tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post5270058469172184309..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Launching Your Career Via Kindle, the UnpublishedBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-34333338555032023362010-11-30T07:34:13.207-05:002010-11-30T07:34:13.207-05:00This article has generated a lot of very interesti...This article has generated a lot of very interesting feedback and I have found it very revealing both in personal and professional attitudes. As an aspiring antipodean writer I wish to put up a few points. First the internet was suppossed to break down the distance divide in terms of communication and markets. From some of these comments, that is not the case and appear to state that success relies more on geographic location. Considering that to those in the northern hemisphere I live at the bottom of the world it creates a difficulty. This implies that since I cannot easily physically access the North American continent my chance of success is next to nil. No matter how good my work is. Having already suffered from the tryanny of distance 'Downunder', I'll take epublishing thanks.Gregory Househttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04476560824795563382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-40672583366254854492010-11-30T03:03:53.720-05:002010-11-30T03:03:53.720-05:00Great post. Really useful to see what others (espe...Great post. Really useful to see what others (especially agents) think about the route. Personally, I chose to use the epublishing route for a very specific reason: agents are too afraid to promote my book.<br />Sugar & Spice has an 'uncomfortable' subject matter and whilst I was constantly receiving positive feedback from well-respected agents, they all admitted to not wanting to take the risk.<br />I am currently writing more mainstream, commercial fiction that I HOPE to be able to publish via the traditional route, but S&S is too important for me to shelve, so I am using epub. Time will tell. I guess it definitely has its place. Saffina DesforgesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-22234474135603091882010-11-29T21:31:56.879-05:002010-11-29T21:31:56.879-05:00Does TFS pay advances for ebook only deals?
Is it...Does TFS pay advances for ebook only deals?<br /><br />Is it mandatory to use their "editorial services' first in order to be offered a contract with them?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-89190153843237662152010-11-28T14:53:36.352-05:002010-11-28T14:53:36.352-05:00Perhaps you don't know it, but there are impri...Perhaps you don't know it, but there are imprints that are going e-publishing only. So it's not just e-publishing. I am proud to say that I signed a contract with Fiction Studio, run by Lou Aronica (and I'm sure you know who he is). He will publish on ALL e-plaforms, from Kindle to iPad to Nook to Kobe, to all the rest. Plus there will be POD support. <br />There is no money to be made in traditional publishing anymore, and I'm thrilled to be part in this venture, which will be in no way "self-publishing."Bastethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15031109621488847594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-56166558164912090392010-11-24T14:27:03.130-05:002010-11-24T14:27:03.130-05:00Yup, it's true.
Konrath is a guy who started ...Yup, it's true.<br /><br />Konrath is a guy who started out with NYC, was dropped by NYC and decided to keep going on his own rather than give up. That's all it is.<br /><br />So it is misleading for unpublished writers who consider starting out that way. At least try small presses first. I mean, if NOBODY wants the thing, you have to ask yourself, why the heck not?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-62978603051824065522010-11-24T09:18:18.095-05:002010-11-24T09:18:18.095-05:00A few things to consider about J A Konrath before ...A few things to consider about J A Konrath before anyone decides to leap into Kindle publishing based on Konrath's success alone.<br /><br />First, Konrath's reader-base was established by a big print publisher, which threw money at his earlier books in order to promote them. This went a big way towards developing Konrath's following (although I'll agree that Konrath has since worked hard to develop that following even more).<br /><br />When I did a bit of math on the sales figures, earnings and Amazon rankings that Konrath reported, I couldn't get them all to agree. It looked like some of them were exaggerated to a decent degree. Math isn't my strongest subject though so do the figures yourself if you want to be sure.<br /><br />I've been told that Konrath's latest book was rejected by his publisher and a few others, leaving him with little option but to go it alone. Since he spent so long telling everyone how great self publishing is, he now has to make the best of it. He's lucky to have that big readership behind him, but I doubt he could have established that readership without Big Publishing behind him in the first place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-66835140254154639622010-11-23T14:18:39.567-05:002010-11-23T14:18:39.567-05:00My two cents? If you are a practiced writer (and, ...My two cents? If you are a practiced writer (and, therefore, should already pretty much know how to "self-edit" to some extent), I see no reason not to do your own work, then submit to Amazon. In other words, why "hire" someone to rewrite and/or edit? And just because a book is e-published does not mean that it is something slapped together in a nanosecond like a peanut butter & jelly sandwich. I mean, there are some pretty tasty steaks out there.