tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post8173954443919309708..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: And They Say That A Hero Will Save UsJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-80630644849214748452013-04-17T16:59:16.423-05:002013-04-17T16:59:16.423-05:00I'm reading this kind of late, given when it w...I'm reading this kind of late, given when it was written, but my response is a 15-minute standing ovation! Hurrah!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02168477959268581214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-24570228173797105322011-07-06T13:03:48.091-05:002011-07-06T13:03:48.091-05:00Dear KM TOLAN:
You said, "there still needs t...Dear KM TOLAN:<br />You said, "there still needs to be a way for readers to sift through the huge amount of poor writing out there in the self-pub areas..."<br /><br />My response is : The same way people sift through material they don't want in a bookstore (those that are left open anyway).<br /><br />Readers aren't as dumb as you think. They don't NEED someone to lead by the hand like children for them to find a book they want to read. If that were the case then EVERY single book on bookstore shelves would be bestsellers...and they're not. Why? Because despite publishers taking them by the hand & saying "This is a good book. You should buy this book", people don't.Go tell it on the mountainhttp://www.themountain.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-69189435457456074032010-05-09T09:19:37.945-05:002010-05-09T09:19:37.945-05:00Robert Randisi has written more than 540 books. Im...Robert Randisi has written more than 540 books. Imagine if he put all of those on kindle, and each book sold 1 per day at $2.99. That would be $412,530 per year.Rex Kuslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629682795065138786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-50118805315693202622010-05-08T21:09:36.220-05:002010-05-08T21:09:36.220-05:00@Donna
I'll be interested to hear how it goes...@Donna<br /><br />I'll be interested to hear how it goes for you. That's an impressive number of books on your backlist! I hope it works out well for you.<br /><br />It is so exciting to hear more and more people trying this.J.A. Marlowhttp://jamarlow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-85698698986111718692010-05-08T19:15:53.156-05:002010-05-08T19:15:53.156-05:00First, terrific post! My thoughts exactly. I'...First, terrific post! My thoughts exactly. I've followed your blog for some time and I've decided to give this a shot. I've been publishing steadily for 25 years, have a back list of almost 100 titles, have 4-5 well-reviewed books in print with two new books scheduled in the next 12 months, sooooo.... I think I'm a pretty good candidate to see if your results with e-book sales can be replicated. Over the next few months I will be publishing updated e-versions of some of my reverted titles,with a goal of 20 books by the end of the summer,and will let you know how it goes if I may. So far I have 4 titles on Kindle and my observation has been that if you do absolutely nothing at all in the way of promotion, they sell at a rate of about one copy per day. (I think it has something to do with chaos theory:)) Now we'll see what happens as I make some attempt to get the word out. Thanks for the encouragement to all working writers who are ready to take control of their careers!Donna Ballhttp://www.awriterreads.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-26420985285207000732010-05-07T17:11:22.195-05:002010-05-07T17:11:22.195-05:00Joe,
