br />so it's close to impossible<br />for them to turn it around<br />and restructure and rewrite<br />and think now in a way that<br />is _completely_ different...<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-15138921610926092392011-03-15T20:31:43.469-05:002011-03-15T20:31:43.469-05:00Taxes, Joe? How are you handling taxes on all thi...Taxes, Joe? How are you handling taxes on all this???Kelly McMichaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10078945557136055819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-84061510604179778772011-03-15T19:21:23.234-05:002011-03-15T19:21:23.234-05:00@bowerbird - Your math is screwed up if they make ...@bowerbird - Your math is screwed up if they make 6x more profit (36x as many sales) they have more income to cover their expenses. The expenses do not increase the more books are sold - it is the same whether they sell 1 book or 100,000.<br /><br />If they normally make $5,000 a month on a title and lowering the price increaes the income to $30,000 then they hae $25,000 more income to pay their costs. Their "out of pocket does not go up (well except they do have pay a bit more royalty so let's calculate that in...<br /><br />Normal profit...$5,000 of which they keep $3,750 and give the author $1,250. Now they reduce to $.99 and sales incrase 36x fold and profits 6 fold (as per Joe's numbers) so they now make a profit of $30,000 of which they keep $22,500 and give the author $7,500. So they increased their income by $18,750. And their "other costs" are just the same as the per book cost does not change in ebook if they sell 1 or 10,000.<br /><br />Robin | <a href="http://www.write2publish.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Write2Publish</a> | <a href="http://www.ridanpublishing.com/michaelsullivan.html" rel="nofollow">Michael J. Sullivan's Writings </a>Robin Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613910688999698522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-60149096543160781402011-03-15T19:13:00.097-05:002011-03-15T19:13:00.097-05:00Whoa - the top 20 went crazy!! The "games&qu...Whoa - the top 20 went crazy!! The "games" have completely taken it over....<br /><br />#1, #2, #3, #5, #8, #13<br /><br />Robin | <a href="http://www.write2publish.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Write2Publish</a> | <a href="http://www.ridanpublishing.com/michaelsullivan.html" rel="nofollow">Michael J. Sullivan's Writings </a>Robin Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613910688999698522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-63766200408509879002011-03-15T14:54:03.216-05:002011-03-15T14:54:03.216-05:00Bravo, Joe!
My own sales are picking up. Withi...Bravo, Joe! <br /><br />My own sales are picking up. Within the first 2 1/2 weeks of release I've sold 16 copies of my novel length modern ghost story <a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-More-Day-ebook/dp/B004P1IZY8" rel="nofollow"><i>One More Day</i></a>, which I don't think anyone would or could complain about. I'm pretty thrilled to have already connected with so many readers.<br /><br />And I know from your blog that this is a very, very humble beginning compared to what could be if I play my cards right and I score that sweet stroke of luck.<br /><br />Once again Joe, well done. Thank you for keeping this blog up and for keeping it relevant.<br /><br />And thanks to all of you out there who keep this blog a thriving community for indies such as ourselves.<br /><br />I think I'll go buy a few books now . . .<br /><br /><a href="http://nicholaslasalla.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Nick</a><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-More-Day-ebook/dp/B004P1IZY8" rel="nofollow"><i>One More Day</i></a>Nicholas La Sallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00672628766188470171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-17194958119427186042011-03-15T14:44:35.879-05:002011-03-15T14:44:35.879-05:00robin said:
> They, just like Joe,
> ca...robin said:<br />> They, just like Joe, <br />> care about overall profit <br />> if they make 36x the profit <br />> at $0.99 then then can make <br />> at $9.99 then they will.<br /><br />the point is, their existing<br />financial structure means<br />they cannot "make a profit"<br />by selling at the low prices.<br /><br />if you are compelled to pay<br />$3 to your "overhead" for<br />every unit sold, then you<br />cannot make a profit when<br />you sell an e-book for $4.<br /><br />+$4.00 -- retail price<br />-$1.20 -- amazon cut<br />-------<br />=$2.80 -- publisher cut<br />-$0.70 -- author royalty<br />-------<br />=$2.10 -- insufficient to<br />cover $3/book overhead,<br />let alone have an "profit".<br /><br />the "creative accounting"<br />they would have to change<br />is to restructure overhead<br />so that it's a _percentage_<br />of the cost of each unit,<br />and not a _fixed_ amount.<br /><br />it made sense to compute<br />"overhead" on a per-unit<br />basis for _physical_ books,<br />because most "overhead"<br />there is in _fixed_costs_,<br />such as printing&binding,<br />storage, transportation,<br />editing, proof-reading,<br />and other physical tasks.