Spalding's Racket-making a noise about indie authors! [on self-publishing post #48]

[NickSpalding]

Today's book on The Racket is M.R Mathias's The Sword And The Dragon, a fantasy epic on a huge scale!

[NickSpalding]

As usual on a Sunday, it's time for two books on The Racket and here they are:

The Right Path by Debra L. Martin - Sci-fi Fantasy Novella

Learning To Be Irish by Emjae Edwards - Romance

Download 'em, put your feet up and enjoy

[NickSpalding]

...and I thought you guys might like to have a read and maybe comment if you feel like it.

Check it out here:

http://spaldings-racket.blogspot.com...ful-world.html

Hope you're having a good day

Nick

[queentess]

The trick is to write a really good book that’s spelt and edited correctly.

This is the bit a surprising number of writers seem to forget about in their rush to condemn the gate-keepers of the industry.

Some writers also seem to forget that the people who you really have to be nice about in public (whatever your private opinions) are the readers. Insulting a reader – no matter how much they hated the 100k fantasy epic you’ve slaved over for the past six years – is dumber than a bucket of spanners. Word of mouth spreads about an author as quickly as it does about the books they write. Keep the punters happy, no matter what.

Well said, sir.

[MrPLD]

The trick is to write a really good book that’s spelt and edited correctly.

I concur. It can be tempting to leave off things like the editor and proof-reading because it "seems" okay - but by golly you'll be sorry for that about 10 minutes after you've committed it to print or distribution.

Some writers also seem to forget that the people who you really have to be nice about in public (whatever your private opinions) are the readers. Insulting a reader – no matter how much they hated the 100k fantasy epic you’ve slaved over for the past six years – is dumber than a bucket of spanners.

While I strongly agree with this from an outright moral and emotional perspective - I've found a lot of anecdotal evidence that seems to point towards it frequently being quite useful to stirring up even more market exposure. I've even seen a few of such things happening here and on Goodreads. I wouldn't personally go with it myself but it just can be shocking to watch.

Paul.

[queentess]

Originally Posted by MrPLD

I've even seen a few of such things happening here and on Goodreads.

*cough* mobileread *cough*

Originally Posted by MrPLD

While I strongly agree with this from an outright moral and emotional perspective - I've found a lot of anecdotal evidence that seems to point towards it frequently being quite useful to stirring up even more market exposure.

Yeah, being a jerk to your readers may stir up short-term sales, but I have to think you're shooting yourself in the foot in the long-run.

[Tom Wood]

Originally Posted by MrPLD

While I strongly agree with this from an outright moral and emotional perspective - I've found a lot of anecdotal evidence that seems to point towards it frequently being quite useful to stirring up even more market exposure. I've even seen a few of such things happening here and on Goodreads. I wouldn't personally go with it myself but it just can be shocking to watch.

So, there's a method to the madness?

[GeoffC]

It would seem...

[fedora]

While it may be true that the folks at Amazon and Smashwords are in it for the money, for us authors and readers it is about getting the right book to the right reader. In the end, it's not about money; it's about ideas and stories; and for the writer, the mere act of writing is about self-exploration. I've read so many books over at authonomy.com that never will get a chance at being traditionally published, but they are fresh, quirky, and original stories. About a dozen I've read were brilliant. These writers are only waiting for a little encouragement from the rest of us to self-publish.

Self-publishing is the best thing to happen for writers and readers. And trees.

[NickSpalding]

Originally Posted by fedora

While it may be true that the folks at Amazon and Smashwords are in it for the money, for us authors and readers it is about getting the right book to the right reader. In the end, it's not about money; it's about ideas and stories.

And that's the perfect attitude to have when you're coming into self publishing. Don't expect huge sales and to amass a small fortune and you'll enjoy the experience a whole lot more. I think if you want to be a paid author with a career, submitting to agencies and publishers is still the way to go about things.

[ardeegee]

Shouldn't this be in the "American and British English thread?"

"I have impregnated an article on self publishing..."

[NickSpalding]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Shouldn't this be in the "American and British English thread?"

"I have impregnated an article on self publishing..."

I changed the title a few times before leaving it as that in the end

[neilmarr]

Neat blog post, Nick. I tried to comment, but the blogware wouldn't let me, so I emailed it to you instead. Your 'Racket' is rolling along nicely. Congratulations and good luck to all indie authors aboard. Very best. Neil

[M. R. Mathias]

Hey Nick... How goes it?

[NickSpalding]

Neil - it did post ok at the bottom of the page in the end...

MR - I'm good thanx buddy, hope you're rockin' and rollin' too