Why So Many Newby Writers Without a Device

[elizilla]

Last winter at a science fiction convention, I went to an e-reader panel. The panelists were all authors, editors, and/or publishers. Only one of them was reading on any device other than a phone, and that one was kind of shunted aside and not given much chance to speak. One of the panelists was quite vociferous in saying that he had owned an e-ink reader and hated it. Another of the panelists had actually WRITTEN a book on his phone. For all they didn't like ereaders, they were pretty interested in ebooks, well informed about them, and they all seemed to like reading them on their phones.

Maybe it's just a publishing industry thing, to read ebooks on phones instead of readers.

FWIW, the audience for the panel was full of people with every sort of ereading device in their hands, but the panel never really got into talking about devices. It spent all its device discussion energy in talking about reading on phones.

[rhadin]

I guess I view this differently. I do not find it problematic at all that people come to MR and post about their book yet do not list or own an ereader. I'm interested to discover what ebooks are available for me to read -- after all, isn't that what I have the ereader for? For me to get ebooks and to read them?

And I don't see any problem with their not participating beyond blurbing about their book. It is easy enough to skip the self-promo thread. I've noted that some very long-time MR members have only posted a few times yet there seems to be no complaints about them.

I find it more troublesome that people do not use their real names in message signatures. I've always believed that if you think you need to say it then you should say it with pride and put your name to it. Anonymous postings are more bothersome to me than an author who self-promotes his/her book but does nothing else here at MR or who doesn't own an ereader device.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by queentess

Yeah, what Harry said.

Except that I don't list a device either, out of pure choice. One of them is a Kindle, but I hated the extreme anti-Kindle and pro-Kindle views that were eating many of the forums and eclipsing anything I had to say. So I removed my devices and stopped visiting MR for a while. And I don't ever intend to list devices again.

If you don't want to list a device, instead of saying "none," how about just saying "yes"?

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by Catlady

If you don't want to list a device, instead of saying "none," how about just saying "yes"?

Why? What does listing a device demonstrate?

Are we not making a mountain out of a molehill? Should we insist that people list the books they are reading to prove that they read and that they are reading ebooks rather than pbooks? Maybe quiz them about the book to verify it?

But first, can we not insist that everyone sign their messages with their full legal name? Why permit posters to hide behind a cloak of anonymity. Let's roust out those whom we would like to censor.

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Isn't it obvious? It's because most of them don't give a damn about becoming a useful member of this community. They're just spammers after a bit of free advertising.

Yep. This is why I gave up on the Kindleboards forum. They just took over.

[mr ploppy]

Originally Posted by queentess

Yeah, what Harry said.

Except that I don't list a device either, out of pure choice. One of them is a Kindle, but I hated the extreme anti-Kindle and pro-Kindle views that were eating many of the forums and eclipsing anything I had to say. So I removed my devices and stopped visiting MR for a while. And I don't ever intend to list devices again.

I got that as well. Someone said I had no right to be in the Kindle group because it said I had a Hanvon. Some people are just ... weird. They're just gadgets you use to fulfil the purpose they were created for.

[OneandonlyDoc]

Originally Posted by rhadin

Why? What does listing a device demonstrate

I know for me, at least, it implies some kind of investment in how their final product ends up looking. I have a feeling I'm going to want to cut my wrists if the formatting of my future ebooks ends up being hideous. That could just be me, though.

I think what the OP's more upset about is that there's a lot of folks who register for these forums JUST to promote themselves. There's nothing wrong with self-promotion, but I agree that it wouldn't hurt if they involved themselves in the community a bit more.

[elcreative]

Originally Posted by rhadin

But first, can we not insist that everyone sign their messages with their full legal name? Why permit posters to hide behind a cloak of anonymity. Let's roust out those whom we would like to censor.

So I guess that nobody with abusive partner problems should be allowed on MR or commenting about organisations they work for or giving advice advice about the device their company makes or... there are lots of reasons why people prefer not to use their real identity at all on the internet, that was always one of its strengths for anyone who might be a bit insecure personally, worried about identity theft and or other reasons.

If anyone uses anonymity to hide behind for illegal/offensive behaviour then they can be kicked off and, if necessary, tracked by law enforcement to their real identity if the activity is criminal... it certainly doesn't require that everybody use their real ID, fine if you're happy doing it, many aren't and the presence of a few anonymous jerks is the price we pay for others freedom to express themselves...

