Frustrated with all the recent posts by Kindle-only authors - Page 11

doreenjoy · 08-30-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Here's a better idea: Let's let both PDF discussions go. We've hashed over all this many, many times, and added nothing new to the arguments.

I love your optimism!

pholy · 08-30-2009, 06:34 PM

Let's see now... doreenjoy has made a motion, and Steve Jordan has seconded it. If I third it, can we get a moderator to shut them both down?

Or do we need these threads so people can let off steam instead of exploding?

Just wondering...

Eric C · 08-30-2009, 07:47 PM

I'm a Kindle indie author with a suspense novel offered at Kindle and at Scribd. I've sold nearly 300 books at Kindle in the last month and zero at Scribd, where anyone with a pc can read the novel or download it to their computer or use another e-reader.

I'm not a technical person, I'm not even a person with interest in marketing, to be honest, I just want to write my novels, but I'm willing to learn due to pragmatic considerations. I like Kindle in part because of DRM. Call me naive, I know I don't know much, but it makes inherent sense to me to protect my intellectual property. If I use ePub at Smashwords, for example, I have no control over who copies the material without paying me. (Look what happened to the music industry over the last decade.)

I share this info just to let you know where I'm coming from--and perhaps where many other indie authors are coming from--and to solicit comments for my own education as well as advice on how and where to do a better job with the marketing. (By the way, where is the appropriate place to market my book here at mobileread? I just joined today.)

doreenjoy · 08-30-2009, 07:54 PM

Welcome to MR.

I don't think you'll find much support for DRM on the forum. If you do a search for "DRM killed my puppies" you'll find one of the longer threads on the topic.

Eric C · 08-30-2009, 07:57 PM

Thanks for the tip!

fugazied · 08-30-2009, 08:07 PM

I can understand why authors are flocking to Amazon, they seem poised to have a good market share of readers and have a prominent profile as an online book seller.

But yes I agree with the OP, it is of concern. At the moment we have a situation where (unlike paper books), an ebook can be locked into a certain platform/technology/website and exclude a lot of readers. Authors need to be aware of this issue!

It's a serious problem for authors who want to get their book to as many people as possible. I don't think publishers care as much because they are all about rights management and maximising profit (minimising perceived piracy risk).

Moejoe · 08-30-2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric C

I'm a Kindle indie author with a suspense novel offered at Kindle and at Scribd. I've sold nearly 300 books at Kindle in the last month and zero at Scribd, where anyone with a pc can read the novel or download it to their computer or use another e-reader.

I'm not a technical person, I'm not even a person with interest in marketing, to be honest, I just want to write my novels, but I'm willing to learn due to pragmatic considerations. I like Kindle in part because of DRM. Call me naive, I know I don't know much, but it makes inherent sense to me to protect my intellectual property. If I use ePub at Smashwords, for example, I have no control over who copies the material without paying me. (Look what happened to the music industry over the last decade.)

I share this info just to let you know where I'm coming from--and perhaps where many other indie authors are coming from--and to solicit comments for my own education as well as advice on how and where to do a better job with the marketing. (By the way, where is the appropriate place to market my book here at mobileread? I just joined today.)

The protection of your intellectual property is an illusion cooked up by the sellers of magic rocks that protect the corps from imagined tigers.

doreenjoy · 08-30-2009, 08:20 PM

Not only did DRM kill my puppies...PDF killed my puppies, too.

DawnFalcon · 08-30-2009, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric C

(Look what happened to the music industry over the last decade.)

Well yes.

...

The lesson to be learned from them about DRM is this: Run Screaming.

Also, I think you need to read this and this. And that was 2002.

doreenjoy · 08-30-2009, 09:34 PM

DawnFalcon · 08-30-2009, 09:36 PM

Well yes, but by what Eric C said, he wouldn't appear to be aware these things.

Moejoe · 08-30-2009, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

Not only did DRM kill my puppies...PDF killed my puppies, too.

PDF put my kittens into a bag and drowned them in the river

And word's .doc format burns ants with a magnifying glass.

And flash pulls the wings of butterflies.

DawnFalcon · 08-30-2009, 09:48 PM

And Silverlight, for reference? :P

Moejoe · 08-30-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

And Silverlight, for reference? :P

Silverlight puts the puppies, the kittens, the wingless butterflies and the already burned ants into a bag, throws the bag into a river and then sets the river on fire

*Yes I'm predominantly a Linux user now

Steven Lyle Jordan · 08-30-2009, 09:53 PM

Eric C,
The Kindle provides an easy way to get your e-books into the hands of Kindle owners. But there are a lot more e-book reading consumers out there, more than the number of Kindle users, worldwide. Using the Kindle only as a distribution device is shutting out the majority of your potential audience.