<br /><br />Which brings me to separating the wheat from the chaff: I am an avid reader and am astounded at the number of books I buy - some by very, very well known authors - that are riddled with typos, discrepancies, and an overabundance of punctuation (I won't name names here but if I see one more exclamation point from a certain assembly-line author, it will be one hundred too many).<br /><br />Very true that not everyone will find success with e-publishing. Yet the same goes for traditional pubs. And as for marketing? Anymore, it's basically up to the author no matter how anyone tries to tell you otherwise.<br /><br />It all boils down to good work. Whether discovered by an agent, an editor, or the reading public. Of course, there will always be great books that never find success.....<br /><br />Meaning: Don't ever forget Lady Luck (aka timing) plays a huge part in the stair-steps that must be taken to be a well-known author...Unfortunately, my timing has always sucked eggs.Rebecca Stroudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15138742710462541038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-82058891351162145032010-11-22T23:21:15.953-05:002010-11-22T23:21:15.953-05:00So much to think about.
I've very much enjoye...So much to think about.<br /><br />I've very much enjoyed the discussion too.<br /><br />......dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-48212666653034921942010-11-22T21:51:57.845-05:002010-11-22T21:51:57.845-05:00The things is that, sooner or later, every writer ...The things is that, sooner or later, every writer who starts out targeting NYC will at some point face the choice: let it die or try the next tier down. So they try to get a traditional deal with a small/indie press. If that fails, they again face a choice: let it die or take it to the next tier down. So they try e-pubs or pubs who don't pay advances. If THAT fails, then there's one decision left: let it die or self e-pub.<br /><br />So I suspect that after everyone "Shooting for the big 6" shoots and misses, they'll be signing up with AMazon rather than let their work go to complete waste. Perhaps under a pseudonym. Then, they try NYC again with a new project and the cycle begins anew. However many books you have in you, this is their fate: they trickle down the tier system until they die.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-55620371555382462232010-11-22T21:38:57.389-05:002010-11-22T21:38:57.389-05:00IMO, the key word for any venture in publishing is...IMO, the key word for any venture in publishing is platform, product, promotion ((c) Bob Mayer). Konrath has mentioned that he knows many self-epublished authors who make more than he does and they were never traditionally published. <br /><br />Plus, even for veteran authors self-epublishing their OOP books, unless there is a demand for their backlist, their e-books could languish in just as much obscurity as a never published author (whose to say their fans will want to buy e-books?). <br /><br />Sure, there are people on the sidelines praising self-published authors to the skies and declaring the death of traditional publishing, but those making a success of the venture largely see themselves as entrepreneurs who chose to take a path best suited for their personality, genre, time, platform, etc and don't care about "taking down" traditional publishing--they want to reach readers (and of course, make a living doing what they love). <br /><br />I am shooting for traditional publishing at the moment, but I think self-published--or indie--authors have a lot of lessons any writer hoping to rise to the top can learn from.Evangeline Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132593133675388609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-75516444858704826982010-11-22T21:20:25.124-05:002010-11-22T21:20:25.124-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Prettypics123https://www.blogger.com/profile/05002015227586327112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-27670598104457758002010-11-22T19:38:44.130-05:002010-11-22T19:38:44.130-05:00I think we'll see a lot of author's books ...I think we'll see a lot of author's books that don't make it to the Big 6 going the Kindle route under a pseudonym. There is nothing to lose if it's already written and you use another name. I'm surprised there's not even MORE stuff for sale already.<br /><br />In other words, while the writers of yesteryear let their manuscripts fester on their hard drives when they didn't sell to NYC, today's writers slap a cover on them, mention them on a few blogs, and let them fester on Amazon. And every now & then a few will pleasantly surprise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-3176027517334794882010-11-22T18:45:41.133-05:002010-11-22T18:45:41.133-05:00Well. Here's what I did as an experiment:
