Hi Everyone!
Just dropping in to share some links that may be of interest.
First, Susan Kaye Quinn (author of Open Minds) has an awesome post up called "How Many Book Sales Equals Success."
Love this line:
"One reason self-publishing is losing its stigma is because authors are now making real money going that route (and real money attracts serious writers, which in turn raises the quality of self-published works). But like everything else in this business, it is some alchemical combination of hard work, luck, and perseverance."
Over the last week, it seems every brick and mortar bookstore has gone on the record to say they won't carry titles from Amazon's publishing arm. What will Amazon do? It might just build its own store.
Here's a good post about the KDP select program. I thought the comments were interesting, as well. It seems that Kindle sales reporting went all screwy a few days ago. I've been editing, so I didn't log in enough to notice. Phoenix made an interesting comment, though:
"I think it's pretty well established now that whatever Amazon did to its algos in December led to it being harder to hit and maintain a rank. Seems to take about double the numbers now than it did in the summer. Sticking has become a heck of a lot harder."
This is even AFTER the algorithm change this summer. It was already harder to place on the top 100 lists and rank high on the "also boughts." I've mentioned this before, but Indies who are new to publishing are going to have to do a heck of a lot more promotion to be seen and maintain visibility.
The rules are changing every day; that's the nature of the game.
Dean Wesley Smith has a great post up: Why Having More Product Is Better Than Having Less Product.
Here, he discusses why WRITING THE NEXT BOOK is the best thing you can do for your career. He also crunches numbers and says: "A reader who finds your book four years after you publish it is just as good as a reader who finds it the day after you publish it." *YES*
If you're already self published, David Gaughran has a survey he'd like you to take. I've already submitted mine! It takes about 10-15 minutes, and, if you keep track of sales numbers/royalties, you'll need those, too.
And, for the record, while I have nothing against traditional publishing and those who choose to pursue it, I will admit that this Konrath post made me chuckle. (Just a tiny, tiny bit.) :)
Have a great week!
~K~
