So has anyone read Nathan Bransford's blog on the self-published Kindle millionaires? Its awfully tempting to go straight to making books available on Kindle. I am not expecting to be an Amanda Hocking or J.A. Konrath. They are making hundreds of thousands at this, but hey, some extra money would be nice. Or let's face it, any at all.
Hocking had shopped her book to agents unsuccessfully. She just wanted to make some extra cash for a trip she was going on. Now she is making major bucks selling books for .99 cents. The low price point makes sense. I would take a chance on a book that is well reviewed by book bloggers for a mere buck. The soda machine at work costs more... Some books are 2.99, but that still means I can get 2 for the usual price of one. That's hours more of reading enjoyment. A whole series of 6 could be $6 bucks and on my Kindle forever (sniff, or they could have been if my Kindle hadn't been stolen from my house a few weeks ago).
I will certainly be buying more self-pubbed books if I ever save up enough to get another Kindle.
The lower ereader prices (many ereaders have dropped to around $100, and it's just $139 for the new 3G-less Kindle) mean more readers. But more authors will be trying to publish this way, which means your writing will have to shine if want to rise to the top of the .99 cent offerings.
But I am quitting my 2nd job in order to write more, and it has me seriously thinking about publishing on the Kindle. I am finally at a point when I can dedicate myself to my writing.
I don't think everyone will do this. Both Hocking and J.A. Konrath are prolific writers and marketers. Most of us still have the simple butt-in-chair problem that keeps us from getting anywhere. But I have friends who have terrific books ready to go. And with some monetary motivation and that dastardly immediate gratification, I could certainly be seduced...
Many writers have a vision for their book, and it doesn't always survive the traditional publishing submission process. Agents and editors often dictate changes according to a formula, and sometimes they are all too right. But let's face it, they don't always know what will make books sell. As Amanda Hocking points out, none of us really do. But at least with Kindle publishing, that much-loved book gets a chance to breath free air. For better or worse. Hmmmmm. So if sharing your writing is important to you, the money might be nice, but it's secondary to just being heard.
Something to think about.
7 comments:
Miz. Grissom,
Do you have any ideas regarding marketing?
"Butt to chair" is not a problem for me, I can write large volumes without too much trouble. Marketing has been a problem and it's what concerns me about writing for the Kindle.
I am very excited about the platform, however, and I'm moving to 30 pages a day (from 10). One novel down, one 1/3 done.
Please talk more about this and I will be checking back regularly, interesting blog otherwise as well.
Hi Worg,
I'm not sure I'm the best person to ask as I haven't started my own marketing efforts yet.
I can tell you what other blogs I read have been saying - find bloggers in the genre or topic area your writing is in and then ask them for reviews. Give them free copies and ask them to write an honest review of the work. This gets your writing in front of your target audience. So if you're writing thrillers, you want to join groups related to reading thrillers and then participate without being too pushy with the marketing. Maybe have a link to your books in your signature line when you comment.
I may do a blog on this as I get more into it myself. Hope that helps :)
Hi Tricia! So glad to see you on here again. I'm one of those writers who struggles with that butt-in-chair problem, too. I think your post has inspired me to glue myself to my chair, though, now! Thanks!
Great post. I think many authors have been pushed to the slush pile when they have novels many of us would like to read. I'm glad that many writers are making good use of publishing for e-readers. Even JK Rowling had many rejections, thank goodness she didn't give up.
Ann
Hi Becky. Yes, I'm back :) I still have one more week of class, but then I plan to start posting again.
Hey, Cozy - Yep, I heard the J.K Rowling stories too. I think it may provied a new marketplace for shorter works publishers can't price low enough to sell - like novellas. At least that's what I'm hoping :)
Thanks for your response.
Maybe this is something we could figure out. I have some experience with net marketing and I am thinking that there must have been more that these people did-- if they are outmarketing established publishing companies they had to have been doing something more than guerrilla marketing on forums.
The blogger thing is good, and of course, if you are writing books for the Kindle, it costs you nothing.
Let's hear some more ideas. Personally I am going to send manuscripts to agencies for a while here to see how that goes but I want to learn as much as I can about this.
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