I t...Well. Here's what I did as an experiment:<br /><br />I took my short stories and pubbed them all on Kindle and Nook for .99 under a pseudonym. I created a compilation and sell it for 1.99. I made sure I had quite a few, the covers, copy, & editing kicked butt (but no, I did it all myself, which was actually pretty easy), I tried to weight my pubs with popular genres (holidays, suspense, etc.), and I didn't get an ISBN (because I believe writers should diversify and BookScan is not always your friend). I added my blog to Kindle subscriptions as well. I didn't promote. <br /><br />First month, I did pretty well. So well, I then pubbed my two novels that were dead.<br /><br />Then I did really well.<br /><br />I've had an agent (two actually). I've had plenty of shorts published. I've made more in the last two months on my writing than I have in the last three yrs. I'm now expanding into turning my e-novels into audios. It's exciting.<br /><br />Oh. And I'm also querying new agents again for my third novel and will pursue commercial publication for it. <br /><br />But then I think the smart writer is going to focus on diversity in the future. You don't have to go all one way or the other. I figured why NOT try it?It was fun, and has been lucrative. <br /><br />But then, that's exactly the same as with "traditional" publishing-not everything takes off. Actually most doesn't-and e-pubbing is no different. It's not a get-rich scheme. But if you know what you're doing and do it well, you can do quite well. I found that out. I'm glad I did.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-5232067809727563322010-11-22T18:37:23.483-05:002010-11-22T18:37:23.483-05:00Hmm, I have one self-published eBook too. I didn&...Hmm, I have one self-published eBook too. I didn't think anyone would buy it, so it's a free download. It gets downloaded, on average, five times a day.Kimber Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03982239712083114488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-5200090383306085232010-11-22T18:20:56.679-05:002010-11-22T18:20:56.679-05:00I think the really notable part of J.A. Konrath...I think the really notable part of J.A. Konrath's success is that he's making above-and-beyond efforts to educate people about his self e-publishing experience. He's not just saying that he's successful and letting people think that sticking a book online is instant easy money. He's always talking about what exactly he does to sell and promote his work, and how many hours per week he works, and how all the numbers break down. Konrath is just providing an opposing viewpoint to the old stance that you're (likely) an impatient fool if you want to self-publish anything ever. His blogging might be the mentoring a lot of writers need to succeed in e-publishing -- the same way that a lot of writers struggle along blind with terrible query letters until they read a literary agent's blog.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11865524260060421873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-47956961087970528452010-11-22T16:53:56.106-05:002010-11-22T16:53:56.106-05:00It's all just about selling. It doesn't ma...It's all just about selling. It doesn't matter how it gets out there, it's what happens once it does. Nothing else matters. So if you think self-pubbing a Kindle is all you need to make it sell, then do that. If you think the Big 6 is the only way you'll ever be able to sell, then wait for that to happen. If you need the validaiton of an advance, maybe small press is the way to go.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-70843834167578819162010-11-22T16:46:24.797-05:002010-11-22T16:46:24.797-05:00I'm not a fan of the physical-copy 'e-publ...I'm not a fan of the physical-copy 'e-publishing' options; quality of the product is but one concern. I self published my novel. My feeling was that if I could generate some talk about the book, it could be directed to my website as easily as anywhere else. Yep, I've got a house full of books. <b>But I've got the book that I wanted.</b> 2,000 copies. It's up to an average of five copies a week now. Only 1,100 to go. And though I'm certainly not making any real money, I would have given up a lot to get it out with a traditional publisher, and they would have to have sold 8-10 times as many copies (as best that I can gauge) for me to be even on the money. No regrets, even if it stops selling and I wind up with 800 doorstops.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-57490376721746651642010-11-22T16:29:47.986-05:002010-11-22T16:29:47.986-05:00Good post, good post! Looking forward to Part 2.Good post, good post! Looking forward to Part 2.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-79938531580630120122010-11-22T14:54:36.236-05:002010-11-22T14:54:36.236-05:00When you think about J. A. Konrath's success, ...When you think about J. A. Konrath's success, remember the stock market:<br /><br />People brag when they're making a lot of money. They shut up when they're losing a lot of money.<br /><br />This creates the impression that it's <i>easy</i> to do well--just look at all the success stories you're hearing!