I have conquered self-publishing! - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T05:16:19Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/i-have-conquered-self-publishing?feed=yes&xn_auth=noThanks, Noir Nation. I hope i…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-09-26:537324:Comment:3162252011-09-26T17:40:10.175ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Thanks, Noir Nation. I hope it gets easier with time. :)
Thanks, Noir Nation. I hope it gets easier with time. :) Congratulations, we know from…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-09-26:537324:Comment:3162292011-09-26T14:35:13.047ZNoir Nationhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/NoirNation
Congratulations, we know from first hand experience how hard it is to navigate the KDP system the first time.
Congratulations, we know from first hand experience how hard it is to navigate the KDP system the first time. Clay, You're quite right that…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-09-23:537324:Comment:3158682011-09-23T21:41:36.972ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Clay, You're quite right that if you have a following and some name recognition it's easier to get some sales. Konrath has that plus an enormous amount of promotion. But you have to start somewhere. What do you mean "online pubs"? Why don't you go to Kindle? Give them an exclusive and see if they'll give you a bit of promotion. Then do some announcements on Kindle boards and Author Central and Facebook etc. Konrath's message is that you've got to set the price low and put up as many items as…
Clay, You're quite right that if you have a following and some name recognition it's easier to get some sales. Konrath has that plus an enormous amount of promotion. But you have to start somewhere. What do you mean "online pubs"? Why don't you go to Kindle? Give them an exclusive and see if they'll give you a bit of promotion. Then do some announcements on Kindle boards and Author Central and Facebook etc. Konrath's message is that you've got to set the price low and put up as many items as possible, because that gives you shelf presence. And you have to be patient. I think Konrath's big contrib…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-09-23:537324:Comment:3158472011-09-23T19:27:32.417ZEDWARD C MORGANhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/ECMorgan
<p>I think Konrath's big contribution to publishing is to show people that there is another way, and then in <strong>tremendous detail</strong>, show them how he did it. My main problem is he comes across as a bit ... strong.</p>
<p>I'm trying to figure out how, without name recognition, to obtain some at least decent sales if I self-publish. Konrath, some others, and even you have the benefit of a following (and yes you have a following, including my mom, a niece, and half the folks at dad's…</p>
<p>I think Konrath's big contribution to publishing is to show people that there is another way, and then in <strong>tremendous detail</strong>, show them how he did it. My main problem is he comes across as a bit ... strong.</p>
<p>I'm trying to figure out how, without name recognition, to obtain some at least decent sales if I self-publish. Konrath, some others, and even you have the benefit of a following (and yes you have a following, including my mom, a niece, and half the folks at dad's fire station).</p>
<p>Certainly, for my short stories, it can't be worse. I published five short stories through online publications and got paid exactly nothing. I'll make more than that off my mom alone if I put them up through Amazon.</p>
<p>The idea of self publishing the books I'm not as sure about. I think they're good. I've gotten very positive feedback from agents/publishers, but the fact nobody's made an offer concerns me.</p>
<p>We'll see!</p> Clay, I think traditional pub…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-09-23:537324:Comment:3158292011-09-23T17:19:36.240ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
<p>Clay, I think traditional publishers, even small ones, will demand a large chunk of your e-rights. Do negotiate hard for those. Or better, hold on to them and work the print deal some other way.</p>
<p>Konrath is in a situation similar to mine: traditionally published but dropped by his publisher. He promotes heavily. That may account for his success, plus the fact that he switched to thrillers and writes much faster. What he has done is to give struggling authors the hope that they…</p>
<p>Clay, I think traditional publishers, even small ones, will demand a large chunk of your e-rights. Do negotiate hard for those. Or better, hold on to them and work the print deal some other way.</p>
