tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post123669436975689167..comments2024-03-25T21:30:28.970-07:00Comments on <b>Smashwords</b>: 2019 Book Industry Predictions: The Butterflies Will Flap Their WingsDovetail Public Relationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039664167177159146noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-2071923881011117932019-01-16T13:24:42.236-08:002019-01-16T13:24:42.236-08:00Ctrl-z and Rhino-hide. (TLDR)
And on with the sho...Ctrl-z and Rhino-hide. (TLDR)<br /><br />And on with the show.<br /><br />Times are tough, Amazon is beating everyone as badly as MS did back in the day...<br />(I wonder if they'll get (steal) bundles of orphan works from EU?)<br /><br />Pay-pal is intrusive and readers picky.<br />PC content is overcoming style-content as usual; ask Hollywood. <br /><br />The market is super-saturated? You haven't seen anything yet, pookie. <br /><br />I want ebook readers to auto-translate from language to luggage. (LANGUAGE. Sorry!)<br />(Won't help that much; cultural styles differ too much. Puss-in-boots, ie.)<br /><br />The web will be populated by ravaging monsters; (pirates, censors, lawsuits, trolls.)<br /><br />About the way it is today, really. I only look at sales, myself.<br />Censors, trolls + the PC world? <br /><br />You're team or target. Develop Rhino-hide, you'll need it.<br />You would not believe the excuses generated, either.<br /><br />Kevin Williams jan 2019<br /><br />oh, ctrl-z is undo. Pollution, elections, diets..Kevin Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13837031188946013218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-65837089555163299062019-01-10T01:23:10.905-08:002019-01-10T01:23:10.905-08:00I was hoping to see how you foresee the EU Copyrig...I was hoping to see how you foresee the EU Copyright Directive which could become law in its 28 member-states, to affect self-publishing. Yes, it will possibly stop piracy, but if that table turned, there's a lot of hoops to jump for an author to proof he or she wrote an original work. What would you suggest?Fiction for the Soul Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10590764975263473787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-32763388575552928762019-01-08T20:31:23.528-08:002019-01-08T20:31:23.528-08:00@T.J. Dotson - exactly. You've nailed it.@T.J. Dotson - exactly. You've nailed it.K.C. Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365890309717446305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-9030629150343192822019-01-08T02:23:52.023-08:002019-01-08T02:23:52.023-08:00It's not about blaming Amazon. And I don't...It's not about blaming Amazon. And I don't think that's what Mark and others are doing. They are pointing out that one extremely large retailer has successfully become the new gatekeeper of indie publishing. Amazon has effectively stripped indies of their collective power and now is charging a fee for admission. <br /><br />It ain't doom and gloom, but it's not what it used to be either. T.J. Dotsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08408403689172395803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-66184175193253886422019-01-06T13:45:07.791-08:002019-01-06T13:45:07.791-08:00If it all comes down to me posting my work on my o...<b>If it all comes down to me posting my work on my own site and nowhere else, then so be it.</b> Amazon is a giant corporation, one that has demonstrated, over and over again, that it doesn't care for its employees or its "content providers." It's only interested in money. That may be legal, but it certainly isn't moral. If you question that, then you are either soulless, or you have your head in the sand. Or, most likely, both.<br /><br />The cost of attention is going towards infinity, while the <i>value</i> of attention is nosediving towards negative infinity. Getting noticed in this insane environment is becoming more and more difficult. And yes, it <i>is</i> insane.<br /><br />On my blog (shawnmicheldemontaigne.blogspot.com) recently I composed an allegory called "The Tower." I've edited it and posted it below.<br /><br />I call the insanity the Tower. Everybody wants in it. There's a tremendous, pressing crowd around it: people doing everything they can to get closer and closer to it, no matter how immoral it may be, no matter how injurious or hypocritical it may be, no matter how underhanded it may be, no matter how criminal it may be. Fights are common in the pressing crowd, and always spread: two fighters quickly become two hundred. Everyone's yelling and screaming, trying to be heard.<br /><br />The Tower is tall and thin, with windows. Those who get into it fight their way to the highest floor they can. On occasion they'll glance out the windows. When they do the crowd fawns and curses at them.<br /><br />There is a wide space between the crowd and the Tower, one that's impossible to breach. Guards man it. On occasion they'll let someone through, and that person, shrieking with joy, runs into the Tower and begins fighting their way up the stairs to the highest floor they can get to.<br /><br />This is the chase for fame and fortune.<br /><br />You folks go ahead and knock yourself out trying to get into the Tower. Me? I've got a lot of writing to do.<br /><br />Screw Amazon.