tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post8095163266574484345..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: The End of the BestsellerJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger237125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-3627488507093022082011-02-19T18:14:54.010-06:002011-02-19T18:14:54.010-06:00Thanks so much Robin! I really appreciate that :)
...Thanks so much Robin! I really appreciate that :)<br /><br />I've been super impressed by yours & Michael's results. His books are doing great! I see his books/presence in lots of places - no doubt as a result of your consistent/combined efforts and his writing talent. You are both class acts!<br /><br />Wishing you continued success...<br /><br />RaiRai Arenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06736756087881065103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-45987580596669056492011-02-16T15:02:14.644-06:002011-02-16T15:02:14.644-06:00Hey RaiAren - I've been watching your book cli...Hey RaiAren - I've been watching your book climbing nicely on Kindle - good for you - here's to more success.<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-44107840592179968482011-02-14T01:09:59.784-06:002011-02-14T01:09:59.784-06:00Hey Joe,
As always, great post, lots of valuable ...Hey Joe,<br /><br />As always, great post, lots of valuable information, so thanks!<br /><br />I've followed some of Joe's suggestions, released a new second edition & have been seeing sales steadily increase. I am reaching more readers than ever before, and for this I am truly grateful. I've sold several thousand copies & counting, and happily reply to the regular fan e-mails that come in. The book is consistently on several bestseller lists between Amazon.com & UK.<br /> <br />Joe's teachings were an awakening for me, and I am not looking back. I am very excited about this new playing field!<br /><br />btw - I have tweeted some things people have recommended here - thanks for the links, peeps! I am also checking into some cool offers & sites people have mentioned in these comments.<br /><br />Good to see some familiar names/books/faces here. I like this community of scribes & book peeps :)<br /><br />I'd also like to mention that I have received Amazon recommendations for indie books many times - it's great!<br /><br />I'm slowly getting better acquainted with reading eBooks, and boy, I love it! The ease, the instant availability, and yes, I ran out of room for books in my house (after maxing out new shelving options). I regularly donate books, but it still overwhelmed my shelves. Ebooks rock! And I save $$ and read more! <br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br /><b><i>Rai Aren, co-author of the award-winning <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004EEORPW?ie=UTF8&tag=sosangel-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004EEORPW" rel="nofollow">mystery novel SECRET OF THE SANDS</a></i></b><br /><br /><a href="http://www.secretofthesands.com/" rel="nofollow">www.secretofthesands.com</a><br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/raiaren" rel="nofollow">@raiaren</a>Rai Arenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06736756087881065103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-32063697524428787682011-02-13T14:07:24.124-06:002011-02-13T14:07:24.124-06:00jenna said:
> I use InDesign to
> desig...jenna said:<br />> I use InDesign to <br />> design paper books. <br />> Getting Indesign text <br />> to Kindle is a BITCH. <br />> Generating a PDF to then <br />> convert to Kindle goes <br />> even worse! And of course, it<br />> all starts with Word documents <br />> out of which I have to <br />> clean the trash coding <br />> to get into InDesign, then<br />> export into an ePub editor, <br />> finalize that version, then do <br />> the alterations needed <br />> for Kindle, then do <br />> an epub to mobi conversion,<br />> THEN test to see if it works <br />> on the Kindle.<br /><br />yes, that sounds fairly typical<br />of what most designers will do.<br /><br />some authors who are willing<br />to give up any ability to alter<br />the final products use calibre,<br />a free format-converter tool.<br /><br />in my software, an author can<br />write the book in the tool itself<br />(or copy in the text), and then<br />click a button to get this:<br /><br />1. a nice, powerful .pdf and<br /><br />2. a nice, powerful .html-book.<br /><br />3. drop #2 on an epub-zipper<br />and you have an .epub file.<br /> <br />4. then just drop #3 on the <br />kindle previewer for a .mobi,<br />the format used by the kindle.<br /><br />the process is easy enough that<br />an author can do it every day,<br />to view the work-in-progress...<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-59699501483564410262011-02-13T09:23:07.502-06:002011-02-13T09:23:07.502-06:00Joe Konrath said But I'm convinced that writer...