MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Frustrated with all the recent posts by Kindle-only authors

emellaich · 08-22-2009, 01:57 AM

I understand your frustration. However, you can also follow the thought process of the authors can't you?

It's clear that Amazon is by far the market share leader and has one of the best support systems for self-publishing (although as Wallcraft says the payment terms are not great). Yes there are other outlets, but they are at best a fraction of Amazon's numbers. If I sell 800 books on Amazon, I might see where else I can squeeze out a few sales. However, if I only sell one book on Amazon I would probably be better served promoting my Kindle book, than I would pursuing outlets with even less reach than Amazon.

Of course, that assumes a perfectly informed writer. Realistically, writers are just like everyone else. A few are very tech-orientated. Many are less comfortable with tech. Many of these self-published writers have full-time jobs and they spend their spare time writing, not visiting mobileread (unlike me).

Yes, Calibre is easy to use, but next time your go to your supermarket look around. These are typical people, just like writers. How would you explain to the average person in your supermarket that Calibre exists? Where to download it? How to use it to manage data and convert books? How to find a book in the file system so it can be uploaded to someplace else? Where to upload it -- smashwords? Fictionwise? Mobipocket?

These writers look like first time visitors to this site. Many have never heard of all the choices. They don't understand different formats. They don't understand DRM. Mainly they know how to write (we hope).

So, if we want them to change we will have to help educate them. Possibly a getting started guide for writers on the wiki? Or does one already exist?

I foresee the following arrangement:
First, an intro to ebook publishing that introduces the key concepts and links to separate pages that then explain:
1) Different formats for ebooks and the tradeoffs
2) How to convert between formats: Calibre, Sigil, and more
3) DRM and the problems of using it
4) Web sites that accept self-published books; the pro's and con's of each and where to go to submit books.
5) Options for setting up your own store using your own web site and paypal or ebay or google checkout????
6) Marketing your ebook including does and don'ts on Mobileread

When people post a Kindle only ebook they can be linked to the guide to publishing.

Alternatively, maybe its a business opportunity? You could offer a flat rate fee service or a percentage of sales to convert, submit, and market their book(s) in different places and different formats?

08-22-2009, 01:57 AM	#4
emellaich Wizard Posts: 1,101 Karma: 4388403 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Palm>Ebookman>IPaq>Axim>Cybook>Kndl2>IPAD>Kndl3SO>Voyager>Oasis	I understand your frustration. However, you can also follow the thought process of the authors can't you? It's clear that Amazon is by far the market share leader and has one of the best support systems for self-publishing (although as Wallcraft says the payment terms are not great). Yes there are other outlets, but they are at best a fraction of Amazon's numbers. If I sell 800 books on Amazon, I might see where else I can squeeze out a few sales. However, if I only sell one book on Amazon I would probably be better served promoting my Kindle book, than I would pursuing outlets with even less reach than Amazon. Of course, that assumes a perfectly informed writer. Realistically, writers are just like everyone else. A few are very tech-orientated. Many are less comfortable with tech. Many of these self-published writers have full-time jobs and they spend their spare time writing, not visiting mobileread (unlike me). Yes, Calibre is easy to use, but next time your go to your supermarket look around. These are typical people, just like writers. How would you explain to the average person in your supermarket that Calibre exists? Where to download it? How to use it to manage data and convert books? How to find a book in the file system so it can be uploaded to someplace else? Where to upload it -- smashwords? Fictionwise? Mobipocket? These writers look like first time visitors to this site. Many have never heard of all the choices. They don't understand different formats. They don't understand DRM. Mainly they know how to write (we hope). So, if we want them to change we will have to help educate them. Possibly a getting started guide for writers on the wiki? Or does one already exist? I foresee the following arrangement: First, an intro to ebook publishing that introduces the key concepts and links to separate pages that then explain: 1) Different formats for ebooks and the tradeoffs 2) How to convert between formats: Calibre, Sigil, and more 3) DRM and the problems of using it 4) Web sites that accept self-published books; the pro's and con's of each and where to go to submit books. 5) Options for setting up your own store using your own web site and paypal or ebay or google checkout???? 6) Marketing your ebook including does and don'ts on Mobileread When people post a Kindle only ebook they can be linked to the guide to publishing. Alternatively, maybe its a business opportunity? You could offer a flat rate fee service or a percentage of sales to convert, submit, and market their book(s) in different places and different formats?