<p>Konrath is in a situation similar to mine: traditionally published but dropped by his publisher. He promotes heavily. That may account for his success, plus the fact that he switched to thrillers and writes much faster. What he has done is to give struggling authors the hope that they might be able to survive in spite of the lack of support from the big houses. That's worth an awful lot to people. He has also been absolutely open about his sales and his methods. So perhaps he wears rose-colored glasses in some instances. He's still someone most of us must be grateful to, because he has shown us just how badly we were being ripped off.</p> I don't know if CreateSpace i…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-09-23:537324:Comment:3158282011-09-23T15:36:46.025ZEDWARD C MORGANhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/ECMorgan
<p>I don't know if CreateSpace is a good way to go or not, which is why I was asking.</p>
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<p>While i do get turned off by his presentation, I do believe to a large degree Konrath is correct about taking matters into your own hands. After 2 or 3 years of very polite, often personal/hand written, rejection letters from publishers and agents, I am working on a plan to "get my books out there."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The electronic aspect is easy enough to figure out, but trying to make a…</p>
<p>I don't know if CreateSpace is a good way to go or not, which is why I was asking.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While i do get turned off by his presentation, I do believe to a large degree Konrath is correct about taking matters into your own hands. After 2 or 3 years of very polite, often personal/hand written, rejection letters from publishers and agents, I am working on a plan to "get my books out there."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The electronic aspect is easy enough to figure out, but trying to make a decision on a potential print offering is something else.</p> Thanks, Susan, and the same t…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-09-23:537324:Comment:3158172011-09-23T13:51:04.214ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Thanks, Susan, and the same to you. I started out with Photo Studio, a freebie with a scanner, I think. It was fine, but I had trouble getting it to do the lettering right. I'm only doing simple stuff with PhotoShop, and yes, it's harder than my old system. The biggest problem, though, is the fact that I don't do this fulltime, so I keep forgetting between covers.
Thanks, Susan, and the same to you. I started out with Photo Studio, a freebie with a scanner, I think. It was fine, but I had trouble getting it to do the lettering right. I'm only doing simple stuff with PhotoShop, and yes, it's harder than my old system. The biggest problem, though, is the fact that I don't do this fulltime, so I keep forgetting between covers. Big congrats, LJ! I'm sure yo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-09-22:537324:Comment:3156642011-09-22T21:56:39.136ZSusanhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Susan
<p>Big congrats, LJ! I'm sure you'll be glad you did this. I've not done the Smashwords thing, only Kindle and Nook, and I know some of the frustrations involved in the upload. I also design my own covers. Have never used Photoshop, hear it's a bear to learn. I use Microsoft Picture It, which I got with my old computer (2003). I just bought a new one, used the CD to load the program and it works fine. If you can get hold of this program, it's much easier to use than…</p>
<p>Big congrats, LJ! I'm sure you'll be glad you did this. I've not done the Smashwords thing, only Kindle and Nook, and I know some of the frustrations involved in the upload. I also design my own covers. Have never used Photoshop, hear it's a bear to learn. I use Microsoft Picture It, which I got with my old computer (2003). I just bought a new one, used the CD to load the program and it works fine. If you can get hold of this program, it's much easier to use than photoshop.</p>
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<p>May you have many sales with your new ebook!</p>
<p>Susan</p> I haven't tried that yet. Is…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-09-22:537324:Comment:3156582011-09-22T21:19:01.446ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
I haven't tried that yet. Is CreateSpace a good way to go? I have a local publisher who specializes in short stories. I may contact him about those. For self-published novels, I'd probably rather go with Encore or Thomas & Mercer.
I haven't tried that yet. Is CreateSpace a good way to go? I have a local publisher who specializes in short stories. I may contact him about those. For self-published novels, I'd probably rather go with Encore or Thomas & Mercer. If I may ask another question…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-09-22:537324:Comment:3156542011-09-22T20:19:40.113ZEDWARD C MORGANhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/ECMorgan
If I may ask another question. Are you also offering your self-published books/stories in print through CreateSpace?
If I may ask another question. Are you also offering your self-published books/stories in print through CreateSpace?