<br />so they'd have to rewrite<br />many of those contracts.<br /><br />but rewriting contracts is<br />_not_ something that they<br />want to do at this time,<br />since that opens the door<br />for authors wanting more.<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-87794487430670662062011-03-15T13:55:56.110-05:002011-03-15T13:55:56.110-05:00I don't think it was an attack to post Bowerbi...<i>I don't think it was an attack to post Bowerbird's performance. </i><br /><br />I said "attack the argument, not the person."<br /><br />By that, I meant keep people out of it.<br /><br />Posting a video of someone has nothing to do with the discussion.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-75802743365092640832011-03-15T13:12:16.964-05:002011-03-15T13:12:16.964-05:00jon f. merz said:
> I put it on sale for thre...jon f. merz said:<br />> I put it on sale for three days <br />> at that price, sold 224 copies <br />> on the Kindle and 52 copies <br />> on the Nook during the sale, <br />> earning me about $90 total. <br /><br />as per joe's "tequila" escapade,<br />3 days isn't nearly enough time<br />for the real effects to kick in...<br /><br /><br />> It also got me further up some <br />> lists, which has resulted <br />> in some good visibility.<br /><br />again, that's a superficial effect.<br /><br />if it works for your purposes,<br />fine. but it's not the real deal.<br /><br /><br />> That's where I think <br />> the 99 cent price point <br />> for novels could be good - <br />> as a tool to increase visibility, <br />> but maybe not <br />> a long-term thing.<br /><br />gee, i would say the opposite.<br /><br />maybe even the exact opposite.<br /><br />if you're not going to _commit_<br />to the low price-point, then you<br />probably shouldn't even use it,<br />especially not for a few _days_,<br />because you're only converting<br />the fence-sitters who might've<br />bit eventually at a higher price.<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-92216841639867891382011-03-15T13:10:48.273-05:002011-03-15T13:10:48.273-05:00Jon F. Merz said: This is great, because I'm o...<i>Jon F. Merz said: This is great, because I'm on track to earn this month what you earned last April - now I've got something to look forward to next year! :)</i><br /><br />Congrats, Jon. Looks like sales are picking up a bit for you. BTW, I've got my copy of The Fixer. Just haven't gotten around to it yet. It's next on my list.<br /><br />Merrill Heath<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bearing-Witness-Stover-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B003PPD9UK/ref=cm_cmu_up_add_glance" rel="nofollow">Bearing False Witness</a>Merrill Heathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00164361657325279390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-32286527904982469392011-03-15T12:56:23.313-05:002011-03-15T12:56:23.313-05:00jtplayer said:
> It's a legitimate video ...jtplayer said:<br />> It's a legitimate video <br />> on a legitimate website <br />> that can be found by doing <br />> a simple internet search.<br /><br />as far as i know, there is<br />no video of me on the net.<br /><br />i could be wrong, but i think<br />you might well be mistaken...<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-16479674619812715232011-03-15T12:46:43.511-05:002011-03-15T12:46:43.511-05:00Thank you for posting updated numbers in the prici...Thank you for posting updated numbers in the pricing experiment. It was interesting to see the numbers across all Aprils of different, emphasizing that this is a long-haul game. That one really should be patient for the books to find their readers and build.<br /><br />And it's fabulous that by going Indie that the books have that precious time. Woohoo!<br /><br />And mine seem to be taking that time. For some reason Smashword's Ebook Reading Month promotion stopped what few sales I was getting… including in Amazon and B&N. Now that it's over, hopefully the sales will start coming in again. If I don't keep reminding myself that this is a long-haul game, I get panicky that I lost what little momentum I had! ;)<br /><br />J.A. Marlow<br />Into the Forest Shadows - A planet-wide conspiracy is waiting at Grandmother's house...J.A. Marlowhttp://starcatcherpub.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-2533338954026843572011-03-15T12:00:09.755-05:002011-03-15T12:00:09.755-05:00I don't think it was an attack to post Bowerbi...I don't think it was an attack to post Bowerbird's performance. And I'm glad I saw it. I love performance poetry and he's good. More importantly, now I have at least a face to associate with BB. He's a person, not just a poster of strangely-formatted blog comments. Makes a difference...still waiting on that first name tho.Blake Crouchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06523902534623143473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-91254393641198036652011-03-15T11:09:51.040-05:002011-03-15T11:09:51.040-05:00In April 2009, I made $607 self-pubbing.