<br /><br />~~*~~Shawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00617713016933175728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-16792422239998271142019-01-05T09:59:25.428-08:002019-01-05T09:59:25.428-08:00Authors publishing their works in several places -...Authors publishing their works in several places -- arguably a wise position, as otherwise you are unhappy if your sole publisher goes under -- should remember that when they advertise, they get to choose where to point their links. Here, for example.George Phillieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15430038472888222992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-69567831631350162402019-01-05T07:46:06.977-08:002019-01-05T07:46:06.977-08:00@Bruce Arrington Yes, Amazon puts their customers ...@Bruce Arrington Yes, Amazon puts their customers first; however, aren’t authors and merchants potential customers, too? Isn’t it better to treat those authors and merchants who are bringing money to your business with respect, instead of them having fear of losing income if they don’t follow your rules, there’s a computer glitch, or a competitor/spammer manipulates the system? I and other authors/merchants stopped purchasing from Amazon because of their rules and treatment of us. Pamela Cumminshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02105901384292644277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-66033735266331625662019-01-05T07:23:27.884-08:002019-01-05T07:23:27.884-08:00Cathryn Cade: Give us some tips, please!Cathryn Cade: Give us some tips, please!henrytobiashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14402350994278097448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-34579676188330497362019-01-04T13:32:25.980-08:002019-01-04T13:32:25.980-08:00Completely disagree with the doom and gloom inhere...Completely disagree with the doom and gloom inherent in this prediction. I believe this is the best time there has ever been for writers to get our work out to readers. We can control every aspect of the prospect that we desire, or contract out some or all tasks.<br /><br />Also, I'm making more money going into 2019 than I've ever made, either with a publisher or as a full-fledged indie author. <br /><br />Instead of blaming the sales platforms who are most successful, lets figure out how to use them for our and our readers' gain. <br /><br />Keep writing and keep learning, everyone!Cathryn Cadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10714037225684245673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-41748686857229701082019-01-04T07:04:37.323-08:002019-01-04T07:04:37.323-08:00@K.C. Taylor I agree. It is Pay to Play now. I ho...@K.C. Taylor I agree. It is Pay to Play now. I hope the other retailers don't follow Amazon's example. Right now, that is my key worry in all of this. Ruth Ann Nordinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15277679843442868070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-19667052565394647752019-01-04T03:40:33.335-08:002019-01-04T03:40:33.335-08:00Select isn't the current problem, Mark. It'...Select isn't the current problem, Mark. It's moved beyond that at Amazon. It's *advertising*. Amazon is making more money from AMS ads than they are book sales. <br /><br />The modern problem in the book world is it is now Pay to Play. <br /><br />Trad. pubs had to pour SO much money into the holiday season that indies had to pause their AMS and FB ads because they were being grossly out-priced beyond their budgets. There was zero sense in most indies advertising in Nov. and Dec. because of this.<br /><br />99% of authors have no chance at making a modest living writing books unless they have disposable money for daily ads. They will sink otherwise no matter what they do since hoping you'll be that once in a blue moon breakout star from word of mouth if a pointless fantasy. My authors were making 5 figures in 2012. They now make a small fraction of that year's royalties despite publishing more books every year.K.C. Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365890309717446305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-61560250781146647762019-01-03T15:44:31.164-08:002019-01-03T15:44:31.164-08:00In terms of anti trust, wouldn't requiring exc...In terms of anti trust, wouldn't requiring exclusivity on Amazon in order to be in KDP Select be the definition of that? They are in way attempting to drive the competition our of business, at least that's what it seems.IanNShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01646552466241923835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-10560968010420024252019-01-03T10:02:24.749-08:002019-01-03T10:02:24.749-08:00"Amazon acts like a twisted modern day Robin ..."Amazon acts like a twisted modern day Robin Hood who steals from the poor and gives to its customers."<br /><br />With respect, I could not disagree more. Amazon is a business and is also a competitor of Smashwords. It is not Amazon's job to pay the bills of authors, and this "take care of me" mindset is what has gotten authors in trouble in the past with the large publishing houses. It is the author's job to understand that their book selling is their business and they are responsible for making all choices as how they are going to sell their books. You cannot just sit back and expect another company to sell your books for you.<br /><br />Pointing a finger at Amazon changes nothing except to cause Smashwords supporters to circle the wagon and tell each other how that Evil Empire destroys everything. Frankly I find it petty and belittling for the head of this company to make remarks like this. It does nothing to help authors.