What do you think about this?

[Carole]

https://justpublishingadvice.com/self...

[Theodore]

Great article...dead, as we know it today. It's going to have to evolve...or better, WE are going to have to evolve, which is why I'm repackaging my material (throwing more things at the wall!) AND moving into audiobooks with a vengeance (just signed another contract for my Martelli mystery/thriller series an hour ago).

Adapt or die! It think that's the underlying message, Carole.

Good work.

[Carole]

It said what I had been feeling for a while. I met with someone from Publisher's Weekly today and he pretty much confirmed it. That's why I have been holding back with self-publishing for a while.
He told me the market's been saturated with stuff and nothing is being bought or read. There are no more 'glory' stories of people like Andy Weir or Fifty Shades.
He said everybody (trad and indies) are complaining about what's going on. The indie bubble has burst. I think people who thought about publishing won't, many that published to mediocre results will fade away, and only the very committed will continue. I see a strong trend for people to go into hybrid publishers - sharing their expenses, risk, and royalties.
I think those authors who thought they'd be able to sit around at home and collect big paychecks are going to realize that is not the reality.

[Carole]

I agree and we have to accept realistic goals.

[D.J.]

Having been told that many people would be interested in reading my books, yet failing to find these people in the last few years, I have to say I agree with the article. Doesn’t mean I’ll give up. But I’m not expecting much.

[D.J.]

But then again I’m part of a group on FB which I’m thinking of leaving where people keep posting screen shots of how many tens of thousands of dollars they are making. So some people are making money at it. (Naturally I find the group totally intimidating and that’s why I’m thinking of leaving.)

[D.J.]

It’s probably fine. I’m just not a fan of the whole ‘anything is possible if you believe it is’ thing. I’ve had my self belief crushed a number of times so I prefer not to get my hopes up and celebrate the little wins with everything in life.

[Dale]

I don't follow trends that much, but I agree overall. My feeling about self-publishing has always been that it's a mixed blessing. The easy of self-publishing means that everyone and their cat can publish if they want, with the result that great masses of unreadable drivel has flooded the market, along with a respectable mass of promising material that is not ready for prime time, along with smaller conglomerations of good material, and a scattering of true gems.

I don't actually see that changing. What may change is the behavior of consumers, now that they're wise to what's happened. A certain number of people will always dream of publication and wealth, so the market will always be flooded with low-quality material. For those of us who are serious about it, the challenge is to (1) continually strive to produce high-quality work and (2) find ways to get people to read it and, when they see how good it is, share it with others.

But really, this has always been the challenge. It's just that there are so many more voices vying for attention.

[Alexis]

Damn it. I hate it when I miss a bubble.

But seriously, I think self publishing is indeed dead for those just getting started. I have a feeling it’s alive and kicking for those who have managed to cultivate a loyal fan base.

[Carole]

Alexis wrote: "Damn it. I hate it when I miss a bubble.

But seriously, I think self publishing is indeed dead for those just getting started. I have a feeling it’s alive and kicking for those who have managed to..."

lol. you always make me laugh, Alexis.

[D.J.]

I agree with Alexis-I think I’ve missed the boat and will find it very difficult to find a following now compared to if I’d started 6 years ago.

Also agree with Alex’s description of types of books. Not sure if what I read growing up would be considered pulp. It certainly wasn’t at the other end of the spectrum.

[Anna]

You knew all this, didn't you, Carole? And you warned us ahead of this article for which I guess we owe you thanks.

I missed the bubble too, just got in on the end of it. My first was published in 2012 but I came across a first draft when turning 'stuff' out and it seems I'd started writing for real in 2007, I just took a long time to get anything finished!

[Alexis]

Carole wrote: "Alexis wrote: "Damn it. I hate it when I miss a bubble.

But seriously, I think self publishing is indeed dead for those just getting started. I have a feeling it’s alive and kicking for those who ..."

It’s what I’m here for! :D

[Wolf]

I sell no books, never have, after 20 years of writing, the past three years full time 7 days a week. My purpose in self publishing was to archive the work, since I've had several computers die. It would be nice to be read and reviewed, but I don't expect it. I remember Victor Hugo said that if he wrote merely for his own time, he would break his pen and throw it away.

[Carole]

Noble thoughts Wolf. I do like writing for the sake of creating and it's nice to have a legacy for the kids.

[P.D.R.]

I keep thinking of all those 'crazes' that happen, from the get rich business bubbles to the ones I see here so clearly in New Zealand. Milk is a classic example as over the last ten years it has gone from steady seller in all its forms produced on family farms to agribusiness rushing in as China opened up as a huge market, science discovered new things to do with milk, and prices soared. More people rush in until there are too many people, prices crash and the people who only care about money get burnt and get out. What is left? Well, it will be different but good stories will always be needed by readers and most writers in my home and Australia have never expected to earn our keep writing fiction.

Things change and we just adapt. I can't afford to make audio books but they are a growing market. I also suspect that multimedia is something we must look at seriously, supplying sound, links to other sites, links to pictures, music and information in our ebooks. I wish I knew enough to do it. There are systems but I find tech stuff difficult and can't afford to buy help.

[Anna]

I wish I knew enough to do it

So do I, PDR!

[D.J.]

I’ve just starting paying £50 a month for someone to do my Facebook for my other business. It’s a popular choice with my colleagues. It’ll only create decent posts. I’m unconvinced it’ll pull in business. However I would consider something similar for writing. What on Earth do people post on their author pages?

[D.J.]

Thanks. In all honesty, I’m not expecting it to. But the sum of money is the same as I spent in 2016 on advertising for my other business and that didn’t pull any business in either. Apparently we have to keep trying. I’ve set a target of a year and if nothing happens with it, I’ll stop.

[Carole]

I did very well with Facebook ads when Julie ran them for me. I don’t do as much now. Good luck with it. Dj. I think it should help a lot. No pain no gain

[D.J.]

I need to figure out FB ads for books. I’ve never got anything from it before. I’m never sure how long the posts should be. I don’t know if it’s enough to boost a particular post or if there’s something different I should do. Ugh. So much I don’t know.

[Anna]

Isn't there someone in our group who is setting up a business on helping indie writers. I thought I saw something on the Amazon Ads UK thread.

[D.J.]

CL was kind enough to help with Amazon Ads. (I'm a lost cause-I do them, I don't understand them!)

Facebook annoys me because of their near constant 'your advert has been refused' policy colleagues are plagued with. It puts me off trying.

[Anna]

C.L. Are you out there? Were you setting up something to help with marketing or was I just wishing and dreaming?