<i> Joe Konrath said But I'm convinced that writers have a *much* better shot of finding an audience through self-pubbing, and also will sell more books this way, than through the gatekeepers.</i><br /><br />I would say if you are starting from square 1 this is absolutely true because the long lead time of going traditional.<br /><br />If you want "good" sales - I also agree. The numbers that Joe and my husband Michael are making - its much more likely to do as self-pubed rather than traditional. That's a way of saying...if you are selling at a "mid list level" then you are better off doing that self as you get a higher % of the deal.<br /><br />But...if you are talking about "making it really big". (i.e. introducing yourself at a dinner party and having someone know your name...) then only traditional (IMO) will get you there. Even Amazda who has sold 500,000 books is unknown out of our little echo chamber. Go to any high school (her demographic) and ask kids about her - and they've never heard of her....I know I've asked this as Michael is doing talks at High School presently. But ask the same question of Meyer or Charline Harris -- much different response.<br /><br />So...if you want to make a VERY good living - Then sucessful self publishing is the way to go. If you want to "break out" then I think traditional is still your best bet.<br /><br />Robin <a href="http://www.write2publish.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Write2Publish</a>Robin Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613910688999698522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-36231492030733780762011-02-12T15:07:38.815-06:002011-02-12T15:07:38.815-06:00@bowerbird
I use InDesign to design paper books....@bowerbird <br /><br />I use InDesign to design paper books. Getting Indesign text to Kindle is a BITCH. Generating a PDF to then convert to Kindle goes even worse! And of course, it all starts with Word documents out of which I have to clean the trash coding to get into InDesign, then export into an ePub editor, finalize that version, then do the alterations needed for Kindle, then do an epub to mobi conversion, THEN test to see if it works on the Kindle. Ergh. Insert backpedaling if something doesn't work. It's usually easier just to load the text directly into the editor and start from there for an epub. <br /><br />Some things would be SO much easier if Kindle allowed a custom right margin set... <br /><br />When these people come to me, they usually do not have a paper book in existence. I'm making it for them. <br /><br />If you say InDesign is of the past, what do you use for doing exacting layout of paper books? Now I'm curious... I generate a PDF from InDesign for Createspace uploads. <br /><br />I'll be sending you an email - I hope your tool works on a Mac...Lundeen Literaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06706378156366979277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-84991224404536894122011-02-12T12:25:25.953-06:002011-02-12T12:25:25.953-06:00I think your "The End of the Bestseller"...I think your "The End of the Bestseller" title should possibly read "The Changing of the Bestseller."<br />http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/46027-the-times-shakes-its-lists.html<br /><br />~Chryse<br />http://www.thisdarkmagic.weebly.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12976871983371208700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-35310910098406503112011-02-11T19:07:28.437-06:002011-02-11T19:07:28.437-06:00"It's not so much that I think it's a...<i>"It's not so much that I think it's a fluke (the ebook does seem to be inarguably the wave of the future), but that the big publishers would probably like to put a halt to indie publishing if they could manage it somehow. I'm not sure how they would manage that, but it does worry me a bit."</i><br /><br />Part of me wonders if big publishers don't see the self publishers as any kind of competition.<br /><br />I was posting to some forums today and another writer was talking about how he could make <i>more</i> money going the traditional route than going indie.<br /><br />I can't see how. On my own I'm going to make more money over the next 24 months than I know his advance was for his last book -- and that advance was split into three chunks. He probably hasn't even received the final piece yet and every month money from Amazon keeps showing up in my bank account right on time, almost like a paycheck.<br /><br />Despite the success of people like Amanda Hocking, I think traditional publishers are going to keep telling themselves that they are doing it better than you can do on your own and keep ignoring the indies until they find themselves pushed right off the bestseller lists.