<br /><br />Remember that the failure stories are the ones you're <i>not</i> hearing. <br /><br />Stories such as: I published an <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/27024" rel="nofollow">ebook</a> under a pseudonym in mid-October. It's well-written, I worked hard on the editing, formatting and cover art--and I have sold exactly 6 copies. <br /><br />If you're going to self-publish, you need a platform. J. A. Konrath had one from his time in traditional publishing. An unknown author has to build one, and doing so is a damned hard slog.jjdebenedictishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16950592240599703771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-7328026309595436512010-11-22T14:35:54.346-05:002010-11-22T14:35:54.346-05:00I've put all my out-of-print mysteries and thr...I've put all my out-of-print mysteries and thrillers on the Kindle (and in other formats through Smash Words). I basically make grocery money on it, not living on money. <br /><br />I would never do it for a new book, though. No distribution, no one to promote you, no one to police that you're not pirated, no one to edit, no one to copy edit (unless you hire out all those functions).April Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01193292966301864407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-45778073041510616822010-11-22T14:27:21.409-05:002010-11-22T14:27:21.409-05:00The disagreement I have is when you say that the m...The disagreement I have is when you say that the market will be flooded. Isn't it already? Truth of the matter is, for every one traditionally published book that makes the best seller list, there are another forty-nine that are selling. So, what's the difference?<br /><br />The same argument is made for the quality of the stories and it's just as bogus there as well. There's just as much badly produced crap in the traditional world as there is in the nontraditional, the only difference is the traditional has the "name" behind it. But crap is crap.<br /><br />Do I think we need agents? Absolutely, but getting one is this side of impossible. <br /><br />I have a great story and I believe in it enough that I'm going to put it out there in one way, shape, or form. And I believe that it will sell. And the rest will either come in time or I'll make it without. And I think there's room for both systems. One is no better or worse than the other.JVRChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467257065784931223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-79307079336552398232010-11-22T14:05:41.330-05:002010-11-22T14:05:41.330-05:00Thanks for making the correction. Not everyone is ...Thanks for making the correction. Not everyone is up on the jargon and there are a lot of misconceptions about the differences between e-publishing and authors self-publishing e-books.<br /><br />Some might even argue that self-published e-books are part of the slush pile, while books published by valid e-publishers go through almost the same strict process as an agent/author query situation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-58014253726484198092010-11-22T13:09:31.052-05:002010-11-22T13:09:31.052-05:00I assumed since the question was specifically abou...I assumed since the question was specifically about Kindle and since I started explaining self-publishing most would understand that when discussing epublishing in this article I am discussing self-epublishing. However, since that's not the case I have gone and made the correction.<br /><br />--jhfBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-10890144319027773212010-11-22T13:02:24.316-05:002010-11-22T13:02:24.316-05:00As a self-pubbed author, I want to thank you for a...As a self-pubbed author, I want to thank you for addressing this honestly. It does take a lot of work to market an e-book. The mistake some authors make is that all they have to do is upload it, and they're done. <br /><br />Mostly, the author has to be visible on sites where people with e-readers gather. I participate on various forums, and not just pushing my book. In fact, I recently received a Kindle, so I'm there as a device owner, as a reader, and as an author. Consequently,I've had a few instances where a forum participant has read my book and started a thread about it--and no, it wasn't due to me asking anyone to do it.<br /><br />If I wasn't around, I doubt the reader would bother to post anything. <br /><br />As far as author signings, I had a local authors group contact me about participating in some book signings. I've declined because I have nothing to sign. I may go wiht a print version after the new year, but I doubt I will sell many of them. It probably wouldn't be worth the hassle except I have an aunt who wants one. ;-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13267066733031149882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-33682747279205038562010-11-22T12:41:57.975-05:002010-11-22T12:41:57.975-05:00Amazing post. This is the conclusion my research h...Amazing post. This is the conclusion my research had led me to as well. I certainly don't think this will be the end of the traditional route, just another option. I look forward to the second part.Rezdenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04287582286040287527noreply@blogger.com