04-28-2011, 10:47 AM | #1 |
Grand Sorcerer
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Where Did Things Go So Wrong?!?
After 5 years' attempting to sell my books, I've reached a crisis of confidence. My books aren't selling, the marketing I've tried hasn't worked, my books are turning up on pirate and torrent sites, suggesting that they're being noticed... but I'm losing my shirt!
I was finally pushed over the edge on Easter, when I received a Google alert that led to one of my books on a website I've never heard of, offering it for free to paid members. The ebook market is, in my opinion, trashed. It's left me frustrated, distrusting, pessimistic and apathetic. I've lost all confidence that I can get this venture to turn around for me. I've actually got a finished book that I don't know what to do with, because I don't believe it will make me a dime. I'm this close to just deleting it and saving me the aggravation. Nevertheless, my plight has caught the interest of a few good MR members (and some who are, let's say, not so sympathetic), and resulted in various and sundry bits of advice meant to show me a way out of the tunnel. (I am choosing to ignore the advice designed to lead me headlong into an oncoming train... but only just.) In the interest of general edification (not to mention, getting the initial subthread out of the piracy thread to which I so wrongly attached it), I'd like to move the conversation here. I appreciate the efforts others have gone to, to try to help me out of my present malaise. I still haven't decided whether or not it makes sense for me to continue this ebook experiment gone wrong. But I am willing to discuss it. I think I'll also quote a bit from the other thread, just to avoid treading on the same ground as in the past. |
04-28-2011, 10:53 AM | #2 | |||||
Grand Sorcerer
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Starting with:
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My aim, in spending time on sites like this and others, was to have word of mouth accomplish a lot of my advertising. But that, too, never took off... I never got a "buzz" going from any online presence. Quote:
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04-28-2011, 10:55 AM | #3 | ||
Grand Sorcerer
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04-28-2011, 10:59 AM | #4 | |
Grand Sorcerer
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04-28-2011, 11:00 AM | #5 | |
Grand Sorcerer
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Lowering prices... I've tried that, over a year ago, and saw no increased sales from it. Last edited by Steven Lyle Jordan; 04-28-2011 at 11:03 AM. |
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04-28-2011, 11:02 AM | #6 | |
Grand Sorcerer
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I realize, of course, that since my genre is SF, I am seriously being handicapped by a fickle and supposedly dying breed. |
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04-28-2011, 11:08 AM | #7 |
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I posted on the other thread.
Suggestions: Get other SF publications (on or offline) to review a copy and put it in their magazine/blog to get a more specialist audience. Even team up with other SF writers to either review each others books (and put the reviews on their sites) or include a synopsis of the book in the back of one of their publications. Again, targeting the audience. You might also want to consider redoing your cover art/layout to appeal more to those who browse Amazon primarily by cover. For example, your name down the side seems unprofessional. Last edited by Tome Keeper; 04-28-2011 at 11:48 AM. Reason: info |
04-28-2011, 11:13 AM | #8 |
Maratus speciosus butt
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And it doesn't help that your lobbying for an oppressive, controlling police state ruling the internet with an iron fist is 100% the opposite of the future the vast majority of science fiction readers dream of. I wouldn't touch your books-- even for free-- because I find your ideas repulsive.
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04-28-2011, 11:14 AM | #9 |
Wizard
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I'm going to be honest with you, Steven, because I empathize with you for the hard work you've put in and because you genuinely seem to be asking for help. There are two reasons why I, speaking for myself as a paying reader, have not purchased your books.
1) I don't really read scifi. Very occasionally, a specific novel will catch my eye, but for the most part, I really don't read scifi. That's not your fault, but it does mean you are very unlikely to get my business. 2) I think it was a mistake for you to get so involved with some of the political-type threads such as the one on piracy. It honestly does affect your on-line image. I don't think by any means that every person has to agree with my opinion in order to be worthy of my business. But I do think that in some of your posts expressing them, you have come across as very hostile and complaining, and I just can't imagine having to spend 300 pages with the persona that comes across in some of those posts. I think you might benefit from thinking a little more about what kind of image as a professional you want to portray, and maybe keep some of your opinions as Joe Average Poster separate from that. |
04-28-2011, 11:16 AM | #10 |
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Steven,
In another thread I asked if you had tried paper publishing and your answer was that the earth needs the trees more than paper, or something of the sort. Well, I think you should consider paper publishing. There's a huge market of people who don't have/don't like ebook readers. I've read "Chasing the light" and I certainly think it is "publication quality" to say the least. You may make some money there and become known to a wider public, which may, in turn, boost your ebook sales in the future. And the Earth will not be noticeably worse. Good luck Pablo PS1: Do create a signature with a link to your books PS2: You are not a failed indie author. If you were, you wouldn't find your books in pirate sites. |
04-28-2011, 11:20 AM | #11 | |
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Edit-- did a bit of googling, and-- more than many other possible examples, this is the post that insured that I'll never read any of SLJ's books. Last edited by ardeegee; 04-28-2011 at 11:28 AM. |
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04-28-2011, 11:22 AM | #12 | |
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I don't really care about money, what you never had you don't miss. But before you can make money from an audience you need to have an audience. I would suggest you find that audience before you worry about how much you can make from them. And I certainly wouldn't spend money on advertising or anything else until you were making enough to cover those costs. |
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04-28-2011, 11:27 AM | #13 | |
Grand Sorcerer
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I don't like to hide behind false personas and false names on the web, the way so many others do. I don't live in a police state, where uttering something against the current administration is likely to have me locked up the next day. I'm proud of who I am, and I believe my opinions have merit. So my becoming a syncophant when online is personally frustrating to me, and does not encourage me to participate in such forums where my real opinions are not valued, or even entertained. If I do adapt such a persona... you won't be seeing much of me around here, or anywhere else online. (And yes, I'm sure that pleases a number of MR members no end.) |
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04-28-2011, 11:27 AM | #14 |
Wizard
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My opinion? Suck it up, buttercup.
You are correct. Your work has merit and value. You will eventually become better recognized if you keep at it and don't let the naysayers get you down. Your craft certainly has room for improvement. What author can say otherwise? So keep at it and be patient. Your best work is ahead of you. You are working through a transition in publishing, a paradigm shift. Piracy is depressing but self-publication is easier than ever. As inspiration, check out some of the non-fiction Cory Doctorow writes about the situation (though I suspect you already have). So I think the best advice to anyone feeling as you do is to keep putting one foot in front of the other, metaphorically speaking. "Suck it up" expresses that so eloquently, lol. Oh, also good luck and best wishes. |
04-28-2011, 11:27 AM | #15 |
Grand Sorcerer
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ebooks, marketing an ebook, selling |
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