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Web Fiction Guide Forums » Forum: Anything Goes - Recent Posts http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ Web Fiction Guide Forums » Forum: Anything Goes - Recent Posts en Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:01:15 +0000 Tim Sevenhuysen on "Why KDP Select is probably bad for self-published authors in the long run" http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/why-kdp-select-is-probably-bad-for-self-published-authors-in-the-long-run#post-7756 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:55:07 +0000 Tim Sevenhuysen 7756@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ I'd have to be getting a pretty sweet cheque to give Amazon 90 days of exclusivity on anything I put out. So yeah, I'm not a fan of KDP Select. Erin Klitzke on "Why KDP Select is probably bad for self-published authors in the long run" http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/why-kdp-select-is-probably-bad-for-self-published-authors-in-the-long-run#post-7754 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:33:10 +0000 Erin Klitzke 7754@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ There's Barnes and Noble, too, if you're in the States. PubIt! is actually pretty easy to navigate. Jim Zoetewey on "Pseudonyms" http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/pseudonyms/page/3#post-7752 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:27:20 +0000 Jim Zoetewey 7752@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ Letitia: Well, it doesn't clear up the question of what the sign was for precisely, but it does clear up (at least for me), the questions of "Do I have any connection with that sign?" and also, "I only know about relatives in Zeeland and Friesland, do I have relatives in Belgium?" The answer is, as it happens, "possibly" to the first, and "yes" to the second. So that's interesting (to me). Ryan: Thanks. I've occasionally thought it might be interesting to learn Dutch (if only to speak with relatives in their native language), but I haven't. ubersoft on "Why KDP Select is probably bad for self-published authors in the long run" http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/why-kdp-select-is-probably-bad-for-self-published-authors-in-the-long-run#post-7751 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:51:51 +0000 ubersoft 7751@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ I agree with you Ryan. :-) But success stories are compelling. Ryan Span on "Pseudonyms" http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/pseudonyms/page/3#post-7750 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:08:33 +0000 Ryan Span 7750@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ Jim: As a speaker, I can tell you it's probably the name of a town or business (taken from somebody's last name). A literal translation would be 'sweetmeadow'. Regards, Ryan Ryan Span on "Why KDP Select is probably bad for self-published authors in the long run" http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/why-kdp-select-is-probably-bad-for-self-published-authors-in-the-long-run#post-7749 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:04:54 +0000 Ryan Span 7749@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ But Chris, it's entirely possible to put your stuff on Amazon, on the Kindle, without using their shitty anti-competitive service. My books are all available on Kindle and I certainly haven't signed to KDP. So I really, really cannot see any justification for the awful deal they're offering. Regards, Ryan Letitia Coyne on "Pseudonyms" http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/pseudonyms/page/3#post-7748 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:39:27 +0000 Letitia Coyne 7748@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ Phew! Thanks Jim. That's cleared that one up for me. :D Wildbow on "Why KDP Select is probably bad for self-published authors in the long run" http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/why-kdp-select-is-probably-bad-for-self-published-authors-in-the-long-run#post-7747 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:56:27 +0000 Wildbow 7747@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ I find this all very interesting and enlightening, as I'm eventually going to package & self publish chapters from Worm. I think I'd be skeptical of the offer from the outset, because the amount offered to be divided among the KDP Selecters is (as far as I've observed, please feel free to correct me) wholly at Amazon's whim... so it's like, possible outcomes are: 1. I take the deal, make my book(s) available, it takes off, Amazon offers decent amounts, I get a decent share. 2. As above, but my books don't take off. I've no more options, have shot myself in the foot. 3. As #1, but Amazon doesn't offer a decent amount. I've no more options, have shot myself in the foot. 4. #2 & 3 combined. I'm a bit of a pessimist, being inclined to buy into #2 or #3, so it just doesn't appeal at all. Afraid I don't have much more to add. Thank you for sharing, Ubersoft. ubersoft on "Why KDP Select is probably bad for self-published authors in the long run" http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/why-kdp-select-is-probably-bad-for-self-published-authors-in-the-long-run#post-7746 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:52:27 +0000 ubersoft 7746@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ Well right now it's the only space where self-publishers can find a semi-friendly environment to work in, with the exception of Smashwords, but your stuff sells so much faster at Amazon than it does on Smashwords that it's not a valid comparison. And it's a service Amazon wants to