Also, although the Kindle has some security, it is not impossible to copy and disseminate Kindle books, any more than most other formats (it may be more work, but certainly not impossible). So your impression of "security" is not as tight as you might think.

Many of us believe that if you demonstrate your willingness to put in the effort, and trust your consumers, that they will do right by you and buy as opposed to steal. There will still be loss, but if it can be brought down to a controlled level, it will not be a concern.

Anyway, all of this has been covered in this thread, so I won't go into any excruciating detail. As an author, it is up to you to decide who you want to reach with your literature, and how much effort you are willing to expend to do that (the original point of the thread!).

08-30-2009, 07:47 PM	#153
Eric C Connoisseur Posts: 65 Karma: 50000 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio Device: Kindle	I'm a Kindle indie author with a suspense novel offered at Kindle and at Scribd. I've sold nearly 300 books at Kindle in the last month and zero at Scribd, where anyone with a pc can read the novel or download it to their computer or use another e-reader. I'm not a technical person, I'm not even a person with interest in marketing, to be honest, I just want to write my novels, but I'm willing to learn due to pragmatic considerations. I like Kindle in part because of DRM. Call me naive, I know I don't know much, but it makes inherent sense to me to protect my intellectual property. If I use ePub at Smashwords, for example, I have no control over who copies the material without paying me. (Look what happened to the music industry over the last decade.) I share this info just to let you know where I'm coming from--and perhaps where many other indie authors are coming from--and to solicit comments for my own education as well as advice on how and where to do a better job with the marketing. (By the way, where is the appropriate place to market my book here at mobileread? I just joined today.) Last edited by Eric C; 08-30-2009 at 07:54 PM.

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08-30-2009, 06:34 PM	#152
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	Let's see now... doreenjoy has made a motion, and Steve Jordan has seconded it. If I third it, can we get a moderator to shut them both down? Or do we need these threads so people can let off steam instead of exploding? Just wondering...

08-30-2009, 07:54 PM	#154
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	Welcome to MR. I don't think you'll find much support for DRM on the forum. If you do a search for "DRM killed my puppies" you'll find one of the longer threads on the topic.

08-30-2009, 07:57 PM	#155
Eric C Connoisseur Posts: 65 Karma: 50000 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio Device: Kindle	Thanks for the tip!

08-30-2009, 08:07 PM	#156
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	I can understand why authors are flocking to Amazon, they seem poised to have a good market share of readers and have a prominent profile as an online book seller. But yes I agree with the OP, it is of concern. At the moment we have a situation where (unlike paper books), an ebook can be locked into a certain platform/technology/website and exclude a lot of readers. Authors need to be aware of this issue! It's a serious problem for authors who want to get their book to as many people as possible. I don't think publishers care as much because they are all about rights management and maximising profit (minimising perceived piracy risk).

08-30-2009, 08:20 PM	#158
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	Not only did DRM kill my puppies...PDF killed my puppies, too.

08-30-2009, 09:34 PM	#160
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous

08-30-2009, 09:36 PM	#161
DawnFalcon Banned Posts: 2,094 Karma: 2682 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: N/A	Well yes, but by what Eric C said, he wouldn't appear to be aware these things.

08-30-2009, 09:48 PM	#163
DawnFalcon Banned Posts: 2,094 Karma: 2682 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: N/A	And Silverlight, for reference? :P

08-30-2009, 09:53 PM	#165
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Eric C, The Kindle provides an easy way to get your e-books into the hands of Kindle owners. But there are a lot more e-book reading consumers out there, more than the number of Kindle users, worldwide. Using the Kindle only as a distribution device is shutting out the majority of your potential audience. Also, although the Kindle has some security, it is not impossible to copy and disseminate Kindle books, any more than most other formats (it may be more work, but certainly not impossible). So your impression of "security" is not as tight as you might think. Many of us believe that if you demonstrate your willingness to put in the effort, and trust your consumers, that they will do right by you and buy as opposed to steal. There will still be loss, but if it can be brought down to a controlled level, it will not be a concern. Anyway, all of this has been covered in this thread, so I won't go into any excruciating detail. As an author, it is up to you to decide who you want to reach with your literature, and how much effort you are willing to expend to do that (the original point of the thread!).

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