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Old 10-28-2012, 04:28 AM   #1
MartinC
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Could bundles give leg-up to new writers?

http://m.guardian.co.uk/ms/p/gnm/op/...ooks&cat=books

An interesting idea which has worked (apparently) for games and music. But how to persuade them to let us join in?

Last edited by MartinC; 10-28-2012 at 04:30 AM. Reason: Error in URL
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Old 10-29-2012, 12:43 PM   #2
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Doesn't feel like a match to me and I bought every single Humble Bundle of PC video games.

I think most of us pick the books we choose to read more selectively than typical bundles can offer. I recognize there may be a cost savings here but I already have too many e-books I need to read, without being thrown a bunch of may-be-chaff for my tastes. I think the best thing a new author can do is offer a free or $0.99 first taste.
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Old 10-30-2012, 07:51 AM   #3
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I think there is better profit motive if you have a few books out and give one for bundle. On other hand my understading also is that bundles really haven't hurt the sales too much...
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Old 10-30-2012, 05:11 PM   #4
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For some reason I'm much more leery of buying an unknown book than of buying an unknown game. I've purchased every humble bundle to date except this one. I'm still trying to work out the reasons, but there is definitely a psychological barrier to this business model for books.

EDIT: I've thought about it a bit. A large part of my motivation for buying is that, out of a collection of four or five games, there is at least one "hit" that responds to my tastes: a critically-acclaimed, high-quality title in a genre I appreciate. That one, by itself, justifies the purchase of the bundle... the others are often gravy.

I'm not a big fan of contemporary sci fi, so the presence of a big name like Cory Doctorow didn't appeal to me, but if the collection had been more literary—say, with a Zadie Smith or Michael Chabon title as a headliner—I'd have jumped all over it.

So maybe there isn't anything intrinsic to books, after all. It's just a question of targeting the right niche. As it happens, sci fi is very popular with a large part of the same demographic that buys and enjoys indie video games. That makes it a good business decision by Humble, though not one that appealed to me.

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Old 10-31-2012, 01:33 AM   #5
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I like the idea of a bundle with half well-known published authors coupled with new authors in the same genre. I think it would be a great way to get exposure for new authors.
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Old 10-31-2012, 11:09 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by holymadness View Post
For some reason I'm much more leery of buying an unknown book than of buying an unknown game. I've purchased every humble bundle to date except this one. I'm still trying to work out the reasons, but there is definitely a psychological barrier to this business model for books.

EDIT: I've thought about it a bit. A large part of my motivation for buying is that, out of a collection of four or five games, there is at least one "hit" that responds to my tastes: a critically-acclaimed, high-quality title in a genre I appreciate. That one, by itself, justifies the purchase of the bundle... the others are often gravy.

I'm not a big fan of contemporary sci fi, so the presence of a big name like Cory Doctorow didn't appeal to me, but if the collection had been more literary—say, with a Zadie Smith or Michael Chabon title as a headliner—I'd have jumped all over it.

So maybe there isn't anything intrinsic to books, after all. It's just a question of targeting the right niche. As it happens, sci fi is very popular with a large part of the same demographic that buys and enjoys indie video games. That makes it a good business decision by Humble, though not one that appealed to me.
Each humble bundle is themed so you can probably expect other genres
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Old 10-31-2012, 11:11 AM   #7
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If that's the case, I will be on board. Especially if the unknown authors receive the imprimatur of the better-known ones.

But since participating in a venture like this requires forward thinking, and a willingness to sell one's work at far lower prices than usual, it will require a certain kind of author to get on board. Or a lot of convincing.
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