tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-788321265914678622.post1472563114577209308..comments2023-11-02T01:45:40.704-06:00Comments on Writing from the Peak: A Tale of Two Barrys - Independent Publishing and Strawberry Ice CreamWriting from the Peakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10791193813122152166noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-788321265914678622.post-81111684732333280942013-06-16T15:59:02.688-06:002013-06-16T15:59:02.688-06:00You know we can and have stayed up all hours to ta...You know we can and have stayed up all hours to talk about this Aaron. Coming from a small publisher's perspective I would share this: do what feels right because now, in this environment, you can. Self pubbing is great if you've got the support network (please oh please get a professional editor and cover designer, not your mom and photoshop). Some folks choose a small press because they like to have someone to run down the checklist and make sure everybody's edited, formatted, sent in to the reviewers, book signings arranged, pimped and put in giveaways while the author goes back to life as usual or back to writing. Because as much as publishing now is easy, getting noticed is a million times harder. Even if it's a tiny press, having that on the spine versus being known as a self pub can get you into some stores and onto a reviewer's desk where you wouldn't otherwise be welcomed. Then again, self pub doesn't have to share the cash. It's all what you want. Pretty much publishing a la carte these days. Pick your flavor indeed. <br />Heather Savagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978965489626420425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-788321265914678622.post-13992172759064466322013-06-15T09:51:12.905-06:002013-06-15T09:51:12.905-06:00Great post, Aaron, and great comments. As already ...Great post, Aaron, and great comments. As already stated, there are always those who want to pick things apart. And before we had indie books to pick apart...we had trad books to pick apart. Go figger. We do what we gotta do! Write on!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-788321265914678622.post-18886533085440615492013-06-14T21:14:19.962-06:002013-06-14T21:14:19.962-06:00Oh, Aaron, beautifully written as always. I love ...Oh, Aaron, beautifully written as always. I love reading anything you write, from YA angels stories to informative blog posts. Your advice is awesome and your personality as gorgeous as your writing! Joanne Brothwellhttp://www.joannebrothwell.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-788321265914678622.post-872698201160196862013-06-14T20:35:18.051-06:002013-06-14T20:35:18.051-06:00I have no doubt you will mix it all together in an...I have no doubt you will mix it all together in an epic banana split, Aaron! Every writer's words are worth gold--and that gold comes in moments when even a handful of reviewers get it. <br /><br />I don't believe agents/editors are necessarily the gatekeepers they used to be anymore. Readers are. The line to becoming published has been cut--readers are the most important people to writers right now with this push-of-a-button era. <br /><br />However, a fantastic editor and a supportive team can take you places just as much as a viral self-pub story can. Everything in all of *this* is a learning curve. <br /><br />That doesn't mean to me you should just pub whatever. As you said, you and your words are being judged no matter how you've decided to put your work out there. I think every writer needs to decide their own road, and put their best foot forward. <br /><br />I like amberskyeforbes comment regarding publishing houses. I totally get Kendall's remark about marketing--we're not just 'artists' we're also business-minded folks. And it is a brave new world now, with banana splits and all the toppings. Rie Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07141380158842711952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-788321265914678622.post-61199342730593272572013-06-14T17:37:03.229-06:002013-06-14T17:37:03.229-06:00The problem with pricing is that there are always ...The problem with pricing is that there are always going to be pockets of the market you miss because you price your book too high or too low. I'm wary of the 99-cent novel unless it's praised to high heaven all over the internet. I tend to stick to ebooks in my "sweet spot," which is between $2.99 and $5.99. <br /><br />But, I say this because I'm also a writer. I *want* good indie writers to be paid their worth. I even want the not-so-good indie writer to know that his or her effort was acknowledged with more than a buck. Sheesh! I give more to panhandlers on the university Drag. :) <br /><br />Ultimately, I think that indie authors should do whatever they need to do to gain visibility, and that's really the name of the game, isn't it? With so many writers entering the market, it all boils down to s/he who strikes a cord with his/her audience. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17843311834980760671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-788321265914678622.post-32415698506089463642013-06-14T15:05:58.073-06:002013-06-14T15:05:58.073-06:00What's so funny is readers don't even care...What's so funny is readers don't even care who published your book so long as they're getting a good product. Only writers and publishes care. But, ultimately, who the heck are the books for? Readers! I'm with a small press currently and am actually glad I went this route because I simply don't have the money for self-publishing. So I need that safety net that can do it all for me while I simply social media my butt off and maybe pay for some marketing (which I thankfully have money for). Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-788321265914678622.post-17527790608727752872013-06-14T14:43:32.782-06:002013-06-14T14:43:32.782-06:00I don't know jack crap about much, but my expe...I don't know jack crap about much, but my experience with self-pubbing has taught me that in order to make sales (at least initially), you *have* to lower your price or no one will take a chance on you. *Most* readers won't shell out $2.99 for a debut author. I had to make the first book in my urban fantasy trilogy free in order to get sales for the other two books. When I bumped the price of the 1st book back to $3.99, sales for all three STOPPED. So, back to free it went, and it will stay there until I make it big. :-)<br /><br />Does this mean my first book is worth nothing? *I* don't think so. It has over 200 Amazon reviews with a 4.4 average rating, so it seems at least a few people like it. But economics and previous experience suggest if I want to continue selling my other books, the first one must remain free in order to attract new readers. It's not my preference, but I can't do anything about it. Facts are facts. When the first book is free, my other books sell. Period.<br /><br />I do believe that once an author "breaks out," she can up her prices (within reason) because she's earned readers' trust. Her track record proves that her words are good ones.<br /><br />It's all a delicate balancing act. The market can change in the blink of an eye. But one strategy remains pretty solid in my mind: the more books you publish, the more books you sell. KendallGreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02029447701416121956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-788321265914678622.post-70243808555947394082013-06-14T14:28:46.860-06:002013-06-14T14:28:46.860-06:00Thanks DG! It's funny, the nay-sayers aren...Thanks DG! It's funny, the nay-sayers aren't showing up to nay-say. Could it be the people who have the biggest problem with Independent Publishers are the Traditional Publishing industry and everyone else just sees this as reality? I have lots of people on Facebook applauding this post. Not so many arguing. *sigh*. There went my big chance to be controversial.Aaron M. R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01601746525773423628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-788321265914678622.post-49528394059712502012013-06-14T09:20:04.757-06:002013-06-14T09:20:04.757-06:00You got it right, Aaron! Well said. Follow your pa...You got it right, Aaron! Well said. Follow your passion...that's where true happiness and internal success lie. Anything else that may come in whatever form it's going to come is icing :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com