WHISKEY SOUR had a badass climax. The entire...Joe,<br /><br />WHISKEY SOUR had a badass climax. The entire story had a tight structure. I’ve been breaking it into chapters and beats in a notebook to study the pacing, progression, and general craftsmanship. Your plotting is elegant. And you know how to bring the funny. <br /><br />I like reading first works. Stephen King’s debut was Carrie. David Mamet’s debut was Lakeboat. Whiskey Sour was better than both. You have earned the moneybomb.<br /><br />Jack H.H. King<br />Author of 'Midget DeathSport'JHHKhttp://jhhk-author.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-24441449825123646622010-05-07T09:33:34.114-05:002010-05-07T09:33:34.114-05:00Wired Magazine calls iPhone Apps the indie develop...Wired Magazine calls iPhone Apps the indie developer's dream and I think the kindle is the indie writer's dream. There are many iPhone app millionaires because they can develop and sell apps cheaply. For instance:<br /><br />The iPHone game app TRISM made 250,000 in the first two months.<br /><br />Tap Tap Revenge, a music rhythm game has sold over 1 million.<br /><br />and the iPhone FART app pulls in $10,000 a day!<br /><br />Now, if a FART app can pull in that much money on the iPhone, surely a well written book on Kindle will do the same!<br /><br />Cheers<br />KFranKaren Carrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06087359076581003603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-80118896616810576652010-05-07T03:41:30.743-05:002010-05-07T03:41:30.743-05:00> I'd always assumed that
> print p...> I'd always assumed that <br />> print publishers would begin <br />> to lose market dominance <br />> once ebooks took off <br />> in a big way, and they'd have to <br />> either restructure or die.<br />> But now I'm predicting <br />> another death for them.<br /><br />the corporate publishers have to<br />cover huge overhead on each book.<br /><br />it's been clear for a while that<br />they can't compete against the<br />writer who delivers product at<br />a significantly lower pricepoint.<br /><br />-bowerbirdbowerbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962115094107919533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-35173627151676930482010-05-07T02:12:27.042-05:002010-05-07T02:12:27.042-05:00Congrats Joe
Your an inspirationCongrats Joe<br />Your an inspirationAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-56457414618916478512010-05-07T00:27:36.785-05:002010-05-07T00:27:36.785-05:00Your last bit about the authors being in control b...Your last bit about the authors being in control because they are ones with the content was similar to what I said in my recent interview with The Horror Fiction Review.<br /><br />It's in the following link for those interested. I also give my prediction of the future of publishing since the stuff I've been talking about for the past 5 or so years has all come to pass.<br /><br />http://www.freewebs.com/hfrzine/hfrinterviewapfuchs.htm<br /><br />In the end, the standard commercialization of fiction as we know it won't exist. I foresee the future of publishing to be kind of like the movie biz: a bunch of small independent outfits turning out stuff that sometimes gets picked up by those with longer reaches distribution-wise.<br /><br />I also foresee cult-following-type of books outnumbering mass-following-type of books in the years to come. i.e. fans of an author's blog being his/her main fanbase rather than Joe and Jane Reader off the street, or something similar.A.P. Fuchshttp://www.canisterx.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-19256546881308780722010-05-06T22:01:26.776-05:002010-05-06T22:01:26.776-05:00@Jack,
Oh and I wasn't implying that you thou...@Jack,<br /><br />Oh and I wasn't implying that you thought I wanted NY to fail. Rereading that, that's how it sounded. I meant that I don't want them to either. But the wording sounded off. *head desk*Zoe Wintershttp://www.zoewinters.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-2626469912535377282010-05-06T21:59:38.588-05:002010-05-06T21:59:38.588-05:00Jack, that's great! I was considering doing sh...Jack, that's great! I was considering doing short discount and no returns as well.<br /><br />I don't *want* NY to fail, but I think they will unless they change how they do things significantly. Too many factors IMO are coming together. Though a world in which NY and indies happily coexist without so much nastiness would be nice too.Zoe Wintershttp://www.zoewinters.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-32229261377235354372010-05-06T14:59:31.631-05:002010-05-06T14:59:31.631-05:00I got offered an 'e-book only' contract at...I got offered an 'e-book only' contract at the end of last year. After reading this, I'm even more glad I accepted.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-43065871510282985032010-05-06T12:56:59.427-05:002010-05-06T12:56:59.427-05:00Joe,
