tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post6822192830923496510..comments2024-02-20T07:57:47.756-08:00Comments on Carol Hedges: The PINK SOFA meets Nat RussoCarol Hedgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-67334063742092044492014-06-08T12:30:00.979-07:002014-06-08T12:30:00.979-07:00There's a learning curve, Michaele. But if it&...There's a learning curve, Michaele. But if it's any consolation, just 2 1/2 short years ago, I knew absolutely *nothing* about marketing a book. <br /><br />The unfortunate truth is that regardless of which path we take (self-pub or legacy pub), unless we're already a huge name in publishing, we're going to have to do our own marketing. The irony of marketing in a large publishing house is that they only spend marketing dollars on authors who have already earned a lot of money for them.<br /><br />Make friends with social media. Having an author platform is every bit as important as you've heard. <br /><br />I also recommend digging up some books from an author named David Gaughran. His "Let's Get Digital" series is quite informative.<br /><br />I wrote an article on platform building you might fight interesting: http://www.erindorpress.com/2014/05/platform-building-primer/<br /><br />If I can answer any questions, just let me know!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08805424061244808455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-58527263358147719692014-06-08T11:25:46.732-07:002014-06-08T11:25:46.732-07:00The thing that worries me most is marketing. Will ...The thing that worries me most is marketing. Will I know what to do and how to keep up with it? I'm willing, but I don't know if I'm able. Are there support systems out there to help with marketing?Michaele Stoughtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06369315790760871519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-58714110623560072532014-06-08T11:08:48.372-07:002014-06-08T11:08:48.372-07:00Michaele, I can't tell you how often I've ...Michaele, I can't tell you how often I've heard those very same words across other genres. The decision to publish or not often has very little to do with whether the story is good, or the story is well-written. When you get to the "big business" side of Publishing, it always comes down to money.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08805424061244808455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-4334529817225461612014-06-08T10:32:54.872-07:002014-06-08T10:32:54.872-07:00One of the things to consider on the "validat...One of the things to consider on the "validation" point: How will you feel if you can't find a publisher? Will this stop you from writing because you feel invalidated?<br /><br />I'm merely playing devil's advocate here, because, as I said, there is no right or wrong answer. In fact, some very successful writers have found "both" to be an acceptable answer. Along these lines, I can tell you with certainty that traditional/legacy publishing is no guarantor of quality.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08805424061244808455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-6182231362298095992014-06-08T10:22:57.422-07:002014-06-08T10:22:57.422-07:00Thanks Nat! I really needed this post right now. I...Thanks Nat! I really needed this post right now. I've been struggling with my options and you make some great points. The last editor that was interested couldn't get approval from her senior editor because "they just aren't interested in paranormal right now."Michaele Stoughtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06369315790760871519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-79113626660654480522014-06-04T09:02:22.345-07:002014-06-04T09:02:22.345-07:00Thanks so much, Teagan! This has definitely been a...Thanks so much, Teagan! This has definitely been an eye-opening journey!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-28493112169856004092014-06-04T08:48:40.408-07:002014-06-04T08:48:40.408-07:00I think "change" is definitely the opera...I think "change" is definitely the operative word. I think there's going to be a place for traditional publishing, but it's not going to be the same place they currently occupy. I think many print books are going to be relegated mostly to certain textbooks/technical manuals and collector items, which won't have quite as large of a sales base.<br /><br />One thing is for certain: I believe they need to reevaluate what they currently bring to the table for mid-list authors, because most mid-listers (and many top listers) can do better on their own in the current market.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08805424061244808455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-33091316448937077202014-06-04T05:50:09.597-07:002014-06-04T05:50:09.597-07:00Reading about your experience in e-publishing was ...Reading about your experience in e-publishing was genuinely helpful to someone like myself, who is hoping to self publish a novel this summer. Both trad and indie publishing have benefits and disadvantages, and I agree with you that it's up to each author to decide their priorities and take the route which matches those priorities the best. Good luck with your second novelTeagan Kearneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13864654573656208478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-82388545631422708892014-06-03T09:12:00.912-07:002014-06-03T09:12:00.912-07:00In the next ten years publishing is set to change ...In the next ten years publishing is set to change so drastically that we'll hardly recognise it. Those publishers and agents had better watch out. It's so easy to publish independently and sell your books independently that they could well find themselves without a job to do. Is that or is that not a satisfying thought?Rosalind Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05363027308436257933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-56396395357320414882014-06-01T09:24:32.062-07:002014-06-01T09:24:32.062-07:00It's true, Anne. Many of us in the indie world...It's true, Anne. Many of us in the indie world feel as if we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard, because we believe the reading public will be especially critical of our work.