Why terrible 99c self-published authors will destroy the book industry!

[Frida Fantastic]

Originally Posted by Todd Young

I didn't expect them to sell well and they haven't. They're literary short stories, and honestly, they're just not that interesting.

I find it interesting that *you* don't find them interesting! ;D That's very honest of you!

I guess with the dreck that doesn't get sold, it doesn't get on to Amazon's recommendations list, but they still clog up search results when you're browsing books by genre/category. But at least for authors, You'd still making an extra buck a month out of stuff that you would have been making nothing at all. So how do you manage your online identities? How do you decide which books are worth selling under your "official" brand?

[jrlewis]

Well, the old system was broken in that it regularly turned mediocre and repetitive books into bestsellers while shunning anything too new or different. The new system is in danger of making bestsellers from mediocre and repetitive books published by the best self-marketers. But as long as readers keep reading, then writers will still write and the world will keep turning and I'll be happy.

[Scott Nicholson]

this moment in publishing history will be a mere blip on the radar in a few years. If things change as much in the next two as they have in the last two, I am not sure the whole "trad v. 99 cent v. quality" argument will matter at all.

[Giggleton]

Originally Posted by Ransom

We're seeing that sort of thing with YouTube now where people are bypassing YT directly and instead are going to any number of websites offering up what they consider to be the "best of" YouTube. I can invision a website someday that truly does offer up nothing but books that are worth buying, and that readers will flock to and bypass Amazon altogether. Somebody is going to make a lot of money with that website.

It's all about bypassing entrenched and obsolete systems

Book recommendations are a bit strange though in that everyone has their own reading interests, tastes for other art are varied as well, but books generally require a longer time commitment than other art forms.

I suppose this is why people tend towards writing decent descriptions, to assuade the download, although metrics might be an indicator for some that the book is at least worth a partial glance. i.e. this book has been read by 5000 people with an average reading time of 4.5 hours.

[dadioflex]

Is assuade a real word? I'm angsting because I don't recognise it.

Anyone tried selling the same book, with the same title, but a dozen different descriptions to see how it affects sales? Can that be done?

[DArenson]

I like the cut of your jib, Nick.

I've had a traditionally published novel. I've released indie ebooks too. I reckon readers just want a great story; they don't care who published it.

In 2007, my first novel was traditionally published; that was the best way to get my story into readers' hands. Today I released ebooks independently, because currently, that's the best way to share my stories. Next year? Who knows. I prefer to stay away from the "debate", and just focus on what readers care about -- great writing.

[Giggleton]

Originally Posted by dadioflex

Is assuade a real word? I'm angsting because I don't recognise it.

Anyone tried selling the same book, with the same title, but a dozen different descriptions to see how it affects sales? Can that be done?

I'm not sure what you mean by real word? Who invents words if not the people who use them?

Why all the fuss about increasing sales? Shouldn't we be trying to increase reads?

[crich70]

Originally Posted by randyflycaster

Perhaps we can look to Elizabethan England for an analogy. Back then there was a desperate need for plays; so it was relatively easy for writers to get their plays produced.

This probably led to a lot of bad plays being produced, but also some very great ones.

I believe, there's always talent out there, but for it to flourish it needs an outlet. Self-publishing, I believe, is now that outlet.

Randy

That also happened in more recent decades with Sci. Fi. books I understand. Sci. Fi. was in such demand that slapping a picture of a rocket or other such Sci. Fi. image on the cover got people to buy and I understand not all the books so published were that great either. You also see the same thing happening in movies. A certain genre is selling well so they churn out x many movies a year in that genre, some of which are bad. "Invasion of the Saucer Men" was one such. The aliens had syringe like fingernails by which they injected alcohol into their victims, and they were sensitive to visible light. So badly written books aren't alone in being produced for the public. I don't think they will destroy the book industry so much as force a several 100 yr old model to change. At one time authors hand wrote their books and the printers had to hand set the type. Then came the typewriter, then came the word processor and the ability to email manuscripts. Now people can easily self-publish which means more room for badly written books since not everyone does a proper job of writing and editing. Ebooks are here to stay and the publishers need to adapt to a changing world.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by dadioflex

Is assuade a real word? I'm angsting because I don't recognise it.

Anyone tried selling the same book, with the same title, but a dozen different descriptions to see how it affects sales? Can that be done?

It looks like a misspelling of assuage to me. To assuage is to lessen the intensity of something that pains or distresses.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by DArenson

I like the cut of your jib, Nick.

I've had a traditionally published novel. I've released indie ebooks too. I reckon readers just want a great story; they don't care who published it.

In 2007, my first novel was traditionally published; that was the best way to get my story into readers' hands. Today I released ebooks independently, because currently, that's the best way to share my stories. Next year? Who knows. I prefer to stay away from the "debate", and just focus on what readers care about -- great writing.

It's not the delivery man but the package that's the most important thing hmm DArenson.

[jrlewis]

Originally Posted by crich70

It's not the delivery man but the package that's the most important thing hmm DArenson.

So, you're a fan of Arenson's package?

[Aladyleyna]

I admit, I'm not a writer (as much as I would love to be), so I can only give my opinions from a reader's point of view. I've been buying a lot of indie books lately, and I have to say that I love the variety offered. Especially with the less popular genres which would make it much harder to find in traditional bookstores. It is thanks to indie publishing that I've been opened to a much bigger variety of books, so much so that I'm pretty much spoilt for choice right now.

At the same time, the majority of my favourite books came from traditional publishing, and I still go to those from time to time, as long as there is title and description that sounds like something I want to read.

At the end of the day, I agree that it does not matter where the book comes from, as long as it is good, and enjoyable to read. And I do like the 99 cent price range; it makes me feel less guilty spending on books!

[CaraM]

Originally Posted by randyflycaster

Perhaps we can look to Elizabethan England for an analogy. Back then there was a desperate need for plays; so it was relatively easy for writers to get their plays produced.

This probably led to a lot of bad plays being produced, but also some very great ones.

I believe, there's always talent out there, but for it to flourish it needs an outlet. Self-publishing, I believe, is now that outlet.

Randy

I like what Randy said. I believe the good books will rise to the top regardless of who publishes them. I've seen a lot of big name authors, especially in the romance genre, who have embraced indie publishing and are making some serious money. These are writers who have been published by the big traditional publishers. and are now bypassing those publishers. Lots of change going on.

[Peggy Trentini]

Although I am a complete newbie Author I have noticed that most of the best selling indie authors have their kindles priced from .99 to 2.99. I'm not sure exactly of their strategy other than they want to sell books in quantity to attract new readers and a fan base. I have priced my book "Once Upon a Star" Celebrity kiss and tell stories at 9.99 initially with a steady increase of sales for the last four months. I plan on experimenting with tweaking the price just right. I guess the important thing is the quality of the book and good marketing efforts not the price always.

[kennyc]

We're in a time of flux.....
Just as historically there have been great books rejected by publishers and tons of trash published, changes brought about by new media will emphasize the issues and change the industry....for the better.