<br /><br />I do agree with a lot of people here -- you can expect them to push back at some point and the best way they can push back is to "Buy" slots on the bestseller list. Amazon is a business, don't think they won't go for it.<br /><br />However, I don't think that will help them in the long run. A Patterson might be the #1 title on the thriller list because some big publisher "purchased" that #1 slot, but it won't keep your book from selling and it won't keep you from being #2 or #10 or somewhere that puts you pretty much right next to those pre-purchased Top 10 titles from the big publishers.evilphiliphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10100843889719733921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-16105256080489199822011-02-11T01:22:59.776-06:002011-02-11T01:22:59.776-06:00I've yet to enter the publishing industry, but...I've yet to enter the publishing industry, but I'm probably part of the generation that will live to see both eBook bestseller lists and flying cars. Yeah, I probably will live to see flying cars. Did I ask for it? No. I don't even enjoy regular cars because regular cars have traumatised me on several occasions.<br /><br />eBooks seem to be pretty neat, but since my shrink already explained to me that just because I'm Australian "doesn't mean I'm doomed to live in a Road Warrior future during my retirement." And likewise, the iPad "does not represent the death of everything you hold dear".<br /><br />I'm less worried about eBooks becoming a success than well, the Road Warrior future where nobody's iPad works anymore. And I will miss bookshops I can physically walk into.<br /><br />There's still this place in the city I go to that during lunchtimes (I went to school in the city) I'd go to that bookshop and nerd out, have a hot chocolate and relax. I'd probably miss the place if it was gone, but humanity is well known for innovation when man has too much time on his hands. I know this because "man having too much time on his hands" led to me becoming an artist and writer of books that are yet unpublished.<br /><br />By the time my book is anywhere near ready to publish I imagine there will be lots of options open for me. I might be Australian but the internet distribution of ebooks may well blow the tyranny of distance out of the water. There's a line in Jurassic Park where Ian Malcolm says "life cannot be contained... life finds a way".<br /><br />Maybe life will find a way for indie ebooks and maybe I might be part of that eventually.Jacob Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08090358843296603870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-88180140531046615392011-02-10T22:37:56.956-06:002011-02-10T22:37:56.956-06:00jenna said:
> these are folks who also have
...jenna said:<br />> these are folks who also have <br />> paper versions of their books. <br /><br />as in previously-published books?<br /><br /><br />> Unfortunately, I have not yet <br />> found a way to magically <br />> turn paper into an ebook<br /><br />for a previously-published book,<br />o.c.r. will take you fairly close...<br />from there, my format kicks in.<br /><br />if, on the other hand, you mean<br />they want to _produce_ p-books<br />in addition to e-books, use .pdf,<br />which is just another one of the<br />formats which my tool delivers.<br />(indesign is a thing of the past.)<br /><br /><br />> These books in question <br />> have at least 2 formats which<br />> are completely incompatible <br />> with the other. <br /><br />and those formats would be?<br /><br /><br />> If it worked for the <br />> formatting issues I routinely <br />> have in either pub or Kindle, <br />> but not both<br /><br />as i want my tool to be useful,<br />i'll take those issues seriously,<br />but only to a certain degree...<br /><br />the kindle is much too primitive<br />to take its shortfalls seriously...<br /><br />and .epub is much too fractured<br />to solve all the inconsistencies<br />between different viewer-apps.<br /><br />so at some point, i'll just say<br />"you'll have to talk with the<br />other side to get that solved."<br /><br />i've also made a cross-platform<br />viewer for my master-format<br />which blows the other viewers<br />out of the water. unequivocally.<br /><br /><br />> I'll be interested in your tool <br />> when it comes out. <br /><br />if you (or anyone else) wants to<br />see a preview copy now, tell me.<br />...bowerbird at aol dot com...<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-53072746642074799552011-02-10T21:00:08.233-06:002011-02-10T21:00:08.233-06:00I'm hoping the $.99 price point will work as a...I'm hoping the $.99 price point will work as an introductory offer. I'm just hoping to get some reviews and get my name out there. Seems like $.99 would be an impulse buy for a lot of people.S.J. Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12947499917626378222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-64628897113553382952011-02-10T20:12:57.271-06:002011-02-10T20:12:57.271-06:00@Anonymous whateveryourtimeis
