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Post by And still Kevin 2024 on Apr 16, 2022 12:09:15 GMT
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Post by adrianallan on Apr 16, 2022 18:51:46 GMT
There are some good suggestions in there.
I wouldn't have a clue how to market a fiction book.
However, in the world of non-fiction, what has worked best for me is a blog, which is linked to a mailing list (I have over 100 subscribers) and social media (Facebook). From there, I have built up a lot of connections.
I also believe that if people can be directly involved in some way, this will also help sales. I have asked people to contribute to my books - they offer photos and stories. The best contributions will be offered a free book; minor contributors are offered to buy a book at cost-price. People then tell their friends about the book and are quite excited to see their name in print.
All the above is linked to the idea of networking and building up an online community.
I'm not exactly a major success, but the Amazon royalties - which I have shared here - will be a bit of help (it could pay a bill or two - but not my gas bill!).
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Post by And still Kevin 2024 on Apr 16, 2022 22:37:53 GMT
Fiction, nonfiction, both are still a product, and that is basically what is to be sold.
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Post by adrianallan on Apr 16, 2022 22:58:48 GMT
Fiction, nonfiction, both are still a product, and that is basically what is to be sold. Agreed - but I imagine it is hard for an unknown author to sell his or her books to the public. I am an unknown author (or known only in a niche circle). But the subject matter of my past four books is extremely well known - and that must be an advantage. |
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Apr 17, 2022 17:28:55 GMT
Fiction, nonfiction, both are still a product, and that is basically what is to be sold. Agreed - but I imagine it is hard for an unknown author to sell his or her books to the public. I am an unknown author (or known only in a niche circle). But the subject matter of my past four books is extremely well known - and that must be an advantage. It's very hard for an unknown author to sell their work to the general public, even when said author's work is of high quality. This is why someone already famous with a lot of fans can work with a ghostwriter and sell a lot of copies. What the famous sell isn't necessarily worth reading, it's the well-known name attached to the work that sells.
Sometimes writing on a well-known subject is an advantage, sometimes not. The difference tends to reside in adding something new whether information or perspective.
If a writer has the means to market and manages to sell, more power to them.
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Post by And still Kevin 2024 on Apr 17, 2022 21:27:01 GMT
Fiction, nonfiction, both are still a product, and that is basically what is to be sold. Agreed - but I imagine it is hard for an unknown author to sell his or her books to the public. Indeed, hence the suggestions at those links.I am an unknown author (or known only in a niche circle). There are some remarkably well-known award winning writers, even top sellers, who contradictorily are not known to those never aware of them, and often that is myself because I only read SF and F. But the subject matter of my past four books is extremely well known - and that must be an advantage. Not always, because if it is already well known, why would people need to buy books about it? Possibly your photos in your books are not well known, and that's really what people want to see? And you are writing on a subject people can be quiet obsessive over. |
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Post by And still Kevin 2024 on Apr 17, 2022 21:37:28 GMT
Agreed - but I imagine it is hard for an unknown author to sell his or her books to the public. I am an unknown author (or known only in a niche circle). But the subject matter of my past four books is extremely well known - and that must be an advantage. It's very hard for an unknown author to sell their work to the general public, even when said author's work is of high quality. This is why someone already famous with a lot of fans can work with a ghostwriter and sell a lot of copies. What the famous sell isn't necessarily worth reading, it's the well-known name attached to the work that sells. That is very true, especially when a popular writer enters the end of their years. They start to 'collaborate' with other writers, which often means the other writers write, the very well known name edits. One also often sees offspring collaborating, or even taking over.
Sometimes writing on a well-known subject is an advantage, sometimes not. The difference tends to reside in adding something new whether information or perspective.
Indeed, which is very hard nowadays, but often each generation is not aware of previous books on subjects, so buy the latest ones, about the same subject, with often nothing new in them.
If a writer has the means to market and manages to sell, more power to them.
I often wonder if all Self-Published books can be called that? One hears success story examples, but then discover that they paid editors, cover designers, page layout bods. People to create the files used to print the book. Paid to have 1000s printed. People to advertise the book. People to distribute it. In total often costing £10000s. Self-published? Hardly. 'Independent publisher', perhaps. |
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Apr 17, 2022 22:22:04 GMT
It's very hard for an unknown author to sell their work to the general public, even when said author's work is of high quality. This is why someone already famous with a lot of fans can work with a ghostwriter and sell a lot of copies. What the famous sell isn't necessarily worth reading, it's the well-known name attached to the work that sells. That is very true, especially when a popular writer enters the end of their years. They start to 'collaborate' with other writers, which often means the other writers write, the very well known name edits. One also often sees offspring collaborating, or even taking over.
Sometimes writing on a well-known subject is an advantage, sometimes not. The difference tends to reside in adding something new whether information or perspective.
Indeed, which is very hard nowadays, but often each generation is not aware of previous books on subjects, so buy the latest ones, about the same subject, with often nothing new in them.
If a writer has the means to market and manages to sell, more power to them.