<br /><br />There's still a lot of poor quality out there, but the trend is quickly moving towards independent authors embracing a true sense of professionalism.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-17370009420471778992014-06-01T09:15:01.087-07:002014-06-01T09:15:01.087-07:00Really interesting post. I think ebooks have been ...Really interesting post. I think ebooks have been great for new indi authors and being able to promote their books on twitter and facebook. Years ago none of that could have happened. I always like to do my best for indi authors as a book review blogger and I must say some of the indi books are much better than the so called blockbusters.Anne Macklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04635857544175826537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-91974261374868652162014-06-01T01:20:32.910-07:002014-06-01T01:20:32.910-07:00Thank you - that's really helpful to hear how ...Thank you - that's really helpful to hear how it worked for you.JOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03127111575563904349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-28783931887929862982014-05-31T09:30:55.170-07:002014-05-31T09:30:55.170-07:00An excellent point!
It is quite possible to do bo...An excellent point!<br /><br />It is quite possible to do both. In fact, if you structure the deal properly, you can take away the best of both worlds. <br /><br />Back to my example of Hugh Howey. He became famous by self-publishing the Wool series. A publisher sought him out, and Howey now has a brilliant publishing deal. However...he retained his digital rights! I think this is the way to go in structuring publishing deals, and it's certainly something that would be a "must have" for me if I ever went that route.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-83815887288392277312014-05-31T09:23:10.466-07:002014-05-31T09:23:10.466-07:00The most important thing, far outweighing the &quo...The most important thing, far outweighing the "dollars and cents", is that you never give up on your dream, regardless of whether that takes you to a publisher or the KDP program.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-86918339381037939582014-05-31T09:20:40.185-07:002014-05-31T09:20:40.185-07:00Thanks for sharing that perspective, Val!
Hugh Ho...Thanks for sharing that perspective, Val!<br /><br />Hugh Howey recently released his "Author's Earnings Report", which is a data mining and analysis project he started a while back. The results are eye-opening. Where it was once believed "block busters" were better served by traditional publishers, the data seems to indicate that the playing field is far more even than once believed. And when you look at the "mid list" numbers, you find that self-published authors vastly out-earn their traditionally published colleagues.<br /><br />The landscape is definitely shifting!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-17775633521253247162014-05-31T09:14:35.240-07:002014-05-31T09:14:35.240-07:00Thanks, JO!
There were so many eyes on Necromance...Thanks, JO!<br /><br />There were so many eyes on Necromancer Awakening over the course of 3 years, that I didn't feel it was necessary to go to the extra expense. I shared it with a publisher before I made the decision to self-publish. He called me and told me it was the cleanest manuscript he'd ever seen in his career, so that confirmed my suspicions.<br /><br />For my next book, however, my time table is *much* shorter. So I probably will hire a professional editor for this go around, because there just won't be enough time to get as many eyes on the project as I had for my first book. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-20016771534474674082014-05-31T09:04:37.221-07:002014-05-31T09:04:37.221-07:00I know that limbo you're speaking about, Denis...I know that limbo you're speaking about, Denise, because I spent the better part of a year in that state.<br /><br />It's not an easy process, but I think if you dig down really deep within yourself, and discover what your personal definition of success is, the decision will get easier.<br /><br />If your dream is to be traditionally published, then no amount of royalties you receive from self-publishing will ever come close to making up for it. If, on the other hand, your dream is more artistic control and higher royalties, then no "stamp of approval" will ever come close to making up for it.<br /><br />I wish you the best! If I can ever be of help, just look me up!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-8163419918796833492014-05-31T08:58:14.015-07:002014-05-31T08:58:14.015-07:00Thanks so much for hosting me, Carol!Thanks so much for hosting me, Carol!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-61429266975552277232014-05-31T05:08:50.124-07:002014-05-31T05:08:50.124-07:00Great article, thank you both.
