UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion
Author Zone - Readers Welcome!
>
What would one do to sell a book?
date
newest »
newest »
After Fifty Shades of Grey, it's not surprising if there is. People see something doing well and the bandwagon becomes standing room only. It's the same with anything that's successful, whether it be erotica, vampires etc.
Very well said Shaun. There is also a strain of vampire erotica. Hybridization at its... best?
Would anyone like to predict what the next hot genre might be?
Vampire zombie erotica?To be honest, I find it rather depressing to watch the build up of erotica books. It's like being a shell in the way of a huge wave. Whatever happens, you're going to end up squished into oblivion unless you jump at just the right moment. And shells can't jump. It's not something I want to do - write erotica. So I'll lie here in the sand, hoping someone will accidentally unearth me with their toe.
It would be a mistake, I think, to write erotica if you don't mean it to be your main project. Unless for a few people that actually try to make good books out of it, most of erotica writers, in my opinion, are just trying to make money out of people's attraction for sex.To me, there is a "contract" between the writer and his/her readers: If you like one of my book it is likely you will like most of them. Even if you write in different genres, you have to keep a main focus, a style or an idea. When you try to create something because it is fashionable, you are probably going to cleave your identity.
So, Katie, stay positive and keep at it!
As for the next hot genre... Whatever sells to middle aged women and/or teenagers.
I am sure the spy persona will have a come back someday.
I hope you're right about middle aged women Léandre - as the heroine of my novel certainly fits the bill.
Well, I might be mistaken, but from what I've heard, it is the key demographic to sell ebooks to. I may be wrong.
It will be interesting to see if tailoring my marketing in light of this info makes any difference. Worth a try? I think so. Thanks Léandre.
Uh... You are welcome Anne, haha! But I advise you to investigate a bit, just in case my information is wrong. Once again, I am not sure, it is just something I heard.I wish you to succeed, anyway! "Bafta," as they say in Romania.
I'm mildly surprised that hobbit/halfling stories didn't start popping out of the publishing works after the christmas success, but maybe that's just me generalising. Fantasy had its 'day' after LOTR, Game of Thrones etc.After Twilight there was a surge in Vampire/Werewolf fandoms, and erotica from 50 shades.
What's next?
I like the idea of spy novels as Leandre said...
...
...but with the draw down of Afghanistan in the next year, the recent release of 'Zero Dark Thirty', what about Military?
Good fantasy will never have 'had its day' I think. It's limited only by the writer's imagination.Can you tell what one of my favourite genres is?
D, you could probably make a bit as a "military adviser" - I'd love to be able to write military scifi for example - it's one of my favourite genres to read - but I don't think I could pull it off convincingly...(right now that field is pretty much the exclusive purview of ex-squaddies!)
Tim wrote: "D, you could probably make a bit as a "military adviser" - I'd love to be able to write military scifi for example - it's one of my favourite genres to read - but I don't think I could pull it off ..."I think it is very hard to pull off. I have included a little in a book I'm working on, but it is difficult to make it different from 'modern with more bells and whistles'
When I think about military scifi, I actually think about antiquity with guns and armoured vehicles... (Am I the only one?)
Léandre wrote: "When I think about military scifi, I actually think about antiquity with guns and armoured vehicles... (Am I the only one?)"I think of spaceships with massive lasers, missiles, ablative shields, marines in powered battle armour etc meself.
I'm ex-RAF but I have used my military experience of 6 yrs to write convincing MilSF and Military related fiction stories.I've also used my actual experience to write a short non-fiction piece about my own service. I'd write my RAF biog but I don't think my career was very interesting.
Tim, well, if you want me to support my point of view: There are Romulans in Star Trek. (Remulus > Rome.) [Far-fetched you say? Etymological, I respond!]Ray wrote: "I'm ex-RAF but I have used my military experience of 6 yrs to write convincing MilSF and Military related fiction stories.
I've also used my actual experience to write a short non-fiction piece ab..."
You'd better consult for us then, Ray! Otherwise we will see you as "knowledge-greedy".
Lots of ex-mil here, I've found my second home :D
Happy to share any knowledge that isn't still classified. Bits of the wars still might be. FYI, I didn't fly - I was a clerk ;-)
For an example of me using my career check out "Crash Report", totally fictional but using factual detail.
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
Feel free to ask here, or drop my a line at my author profile.
Picking up my free copy as of this morning! Hopefully if I get a bit of peace in the office (peace...for a soldier? I'd be out of a job!) I'll make a start asap!
