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A Plague of Dreams
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Getting ready to change my cover, correct typos
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I have changed my cover image multiple times. I emailed GR and got librarian permission on my own books, I can edit anything. It takes a couple of days for them to give you the permissions, and then you can change the cover.
Goodreads does not allow changes to covers if the book was ever published with a previous cover. Changing a cover instead of creating an alternate cover edition will get librarian privileges revoked.http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
Well, I changed the cover before it was published, because it was going to be published with the updated cover. Either way, librarian privileges allows you to create an alternate cover edition, right? So that's what he needs.
~Thena~ ♥Machar ♥ Spade ♥ Ethan ♥ Harry♥ wrote: "Goodreads does not allow changes to covers if the book was ever published with a previous cover. Changing a cover instead of creating an alternate cover edition will get librarian privileges revok..."I thought I had read something to that effect.
I will, however, be attempting to change the cover on Amazon (If they'll let me), so there's going to be a discrepancy I suppose. I'm HAVING to change the print cover due to not being able previously to utilize both back and front covers (my ignorance).
Otherwise, the design change is so that the cover would be more readable as a thumbnail, So not much visual difference except making the author's name larger and the illustration easier to make out at smaller sizes. Right now one cannot comfortably make out either.
It's a matter of a tighter crop on the illustration and upsizing the author's name.
Not sure I understand the rule of not changing the cover, but I will respect it.
Unless of course, now that Amazon owns Goodreads the policy will be consistent between both?
The reason for the rule is because Goodreads is a book cataloging site and not a bookseller. It was designed to be a place where readers could keep a catalog of all the books they own, read, want to own, want to read, etc. So if you publish a book with one cover and people purchase it or read it, there are many here who want to be able to put that book with that particular cover on their shelves. If the cover is later changed for your book, those people still own the one with the old cover and don't want to lose the original record from their shelves. So there will be a separate record for every cover of a book that is ever published (combined so they are all shown to be the same book).To help authors with this, Goodreads has made it possible for authors to set the primary edition of their book. This way members get to keep the record of the cover they own/have read and the new primary edition is the one that will show up first in searches. Only authors and staff can change the primary editions; librarians cannot.
If you need help creating an alternate cover edition you can post a request in the librarian group and it will be taken care of for you. Then you can set the primary edition. The librarian group is here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/220
I hope this helps!
Changing covers (other than pre-pub) will get one's librarian privileges revoked. And adding an alternate cover can easily be done without librarian privileges; Goodreads Author status is sufficient for that.Please see: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
rivka wrote: "Changing covers (other than pre-pub) will get one's librarian privileges revoked. And adding an alternate cover can easily be done without librarian privileges; Goodreads Author status is sufficien..."Unfortunately, Rivka, when I click your link, it says I cannot post to that folder unless I"m a librarian. Since I cannot, is it possible to request a new cover edition here? If so, the new cover is in my photos file. Or just let me know what to do. thanks
You know, it really saddens me that self published writers are constantly fiddling with the cover and fixing/editing their novels at the expense of the first readers to buy the inferior version...Readers are not guinea pigs people. Put out a quality product to start with and move on to the next one, and the one after that...
Shakes head...
Nick wrote: "You know, it really saddens me that self published writers are constantly fiddling with the cover and fixing/editing their novels at the expense of the first readers to buy the inferior version......"
that is a mischaracterization of my situation.
The original cover design was fine when viewed at normal size. It was only when I saw how at thumbnail size it was unreadable at the lower portion. It's not a drastic design change, and I already explained that. I'm learning.
As for typos: there were only about three. They included a punctuation mark outside a quote, a stray "the" that ended up in a sentence, and a misplaced apostrophe. But I guess that makes the original version "Inferior". Another change was to include positive blurbs from reviews. I guess no one ever does that in a book that is traditionally published, right?
Try reading my book before you call it inferior. If you read it and find it inferior, then fine. But please, let's stop assuming self-published equals inferior. If you want to feel that way, do it to yourself. This thread was not intended as a referendum on self-publishing. I was seeking assistance.
John,Please show me where "I" said "Your" book was inferior?
Allow me to further explain my comment since you are rather new here and don't have the background...
I have been a member of Goodreads for many years now. I can't tell you the number of threads I have read about SP writers commenting about putting out a new version of their book because reviewers have pointed out spelling, grammar, punctuation, and even POV issues, just to name a few. And its not just GR where you will find these comments.
As a reader, I have a right to express what I enjoy as well as what I dislike. And I got news for you, Self publishing is easier than going the commercial route. The problem is, too many self published writers give up way to easy and publish before they have truly learned their craft. And that is all I ask of any writer, is for them to hone their craft.
You really need to get into other writer groups and experience what is going on and being said, especially if you are considering trying commercial publishing as you hinted elsewhere...
I wish you well with your book...
To those who've been very helpful in this thread: Well, I suppose in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter. Old cover, new cover, whatever. Not that important. It's updated on Amazon, so there's that.
thanks for all your helpful suggestions, though, that was extremely kind of you.
Don't anyone worry about changing it at this point. thanks.
John wrote: "Unfortunately, Rivka, when I click your link, it says I cannot post to that folder unless I"m a librarian."No, it says you must be a member of the Librarians Group, which is open to all Goodreads users, librarians or not.
Edit: Your alternate cover edition has been added.
rivka wrote: "No, it says you must be a member of the Librarians Group, which is open to all Goodreads users, librarians or not.Edit: Your alternate cover edition has been added.
"
1. my apologies for misunderstanding the warning dialogue box. I was thinking of "group" in a general term, not a forum term. Thanks for clarifying.
2. Thank you.
I vaguely recall something in some discussion about that you can't change your book image once its uploaded on GR? did I remember that correctly or was it a fever dream?
Also, Once I do this, its not really a rerelease, since changes are really minor, so how do authors here handle that? Don't announce it all (which is the way I'm leaning) or add to selfpromotion threads you already started?
thanks in advance
UPDATE: see my last post below, never mind. Not that important.