[ficbot]

I think some of them are just completely clueless about market research, too. I have held the hand of a few authors who are just at such a basic level of savvy that I almost feel sorry for them. One author, I actually had to track her down through Facebook to leave her a message because she had no contact info listed in her profile, and even though she had a website, it had no contact info either. So I think a lot of them look before they leap and truly don't know how to conduct themselves, which is no excuse, really, but does perhaps explain.

It reminds me of the exercise video community. I have been to a few fitness conventions and people will say they want to make a video, and then you'll say 'great! have you been to [name of #1 exercise video site on the net] yet?' And they'll be like 'um, no.' And have they checked out the videos of [name of someone who is already making the type of video they describe]? No, not that either. They just get it into their heads that making a video is easy to do and is the path to fame and riches and glory.

The people who engage in this sort of marketing are the ones who six months from now will imho be writing their experiment off as a non-profitable failure and truly have no idea why. The more business-savvy ones who know how to market to a forum like this one (or, indeed, who have progressed far enough into market research to know we exist) have a better chance at actually making a profit.

[queentess]

argh, i'm an idiot. carry on.

[queentess]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

I got that as well. Someone said I had no right to be in the Kindle group because it said I had a Hanvon. Some people are just ... weird. They're just gadgets you use to fulfil the purpose they were created for.

Yeah me too. So if I own a Kindle AND a Sony AND a Nook.... which forum should I participate in? lol (answer: all of them! suck it, disagreers!)

Originally Posted by Catlady

If you don't want to list a device, instead of saying "none," how about just saying "yes"?

Cute

[Native]

Originally Posted by neilmarr

I make a habit of dropping a line of welcome to all newcomers to MR. But something's been puzzling me for months:

Why do so many self-publishing e-authors introduce themselves here to promote their ebooks when hardly any actually own an ebook-dedicated reading device?

Time and time again a new ebook-plugger will come along and his or her listing for 'device' reads 'none'. I always say a polite hello, but it's starting to peeve me to do so. I find it a tad insulting to members of the MR community who've invested good money to read the kind of stuff these folks aim to peddle and take such pains to advise each other on how to improve their e-reading experience.

Some well-established and admirable Knights of the Forums even lovingly prepare classics and public domain titles for the library here. No fanfares. Just generosity, outstanding, painstaking technical creation and sheer interest in their fellow e-reading brothers and sisters.

If you're in the business of selling cars, you'd hardly advertise the fact that you don't use one yourself and prefer to take a bus or ride a pushbike. So why so many new wannabe authors exploiting the ebook-reading market here with no reading devices of their own?

Apologies for the rant, lads and lassies. Bestests. Neil

First, thank you for the kind greeting.
Of course authors are here for attention. But also, of course, we're here to study the market, and I'm not sure having just one device or another would fill the purpose - maybe anyone who doesn’t own them all should be banned for not caring enough. As for me, I have a couple of programs to read popular formats on the computer - haven't yet figured out how to look into the Apple store.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by queentess

Yeah, what Harry said.

Except that I don't list a device either, out of pure choice. One of them is a Kindle, but I hated the extreme anti-Kindle and pro-Kindle views that were eating many of the forums and eclipsing anything I had to say. So I removed my devices and stopped visiting MR for a while. And I don't ever intend to list devices again.

Completely different, queentess. You are an active participant in the community of MR. What you choose to list or not isn't going to get anyone excited. But the drive-by types who are here for a half dozen messages to flog their new selfpublished "masterpiece" are a very different story.

[queentess]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Completely different, queentess. You are an active participant in the community of MR. What you choose to list or not isn't going to get anyone excited. But the drive-by types who are here for a half dozen messages to flog their new selfpublished "masterpiece" are a very different story.

And what if an author is attacked by a rapid pro-brand-x person because the author only has brand-y reader? I'd love to say it wouldn't happen, but all anecdotal evidence points to the contrary.

It's simpler to just say, "Yes, I love mobile-reading! That's why I'm here!" It doesn't really matter which device(s) we use.

People who don't participate in the forums and just post an occasional ad very likely won't see much business from mobileread. But if they participate in the forums, they'll drum up more interest as people get a taste of their writing abilities and see the little ads in their signature lines.

[OneandonlyDoc]

Originally Posted by Native

First, thank you for the kind greeting.
Of course authors are here for attention. But also, of course, we're here to study the market, and I'm not sure having just one device or another would fill the purpose - maybe anyone who doesn’t own them all should be banned for not caring enough. As for me, I have a couple of programs to read popular formats on the computer - haven't yet figured out how to look into the Apple store.

Native, re: the Apple store thing -- I think it's through the iBooks app, if I'm not mistaken....though the iTunes Store might have them now, too.