tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post5719377874986203322..comments2024-03-25T21:30:28.970-07:00Comments on <b>Smashwords</b>: Indie Author ManifestoDovetail Public Relationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039664167177159146noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-90841587263798167532014-05-26T18:46:05.671-07:002014-05-26T18:46:05.671-07:00OH! I just went into business formally for myself ...OH! I just went into business formally for myself LadyKlea Publishing Co. = I publish MY BOOKS!! :>) (pls don't throw stones at me cause of that nasty "word". ha!) Thank you again.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07298998171535602317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-42507852641747780022014-05-26T18:41:22.976-07:002014-05-26T18:41:22.976-07:00Thank you, Mark. I have this on the refrigerator, ...Thank you, Mark. I have this on the refrigerator, the bedroom mirror, and on the wall near my desk. I met you and heard you speak at the sub-pub boot camp, at the SF Writers Conference. I was excited by the prospects then, and find with my new motto, creed, manifesto in hand, I am once more focused and determined. I AM an Indie! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07298998171535602317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-25513401539339226042014-05-23T15:18:16.509-07:002014-05-23T15:18:16.509-07:00We are the revolution through words.Onward!We are the revolution through words.Onward!Christina Nealsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11974448879007609201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-79368872610857300322014-05-22T22:32:15.321-07:002014-05-22T22:32:15.321-07:00Sorry, just have to add this...
Destinoex mention...Sorry, just have to add this...<br /><br />Destinoex mentioned a publishing house editor saying self-pubbed authors were the dregs and had no talent (I shortened this - see Destinoex's post for the full wording!)<br /><br />Interestingly enough, I was at a writers conference in Australia (where I live) and an editor for a publishing house who also free lances told us that if publishing houses knocked back our books, to consider having them self-pubbed. We also had traditionally published authors telling us how they self-pubbed the manuscripts their publishers didn't want.<br /><br />Yet another different POV! LOLME!https://www.blogger.com/profile/04231061887508970387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-41905084068700659872014-05-22T22:22:19.604-07:002014-05-22T22:22:19.604-07:00I've had books published through a small publi...I've had books published through a small publisher and they were very good to me, but I can honestly say that now I've tried self-pubbing, I love it - so much, in fact, that I pulled my books from the publisher and self-pubbed them all (except one still on contract). <br /><br />I have found many wonderful self-pubbed books that have been rejected by publishers, and I think - why? They lost an awesome author!<br /><br />If someone takes the time and effort to to follow their dreams and write, then good on them. Places such as Smashwords have given us a place to express ourselves and share our 'daydreams'. Not to mention the fact that they've distributed our books to so many places and are constantly looking for ways to promote us. It's so encouraging to know you're not alone in promoting yourself, and the satisfaction in being independant is just - I can't find the words, but trust me, it's wonderful!<br /><br />I've copied out the Indie Author Manifesto and intend to get it laminated and up on my wall near my computer for inspiration!<br /><br />Write on, fellow indie authors!ME!https://www.blogger.com/profile/04231061887508970387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-60293611103605996012014-05-22T13:54:18.014-07:002014-05-22T13:54:18.014-07:00Excellent. The indie community empowers readers t...Excellent. The indie community empowers readers to be the first and ultimate judge of a bookUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10707167775923177568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-35770594209940159562014-05-21T18:13:04.091-07:002014-05-21T18:13:04.091-07:00personally, i'd be adding...