I often wonder if all Self-Published books can be called that? One hears success story examples, but then discover that they paid editors, cover designers, page layout bods. People to create the files used to print the book. Paid to have 1000s printed. People to advertise the book. People to distribute it. In total often costing £10000s. Self-published? Hardly. 'Independent publisher', perhaps. Self Publishing is basically defined as someone publishing a book using their own resources. The self-publisher may pay someone else to do certain aspects of the work, which isn't usually cheap. Vanity Publishing is where the author has to pay / buy in order to get it done, typically involving an investment of a lot of money. The difference between the two [when an author has to pay another party for certain aspects of the work] is really how many copies of their own work does the writer have to buy. For a self-publisher / small independent press it's normal to buy a proof copy to determine everything turned out as it should. For someone going through a vanity publisher, the various fees are how the publisher makes a profit, including at times having the author buy a lot of printed copies that later sit in boxes in the author's storage room. |
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Post by adrianallan on Apr 17, 2022 23:04:54 GMT
"But the subject matter of my past four books is extremely well known - and that must be an advantage.
Not always, because if it is already well known, why would people need to buy books about it? Possibly your photos in your books are not well known, and that's really what people want to see? And you are writing on a subject people can be quiet obsessive over."
With the greatest of respect, you have misunderstood my knowledge of the genre and subject matter. I'm not showing off but simply stating facts:
My 2020 book "Wings Live" is the first book about McCartney's touring career with one of the biggest bands of the 70s - Wings.
My recent book is the first book to be published about McCartney's 1989-90 World Tour, which was attended by two million people, globally.
I'm a frequent guest on podcasts and interviews and recognised as the leading authority on his live career. People have given me permission to use their photos because they know me, and know I'll do the subject-matter justice.
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Post by potet on Apr 18, 2022 11:45:16 GMT
I advertise my didactic books on Tagalog/Filipino with FaceBook
1) either by creating a thread for a new title illustrated with the cover of the book and the specific link to Lulu
2) or by intervening in Filipino threads by inserting a relevant quotation from one of my books and the picture of the cover.
A few Filipinos hate me for this because I am not one of them, and they consider writing on their language should be reserved for them. Fortunateley the majority are grateful and encouraging; many buy copies and publicize my books among their peers.
Without FaceBook, I'm afraid I could only sell a handful of copies.
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Post by adrianallan on Apr 18, 2022 21:52:15 GMT
I advertise my didactic books on Tagalog/Filipino with FaceBook 1) either by creating a thread for a new title illustrated with the cover of the book and the specific link to Lulu 2) or by intervening in Filipino threads by inserting a relevant quotation from one of my books and the picture of the cover. A few Filipinos hate me for this because I am not one of them, and they consider writing on their language should be reserved for them. Fortunateley the majority are grateful and encouraging; many buy copies and publicize my books among their peers. Without FaceBook, I'm afraid I could only sell a handful of copies. That is really interesting Can you please tell us how you took an interest in, and then mastered, that particular language? |
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Post by And still Kevin 2024 on Apr 18, 2022 22:23:09 GMT
Self Publishing is basically defined as someone publishing a book using their own resources. The self-publisher may pay someone else to do certain aspects of the work, which isn't usually cheap. Vanity Publishing is where the author has to pay / buy in order to get it done, typically involving an investment of a lot of money. Both types can possibly be called Vanity Publishing. The ego to think other people want to read ones works. Although Vanity Publishing used to mean the 500 books the fee included ended up stacked in the loft. (Thank goodness for POD.)The difference between the two [when an author has to pay another party for certain aspects of the work] is really how many copies of their own work does the writer have to buy. For a self-publisher / small independent press it's normal to buy a proof copy to determine everything turned out as it should. For someone going through a vanity publisher, the various fees are how the publisher makes a profit, including at times having the author buy a lot of printed copies that later sit in boxes in the author's storage room. Quite so  |
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Post by And still Kevin 2024 on Apr 18, 2022 22:31:35 GMT
"But the subject matter of my past four books is extremely well known - and that must be an advantage. Not always, because if it is already well known, why would people need to buy books about it? Possibly your photos in your books are not well known, and that's really what people want to see? And you are writing on a subject people can be quiet obsessive over." With the greatest of respect, you have misunderstood my knowledge of the genre and subject matter. I'm not showing off but simply stating facts: My 2020 book "Wings Live" is the first book about McCartney's touring career with one of the biggest bands of the 70s - Wings. My recent book is the first book to be published about McCartney's 1989-90 World Tour, which was attended by two million people, globally. I'm a frequent guest on podcasts and interviews and recognised as the leading authority on his live career. People have given me permission to use their photos because they know me, and know I'll do the subject-matter justice. |
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Post by And still Kevin 2024 on Apr 18, 2022 22:34:18 GMT
I advertise my didactic books on Tagalog/Filipino with FaceBook 1) either by creating a thread for a new title illustrated with the cover of the book and the specific link to Lulu 2) or by intervening in Filipino threads by inserting a relevant quotation from one of my books and the picture of the cover. A few Filipinos hate me for this because I am not one of them, and they consider writing on their language should be reserved for them. Fortunateley the majority are grateful and encouraging; many buy copies and publicize my books among their peers. People can be strange. No one moans about non-Ancient Roman people who write about Latin, and that's just one example.Without FaceBook, I'm afraid I could only sell a handful of copies. |
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Post by adrianallan on Apr 18, 2022 22:38:19 GMT
No - not at all Unless you have some sort of expertise in this field, why would you even hazard a guess? Is it impossible to believe that I've written a book that has not been done before and has sparked an interest in a particular music community? I've not split the atom but just filled a gap in the literature on this subject matter. The book "Wings Live" has only six unique photos - the book is wordy and has over 500 footnotes. If you look at these reviews for my latest book, not one mentions photographs: paulmccartneyafterthebeatles.com/product/paul-mccartney-the-world-tour-1989-90-paperback/ |
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