|
A friend of mine has written a series of children's books. He just got scammed by a New York-based 'publisher' I suggested self-publishing on Amazon, but do people even borrow/buy kids books on there? Also he's in his 50s, is not tech savvy, and doesn't have an account. He's willing to pay for advice so if any of you could distill the thread advice into an easy-to-follow flow chart I'm sure he'd sort you out with some money
|
#
?
Aug 23, 2016 05:58
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 27, 2024 03:35 |
|
|
change my name posted:I'm going to stop making GBS threads this thread up and actually finish editing, but I think this is what I'm going to go with (maybe with some minor tweaks): Maybe I'm not that bright but I didn't see the pentagram until somebody else pointed it out. So to me it was just, like... a picture of a city with some birds. Make the pentagram much more obvious and it would be a cool cover IMO.
|
|
#
?
Aug 23, 2016 06:32
|
|
|
The perspective's making me think those birds are the size of buses. What if they were streaming out of the corner and into a ring around the tower?
|
|
#
?
Aug 23, 2016 13:12
|
|
|
simplefish posted:A friend of mine has written a series of children's books. He just got scammed by a New York-based 'publisher' Childrens books as in picture books, or picture books with text, or just text? Amazon has a specialty program for doing picture books / comics but I have zero experience with it. Anytime I try to add photos everything looks like poo poo. I'd have him browse Amazon for similar books and see where his niche is at for average sales rank. The one category I drilled down is filled with trad-pub books and the recently published self-pub is all in the 600k plus range.
|
|
#
?
Aug 23, 2016 15:39
|
|
|
600k...do you have to write similar lengths to compete with them? How often are you able to publish, and does the way higher KENPC actually result in higher income? I'd worry that at lengths like that, only a small percentage of people who borrow would get more than 50k words in.
|
|
#
?
Aug 23, 2016 15:43
|
|
|
angel opportunity posted:600k...do you have to write similar lengths to compete with them? How often are you able to publish, and does the way higher KENPC actually result in higher income? I'd worry that at lengths like that, only a small percentage of people who borrow would get more than 50k words in. I think they were talking about ranking rather than length. I can't imagine there's much demand for 600,000 word children's books. 
|
|
#
?
Aug 23, 2016 15:56
|
|
|
Bardeh posted:I think they were talking about ranking rather than length. I can't imagine there's much demand for 600,000 word children's books. Alan Moore presents: Jerusalem Jr.
|
|
#
?
Aug 23, 2016 15:58
|
|
|
Oh...I'm dumb. I thought Yooper was talking about military fiction stuff, and I could sort of see that reaching insane lengths
|
|
#
?
Aug 23, 2016 16:05
|
|
|
Ahh nope, was responding to the childrens book query. I'm sure there is a 600k word mil scifi book out there. But, even in that niche, no one would buy it.
|
|
#
?
Aug 23, 2016 18:43
|
|
|
So my thing is now live  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KU8N0JE My Nook vendor account is still verifying, but after that it'll go up there too. Is the general strategy to just keep it at .99 cents promotionally for the first week or two, then bump it up to $2.99?
|
|
#
?
Aug 23, 2016 19:47
|
|
|
change my name posted:So my thing is now live Depends on how well it takes off. With me, I got off on the absolute wrong foot and was completely unprepared. I'm going the "free for a week -> $0.99 -> $2.99 if I end up with a miracle" route, but I've had to bust rear end all over the internet to get the free copies into people's hands. Like I said, though, I started off behind and am still playing catchup. Find a Moana post and click "filter by", there should be a ton of good marketing/release advice.
|
|
#
?
Aug 23, 2016 19:55
|
|
|
change my name posted:So my thing is now live The book is enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. I'm not sure if you meant to check the box, but it means that you can't publish it on Nook. If you accidentally enrolled it, you have a few days after publishing to change your mind, I think. I'd recommend enrolling for the first term, though, for the increased exposure it offers. Also, you don't have a mailing list signup link. Go to https://www.mailchimp.com and create an account, make a signup form, and add the link at the beginning and end of the book. Bardeh fucked around with this message at 08:48 on Aug 24, 2016 |
|
#
?
Aug 24, 2016 08:45
|
|
|
Finally cracked getting 100 books into people's hands, plus 6 reads on Kindle Unlimited in the last two days. I'm taking a bath hardcore on getting it out there but I don't care, first novel wasn't going to set the world on fire and I'm just happy people are reading. Maybe there'll be a second wave once it goes back to $0.99?  Also I got my first mailing list subscriber today 
|
|
#
?