I can't even give books away at the moment. I was thinking of riding through town on horseback like Lady Godiva with adverts for my books painted on the horse, but then I realised I've probably left that idea about thirty years too late and had my hair cut about 30 inches too short.
Katie wrote: "I can't even give books away at the moment. I was thinking of riding through town on horseback like Lady Godiva with adverts for my books painted on the horse, but then I realised I've probably left that idea about thirty years too late and had my hair cut about 30 inches too short. ..."Go on, you know you want to. Anyway think of the media coverage, you'd certainly sell books on the strength of that alone.
Is there space on your horse for an advert for my books? ;-)
Since the summer, whenever I'm introduced to someone and they find out I write, they straight away say 'Oh do you right stuff like Fifty Shades of Grey?' It's as if that's all they can imagine anyone writing. When I tell them I don't, they usually then tell me that I should do, as it undoubtedly sells well. I've discovered it's pointless saying that money is not the main driver (although useful), as they just look at me sideways as if I've lost the plot! Call me prudish if you like but I don't know how people write erotica. Good luck to them and all that but I'd be thinking that people would either think I've done whatever it is I'm describing or that I want to do it! I'm far too squeamish for that sort of thing!
In my opinion (which may be wrong), if you want to know what the public want, have a look at prime time telly. Ignore the various 'be a famous celeb with no need for talent' comps, but look at what's on in the week. Soaps - ie stories about average people with average lives, with slightly more extreme and frequent problems than most of us face. Crime thrillers - Lewis, Midsomer, Silent Witness, etc, etc. Most of us are fascinated with baddies and love to see them get their comeuppance. We still get a smattering of Sci-Fi, if you count Dr Who and its much better off shoot, whose name eludes me but was set in Wales. The nine o'clock films show that sci-fi is still a very popular genre, as is horror and fantasy. There's plenty of room left for the war type film, and James Bond and the dafter but great fun Bruce Willis type thrillers. The least air time seems to go to biographies.
Fads will always come and go and Fifty Shades had its fifteen minutes. Personally, I think variety is definitely the spice of life and who knows what will be the next big thing? There's room for us all, so write what you believe in and perhaps Mr Spielberg will one day come knocking and you'll be ready when he does!
And then someone will eat the horse!Ignite's only foray into topicallity!
Ignite wrote: "And then someone will eat the horse!Ignite's only foray into topicallity!"
Apparently they measure them in kilos rather than hands these days!
Jim, it would have to be a cart horse to carry me, so I'm sure I could fit a couple more books on its rump!
In my case, "Buy my book OR I'll take my clothes off" would be a much more successful marketing plan than "Buy my book AND I'll take my clothes off"!What a difference a word makes, eh?
I don't know. Some people like quantity! I nearly said 'More bang for your book,' but that would be dreadful eh?
Ignite wrote: "I don't know. Some people like quantity! I nearly said 'More bang for your book,' but that would be dreadful eh?"And people say it's the youth that have gone to pot!
Aye, it's the Saga-louts that cause the trouble eh?
Ignite wrote: "Aye, it's the Saga-louts that cause the trouble eh?"Geriatric delinquents! :-)
I'll get my coat
Katie wrote: "Jim, it would have to be a cart horse to carry me, so I'm sure I could fit a couple more books on its rump!"That's why you have phrases like 'A fine figure of a woman' and the derogatory 'chit of a girl'
Right, these posters for the side of the horse, looks like you can go up to A4 then
Think it's time for me to rein this thread in.
Patti (A Fine Pear) wrote: "Think it's time for me to rein this thread in."you can see why we were saddled with a moderator
I feel like I need to champion the 'bandwagon' genres.Even if it was a tiny genre, I would still read vampire and/or erotic fiction.
I think this thread is rather unfair to the many writers that write fantastic stuff.
We don't need to be fair to them Elle, they sell books and make money.Just as the literati look down on Jeffery Archer (because he sells books and makes money) we look down on the sparkling vampires.
It's not they're worse or we're better. We're just bitter and jealous
Actually back to the question asked by the original posters, some of us will even use underwear models to promote our work.http://jandbvwebster.wordpress.com/20...
An interesting article on e-book pricing from another part of Goodreadshttp://www.digitalbookworld.com/2013/...
I think you need to be fair to any person who writes a book and puts it into the public sphere.
I don't know if the subject was brought up recently, sorry if it was. I am just trying to participate!