Smashwords - yay or nay? - Page 2

Gronk · 07-12-2011, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pholy

Remember, Amazon only sells to Kindles, and Barnes&Noble only sells to Americans (US of). If you want world-wide sales, Smashwords can get your books into Kobo, Sony, and Apple, as well as Amazon and B&N. Somebody should figure out what percentage of the English-reading world those 300 million Americans amount to - 30% or less?
Just follow their style guide and your book will come out at least OK, if not excellent.
I prefer to buy direct from authors, if possible, then from Smashwords, and lastly from the big distributors. I don't like booting up Windows just to have to deal with Adobe DRM.

I live in the USA and I can't use Barnes & Noble ebooks because of the DRM. Apparently you have to be a Nook owner to read their ebooks too. I like my Sony so I guess I can make it without Amazon and B & N.

I can get ebooks I can read at Smashwords.

davidhburton · 07-12-2011, 08:51 PM

I like Smashwords for the ability to get books into places I couldn't otherwise, but I wish they would allow us to upload our own mobi/epub files rather than use the meatgrinder. That said, the final product isn't horrendous, it's just not the way I would really like it.

The big thing I really like is the lack of DRM. Makes porting my books around a lot easier since I have an ipad (with different ereaders on it) and a Kobo Touch.

LJ, thanks for the rec on INgrooves...will check that out.

JSWolf · 07-12-2011, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidhburton

I like Smashwords for the ability to get books into places I couldn't otherwise, but I wish they would allow us to upload our own mobi/epub files rather than use the meatgrinder. That said, the final product isn't horrendous, it's just not the way I would really like it.

The big thing I really like is the lack of DRM. Makes porting my books around a lot easier since I have an ipad (with different ereaders on it) and a Kobo Touch.

LJ, thanks for the rec on INgrooves...will check that out.

I prefer to have no margins. So I edit the ePub to fix that. When I look at the code in a Smashwords ePub, it is truly nasty. So even if it might look good enough, it's really not.

There is a very simple way to solve Smashwords problems. Allow every format to be uploaded and make ePub mandatory. Then any format not uploaded, use the ePub to covert to. That would make things a lot nicer and eliminate most issues. I would hope authors would not still do Word to ePub unless they bother to clean it up.

dreams · 07-12-2011, 11:12 PM

I buy most of my books at Smashwords. If I see the book someplace else, I will check at Smashwords and buy it there. If it is not there or anyplace else without DRM, then I will not purchase it. I have a large to-be-read list and no need to get any book right now. If I run out of books to read and remember the author later, I may check again.

I've never had a problem with the epub or lrf files at Smashwords. I also like that I can quickly check if the author has uploaded a "corrected" version and download that one easily.

idraw22 · 07-13-2011, 01:22 AM

I prefer Smashwords, I mean if I can't find what I want then I see if there.s anywhere else whose got those books w/o DRM, and putting my book on there may not make much, but it will get more exposure. That's what i'm hoping for.... besides, Amazon is, too shifty for me. But I do go there for last resort. I've had glitches with Diesel and B&N books.

Frida Fantastic · 07-13-2011, 03:11 AM

I own a Kindle, but I buy from Smashwords whenever possible. Smashwords is multi-format with no geographical restrictions. The browsing ability on the site itself is sub-par, but whenever I see a good indie book on the Kindle Store, I immediately search if it's available on Smashwords. I think Smashwords is worth the time.

rhadin · 07-13-2011, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.J. Sellers

You can also get your books into Kobo, Sony, and Apple through a distribution service like INgrooves.

That may be true, but I suspect (do not know with certaintly) that Smashwords is increasingly becoming the place that readers go to when looking for indie authors. I know I never think to look at Sony or B&N for indie-authored ebooks; I always go to Smashwords.

And like others have said, if a book is available at both Sony and Smashwords, I buy it at Smashwords. I prefer no DRM. Today I have a Sony Reader but tomorrow I don't know what device I will have and Smashwords gives me the best hope of being able to read a book on a future device.

VydorScope · 07-13-2011, 07:58 AM

Like others I use Smashwords to get my books in to Sony, Apple, etc... everywhere other then Amazon (they are still fighting with Amazon). The EPUB's it puts out are fine and work great on every device I have tried them on.

