tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post2475121451188688481..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: The Pros and Cons of Self-publishing, According to Me.Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-41163126485023297492021-05-28T07:40:36.239-06:002021-05-28T07:40:36.239-06:00And, yeah, marketing. Gulp.And, yeah, marketing. Gulp.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-43376415674688366352021-05-28T07:40:08.103-06:002021-05-28T07:40:08.103-06:00Wishing you great sales for your new book, Kate. S...Wishing you great sales for your new book, Kate. Sounds like you did all the right things our of the a gate.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-74842926438062015842021-05-27T18:40:11.744-06:002021-05-27T18:40:11.744-06:00Your post comes at the perfect time for me - with ...Your post comes at the perfect time for me - with one self-published book just out and three more in the pipeline, I am keen on everything you said. I found that a very good editor can make a good story even better, and a professionally-produced cover can be a grabber. But yeah, marketing - sigh...Thanks for a terrific article!<br /><br />ReplyDeleteKate Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16449435177807306686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-89679835810883238962021-05-27T11:57:54.468-06:002021-05-27T11:57:54.468-06:00Cindy, you did everything better than I did, espec...Cindy, you did everything better than I did, especially the marketing. I don't even have a mailing list. This is on me, and I can't blame publishing for my deficiencies. Also, my books don't have the wide appeal that yours do. They're darker and more noir than even traditional mysteries. Again, on me. But every time I start a new story, they turn out to be in the same dark genre. One reviewer said I make heroes out of damaged people. Maybe readers don't want damaged characters. That's my guess, and I'm sticking to it.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-8244236618587792602021-05-27T09:40:27.403-06:002021-05-27T09:40:27.403-06:00You were on the forefront of self-publishing, Poll...You were on the forefront of self-publishing, Polly, and I followed your very successful journey while I was with my small publisher. Once they closed, I self pubbed in 2013 and had a windfall year with just 3 books in my humorous mystery series. I'm still making a decent income with 8 books but much lower, due to the competition not only from other authors, but all the great streaming shows now available. After my ovarian cancer surgery and chemo, I slowed down to releasing a book every 18 -24 months. But I have to say that all the emails I received from my newsletter subscribers situated all over the globe after I announced my illness made this journey so worthwhile. Their concern really touched me. Fortunately the best part of self-publishing is that you can set your own deadlines. And the book won't be released until it's the best it can be. Keep on writing those great stories, Polly!!Cindy Samplehttps://cindysamplebooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-23776780246111956712021-05-26T15:31:09.147-06:002021-05-26T15:31:09.147-06:00That's pretty much what happened to me. I had ...That's pretty much what happened to me. I had one month where I made enough to remodel my kitchen. I'm sure both of us thought it would continue. It didn't. But that's what we know now that we didn't know then. There's also an age factor. I'm not sure how many, if any, more books I have left in me. I'll be happy if I could finish the four or five I never finished. I do wish I had started my series earlier, but I really like to write standalones. Maybe that's one of the things I would do differently. But that time has passed.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-61634005855059165752021-05-26T15:00:43.158-06:002021-05-26T15:00:43.158-06:00This whole marketplace is so saturated with books,...This whole marketplace is so saturated with books, that ours get lost in the shuffle. Hardly seems possible but only 11 years ago when I did my first self-published release after getting rights back from a trad publisher, I sold a lot of books. A few months getting over $1,500 in royalty from Amazon. I did very little marketing, with the exception of jumping on the Read an E-book promos that were in March. I made the book free for that week, had 40,000+ downloads, and sales for the next few months were way up. <br /><br />That doesn't happen anymore in terms of numbers of downloads of free books and subsequent sales. Nothing has changed on my end. I think my writing is still pretty good and the books get wonderful reviews, for the most part. What's changed is the glut in the marketplace. <br /><br />I'm not going to stop writing, however. I'm one of those who can't just stop. Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-85321651596519997662021-05-26T14:54:51.802-06:002021-05-26T14:54:51.802-06:00You are so right. I've actually had a friend s...You are so right. I've actually had a friend say she wouldn't pay for books when she can get them for free. So what worked at one time, a free book, has become a curse for sales. I love my Kindle too.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-58579752899288749592021-05-26T14:53:24.618-06:002021-05-26T14:53:24.618-06:00There's just too much competition to make a ma...There's just too much competition to make a mark in advertising. I've never done a blog tour and don't intend to, but I have had numerous sales. They do work, but I haven't had one in a while. Maybe soon.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-66443949834057719342021-05-26T12:25:54.674-06:002021-05-26T12:25:54.674-06:00Marketing is expensive. Bookbub works. If you have...Marketing is expensive. Bookbub works. If you have a series, it's probably worth using them. I did a few times. Got lots of downloads and sales, but didn't make back what I paid, except in recognition, which counts some. So many free books out there that many don't want to buy books anymore, myself included most of the time. Also, it's easier to read on the Kindle these days. Mine has over 200 books on it, and I can adjust the font, which is a big plus the older I get.<br />Morgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-79893733781792160792021-05-26T11:41:50.902-06:002021-05-26T11:41:50.902-06:00Wow. Thank you for sharing. I too struggle with ma...Wow. Thank you for sharing. I too struggle with marketing. Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-66927588987158845032021-05-26T09:44:58.381-06:002021-05-26T09:44:58.381-06:00Yes, I have an excellent critique partner who has ...Yes, I have an excellent critique partner who has helped me become a better writer. No one I know works harder at marketing than you do, Maggie. Wish I could absorb some of that from you.