not have found w...<br /> personally, i'd be adding...<br /> not have found what i wanted..<br /> not having found what i wanted to say<br /><br /> I wrote it. And for a reasonable price, you can look it over.Kevin Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13837031188946013218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-29057067098064410482014-05-21T05:49:38.242-07:002014-05-21T05:49:38.242-07:00Grammar is certainly taking a backseat to good plo...Grammar is certainly taking a backseat to good plot and gripping writing.I am now downloading e-books some of which keep me sitting in bed with my reading light on, riveted by the story and disregarding grammatical errors. Some of these books would not see the light of day but for indie publishing.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11462316133640631523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-82200627406621458622014-05-21T05:14:03.610-07:002014-05-21T05:14:03.610-07:00I must agree with David Sheppard where he states t...I must agree with David Sheppard where he states that the indie author is being held to a higher standard than some traditional author. I would also suggest that although grammatical errors can be avoided sometimes the perfectionist in correcting such errors causes the script to become stilted and perhaps unreadable, after all the reader wants to enjoy the experience and the story. He/she is not interested in an English lesson.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14746434851551856167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-69060643529569501722014-05-21T04:42:38.187-07:002014-05-21T04:42:38.187-07:00You were right - this is so me. Thanks for statin...You were right - this is so me. Thanks for stating what we've all realized over the past several years. Our work is available because of wonderful platforms such as Smashwords. We're definitely riding the curve in publishing.Cindy Hardwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18210774348368339604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-72070665443419328752014-05-21T03:48:51.247-07:002014-05-21T03:48:51.247-07:00Since I began writing for publication, I recognize...Since I began writing for publication, I recognized that curation of some kind is needed to deal with the drek/discoverability problem. The problem obviously existed before technology enabled self-publishing and ebooks.<br /><br />As a wordsmith, my primary role in helping to deal with that problem is to write better. That requires feedback mechanisms, but many of the feedback mechanisms use limited metrics (like only dollars, SEO, social network statistics, genre categorizing and the like) which can be and have been and are shamelessly gamed. That has even produced a niche of wannabe professionals who will teach you how to game the system or do it for you for pay. That changes the population of sharks and parasites, but it doesn't solve the problem.<br /><br />I've been watching all this unfold for a number of years now. I am impressed by the role Smashwords has played in the evolution of publishing. It looks like movement in the right direction to me.<br /><br />However, I do think that indie (small but focused) publishers also have an important role to play. "Too Big" is a problem that appears in every realm of human endeavor these days. The manifesto does mention this, by referring to the partnerships we wish to form.<br /><br />All in all... another fine job from Smashwords.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14881153798959916460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-86706274391109823582014-05-20T22:04:24.334-07:002014-05-20T22:04:24.334-07:00I was at a writer's conference in 2011 where o...I was at a writer's conference in 2011 where one of the speakers, a publishing house editor, stated in no uncertain terms that self-published authors were the dregs at the bottom of the writing pool with no talent. <br /><br />I sent her a letter afterward to let her know what I thought of her antiquated attitude. I'd love for her to read your manifesto today!<br /><br />https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/wandasthilaireDestinoexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12709969256467926941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-65539665950043265102014-05-20T19:45:42.568-07:002014-05-20T19:45:42.568-07:00Great work, Mark, and I'm especially proud to ...Great work, Mark, and I'm especially proud to have you at the helm! I'm sure this will become a foundational text in our field.<br /><br />Dan Brook<br />https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/brookVeghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12655013930204990362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-45025016091079383452014-05-06T23:44:22.592-07:002014-05-06T23:44:22.592-07:00Hungarian translation of the manifest to read: htt...Hungarian translation of the manifest to read: http://konyvkonnektor.hu/?p=4144<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-22663918470891107782014-05-04T17:57:38.300-07:002014-05-04T17:57:38.300-07:00Wonderful! Thank you for this, Mark.