Don't assume th...@Anonymous whateveryourtimeis<br /><br />Don't assume that I'm making the same mistake. Money doesn't buy happiness, but it does buy my back hurting less because I'm not carrying trays for 12 hours a day. For full artistic freedom, and to not have to work doing anything else except my art, I only need about $30k/year. That's not a lot of money in America (although that amount would make me approximately the 100 millionth richest person on the planet, or richer than 95% of the rest of the world - just to keep in in true perspective). I don't want to win the lotto. I'm not greedy, I'd just like a little more control over my own time. If I knew I could have control for several years by doing one-shot hackery, I'd do it. It's better than handing mongolian beef to the masses forever. I'm considering a move to India, which would mean that I could live doing my art pretty easily. <br /><br />And I know about those lotto winners. Don't assume that I don't. Again, I'm not asking for millions. I am, however, taking my employment life into my own hands while writing continually. I highly doubt that my writing will make me rich compared to other Americans, which is fine with me. I don't need a luxury car. But if I can live to work and not work to live, I'll change up what's necessary. <br /><br />Actually, we ARE hearing about the millions who don't give a shit about the $.99 price point and buying what they like. Some of those millions are buying Amanda Hocking because she's giving them what they like. They don't care about the price, they care that she's got the good stuff. (at least what's good stuff to those buyers. that genre doesn't float my boat)<br /><br />I agree with you that I really don't care about price point. If it's good, and I can afford it, I'll buy it if I want to. I don't comparison shop based on price when it comes to art. <br /><br />Yeah, people do fail. And the people who fail the most are the ones who eventually win the most, because they learned from each failure and kept trying. <br /><br />JennaLundeen Literaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06706378156366979277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-80617102447463022842011-02-10T20:12:26.993-06:002011-02-10T20:12:26.993-06:00@Selena -
Oh, these Lucas wannabes were under an...@Selena - <br /><br />Oh, these Lucas wannabes were under an earlier deal - now I charge $75/hour to make changes, with a 3-hour minimum… ;) I learned that lesson the very very hard way. <br /><br />And for the monkey comment, I award you one internet! XD<br /><br /><br />@bowerbird -<br /><br />Fine, make fun of my typos! Kick me when I'm down! ;)<br /><br />I should have been more clear - these are folks who also have paper versions of their books. Unfortunately, I have not yet found a way to magically turn paper into an ebook, or else I would have. :( These books in question have at least 2 formats which are completely incompatible with the other. <br /><br />I'll be interested in your tool when it comes out. If it worked for the formatting issues I routinely have in either pub or Kindle, but not both, I will sing your praises from the rooftops and videotape it. Honest. <br /><br />Jenna <br />@lundeenliteraryLundeen Literaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06706378156366979277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-80859129544864447862011-02-10T19:47:33.873-06:002011-02-10T19:47:33.873-06:00Healthy discourse, unhealthy (and sometimes naught...Healthy discourse, unhealthy (and sometimes naughty) habits and unholy profits. Oh the chicanery that is Joe's blog! Damn you Konrath, I said stop distracting me!Selena Kitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17783685215421352626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-12563352650419874672011-02-10T18:52:13.939-06:002011-02-10T18:52:13.939-06:00Thanks, Joe. I was starting to get paranoid there ...Thanks, Joe. I was starting to get paranoid there for a minute, lol.<br /><br />For anyone who's interested, I will gift copies of my debut thriller in exchange for Amazon reviews. Just email me. <br /><br />sjharrisbooks@rocketmail.comS.J. Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12947499917626378222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-74978136320913089042011-02-10T18:40:50.312-06:002011-02-10T18:40:50.312-06:00@ SJ - I've only deleted anonymous posts. Chec...@ SJ - I've only deleted anonymous posts. Checked the spam filter and you weren't in it. Try reposting.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-88504129317942014972011-02-10T18:35:49.643-06:002011-02-10T18:35:49.643-06:00Post it! Please!