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-62287877983342492472021-05-26T09:43:23.055-06:002021-05-26T09:43:23.055-06:00Wishing you all the best. Marketing is the key. Wi...Wishing you all the best. Marketing is the key. Wish I were better at it.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-58093160808226552592021-05-26T08:07:08.853-06:002021-05-26T08:07:08.853-06:00You left out the necessary part about having a gre...You left out the necessary part about having a great critique partner...LOL. Publishing isn't for the faint-hearted, no matter which road they travel. I think the pandemic may have inadvertently helped some of us hybrid authors trying to live in both worlds, especially those like me who've been through the school of hard knocks. There comes a "life is short" moment when you question the time commitment that goes with writing/marketing. For some, their health makes the decision for them. Still trying to see my way forward post-pandemic.Maggie Toussainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-54905915557816987042021-05-26T06:42:36.098-06:002021-05-26T06:42:36.098-06:00This is a fabulous post, Polly. Thank you for your...This is a fabulous post, Polly. Thank you for your honesty about the realities of self-publishing. Self-pubbing in a two-edged sword. Embracing it means accepting the pros that hold hands with the cons. Even though I have not successfully used the system in the past, the fault lies in my lack of marketing. Now I have help in that arena, and I look forward to a different outcome. We'll see how that goes. Thank you so much for sharing such detailed information. This is a keeper.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-71610256240566857992021-05-25T15:23:48.164-06:002021-05-25T15:23:48.164-06:00Yes! Just giving you a hard time. It's a great...Yes! Just giving you a hard time. It's a great article. Kaye Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05596677617002735674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-30200117164544609522021-05-25T14:14:55.576-06:002021-05-25T14:14:55.576-06:00Giving the answer to that question seems a bit dis...Giving the answer to that question seems a bit disingenuous because it's based on what I know now, not what I knew then to make that change. Does that make sense?Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-52187182683421210482021-05-25T14:03:05.535-06:002021-05-25T14:03:05.535-06:00I'm glad I read this, because I have some self...I'm glad I read this, because I have some self-publishing to do soon. Great advice on everything--except the thing you won't tell us! It's hard and it gets harder. Kaye Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05596677617002735674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-66556082317667885302021-05-25T12:28:47.883-06:002021-05-25T12:28:47.883-06:00I forced myself to learn how to do it all, except ...I forced myself to learn how to do it all, except the marketing. At this point, it's hopeless.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-22078331421590619872021-05-25T12:12:24.643-06:002021-05-25T12:12:24.643-06:00I haven't self-published an original book yet ...I haven't self-published an original book yet (note the "yet") but did self-publish my out-of-print novels after I got the rights back. Busy writing new stuff, I bought rights to the original book covers and hired someone to do my formatting. But there's still that marketing to do, and I've been procrastinating. Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-2151448734928412242021-05-25T10:25:12.102-06:002021-05-25T10:25:12.102-06:00Glad you've come to terms, Judy. Also, agents ...Glad you've come to terms, Judy. Also, agents aren't interested in writers who are more at the end of their careers than at the beginning. They want to find good writers with a long career in front of them. I did try for an agent for my last book, we are but WARRIORS, but it didn't take long to see it was a waste of time. I also think it would be hard for me at this point to write a better book, so I'm resigned.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-14195198302066823512021-05-25T10:22:22.727-06:002021-05-25T10:22:22.727-06:00As I said to Ellis, publishers have learned a lot ...As I said to Ellis, publishers have learned a lot from self-publishers. They've co-opted how we work, how we publish, and how we advertise. They have the clout and more money to make money for themselves and their clients. Glad we could help, Big Five. Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-271598730510661352021-05-25T10:19:10.686-06:002021-05-25T10:19:10.686-06:00Great minds. And heaven forbid if you say you'...Great minds. And heaven forbid if you say you're writing for others to read your work and to make a few bucks. You're supposed to say that you write because you can't NOT write. I'm still writing, but my expectations are far below what they once were. I'd really like to finish the books I've started, about five of them, and then pack it in. But then I get another idea and write 150 words before I lose interest. Maybe I should just write novellas like The Last Heist. It's a full story, just shorter.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11771943913054051702021-05-25T09:37:42.027-06:002021-05-25T09:37:42.027-06:00Right on for several things I've thought. At m...Right on for several things I've thought. At my age, I don't have the patience--or time--for the agent query process. And in a long career I've only "meshed" with one agent. A series of others have been a disappointment one way or another. I also don't want the pressure to produce on a schedule and sell a certain amount that comes with many commercial publishers. Like you I"m not making money these days, but I'm fairly content.judyalterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13767466505891813090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-34001727738233257882021-05-25T09:32:54.991-06:002021-05-25T09:32:54.991-06:00Polly -- I agree with all of this! It mirrors my e...Polly -- I agree with all of this! It mirrors my experience closely. Ten years ago I got rights back to a novella that had been traditionally published and I self-pubbed it on Amazon. With very little effort, I quickly earned more than the original payment from the trad. publisher. That wouldn't happen now. I have many more books that I've gotten rights back on and a few I've self-pubbed and it's barely worth the effort I put into them. Five years I ago I started using Amazon ads and had pretty good success with them, but so many authors have jumped into that pond now it's almost impossible to break even. I'm one of those people who can't seem to stop writing even when I want to, but I keep asking myself why I'm doing it. Karen McCulloughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15709823258020421437noreply@blogger.com