Thing to remember ...Great article, thank you both. <br />Thing to remember is, it's not an either/or question. Many writers do both. If they can get a trad deal for their full length novels, then great. But their anthologies and novellas - self-pubbing as an ebook is the way to go with them. There's less of a market for trad published anthologies and novellas, as the costing doesn't add up well for the publisher. But costs are so much less or even zero for ebooks, and the market is huge.<br /><br />I think the way of the future is a mixture. Just as I didn't give up buying print books when I bought my kindle, I won't give up chasing the trad deal for my full length novels, while self-publishing other stuff. Kath McGurlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02526923882402757423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-38636954597094601322014-05-31T02:07:02.814-07:002014-05-31T02:07:02.814-07:00Fascinating article. I'm still stuck on tradit...Fascinating article. I'm still stuck on traditional publishing personally - and collecting tiny royalty cheques and rejection slips. I can't ignore though that self-publishing is becoming an impressive force in the market-place and that the advantages of being on a small press, like I am, are slender. Who knows what the future holds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-47918078462114426662014-05-31T01:43:28.615-07:002014-05-31T01:43:28.615-07:00I have to say I agree with Nat. Sorry, CarolStar, ...I have to say I agree with Nat. Sorry, CarolStar, but bearing in mind I will never be published by one of the big publishers, and the fact that I have to do so much myself for a small publisher, I would rather have total control over my books (like Nat) than still have to do most of the hard work and lose that final say. Since I've done both (self, then trad and back to self), I can honestly say I now prefer the self-publishing way. I've done better in terms of sales as a Self Published author too (not that that's ever been anything to write home about), and at least I can see what's happening when it happens. Denise, the media stuff for me is the easier part; it's the talks and signings that are really hard for me to arrange here in NL. The opportunities for English writers here are rather limited, so social media and print magazines are great for me.Vallypeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08309284606572565277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-82951157243963038772014-05-31T01:33:04.317-07:002014-05-31T01:33:04.317-07:00Great post - and an interesting viewpoint. I wonde...Great post - and an interesting viewpoint. I wonder, do you pay for an editor? They can be expensive to pay for, and the one vital thing (I think) that a publisher can provide.<br /><br />I want my books to be the best they can possibly be - and that's why I get editorial help. And then go down the self-pub route.JOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03127111575563904349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-80877986215709981252014-05-31T00:58:44.505-07:002014-05-31T00:58:44.505-07:00I've tried hard to leave you a reply but it...I've tried hard to leave you a reply but it's not going through. If this one does, thank for a most interesting blog. I'm at the dithering stage. Now more confused than ever! Would still like a trad deal, having had 2 books published, one self, the other trad. My main reason is validation that work is of the best quality which readers will enjoy. Even having it professionally edited is not the same as a publisher forking out the dosh. But I may rethink...Denise Barnes Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08966199395241983613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-7494784466353409902014-05-31T00:55:23.836-07:002014-05-31T00:55:23.836-07:00I'm at the dithering stage myself. 6 agents/pu...I'm at the dithering stage myself. 6 agents/publishers have asked for a full ms read after I sent the first 3 chapters. Just when I'd decided to self-publish, writerly friends said I'm so close and to just give myself at least to the end of the year. Your article was excellent and I know you didn't mean to sound depressing but you've made me have another rethink. I'm back to being in limbo again. Help! It's all the media stuff you have to do when you self-publish and that's the bit I'm not really keen on. Happy with talks, signings, etc. But really interesting, Nat. Good luck with yours.Denise Barnes Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08966199395241983613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681775564258628407.post-68184043388528093342014-05-30T23:59:28.539-07:002014-05-30T23:59:28.539-07:00Thanks for that Nat. A very interesting take on a ...Thanks for that Nat. A very interesting take on a very hoary chestnut. Wonder what the rest of you think?Carol Hedgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359578624109905400noreply@blogger.com