Comments on: Keeping Pushing The Book Publishing Model Blues

By: David Isaak

David Isaak — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 07:11:33 +0000

Yep, the numbers game.

If you want to read a great fictionalization of the “only order what sold last time” trap, check out “The Hook” by the estimable Donald Westlake.

Creepy, sad, accurate.

Treat it like a Zen thing.

By: Susan Gable

Susan Gable — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 13:44:26 +0000

But, Booksquare, shouldn’t all businesses have LOGIC?

Yes, logically, they should, but alas, I know you’re right. (g)

I’d settle for steps in the direction of less illogical. LOL.

By: Booksquare

Booksquare — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 00:29:51 +0000

Susan, if you’re seeking logic, you’ve come to the wrong business (g).

Karen, I am hiding out in the secret lair today, and was stopped by the coffee maker (all secret lairs come with an unlimited supply of caffeine). A reader of this blog, after ensuring I had a full, steaming cup of double-strength brew, said, “Karen posted a comment on your blog. I nearly responded.” I said, “Go ahead, you know this stuff.” He said, “I think she should start blogging about her book now and forever to build buzz.” Then he left me to ponder such a thought.

As a terminally shy person, I find the idea of self-promotion to be ulcer-inducing. That being said, I have no problem telling other people what to do. And what to do is build name recognition. You’ve already started with your official frequent-commenter status — next step is to put a URL in the URL (or URI) field. People click on such things with alarming frequency…repetition is key and the more people who click through are likely to remember your name!

By: Susan Gable

Susan Gable — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 23:08:56 +0000

I was talking about this today with some other writers, but in terms of a publisher cutting back print runs based on previous sell-through. Same point – there will always be returns, so if they keep cutting the number, then logically it’s going to get smaller and smaller. You can’t sell product that’s not out there.

Please, please, where is the LOGIC??? (sigh)

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 15:58:12 +0000

This is thoroughly discouraging. Sales of my 2 novels have been, shall we say, modest, and I’ve thought from time to time of submitting the next one under another name. Neither agent nor publisher has suggested this — but then I’m not finished writing. The day may yet come. I can’t think what the solution is, other than (as you and others suggest) spreading the marketing dollars around. But aside from a few odd corners of the book world, it’s not really happening, not as far as I can tell …