Where do you think literary fiction writers ...Joe,<br /><br />Where do you think literary fiction writers are going to end up over the next few years? Hard to get trad pubbed, of course, but perhaps harder to go the self-pubbing route and find your audience?? Are we just fu%&ed?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-72359569144846904562010-05-06T12:29:06.370-05:002010-05-06T12:29:06.370-05:00You've convinced me, Joe. I just downloaded y...You've convinced me, Joe. I just downloaded your Newbie's Guide.<br /><br />I relate to your tagline about the writer who never gives up. I wrote and submitted for seventeen years before I sold that first novel. Some of that early work deserves to remain in my file drawer, but some of it is now available in ebook form. <br /><br />After I sold <i>Artifacts</i>, I did a lot of the things you've done. I've made appearances in 23 states. I've gotten press coverage--print, radio, and TV--in major markets including NYC. I sent library mailings and independent bookstore mailings. The result is that I sell very well for a small publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, with a backlist that my agent tells me sells well for any publisher. Yet I don't make a living.<br /><br />So I've epublished the work to which I own rights, and I'm tackling the vagaries of internet promotion of those works, as well as my printed books. This is my year to assert some control over my destiny. Thanks for the roadmap.<br /><br />Mary Anna Evans<br />Blogging at "It's like making sausage," http://www.maryannaevans.blogspot.comMary Anna Evanshttp://www.maryannaevans.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-79203047010366355062010-05-05T20:36:04.397-05:002010-05-05T20:36:04.397-05:00Hey Joe,
I guess you could say you're MY hero...Hey Joe,<br /><br />I guess you could say you're MY hero! You're the only reason I bought a nook. (Well, not the nook specifically... I can't blame you for that) <br /><br />I still send folks to your post about odering a pizza from your e-reader in the pool. I think the idea of a paper book with the ebook on a micro SD is brilliant and I'm SHOCKED that I heven't seen it yet. <br /><br />Keep it up, and I'll keep reading, regardless of the form. I found you at the library, but I'll follow ya in any form.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05925777569861854546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-45242779755388066982010-05-05T17:33:08.914-05:002010-05-05T17:33:08.914-05:00Zoe,
All my LSI books are at the 25% "short&...Zoe,<br /><br />All my LSI books are at the 25% "short" discount, with no returns.<br /><br />Amazon seems to change their discount at random, but most of the time they take off an extra 10%.<br /><br />For example, my all-sex diet book.<br /><br />$2.99 Kindle. My small press lists the POD paperback at $13.95.<br /><br />Amazon buys it from LSI for $10.50.<br /><br />Amazon sells it to the reader for $12.55. Free shipping.<br /><br />LSI take $3.<br /><br />My small press collects $7.50.<br /><br />My editor keeps $.50 per book. She's a one-woman machine.<br /><br />I earn $7 per paperback sold and get paid every month.<br /><br />My new thriller is coming out in fall 2010 on Kindle and paperback. <br /><br />I met my editor in college. We both studied playwriting. We both intend to be doing the indie fiction thing for the next 50 years.<br /><br />I don't want New York Publishing to fail. I just will never need them.Jack H H Kinghttp://jhhk-author.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-29578779293348471872010-05-05T17:31:09.005-05:002010-05-05T17:31:09.005-05:00Great post today, and I have been thinking along t...Great post today, and I have been thinking along these same lines the past few weeks. I think you've hit the nail on the head. You're absolutely right. Thanks for such a great blog. I'm now self-published because of you.Victorinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06052077366367623323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-4216717267073715412010-05-05T16:26:59.177-05:002010-05-05T16:26:59.177-05:00Love it Joe!
