Comments on: What I Learned From Blogging About the Kindle http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2009/11/10/what-i-learned-from-blogging-about-the-kindle-2/ Where Words and Imagination Meet Sun, 13 May 2012 01:21:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Scott Nicholson http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2009/11/10/what-i-learned-from-blogging-about-the-kindle-2/comment-page-1/#comment-654 Scott Nicholson Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:21:22 +0000 http://storytellersunplugged.com/?p=467#comment-654 Well, I think $9.99 is predatory pricing AGAINST THE AUTHOR. What the bookstore (and really, Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target, Ingram, etc.) is really afraid of is the broken wall of distribution. I considered ebooks a very fringe audience and one that wouldn't be significant to my career--until I realized how fast my paper books die in bookstores and how frustrating it is to not even be able to control my own rights. From reading JA Konrath's blog and others, I think the price of an electronic novel should be $1.99. Now, 35 percent reimbursement still seems low but you still make more per copy than on a mass-market paperback (the royalty should be at least 50 percent). Worse than predatory pricing is the ridiculous cost of an electronic version of a hardcover, which is obviously still designed to protect the printed version's value and the established methods of the publishing industry. I agree with David, it's not an overnight change but it is a change somewhere. Scott Well, I think $9.99 is predatory pricing AGAINST THE AUTHOR. What the bookstore (and really, Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target, Ingram, etc.) is really afraid of is the broken wall of distribution. I considered ebooks a very fringe audience and one that wouldn’t be significant to my career–until I realized how fast my paper books die in bookstores and how frustrating it is to not even be able to control my own rights. From reading JA Konrath’s blog and others, I think the price of an electronic novel should be $1.99.

Now, 35 percent reimbursement still seems low but you still make more per copy than on a mass-market paperback (the royalty should be at least 50 percent). Worse than predatory pricing is the ridiculous cost of an electronic version of a hardcover, which is obviously still designed to protect the printed version’s value and the established methods of the publishing industry. I agree with David, it’s not an overnight change but it is a change somewhere.

Scott

]]> By: Lincoln Crisler http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2009/11/10/what-i-learned-from-blogging-about-the-kindle-2/comment-page-1/#comment-148 Lincoln Crisler Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:22:37 +0000 http://storytellersunplugged.com/?p=467#comment-148 One thing I've learned in the last three years of blogging (and I've been publishing fiction for about the same amount of time) is that nothing seems to attract readers like a wee bit o' controversy. God bless the loyal fans I've garnered thus far (hi Mom!), but I never get as many hits on a post about my latest review or short story as I do when I either blog about something crazy or something helpful. It seems to work out, though; over the long-term, all the parts of my site with the most hits are the things I want to see: my 'Dear Reader' page, the excerpts from my books, etc. Hope that motivates you to step outside the ol' comfort zone a bit more! About the Kindle... I love the concept of e-readers, and love the Sony in particular, just like I've always loved mp3 players but not the iPod in particular. I don't like anything that requires the use of a proprietary format or proprietary software. I'd be surprised if the Kindle and it's ilk put a huge dent in your fanbase, anyhow... it'd be a cold day in Hell before I handed my e-reader over to my five year old! One thing I’ve learned in the last three years of blogging (and I’ve been publishing fiction for about the same amount of time) is that nothing seems to attract readers like a wee bit o’ controversy. God bless the loyal fans I’ve garnered thus far (hi Mom!), but I never get as many hits on a post about my latest review or short story as I do when I either blog about something crazy or something helpful. It seems to work out, though; over the long-term, all the parts of my site with the most hits are the things I want to see: my ‘Dear Reader’ page, the excerpts from my books, etc. Hope that motivates you to step outside the ol’ comfort zone a bit more!

About the Kindle… I love the concept of e-readers, and love the Sony in particular, just like I’ve always loved mp3 players but not the iPod in particular. I don’t like anything that requires the use of a proprietary format or proprietary software. I’d be surprised if the Kindle and it’s ilk put a huge dent in your fanbase, anyhow… it’d be a cold day in Hell before I handed my e-reader over to my five year old!

]]> By: Thomas Sullivan http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2009/11/10/what-i-learned-from-blogging-about-the-kindle-2/comment-page-1/#comment-146 Thomas Sullivan Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:03:31 +0000 http://storytellersunplugged.com/?p=467#comment-146 Hey, Jeanie, the "long time dying" phase for bricks and mortar didn't just start with Kindle. Like you say, it's a pricing phenomenon. And while those stores that us true bibliophiles love may be on the endangered species list, it's doubtful they will ever be extinct. But I draw the line when David Wilson sings WAR AND PEACE. BTW, is Bob DJ-ing or still doing the photography? Tell him I'm still waiting for that rock 'n' roll song he was going to bring me from the station's (WKNR's???) archives back in Detroit. And best to you all... -- Sully Hey, Jeanie, the “long time dying” phase for bricks and mortar didn’t just start with Kindle. Like you say, it’s a pricing phenomenon. And while those stores that us true bibliophiles love may be on the endangered species list, it’s doubtful they will ever be extinct. But I draw the line when David Wilson sings WAR AND PEACE.

BTW, is Bob DJ-ing or still doing the photography? Tell him I’m still waiting for that rock ‘n’ roll song he was going to bring me from the station’s (WKNR’s???) archives back in Detroit. And best to you all…

– Sully

]]> By: David Niall Wilson http://storytellersunplugged.com/blog/2009/11/10/what-i-learned-from-blogging-about-the-kindle-2/comment-page-1/#comment-145 David Niall Wilson Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:28:52 +0000 http://storytellersunplugged.com/?p=467#comment-145 See, I thought you handled your post last time out, and this time, very well and fairly. I have nothing against Kindle's and e-books. On the other hand, I love brick and mortar stores and solid objects where I turn the pages myself. That doesn't mean I can't (or won't) have both. Heck, two of my books will be available next month on cell phones AND the Kindle...one of which has never seen actual print. I like your take on it; what bugs me is writers who buy something like a Kindle,and then, because THEY finally made the leap and bought it, proclaim that from that day forth, the world of publishing has changed... The only thing that changed was their minds, right? We have to make room for all sorts of delivery vehicles for our words...there was a time you had to pass them down by singing them over and over to make sure they weren't forgotten, or carve the damned things into stone. Viva l' e-book, sez I. DNW See, I thought you handled your post last time out, and this time, very well and fairly. I have nothing against Kindle’s and e-books. On the other hand, I love brick and mortar stores and solid objects where I turn the pages myself.

That doesn’t mean I can’t (or won’t) have both. Heck, two of my books will be available next month on cell phones AND the Kindle…one of which has never seen actual print.

I like your take on it; what bugs me is writers who buy something like a Kindle,and then, because THEY finally made the leap and bought it, proclaim that from that day forth, the world of publishing has changed…

The only thing that changed was their minds, right? We have to make room for all sorts of delivery vehicles for our words…there was a time you had to pass them down by singing them over and over to make sure they weren’t forgotten, or carve the damned things into stone. Viva l’ e-book, sez I.

DNW

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