Especially ...Wonderful! Thank you for this, Mark. <br /><br />Especially #8.<br /><br />That applies to traditional publishers too! Some of the worst formatted and most expensive eBooks I've purchased have been from Big 5 publishers. <br /><br />Readers deserve books created with care and attention. Autumn Macarthurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15376992769171145754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-59955738624489947342014-05-04T03:11:07.634-07:002014-05-04T03:11:07.634-07:00The manifesto is a great idea, I love the infograp...The manifesto is a great idea, I love the infograph and will be sharing it. I have never gone about my writing in a traditional way. I also firmly believe that writers should never be pigeon holed into writing a particular genre. I write for whatever genre I wish to write. It may not be of commercial value to trational publishers, but it is of value to me. David I too have seen many errors in tradionally published ebooks. I hope one day that the indie "stigma" will truly disappear. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-16170127235811274402014-05-03T15:40:49.230-07:002014-05-03T15:40:49.230-07:00Well said, Mark! :)Well said, Mark! :)Joleene Naylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11591967764003541551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-59736558858347981912014-05-01T15:25:46.848-07:002014-05-01T15:25:46.848-07:00I wish in the years I was in the record industry w...I wish in the years I was in the record industry we had a true Indie paradigm such as this. So many talented men and women were ground down by the traditional label structure--it had little to do about talent and more to do with "connections" to the gatekeepers in the industry. <br /><br />Indie Publishing puts control back into the hands of the creative talent, spares them the indignity of the dreaded "slow no" of rejection, and enables them "to give it their best shot." <br /><br />Mark, thanks for reducing the mission down to so elegantly for all of us embracing this new platform.<br /><br />www.finewrites.blogspot.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01376090173379345171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-46646043321133091562014-05-01T08:21:03.217-07:002014-05-01T08:21:03.217-07:00YES, this is me! Thank you Mark & Derek! Am ...YES, this is me! Thank you Mark & Derek! Am definitely downloading it! ;)Sheri L. Swift, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08585820531737824211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-75367324737383515062014-04-30T13:55:49.006-07:002014-04-30T13:55:49.006-07:00Thanks, Mark. There’s no such thing as too much i...Thanks, Mark. There’s no such thing as too much inspiration when you're self-publishing your heart and soul. I shared and linked and wrote about the Manifesto yesterday in my <a href="http://www.laughriotpress.com/blog/thecoolkidsclub" rel="nofollow">Laugh Riot Press blog</a>. Like so many of these other brave indie authors, I follow you because you believe in me. I think that’s one of the very best things you and Smashwords do, Mark--believe in us. Many thanks for that. Keep it coming, man.Rich Lederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09184009020217801935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-77637293639756268962014-04-29T09:11:21.968-07:002014-04-29T09:11:21.968-07:00Excellent, Mark! And thank you for taking the init...Excellent, Mark! And thank you for taking the initiative to give voice to the indie author community.Gezahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04008873657212976860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-59359722171119863472014-04-27T06:59:53.589-07:002014-04-27T06:59:53.589-07:00pretty nice blog, following :)pretty nice blog, following :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-17752055911175357452014-04-26T13:49:26.176-07:002014-04-26T13:49:26.176-07:00I love this Manifesto, Mark, and I'm going to ...I love this Manifesto, Mark, and I'm going to share it everywhere!!! <br />Thanks so much!!<br /><br />Sharon Ricklin Jones<br /> Sharon Ricklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07593982360066406207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-37972496693109657502014-04-26T10:37:42.814-07:002014-04-26T10:37:42.814-07:00Love it, Mark! Thanks for taking the time to crea...Love it, Mark! Thanks for taking the time to create that and express it all so well.Mike Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14201237076057603217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-63613322202964532592014-04-26T03:50:23.632-07:002014-04-26T03:50:23.632-07:00I would just like to reply to some who keep harpin...I would just like to reply to some who keep harping about self-published authors not having their books professionally edited. Yes, I realize this can be a problem, but I would also like to point out that it isn't just self-published authors who have errors in their books. I haven't read a book from a major publishing house in the last twenty years that didn't have errors in it. I found three errors in the Kindle version of J. K. Rowling's "The Cuckoo's Calling" (under the pen name Robert Galbraith) and found the last chapter or so such a tangled web of plot explanations it was bare readable. The fact is self-published authors are in many cases actually being held to a higher standard than are those traditionally published. The ones screaming the loudest are some of the traditionally published authors who see themselves in a class above those of us who are self-published. It makes you realize that traditional publishing is the real vanity publishing and always has been. Some welcome us with open arms, but others are afraid the world will see little difference in self-publishing and have their own vanity exposed. The aura of being a published author that has existed and been fostered by traditional publishers is crumbling, as it should. Hopefully, we are headed toward a time when a book is judged by its merits and not the stamp put on it by the publishing house, and the vanity of being in the stable of a major publisher will lose its allure.David Sheppardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05779757832499320509noreply@blogger.com