<br /><br />Amazon, in order to survive as a business, puts customers first. That's why it has done so well over the years. Again, it's core philosophy is not authors first, and it never should be.Brucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01288679569185759845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-73172394712135529442019-01-03T09:24:16.903-08:002019-01-03T09:24:16.903-08:00I refuse to buy Amazon ads. That is a short-term s...I refuse to buy Amazon ads. That is a short-term strategy. I don't like short-term strategy mindsets because you have to constantly be looking for the next big thing. <br /><br />My income dropped significantly this year on Amazon when they started pushing their ads, but thanks to Smashwords and its distribution partners, I managed just fine. Staying wide and writing more books are the two best long-term strategies in this business. Those will help buffer against the rollercoaster effect that is Amazon. It's nice when you don't have to worry about what Amazon might or might not do. You sleep well at night. :) <br /><br />I know a lot of authors are in awe of KU authors who make $10-$40K a month on Amazon, but the truth is, you don't need that much money to be happy. My income dropped by 40% this year, but I am happier than I've ever been because I finally learned that the key is to be content with what you have. (And I speak as someone who did almost quit writing this year.) For anyone struggling with the happiness issue, I highly recommend the book The Happiness Equation: Want Nothing + Do Anything = Have Everything by Neil Pasricha. If you follow what he recommends, it's a game changer.Ruth Ann Nordinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15277679843442868070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-74480143430428048322019-01-03T01:14:08.852-08:002019-01-03T01:14:08.852-08:00I agree. But the trick is to make a better system....I agree. But the trick is to make a better system. I don't use KDP select for most of the books I have and yet no other place allows my books to be seen. btw, Ernie, well done. nlohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00189011723484040397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-22032280177056865382019-01-02T21:38:45.959-08:002019-01-02T21:38:45.959-08:00Nice one! I definitely agree with everything you w...Nice one! I definitely agree with everything you wrote about the dangers of KDP select. And one of the things you've said in previous years is, "Every book that's available exclusively at Amazon is another nail on the coffin of every other e-book retailer."<br /><br />KDP Select is putting people (not just authors) out of business, and putting employees and their families on the streets. End of story.<br /><br />Sony e-books, Diesel, txtr, Flipkart... the list of casualties that can be directly related to Amazon's bullying goes on. :(<br /><br />By the way, you might want to fix the typo in your "Predictions" heading - it says 2018 at the time of this writing. ;-)Graham Downshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05058937158808902451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-58140175214350579742019-01-02T05:36:49.611-08:002019-01-02T05:36:49.611-08:00Interesting! Persistency is the key.Interesting! Persistency is the key.henrytobiashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14402350994278097448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-18349964610312681552019-01-02T02:59:28.054-08:002019-01-02T02:59:28.054-08:00Mark, your predictions are always interesting and ...Mark, your predictions are always interesting and based on facts and great critical thinking skills. I commend you for this. Speaking of critical thinking skills, I have noticed that the majority of authors are not up to par in this regard and that will add to their lack of success. There are also the other two elements of the three important elements of "3C Vision" which are "creative thinking skills" and "common sense."<br /><br />As I have done before, I will caution anyone in believing that "hard work" will lead to success. On John Kremer's Book Marketing Bestsellers Facebook Page, I posted a scan of an article written about me in "Alberta Venture Magazine" in May 1997 (over 21 years ago). At that time the article mentioned that my books had sold a total of 75,000 copies and my "The Joy of Not Working" had been published in 4 other languages. Well, as of September 2018 my books had sold over 1,000,000 copies and "The Joy of Not Working" had been published in 16 other languages.<br /><br />What's the secret to my success? It's certainly not "hard work." I have never been a fan of hard work. (I believe in outsmarting my competition instead of outworking my competition.) Note that the second paragraph of the "Alberta Venture Magazine" article quotes me as saying, "I may only work four or five hours a day but I'm persistent. I never get side-tracked. I spend those four hours either writing my books, promoting my books and distributing my books." SURPRISE: That is exactly what I still do 21 years later. <br /><br />I have just released my new book "The Joy of Being Retired: 365 Reasons Why Retirement Rocks — and Work Sucks." Don't be surprised if it becomes a true <br />bestseller (over 100,000 copies sold in print) in a few years just like 3 of my other books have become. I will certainly spend quite a bit of time over the next two or three years using my creative techniques for marketing this book. I have already gotten two financial advisors to each purchase 200 copies of the offset print edition of "The Joy of Being Retired" to give to their clients. That's a total 400 copies which is more than most books sell in their lifetimes. I know that I can create a lot more financial advisors purchasing thousands of copies of this book. <br /><br />As I have emphasized before and will continue to emphasize, "Content May Be King but Promotion Is the Supreme Emperor."