G J Lau · 07-13-2011, 06:14 PM

Smashwords is a great place to get a foot in the door of self-publishing. Their style guide has the virtue of being definite about what they want you to do. After spending a year working on a first novel, that kind of support on the production end of things--something I only really thought about once I was finished writing--is very reassuring. One less thing to fret over. And for what it's worth, I have downloaded all my Smashwords books onto my Nook and have not had any problems with formatting.

Lurikov · 07-13-2011, 07:14 PM

As an author, I am very pleased with Smashwords. It is a wonderful way for writers who are not especially experienced with e-books to publish their work. The distribution services at Smashwords have also been very helpful.

AkumaTakeshi · 07-14-2011, 11:57 AM

In my opinion upload your books to every site necessary or at least to ones more relevant. Amazon is what brings more exposure to the book, maybe more sales but Smashwords has many benefices and people will prefer buy your books through there. It's the indies paradise.

Another e-bookstore you may want to consider is Feedbooks, don't have many experience with it but people that use it seem to be satisfied with the service. And they have some partners too.

VydorScope · 07-14-2011, 12:08 PM

I looked at feedbooks, but they are a freaking pain. You have to rip apart you book and redo it completely, chapter by chapter to get it on their site. I could find no way to up load a EPUB, DOC, or anything. Just straight text (so no formatting, and etc). I emailed them asking if there was another way to do it any they never replied. So I assume that means "no".

If someone knows some other way to use them, please let me know...

AkumaTakeshi · 07-14-2011, 12:21 PM

Yeah I saw that. You almost don't have any liberty in the editing of your book. But at least their own formatting seems good for what I saw.

You could always send a PM to Hadrien, never talked to him directly but remembered some posts I saw by him and went to search his profile for you. But I think that maybe that's just the way they work. Their primary target I think it's smartphones and principally iOS devices, so that must be one of the reason of restricting the editing and publishing of the book.

*EDIT*

forget what I said, I saw that you already posted a message on his profile

Peggy Trentini · 07-14-2011, 01:04 PM

I Have been on Smashwords for 4 months and have had very few sales. I'm not sure I like the fact that they offer pdf version to buyers as this is the easiest format to pirate. I am considering taking my book off since the sells are so low anyway might not be worth the risk.

Laine · 07-14-2011, 01:37 PM

I have bought hundreds of books from Smashwords. I check them every day. Living in Australia there aren't so many places I can buy ebooks.

There is a lot of crap at Smashwords but also some treasures.

I look for genre and storylines that appeal to me. THEN I ELIMINATE ANY BOOKS WHERE THE BLURB HAS SPELLING OR GRAMMAR MISTAKES. If you want to sell a book you should at least make sure your advertising is correct.

If books don't sell at Smashwords, who's to say they'd do much better anywhere else?

07-13-2011, 03:11 AM	#21
Frida Fantastic SF/F book blogger Posts: 270 Karma: 502030 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Vancouver, Canada Device: Kindle 3	I own a Kindle, but I buy from Smashwords whenever possible. Smashwords is multi-format with no geographical restrictions. The browsing ability on the site itself is sub-par, but whenever I see a good indie book on the Kindle Store, I immediately search if it's available on Smashwords. I think Smashwords is worth the time. Last edited by Frida Fantastic; 07-13-2011 at 03:46 PM.

07-13-2011, 07:14 PM	#25
Lurikov Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Kindle	As an author, I am very pleased with Smashwords. It is a wonderful way for writers who are not especially experienced with e-books to publish their work. The distribution services at Smashwords have also been very helpful. Last edited by Lurikov; 01-21-2012 at 01:43 PM.

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07-12-2011, 08:51 PM	#17
davidhburton Addict Posts: 211 Karma: 100001 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Toronto Device: none	I like Smashwords for the ability to get books into places I couldn't otherwise, but I wish they would allow us to upload our own mobi/epub files rather than use the meatgrinder. That said, the final product isn't horrendous, it's just not the way I would really like it. The big thing I really like is the lack of DRM. Makes porting my books around a lot easier since I have an ipad (with different ereaders on it) and a Kobo Touch. LJ, thanks for the rec on INgrooves...will check that out.