Aug 24, 2016 14:28
|
|
|
Bardeh posted:The book is enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. I'm not sure if you meant to check the box, but it means that you can't publish it on Nook. If you accidentally enrolled it, you have a few days after publishing to change your mind, I think. I'd recommend enrolling for the first term, though, for the increased exposure it offers. Fixed, thanks for pointing that out. Also, for those who are interested, my thing will be free on promotion from tomorrow until Monday.
change my name fucked around with this message at 17:45 on Aug 25, 2016 |
|
#
?
Aug 24, 2016 14:31
|
|
|
Chokes McGee posted:Also I got my first mailing list subscriber today Yessss.  More will follow.I should be done reading your book tonight. Good evening-time reading.
|
|
#
?
Aug 24, 2016 17:18
|
|
|
RedTonic posted:Yessss. I've been told it goes quick (and I need to slow down next time out), but it also makes for good 1-2 day binge reading. YMMV. I kind of get in, say everything I need to say, and get out. I don't have time for stupid interpersonal drama or love triangles, Astin's got a city to save 
|
|
#
?
Aug 24, 2016 22:55
|
|
|
Welp, it's the time in the afternoon when I check how things are going with the giveaway/sales. Hopefully I got another 30-40 of MOTHER OF CHRIST e: holy poo poo 300 today and I'm in the top 10 of free dark fantasy what the gently caress is going on lmbo Chokes McGee fucked around with this message at 23:28 on Aug 25, 2016 |
|
#
?
Aug 25, 2016 18:45
|
|
|
Chokes McGee posted:Welp, it's the time in the afternoon when I check how things are going with the giveaway/sales. Hopefully I got another 30-40 of  the freebie crowd is thirsty!I got to 2 in dark fantasy during my freebie, you'll get up there too.
|
|
#
?
Aug 26, 2016 02:16
|
|
|
A) does this translate to sales after Friday B) Who loving cares about sales I have a legit shot at 1k copies in my debut
|
|
#
?
Aug 26, 2016 03:15
|
|
|
Chokes McGee posted:A) does this translate to sales after Friday It can sometimes translate to sales. On the last day of your free run, I would recommend manually ending the free period at like 5-6pm EST or some kind of time of day where people are more likely to buy books. There is a lag when you kill free where it costs $0.99 but still displays on the free charts. If you just let it end automatically this period will happen at like 3am EST when no one is awake.
|
|
#
?
Aug 26, 2016 03:21
|
|
|
Chokes McGee posted:A) does this translate to sales after Friday A) For sales out of dark fantasy? nnnnnno.  Manage your expectations. Be busy writing another book.
|
|
#
?
Aug 26, 2016 04:03
|
|
|
RedTonic posted:A) For sales out of dark fantasy? nnnnnno. Ehn, I'm fine as long as I know what I'm getting into. It's just kind of hilarious watching my graph go WHEEEEEEEEEEEE for the last two days and not having any clue why. This has been a big lift though and Altered is well under way 
|
|
#
?
Aug 26, 2016 04:36
|
|
|
 You are always going to see ups and downs for no reason. This summer slump has been bizarre. I only put out two new releases since June out and they both bombed. (In all fairness they were both terrible) I figure it is time to pump out a sequel to my best seller with a free day on September 1st as a "Back to School" promo for the moms who now have free time again.
|
|
#
?
Aug 26, 2016 04:53
|
|
|
My thing's had a few KU page reads, hopefully visibility will go up now that it's free until Monday on promo (or whenever their promo starts, apparently it's not right at midnight). Update: it's moving!  
change my name fucked around with this message at 18:42 on Aug 26, 2016 |
|
#
?
Aug 26, 2016 05:03
|
|
|
I'm  ing the poo poo out of one of my books, as all its reviews mysteriously disappeared this evening. "All" is like a dozen and a half, but they're precioussssssss to me. I have paid promo scheduled for this weekend, goddammit, zon.
|
|
#
?
Aug 26, 2016 05:06
|
|
|
Hey I lurk your thread hoping to someday write a book but who cares because Chuck Tingle is real?? http://lithub.com/how-a-self-published-writer-of-gay-erotica-beat-sci-fis-sad-puppiesat-their-own-game/
|
|
#
?
Aug 26, 2016 21:10
|
|
|
I've reached a new milestone: my latest romance is being pirated.
|
|
#
?
Aug 26, 2016 22:21
|
|
|
I've been F5ing my reports page all day (hovering in the mid-80s for "free coming-of-age-fantasy"), and I noticed the Kindle Scouts thing. Has anyone tried it? An advance sounds pretty nice.
|
|
#
?
