My Smashwords ebook filter

Richard Herley · 10-09-2010, 08:35 AM

Just a note to let you know about my Smashwords ebook filter – I monitor the Smashwords home page for work I think has merit. My eyes pass over any mention of elves, dragons, conspiracy theories, gay sex, or indeed porn of all descriptions, and I'm not personally much of a sci-fi buff. I usually also ignore any ebook that's shorter than 30,000 words. Delving into the samples of what's left over is time-consuming and rather depressing, but when I find something good it all becomes worthwhile.

I also follow up independent recommendations and reviews. So far I have listed only a couple of dozen titles; typically I'll add four or five a week.

You can easily subscribe and have posts delivered to your inbox so you don't have to bother checking the site itself.

I don't pretend to catch every bit of talent that arrives at Smashwords, but you might find this a handy service to back up whatever investigations you make on our own account.

Full details are here, and this is the home page. I hope you like my recommendations!

Shayne Parkinson · 10-09-2010, 05:55 PM

Richard, I like your recommendations very much.

Thanks so much for including mine.

SlowRain · 10-09-2010, 11:30 PM

I had to chuckle when I first read this. Your filter is probably similar to what I do subconsciously. I've just never seen it put so directly. It's liable to ruffle the feathers of struggling writers who focus on those very things you filter out. However, I am glad that someone is out there critiquing independent novels for the benefit of the rest of us. Thank you very much. Your site has been bookmarked.

Richard Herley · 10-10-2010, 04:07 AM

@SlowRain: Thanks -- I'm probably missing some good stuff by ignoring all those dragon sagas, but life is too short.

@Shayne: Your work is great and deserves a wider audience. Thank you for sharing it with us.

GeoffC · 10-10-2010, 09:03 AM

Why filter out those with fewer than 30,000 words ?

Richard Herley · 10-10-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Why filter out those with fewer than 30,000 words ?

Good question. I wanted to concentrate on longer work, but I take your point and will include shorts from now on as well. As a matter of fact I had already included one (Suki Michelle's Mirage). Thanks for setting me straight

Richard Herley · 11-27-2010, 03:46 PM

Just a word to say I am updating the filter again, and am back online after losing my internet connection for six weeks. I am currently trawling through the Smashwords "any" pages in search of treasure ... not a job for the faint of heart!

SlowRain · 11-27-2010, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Herley

...am back online after losing my internet connection for six weeks...

Good luck with the quest.

Altoanto · 11-28-2010, 06:28 AM

So I suppose my short novel on gay libidinous elves investigating the dragons Freemasonry will never make the cut

Richard Herley · 11-28-2010, 06:53 AM

Sorry, Altoanto, but the plot had no incest and I found no mention of the Turin Shroud and a mysterious brotherhood who control the destiny of the universe.

I would suggest a rewrite, but that would be presumptuous and impugn your artistic integrity ...

Altoanto · 11-28-2010, 09:42 AM

Damn, I would but I'm pretty sure Dan Brown patented most of these...

10-09-2010, 08:35 AM	#1
Richard Herley Author Posts: 203 Karma: 1164907 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	My Smashwords ebook filter Just a note to let you know about my Smashwords ebook filter – I monitor the Smashwords home page for work I think has merit. My eyes pass over any mention of elves, dragons, conspiracy theories, gay sex, or indeed porn of all descriptions, and I'm not personally much of a sci-fi buff. I usually also ignore any ebook that's shorter than 30,000 words. Delving into the samples of what's left over is time-consuming and rather depressing, but when I find something good it all becomes worthwhile. I also follow up independent recommendations and reviews. So far I have listed only a couple of dozen titles; typically I'll add four or five a week. You can easily subscribe and have posts delivered to your inbox so you don't have to bother checking the site itself. I don't pretend to catch every bit of talent that arrives at Smashwords, but you might find this a handy service to back up whatever investigations you make on our own account. Full details are here, and this is the home page. I hope you like my recommendations!

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10-09-2010, 05:55 PM	#2
Shayne Parkinson Author Posts: 1,532 Karma: 5447804 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab	Richard, I like your recommendations very much. Thanks so much for including mine.

10-09-2010, 11:30 PM	#3
SlowRain Addict Posts: 311 Karma: 9553 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: a Canadian expat in Taiwan Device: HTC 10, Asus Phonepad	I had to chuckle when I first read this. Your filter is probably similar to what I do subconsciously. I've just never seen it put so directly. It's liable to ruffle the feathers of struggling writers who focus on those very things you filter out. However, I am glad that someone is out there critiquing independent novels for the benefit of the rest of us. Thank you very much. Your site has been bookmarked.

10-10-2010, 04:07 AM	#4
Richard Herley Author Posts: 203 Karma: 1164907 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	@SlowRain: Thanks -- I'm probably missing some good stuff by ignoring all those dragon sagas, but life is too short. @Shayne: Your work is great and deserves a wider audience. Thank you for sharing it with us.

10-10-2010, 09:03 AM	#5
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,600 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Why filter out those with fewer than 30,000 words ?

11-27-2010, 03:46 PM	#7
Richard Herley Author Posts: 203 Karma: 1164907 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Just a word to say I am updating the filter again, and am back online after losing my internet connection for six weeks. I am currently trawling through the Smashwords "any" pages in search of treasure ... not a job for the faint of heart!

11-28-2010, 06:28 AM	#9
Altoanto tsoin tsoin Posts: 15 Karma: 358 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: PRS-300	So I suppose my short novel on gay libidinous elves investigating the dragons Freemasonry will never make the cut

11-28-2010, 06:53 AM	#10
Richard Herley Author Posts: 203 Karma: 1164907 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Sorry, Altoanto, but the plot had no incest and I found no mention of the Turin Shroud and a mysterious brotherhood who control the destiny of the universe. I would suggest a rewrite, but that would be presumptuous and impugn your artistic integrity ...

11-28-2010, 09:42 AM	#11
Altoanto tsoin tsoin Posts: 15 Karma: 358 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: PRS-300	Damn, I would but I'm pretty sure Dan Brown patented most of these...

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