07-12-2011, 11:12 PM	#19
dreams It's about the umbrella Posts: 25,112 Karma: 56250158 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony 505\| K Fire \| KK 3G+Wi-Fi \| iPhone 3Gs \|Vista 32-bit Hm Prem w/FF	I buy most of my books at Smashwords. If I see the book someplace else, I will check at Smashwords and buy it there. If it is not there or anyplace else without DRM, then I will not purchase it. I have a large to-be-read list and no need to get any book right now. If I run out of books to read and remember the author later, I may check again. I've never had a problem with the epub or lrf files at Smashwords. I also like that I can quickly check if the author has uploaded a "corrected" version and download that one easily.

07-13-2011, 01:22 AM	#20
idraw22 Zealot Posts: 115 Karma: 1094380 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: arkansas Device: Jetbook Lite, Kindle 3, jetbook mini, sony clie, sony prs-T1	I prefer Smashwords, I mean if I can't find what I want then I see if there.s anywhere else whose got those books w/o DRM, and putting my book on there may not make much, but it will get more exposure. That's what i'm hoping for.... besides, Amazon is, too shifty for me. But I do go there for last resort. I've had glitches with Diesel and B&N books.

07-13-2011, 07:58 AM	#23
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	Like others I use Smashwords to get my books in to Sony, Apple, etc... everywhere other then Amazon (they are still fighting with Amazon). The EPUB's it puts out are fine and work great on every device I have tried them on.

07-13-2011, 06:14 PM	#24
G J Lau Zealot Posts: 126 Karma: 415116 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Frederick MD Device: Nook	Smashwords is a great place to get a foot in the door of self-publishing. Their style guide has the virtue of being definite about what they want you to do. After spending a year working on a first novel, that kind of support on the production end of things--something I only really thought about once I was finished writing--is very reassuring. One less thing to fret over. And for what it's worth, I have downloaded all my Smashwords books onto my Nook and have not had any problems with formatting.

07-14-2011, 11:57 AM	#26
AkumaTakeshi Lounge Lurker Posts: 669 Karma: 1635154 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Portugal Device: Kindle 3 Wifi (Screen Broken)	In my opinion upload your books to every site necessary or at least to ones more relevant. Amazon is what brings more exposure to the book, maybe more sales but Smashwords has many benefices and people will prefer buy your books through there. It's the indies paradise. Another e-bookstore you may want to consider is Feedbooks, don't have many experience with it but people that use it seem to be satisfied with the service. And they have some partners too.

07-14-2011, 12:08 PM	#27
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	I looked at feedbooks, but they are a freaking pain. You have to rip apart you book and redo it completely, chapter by chapter to get it on their site. I could find no way to up load a EPUB, DOC, or anything. Just straight text (so no formatting, and etc). I emailed them asking if there was another way to do it any they never replied. So I assume that means "no". If someone knows some other way to use them, please let me know...

07-14-2011, 12:21 PM	#28
AkumaTakeshi Lounge Lurker Posts: 669 Karma: 1635154 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Portugal Device: Kindle 3 Wifi (Screen Broken)	Yeah I saw that. You almost don't have any liberty in the editing of your book. But at least their own formatting seems good for what I saw. You could always send a PM to Hadrien, never talked to him directly but remembered some posts I saw by him and went to search his profile for you. But I think that maybe that's just the way they work. Their primary target I think it's smartphones and principally iOS devices, so that must be one of the reason of restricting the editing and publishing of the book. EDIT forget what I said, I saw that you already posted a message on his profile

07-14-2011, 01:04 PM	#29
Peggy Trentini Author "Once Upon a Star" Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Newport Beach Ca. Device: kindle	I Have been on Smashwords for 4 months and have had very few sales. I'm not sure I like the fact that they offer pdf version to buyers as this is the easiest format to pirate. I am considering taking my book off since the sells are so low anyway might not be worth the risk.

07-14-2011, 01:37 PM	#30
Laine Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1162396 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia Device: Aura H2O, Voyage	I have bought hundreds of books from Smashwords. I check them every day. Living in Australia there aren't so many places I can buy ebooks. There is a lot of crap at Smashwords but also some treasures. I look for genre and storylines that appeal to me. THEN I ELIMINATE ANY BOOKS WHERE THE BLURB HAS SPELLING OR GRAMMAR MISTAKES. If you want to sell a book you should at least make sure your advertising is correct. If books don't sell at Smashwords, who's to say they'd do much better anywhere else?

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