Writing an eBook
Sep 2nd 2012, 12:24 pm
#1
Hit 16's
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Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Writing an eBook
We all know Lil'Jimmy's written one and published it on the Kindle platform. Anyone else? And would Lil'Jim and any others care to share their experience of doing so?
Sep 2nd 2012, 1:31 pm
#3
Excess Baggage
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 5,479
Re: Writing an eBook
It's very simple to do. There are guides all over the internet, including on Amazon's own pages. Just take care with formatting (the kindle conversion can make strange indents and so on) and get someone else to edit/check the manuscript. Then you need cover, unless you're comfortable putting one together yourself. Decide on a price point and upload the bugger. Then bore people to death on FB, Twitter, messageboards like this, and maybe send out free copies for reviews on Librarything or Goodreads. Then sit back and wait for fame, fortune and glory...(perhaps).
Sep 2nd 2012, 1:43 pm
#4
Hit 16's
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Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: Writing an eBook
Any tosh that will sell. Roulette. Blackjack. Weight loss. Rubik's cube. That sort of stuff.
Sep 2nd 2012, 1:52 pm
#5
Excess Baggage
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 5,479
Re: Writing an eBook
The Black Jack Diet...sounds like a hit!
Sep 2nd 2012, 1:57 pm
#6
Hit 16's
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Re: Writing an eBook
I'm also interested in the time it took. Obviously, writing the thing in the first place is very individual, but once you had it written (presumably in Word), how much faffing around was there to get it actually uploaded and available for punters to buy?
And are Amazon efficient in managing the process, and paying you?
(I'm not expecting to make millions, just interested: I'm impressed with most of what Amazon does in this field, and wonder if their apparent efficiency extends to authors' experiences.)
And are Amazon efficient in managing the process, and paying you?
(I'm not expecting to make millions, just interested: I'm impressed with most of what Amazon does in this field, and wonder if their apparent efficiency extends to authors' experiences.)
Sep 2nd 2012, 2:07 pm
#7
Excess Baggage
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 5,479
Re: Writing an eBook
I'm also interested in the time it took. Obviously, writing the thing in the first place is very individual, but once you had it written (presumably in Word), how much faffing around was there to get it actually uploaded and available for punters to buy?
And are Amazon efficient in managing the process, and paying you?
(I'm not expecting to make millions, just interested: I'm impressed with most of what Amazon does in this field, and wonder if their apparent efficiency extends to authors' experiences.)
And are Amazon efficient in managing the process, and paying you?
(I'm not expecting to make millions, just interested: I'm impressed with most of what Amazon does in this field, and wonder if their apparent efficiency extends to authors' experiences.)
Amazon are usually spot on, with one or two minor reporting issue. They count up sales in a month then pay you 2 months later. You can track live sales on their KDP site (I became obsessive for a while). For UK sales you can set up an electronic payment straight to your bank account, for US it's a bit more complicated. There are tax issues, but I am not worried as my sale there haven't been great. I just got my first $100 check from them actually. It has picked up in the US recently because they include sales in India now.
They also do a thing called "Select" where your book can be "borrowed" and you get a share of the library pot, and you can promote the book by making it free for 5 days out of the 90 you sign up for. The catch is that you have to stay exclusive to Amazon. Again, that's not an issue for me. I sold a handful through Apple and Barnes & Noble (which meant different formatting and uploading to a site called Lulu.com, but they also do print-on-demand paperbacks)
Any other questions, just let me know. You still have my e-mail address?
Sep 2nd 2012, 2:26 pm
#8
Hit 16's
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Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: Writing an eBook
I took my blog, which I wrote while I was living there, tidied it up, added some, took some away and then went through it a few times. It took a month or two. With a pro edit (which I had done before the updated version), you could add another 2 to 4 weeks at least.
Amazon are usually spot on, with one or two minor reporting issue. They count up sales in a month then pay you 2 months later. You can track live sales on their KDP site (I became obsessive for a while). For UK sales you can set up an electronic payment straight to your bank account, for US it's a bit more complicated. There are tax issues, but I am not worried as my sale there haven't been great. I just got my first $100 check from them actually. It has picked up in the US recently because they include sales in India now.
They also do a thing called "Select" where your book can be "borrowed" and you get a share of the library pot, and you can promote the book by making it free for 5 days out of the 90 you sign up for. The catch is that you have to stay exclusive to Amazon. Again, that's not an issue for me. I sold a handful through Apple and Barnes & Noble (which meant different formatting and uploading to a site called Lulu.com, but they also do print-on-demand paperbacks)
Any other questions, just let me know. You still have my e-mail address?