Aug 26, 2016 22:26
|
|
|
RedTonic posted:I've reached a new milestone: my latest romance is being pirated. in fantasy that's the step right before horrible slash fiction, which is how you know you've made it big
|
|
#
?
Aug 26, 2016 23:58
|
|
|
Chokes McGee posted:in fantasy that's the step right before horrible slash fiction, which is how you know you've made it big My romance basically is horrible slash fiction fantasy, is my big break upon me?
|
|
#
?
Aug 27, 2016 01:03
|
|
|
RedTonic posted:My romance basically is horrible slash fiction fantasy, is my big break upon me? checks out
|
|
#
?
Aug 27, 2016 01:35
|
|
|
change my name posted:I've been F5ing my reports page all day (hovering in the mid-80s for "free coming-of-age-fantasy"), and I noticed the Kindle Scouts thing. Has anyone tried it? An advance sounds pretty nice. If you have the fan base to actually get one of your books picked, you'd be better off just self-pubbing it.
|
|
#
?
Aug 27, 2016 05:33
|
|
|
Every once in a while a promo site will run one of my books without me asking. Woke up to 400 downloads of my permafree. 
|
|
#
?
Aug 28, 2016 15:17
|
|
|
Hijinks Ensue posted:Every once in a while a promo site will run one of my books without me asking. Woke up to 400 downloads of my permafree. 
|
|
#
?
Aug 28, 2016 22:14
|
|
|
I've never self-published before, and I think it may be the way to go for the fantasy book I'm writing now, but I have a situation. It's actually a fairly long book, probably clocking in at 120,000 words in edited form, which (a) is divided into three approximately equal parts and (b) ties up its own story but doesn't actually resolve the overarching plot, i.e. is the first book of a potentially long-running series. Do you guys think it might get the hype train rolling faster to publish each "part" as a separate e-book, maybe one every few weeks (and how far apart should I do it)? Each part is fairly different in tone (setup -> rising action -> resolution) and while I think each part is interesting, they're all interesting for different reasons. I worry that some readers may read part one, think "ehh, not for me" and stop reading before it gets to the bits maybe they would like. Semi-related question: Has anyone ever tried selling an omnibus edition of their earlier stuff, and how'd that work for you?
|
|
#
?
Aug 29, 2016 16:43
|
|
|
Mirage posted:I've never self-published before, and I think it may be the way to go for the fantasy book I'm writing now, but I have a situation. It's actually a fairly long book, probably clocking in at 120,000 words in edited form, which (a) is divided into three approximately equal parts and (b) ties up its own story but doesn't actually resolve the overarching plot, i.e. is the first book of a potentially long-running series. If each 40k part is sufficiently self-contained, it might work. I'd probably recommend publishing every 2 - 3 weeks. You wouldn't want to sit out and wait for the 30 day cliff, especially with rather short novellas. There is a good deal of hatred out there for serials and cliffhangers, though; I'm not sure how strong that is in fantasy, but you're wise to consider it. If you were going to lose readers in the first 40k part, you'd lose them at the same stage with the whole novel, too.
|
|
#
?
Aug 29, 2016 17:45
|
|
|
Yeah, it really depends on how well each individual part works once you chop it up. If you wrote it as one book, my inclination would be to publish it as one book. Fantasy readers like 'em long, generally, don't they? There are definitely merits to releasing as a serial, but ideally you'd write each part with that in mind, not retroactively apply the format to a completed book. Omnibuses (or bundles) are an important part of self-publishing, especially with the way that the Kindle Select fund works. Many readers prefer to wait until they're available, instead of waiting for each individual installment as they come.
|
|
#
?
Aug 29, 2016 18:44
|
|
|
Mirage posted:I've never self-published before, and I think it may be the way to go for the fantasy book I'm writing now, but I have a situation. It's actually a fairly long book, probably clocking in at 120,000 words in edited form, which (a) is divided into three approximately equal parts and (b) ties up its own story but doesn't actually resolve the overarching plot, i.e. is the first book of a potentially long-running series. While I haven't published fantasy, just scifi, I do know that people have a higher page count expectation in fantasy. Judging from the top lists I'm not seeing serials. This is a good judge, if your niche isn't doing it already, you probably don't want to pioneer it.
|
|
#
?
Aug 29, 2016 18:54
|
|
|
This month is my first five-figure month My second month of being full-time
|
|
#
?
Aug 29, 2016 19:34
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 27, 2024 03:35 |
|
|
Well today's the last day my book will be free on promotion, and I've moved... about a hundred overall. I guess I set my expectations a little too high, but eh. Honestly I'd be happy if I just got a review at this point.
|
|
#
?
Aug 29, 2016 19:37
|
|