My blog is a place for healthy, ...<i>Post it! Please!</i><br /><br />My blog is a place for healthy, intelligent discourse, where people can debate without feeling alienated.<br /><br />When some pinhead starts getting rowdy, it ruins it for everyone, but I gotta lock things down until he goes and masturbates elsewhere.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-58154832824428065972011-02-10T18:23:24.165-06:002011-02-10T18:23:24.165-06:00Post it! Please! You've got to admit, Anon 2:2...Post it! Please! You've got to admit, Anon 2:25 is really funny in a ragey sort of way. If they ever start a blog called Anon 2:25I'll be there.Blake Crouchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06523902534623143473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-63910785329538238332011-02-10T18:15:29.345-06:002011-02-10T18:15:29.345-06:00Um, why do my posts keep getting deleted?Um, why do my posts keep getting deleted?S.J. Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12947499917626378222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-65383081659603636372011-02-10T18:09:48.453-06:002011-02-10T18:09:48.453-06:00Ahh, Anon.
Wanting so badly to post your garbage,...Ahh, Anon.<br /><br />Wanting so badly to post your garbage, but I've turned off anonymous posting.<br /><br />Sucks hard to be you, doesn't it?<br /><br />Poor baby.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-53498606758936770552011-02-10T18:07:14.770-06:002011-02-10T18:07:14.770-06:00Plonk plonk plonk goes another anonymous asshole.....Plonk plonk plonk goes another anonymous asshole...<br /><br />Apologies to the folks who play nice. But, Christ, it's fun as hell to piss off the trolls. :)JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-10047914181914640542011-02-10T17:57:48.371-06:002011-02-10T17:57:48.371-06:00Oh, Mr. Crouch...
@Anon.
I deleted your comment....<i>Oh, Mr. Crouch...</i><br /><br />@Anon.<br /><br />I deleted your comment. You're being an ass.<br /><br />Be nice or go play elsewhere. This is your only warning.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-79827612374700269252011-02-10T17:55:35.873-06:002011-02-10T17:55:35.873-06:00but seeing monkeys react to their own reflections ...<i>but seeing monkeys react to their own reflections can be mildly amusing for the humans. </i><br /><br />When you say things like this it gets me a little bit hot for you. Don't tell my wife. ;)JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-82333113670671932482011-02-10T17:40:19.654-06:002011-02-10T17:40:19.654-06:00gary said:
> The question is:
> How do ...gary said:<br />> The question is: <br />> How do publishers make money <br />> selling their best-selling <br />> author's ebooks at $2.99?<br />> I don't think they can, <br />> too many hands in the pocket <br />> to be a profitable venture.<br /><br />actually, the corporate publishers<br />can make more money at a lower<br />price just like everyone else, _if_<br />we look only at the e-book side.<br /><br />however, it would cannibalize the<br />print side, so they will not do it.<br /><br />***<br /><br />jenna said:<br />> which then need to be migrates <br />> to the various file formats. <br /><br />change "migrates" to "migrated"...<br /><br />then change your workflow. ;+)<br /><br />you need to have a "master file"<br />which propagates all the formats,<br />so you just make an edit _once_.<br /><br />i have programmed such a tool, <br />and it will be coming out soon...<br /><br />and it will be available at no cost,<br />as my gift to authors everywhere.<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-55527742474904968242011-02-10T17:37:29.775-06:002011-02-10T17:37:29.775-06:00Dear Anon 2:25: takes a lot of guts to write some ...<i>Dear Anon 2:25: takes a lot of guts to write some vitriolic shit anonymously, doesn't it? Get some balls or some ovaries and put your name to it</i><br /><br />LOL. Why would anyone with half a brain want to put their name on a bad argument?<br /><br />Troll rating: 3 out of 10<br /><br />Logic rating: 2 out of 10<br /><br />I wouldn't sign my name to that shit either.<br /><br />But then, I don't make lousy arguments...JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.com