Amazon are usually spot on, with one or two minor reporting issue. They count up sales in a month then pay you 2 months later. You can track live sales on their KDP site (I became obsessive for a while). For UK sales you can set up an electronic payment straight to your bank account, for US it's a bit more complicated. There are tax issues, but I am not worried as my sale there haven't been great. I just got my first $100 check from them actually. It has picked up in the US recently because they include sales in India now.
They also do a thing called "Select" where your book can be "borrowed" and you get a share of the library pot, and you can promote the book by making it free for 5 days out of the 90 you sign up for. The catch is that you have to stay exclusive to Amazon. Again, that's not an issue for me. I sold a handful through Apple and Barnes & Noble (which meant different formatting and uploading to a site called Lulu.com, but they also do print-on-demand paperbacks)
Any other questions, just let me know. You still have my e-mail address?
Sep 3rd 2012, 7:38 am
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2009
Location: Dubai
Posts: 5,965
Re: Writing an eBook
So who from here do you think would write the best book and sell the most?
Sep 3rd 2012, 7:56 am
#10
Hit 16's
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Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: Writing an eBook
Feminazi Financial Tips: Meow [1,380 sold, all bought—and burnt—by Norm]
How I Beat Godwin's Law: Norm [1,029 sold, buyers wished to remain anonymous]
Little and Large, An Autobiography: Dean & Millhouse [2 sold, bought by the authors]
Return of the Native: Mentalist [At £25? You must be joking]
Sep 3rd 2012, 7:58 am
#11
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Writing an eBook
Knickers in Abayance: Kittycat [1,473 sold, all bought by Millhouse]
Feminazi Financial Tips: Meow [1,380 sold, all bought—and burnt—by Norm]
How I Beat Godwin's Law: Norm [1,029 sold, buyers wished to remain anonymous]
Little and Large, An Autobiography: Dean & Millhouse [2 sold, bought by the authors]
Return of the Native: Mentalist [At £25? You must be joking]
Feminazi Financial Tips: Meow [1,380 sold, all bought—and burnt—by Norm]
How I Beat Godwin's Law: Norm [1,029 sold, buyers wished to remain anonymous]
Little and Large, An Autobiography: Dean & Millhouse [2 sold, bought by the authors]
Return of the Native: Mentalist [At £25? You must be joking]
Sep 3rd 2012, 8:49 am
#12
Excess Baggage
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 5,479
Re: Writing an eBook
Knickers in Abayance: Kittycat [1,473 sold, all bought by Millhouse]
Feminazi Financial Tips: Meow [1,380 sold, all bought—and burnt—by Norm]
How I Beat Godwin's Law: Norm [1,029 sold, buyers wished to remain anonymous]
Little and Large, An Autobiography: Dean & Millhouse [2 sold, bought by the authors]
Return of the Native: Mentalist [At £25? You must be joking]
Feminazi Financial Tips: Meow [1,380 sold, all bought—and burnt—by Norm]
How I Beat Godwin's Law: Norm [1,029 sold, buyers wished to remain anonymous]
Little and Large, An Autobiography: Dean & Millhouse [2 sold, bought by the authors]
Return of the Native: Mentalist [At £25? You must be joking]
Sep 3rd 2012, 9:42 am
#13
Hit 16's
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: Writing an eBook
Bahtatboy writes a damned good book! All of his future titles are bound to be bestsellers, and the most beautiful, articulate and soul-touching...er...things you'll ever read. I couldn't recommend them more highly.
Sincerely, Bahtatboy
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...als-works.html
Sincerely, Bahtatboy
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...als-works.html
Sep 3rd 2012, 9:46 am
#14
Excess Baggage
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 5,479
Re: Writing an eBook
Bahtatboy writes a damned good book! All of his future titles are bound to be bestsellers, and the most beautiful, articulate and soul-touching...er...things you'll ever read. I couldn't recommend them more highly.
Sincerely, Bahtatboy
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...als-works.html
Sincerely, Bahtatboy
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...als-works.html
Sep 4th 2012, 3:17 am
#15
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,553
Re: Writing an eBook
Nothing can beat the ego-trip of seeing your own book, in physical form, on the shelves of a bookshop..............