I've always said self-publishing...Love it Joe!<br /><br />I've always said self-publishing is the best way for the average writer to go.Going to share your link with my writer friends at jayswritersworld@yahoogroups.com<br /><br />Jay HudsonJay Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17172351818836567645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-82362635179386504982010-05-05T16:21:31.790-05:002010-05-05T16:21:31.790-05:00Hey Jack,
Yep, I'm about to do my first print...Hey Jack,<br /><br />Yep, I'm about to do my first print release with LSI. They are probably one of the best kept secrets of publishing. Otherwise I can't understand the "serious self-publishing authors" out there who, in the age of the Internet, are still equating POD with author services companies and encouraging offset print runs. That's epic fail right there!<br /><br />Thanks also for giving me your percentages on B&N sales through LSI. Also interesting about people walking into bookstores and ordering the books. What discount do you offer through LSI? Do you use the short discount option?<br /><br />There is a bit of a learning curve to working with LSI but anyone with any kind of profit motive as an indie would be wise to jump the hurdle. They're the best option out there.<br /><br />I'm a little bit of a nerd in that I can recognize the print hallmark of an LSI book and all the POD books that actually look good as far as construction, cover stock, paper, and actual printing, is LSI.<br /><br />I'm not sure if CreateSpace and Booksurge use the same printers since they are both Amazon-run but when I originally got samples, Booksurge had ugly yellow glue (book binding glue should not stick out like a sore thumb) and way too shiny covers.Zoe Wintershttp://www.zoewinters.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-42176637315626987892010-05-05T12:07:05.389-05:002010-05-05T12:07:05.389-05:00If you were in charge of creating and marketing eb...<i>If you were in charge of creating and marketing ebooks for a small, dynamic publisher (like Blair), what would you do?</i><br /><br />Keep the prices low, under $2.99. Take a small percentage, say 15% of the net of every sale. Try to grab as many authors as I could before they realize they can do it themselves.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-12825820394242609472010-05-05T12:04:08.766-05:002010-05-05T12:04:08.766-05:00I'm wondering if you feel that working a novel...<i>I'm wondering if you feel that working a novel through the Big Publisher editing process helps to give it an overall higher quality?</i><br /><br />That's a good question. It's also non-specific, because some editors help some books, but not all editors help all books. <br /><br />On average, I think editing helps. Getting a learned opinion and suggestions, with rational reasons to back up the points, is always helpful.<br /><br />That said, I have been asked to do edits I didn't agree with. Sometimes I did them, other times I didn't.<br /><br />I wouldn't ever pay for editing. My peers help me vet my books, and I have people who help me proofread. <br /><br />If I were a newbie starting out, an editor could definitely help make a book better. But it's still a case- by-case basis.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-29689470364220849702010-05-05T11:59:28.344-05:002010-05-05T11:59:28.344-05:00Zoe,
My small press uses LSI for POD. My editor l...Zoe,<br /><br />My small press uses LSI for POD. My editor loves them. She says it costs about $100 to release a paperback, they can price to the market and make about $7 profit per book sold. <br /><br />50% of lifetime sales have come from Amazon, 25% from B&N Online, 25% from readers who walk into bookstores and order the books. <br /><br />They've been using LSI for 5 years, and have not had a single complaint.<br /><br />- JackJack H H Kinghttp://jhhk-author.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-54064518210437861332010-05-05T11:46:45.878-05:002010-05-05T11:46:45.878-05:00Joe,
WHISKEY SOUR
(I started it two nights ago ...Joe,<br /><br />WHISKEY SOUR <br /><br />(I started it two nights ago and have almost finished. It's badass. I can feel the love of genre in your prose.)<br /><br />I thought I read in your 'Newbie's Guide' that your agent sold it, but the publisher wanted edits.<br /><br />You sent it out when you thought it was 100% complete. You made some of the changes that they wanted. You shortened the book, softened some of the language, added more polish. The normal back-and-forth.<br /><br />Do you think the published version is a better book? Or, if you were self-publishing it on Kindle, would you release the version you first sent them, the version that you first thought was 100% complete?<br /><br />I'm wondering if you feel that working a novel through the Big Publisher editing process helps to give it an overall higher quality?<br /><br />You seem to have the engineering of a one-man novel publishing machine. I can understand why the ebook revolution excites you. You're a professional, with god-like powers.<br /><br />But what about authors that need help? Do they take all the risk? Do they spend $3000-$5000 and hire editors and proofreaders and cover artists and layout designers and PR professionals, and eat the cost if the book doesn't profit?<br /><br />I think of Big Publishers like insurance. The healthy books support the sick books. And the system, while imperfect, helps a lot of writers and readers. The best part is that participation is optional. <br /><br />It's good to hear you're going POD. <br /><br />- JackJack H H Kinghttp://jhhk-author.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-57072506717950869992010-05-05T11:02:28.463-05:002010-05-05T11:02:28.463-05:00This is all fascinating stuff, Joe. I do have one...This is all fascinating stuff, Joe. I do have one question: <br /><br />If you were in charge of creating and marketing ebooks for a small, dynamic publisher (like Blair), what would you do?John F. Blair, Publisherhttp://blairpub.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com