In April...<i>In April 2009, I made $607 self-pubbing.<br /><br />In April 2010, I made $4041 self-pubbing.<br /><br />For April 2011, I'll likely make $52,860</i><br /><br />This is great, because I'm on track to earn this month what you earned last April - now I've got something to look forward to next year! :)<br /><br />Seriously, thanks for sharing the numbers.<br /><br />I actually did a little 99 experiment of my own with The Fixer, the first book in my Lawson Vampire series, this past weekend. I put it on sale for three days at that price, sold 224 copies on the Kindle and 52 copies on the Nook during the sale, earning me about $90 total. It also got me further up some lists, which has resulted in some good visibility. That's where I think the 99 cent price point for novels could be good - as a tool to increase visibility, but maybe not a long-term thing. <br /><br />We're doing a photoshoot this week with the actor playing Lawson in the TV series so I can bank a LOT of images for future ebook covers.<br /><br />The times continue to be interesting.<br /><br />Thanks Joe!<br /><br />-JonJon F. Merzhttp://www.jonfmerz.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-67135145221524672732011-03-15T10:14:07.642-05:002011-03-15T10:14:07.642-05:00How many editors are willing to work for a share o...<i>How many editors are willing to work for a share of the royalties?<br /><br />How many artists are willing to create covers for a share of the royalties?</i><br /><br />I don't know about legacy publishing, never been in it. But most ebook publishers pay their editors and cover artists this way. They get a percentage of royalties of book sales. <br /><br />Which is great if the book sells well, not-so-great if it doesn't. Kind of a crap shoot for the cover artist and editor, because a cover can help sell a book but it can't do it all on its own, and a good editor can help polish a book, but if it sucks already, well... <br /><br />So I guess the editor or cover artist taking that job under those conditions would have to really trust the publisher's judgment about the books they're selling.Sheri Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04634054915514468456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-41659168331752187852011-03-15T10:06:51.048-05:002011-03-15T10:06:51.048-05:00If not I'll just continue to scroll past, wond...<i>If not I'll just continue to scroll past, wondering if I missed something amazing...</i><br /><br />No worries there, mate! ;)Sheri Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04634054915514468456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-46348753582722056472011-03-15T09:37:20.815-05:002011-03-15T09:37:20.815-05:00You're a funny guy Joe.
Keep up the good work...You're a funny guy Joe.<br /><br />Keep up the good work dude!jtplayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14231456054855215404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-66159994556563774262011-03-15T08:37:46.359-05:002011-03-15T08:37:46.359-05:00But sorry pal, there was nothing "uncool"...<i>But sorry pal, there was nothing "uncool" about posting that link. </i><br /><br />Can you post a video of you then, please?<br /><br />No?<br /><br />Hmm.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-22046942581354708042011-03-15T08:15:12.676-05:002011-03-15T08:15:12.676-05:00Joe said
I don't agree with everyone who posts...Joe said<br /><i>I don't agree with everyone who posts here. <br /><br />I don't like everyone who posts here.<br /><br />But I don't ever want to alienate anyone who posts here.</i><br /><br />Good on you. My compliments.<br /><br />+++<br />I have given some thought to Nathan Bransford's essay on the Kindle Millionaires. (I posted the link earlier in this thread.) I think the publishers' economic structure as detailed in his essay is faulty, but I have not looked at it in detail. <br /><br />In a nutshell, I do not understand why an editor should receive royalties on a writer's work. If you look at Mr Bransford's numbers, that is what he says is happening. Not that the editor receives those royalties. The publisher does. But it amounts to paying royalties on the editing work. <br /><br />How many editors are willing to work for a share of the royalties?<br /><br />How many artists are willing to create covers for a share of the royalties?<br /><br />As I understand it, they get salaries or flat fees and their de jure and de facto agent--the publisher--pockets the royalty money above that. <br /><br />Like I said, I have not looked at this in detail, but that is how far I've got. I appreciate any help or insights you can give. If you just wanna sit in the bleachers and cheer, that's fine, too.<br /><br />Critiques are welcome. Criticism is not.<br /><br />Oh, and this:<br />Nick Sireau said...<br /><i>Antares, thank you for your explanation about ebook market statistics.</i><br />You are welcome.<br /><br /><i>I was wondering whether you have any statistical insights into key factors that could explain why some ebooks reaching that tipping point that then leads to accelerated sales?</i><br />No. Sorry. Statistics cannot determine causation. They can only show correlations. The correlations may point to causations but not always. <br /><br />I have some thoughts about bestselling authors and their strategies, too, but it is late here, so I shall save those thoughts for another day. But here's a hint: Amway.antareshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00928062661776005108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-85222794068737198022011-03-15T07:23:18.429-05:002011-03-15T07:23:18.429-05:00First off, I didn't link the video as an "...First off, I didn't link the video as an "attack" on anyone. And it certainly wasn't "out of context" either. <br /><br />It's a legitimate video on a legitimate website that can be found by doing a simple internet search.<br /><br />But whatever Joe, it's your blog, moderate it as you will. But sorry pal, there was nothing "uncool" about posting that link. <br /><br />Is bowerbird a dick? Hell yeah he is. <br /><br />Does he position himself as a know-it-all? Obviously he does.<br /><br />Does he suck at performance poetry? I wouldn't know, as it's not really my thing.<br /><br />I posted that link in response to the back and forth between Blake and bird. I thought it might bring a different _perspective_ to the discussion.<br /><br />Yes, I too have performed live, so I know how difficult it can be. Fortunately, I've never been booed, so I guess I don't suck as much as some others do.jtplayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14231456054855215404noreply@blogger.com