succeed because they want the lending program to take off and they need content, so authors figure a) I have a better chance of getting eyes on my work, b) I have a better chance of getting money off it, and c) it's not like I was making a lot of money anywhere else. Which is probably true, and the idea of being introduced to something they don't see every day (i.e., money) can make it difficult to think long-term, especially if one of the things you keep thinking long term is "is this the year I pack it in and give up?" You're right, Amazon is a ridiculously aggressive and anti-competitive company. They're sort of the Wal Mart of the Internet. But they are a place where some self-publishers have shown tangible results, so the things they do will be enticing even when they're against an author's long term interests. Anyway, that's why I think they fall for it. Ryan Span on "Why KDP Select is probably bad for self-published authors in the long run" http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/why-kdp-select-is-probably-bad-for-self-published-authors-in-the-long-run#post-7745 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:43:04 +0000 Ryan Span 7745@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ Of course it's terrible. As an independent, whether small press or self-pubbed, you have to reach as many readers as you possibly can -- KDP requires you to hamstring yourself from the start. It forces you into their pocket for a deal that's worse than creating a non-exclusive Kindle version. Amazon is one of the most predatory corporations in recent memory, especially with regards to their publishing/bookselling arm. They've tried to pull several major dick moves over the last few years and they're not going to stop now. I have no idea why anybody falls for it. Regards, Ryan ubersoft on "Why KDP Select is probably bad for self-published authors in the long run" http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/why-kdp-select-is-probably-bad-for-self-published-authors-in-the-long-run#post-7744 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:18:57 +0000 ubersoft 7744@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ I know it's not directly webfiction related, but I figure a lot of you cross over into self-pubbing as well... so you might find my thoughts on this interesting. <a href="https://www.eviscerati.org/commentary/2012/02/07/everything-old-new-again-why-kdp-select-probably-isnt-good-self-published" rel="nofollow">https://www.eviscerati.org/commentary/2012/02/07/everything-old-new-again-why-kdp-select-probably-isnt-good-self-published</a> Whether you agree with them is an entirely different matter... Jim Zoetewey on "Pseudonyms" http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/pseudonyms/page/3#post-7743 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:42:50 +0000 Jim Zoetewey 7743@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ OK... So this thread is ancient eons old by now, but I just found out something relevant to something Clare said a long, long time ago: <blockquote>I actually saw a sign when I was in Belgium bearing the name "Soetewey." I don't know what it was for, though, since I don't know any Dutch.</blockquote> One of my relatives in the Netherlands has been doing research in the origins of the name Zoetewey and its variations. It appears that the name originated in the northwest of France (a Flemish area at that time), and that there are 500-600 Soetewey/Zeotewey/Zoeteweij's in Belgium, all of whom are relatives of mine. So whatever the origin of that sign, it's got something to do with a relative. Ryphna St-John on "Get featured on a webfiction podcast!" http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/get-featured-on-a-webfiction-podcast/page/4#post-7738 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:49:10 +0000 Ryphna St-John 7738@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ Your podcast is very interesting. I do consider looking in our novel for something standalone enough to be read this way. I do have a few ideas but I don't want to send anything that is not published yet. :P I will keep an eye on your podcast and send something when I will feel it's ready. :) Have a nice day, Ryphna Grace McDermott on "Rose and Bay Awards" http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/rose-and-bay-awards#post-7736 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:08:50 +0000 Grace McDermott 7736@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ The nominations for the 2012 Rose and Bay awards are up - I've got a vested interest because I'm a nominee, but there's a lot of good authors up this year. The nominations are: The Many Writings of K.A. Jones by kajones_writing aka moonwolf1988 The Fiction of Lyn Thorne-Alder by aldersprig Garden of Prose by Clare K.R. Miller (clare_dragonfly) Require: Cookie by Stormy (Grace McDermott) (Me! :D) A Rosary of Stones and Thorns by M.C.A. Hogarth No Dominion by C. E. Murphy Eclipse Court by Shirley Meier Hiraeth: the Adventures of Trevor and Jason by robling_t Free Microfic Day! by skjam Philosopher in Arms by Karen Wehrstein Wonder City Stories by Jude McLaughlin You can vote <a href="http://crowdfunding.livejournal.com/397215.html">here.</a> Chris George on "Get featured on a webfiction podcast!" http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/get-featured-on-a-webfiction-podcast/page/4#post-7735 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:54:25 +0000 Chris George 7735@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ I've been bad (and busy) and not keeping track of this, so I only just realised that you'd used my excerpt in the most recent podcast. I'll have to have a listen to it later, but until then, thank you very much!