<br />Ernie J. Zelinskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271565900719821395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-61974629115565951772019-01-01T19:51:38.436-08:002019-01-01T19:51:38.436-08:002018 was the year of the ebook deal newsletters. P...2018 was the year of the ebook deal newsletters. Publishers are discounting valuable ebooks in the 2-4 dollar range, making it hard for indies to underprice them anymore. Heck, Amazon is even selling new editions to their own imprints at 99 cents for a sustained period of time (usually 1 month). Amazon doesn't mind. If the price is under $3, the publisher's share of the royalties shift from 70 to 30. I buy lots of low-cost titles, but I cringe whenever I think that the author is making only 30 percent on Amazon. More people should know that SW is not only cheaper, but it compensates the authors significantly better in the lower price tier.<br /><br /><br /><br /> Robert Naglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09244278749337954786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-70651542557978632282019-01-01T14:56:19.016-08:002019-01-01T14:56:19.016-08:00I always enjoy your yearly predictions and love th...I always enjoy your yearly predictions and love the Tylenol analogy!<br />Pamela Cumminshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02105901384292644277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-77411303060367054982019-01-01T14:16:16.970-08:002019-01-01T14:16:16.970-08:00Thank you for a thorough and truthful article.
I ...Thank you for a thorough and truthful article.<br /> I am an emerging author. One of those who, after working at times two jobs to support family, is now putting works on paper. In 2017 published the first book of my fantasy/ paranormal - based on mythology and history series - as a novella because I wanted to do a screenplay rendition and did; it won a third place award and from it I got some good comments that I will implement.<br />The novella was published as an ebook on Amazon and D2D missing 4 chapters, yes, incomplete. I engaged the services of a publishing assistant that states it was submitted complete. No sense in blaming and arguing. The book got great reviews even though incomplete. Now, as I make lemonade out of lemons I am including three chapters from the beginning of the sequel and getting ready to republish. Your article is very appropriate for me and I will look into Smashwords.Marta C. Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08201300362483291904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-27712279313907699172019-01-01T11:34:34.312-08:002019-01-01T11:34:34.312-08:00As always, there is a lot of wisdom packed into Ma...As always, there is a lot of wisdom packed into Mark's blog entry. I totally agree with the comments about Amazon and hope authors will begin to realize that walking away from the tainted carrots Amazon dangles (aka exclusivity) is the only way to gain back control. Only then will they begin to earn a proper royalty rate. <br /><br />I love Smashwords; everyone is approachable and friendly, working with authors as partners, striving to lift them up rather than forcing them into submission. The partnerships Mark has developed with other companies provides a diverse distribution channel that is more likely to weather fluctuations in the market. If you put all your eggs in one basket, you are at the mercy of the owner of the basket.Nicky Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01618234847337640297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-58618299041368303032019-01-01T09:07:07.811-08:002019-01-01T09:07:07.811-08:00Great analysis ... it's going to be another in...Great analysis ... it's going to be another interesting year. :D widdershinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04205462833259334647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-58839678555909015092019-01-01T06:52:41.110-08:002019-01-01T06:52:41.110-08:00Thanks for the work you do Mark. Like Microsoft, G...Thanks for the work you do Mark. Like Microsoft, Google and Apple, Amazon is a very dynamic company, so we should celebrate success. Hopefully, soon Indie authors will also have their day in the sun. I have not succumbed to Amazon's temptations, but then I don't rely on my writing for a living, but the few books I do sell, I sell mostly through Amazon. This is quite annoying as I get much less money from Amazon than from Smashwords, but I still get a buzz from knowing that I have sold a book.<br />It was always difficult to become a best-selling author so perhaps the more things change the more they stay the same. More people today speak and read English than in the past. <br />My problem is marketing. Perhaps I'm lazy, but I don't have 2 hours every day to sit and post on social media - I have a life, maybe not as exciting as some, but I'm content.<br /> henrytobiashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14402350994278097448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-89507915751501307862019-01-01T05:52:02.139-08:002019-01-01T05:52:02.139-08:00Very good analyse Monsieur Coker thank you so much...Very good analyse Monsieur Coker thank you so much ans happy New year 😎Mike Donati smashwords Authie😋Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001235270211818152noreply@blogger.com