Unfortunately I stopped reading because it sounded too damned much like AI. Definitely fit the profile of far too many email scam class pitches I see in how it was structured, whether written by AI or not. Apologies but I’ve seen too many essays like this and I start seeing stuff that is either wrong, out-of-date, or out-of-touch with publishing realities.
Here’s the deal, from someone who’s been in the selfpub trenches since 2011.
Do not do Kindle Select (aka Kindle Unlimited), UNLESS you are in a popular genre such as subsets of romance and military fiction.
Use other platforms such as Draft2Digital and Ingram Spark for distribution as well as KDP. Yes, that means you need to figure out cover art and formatting. But you should at least KNOW those basics before self-publishing (and don’t use KDP for print OR Ingram Spark for ebook. KDP print is lesser quality, that’s why it’s cheaper than Ingram, and Ingram’s ebook distribution is not as solid as D2D’s. Plus D2D gets you into libraries).
Do not throw money away on Facebook or Amazon Ads. Spend your money on editing and after that, cover art. If you don’t have money but you have a skill such as editing, graphic design, audiobook production, or layout…leverage those skills to swap for skills you don’t have.
Stay on top of the latest developments within the industry, both tradpub and selfpub. That means reading a lot of industry insider newsletters and blogs. Subscribe to Writer Beware so you know what the latest scams are.
Go where the readers are. That’s going to take some research. Engage with others beyond “buy my book!” Ask questions (I promise, despite my occasional snark, I don’t bite!). Network with other authors. Learn about the big sales like Naratress and others.
Realize that publishing, whether trad or self, is a LONG game, and so-called “overnight successes” usually have 10 years or more behind them. That’s the most important piece.
It's not AI (I call my style "Norwegian Hammer"), and I do get into this at the end, but I appreciate your tips here--many invaluable ones, especially the actionable ones, such as Writer Beware and D2D. I've seen D2D mentioned before, but I've stayed in my niche of KDP so far.
Back in the day, Kindle was the "end all be all", and no one knew what they were doing, haha. Now we're a little wiser. I'm glad more options are emerging for self-publishing, because ick Amazon.
I don't want anything to do with Amazon if I can help it after dealing with their customer service. Knowing that all it takes to lose an account is getting locked out and having the stupid customer service reps refuse to do anything about it (I've determined it was ultimately a G-mail filter that kept sending password resets to the trash) on top of how comically evil they are to writers who don't have the clout to get special treatment I don't think whatever they "offer" is worth the devil contract you have to sign.
You get people on the phone who'll tell you over and over in a thick Indian accent that they're working on xyz problem and to wait a few business days, just to have nothing happen? Nah. I know what's going to happen. Not touching that. Besides writing "to market" makes my skin itch. I'm here because I wanted freedom.
"Play the human game instead: earn a small, real audience, give them work that holds them, and let the platform respond to the only thing it actually understands—proof of appetite."
I was thinking about this same subject this morning. This quote is very similar to where I landed after asking myself why I wanted to write and to publish (probably though Amazon at first). Thank you for writing your thoughts out, I know I appreciate them.
Talk of algorithms has been popping up more and more recently when it comes to self published authors losing themselves in the stats and algorithms. It's a trend, one that I hope sparks within more and more creatives.
I'm a reviewer, not a published writer, but I'm still impressed by the amount of quality content Vane keeps offering every week while some other indie authors either post dumb memes or discuss their latest book cover.
I learned a lot of this the hard way - and what I learned I share in my publication. You can even start without a list - there are promo sites that you can use for launch. It's important to show the algorithm that your book generates some traffic and sales.
I really wish I’d known this from the start. One sentiment I kept running into while researching was that KDP works well mainly if your goal is to order author copies and sell them yourself, in person.
It sounds a bit defeatist, but honestly, the whole setup feels stacked against you. Still, I think it’s worth the effort regardless, especially if you have something you're proud of.
You know I thought this was going to be another pissed off rant from an author who self-published on Amazon only to find that he got no engagement whatsoever.
Because honestly, that's unsurprising. It's what anyone should expect. Obviously, no one owes you anything, and as a nobody, there's no reason why anyone would check out your work. We live in a very strange age, one where the fantasy authors of old have subsided, and yes, quality is lower than ever. Literacy is as well. But there's still a distinct path to success.
Genre fiction is attacked relentlessly by high brow "literary people", but the reality, I think, is that one must write to market and then smuggle in the kind of book they want to write. Think of the genre as a vehicle, nothing more.
I'm writing to market and publishing my very first fantasy novel in the next few months. I'm done with the 1st draft and have beta readers for when the second draft is done. The book itself is absolutely something I'm proud of, even if it was written to a very specific market. I will be publishing on Kindle Unlimited, getting my beta readers to post reviews, and relentlessly promoting the book where I can. I'm prepared to lose money on book 1 through KDP investment to pick up followers for book 2.
Did I have to sacrifice something of myself to conform to the genre I'm aiming at? Yes. But is it still doable? Absolutely. I've already had the chance to hook up with multiple best-selling authors in the genre, and they've gone to amazing lengths to help me. Now I still have a lot to learn -- and I'd be interested in how much money you sunk into KDP as well as your book's name, genre (if any), and anything else -- but I'm happy to have come this far.
In a way it comes down to whether or not you're just happy you wrote the book in and of itself. I am. If it sells, then great. If it doesn't, then I'll keep reading from the genres that interest me and take another shot at a new series after book 2 in that series. There's a unique game here and you have to play it. That's just the way things are. It was different during the 90s and 00s when I was coming up, but then I don't think I would've made it in those days -- the fantasy greats of that age were phenomenal writers.
And it's too easy to look back on the past and say that things were better. Maybe they were, but we live in the now, and we must adapt.
There seems to be a prevailing narrative out there that you just cannot make it writing fantasy these days, and that's just not true. Yes, the literacy is lower. Yes, the genre cliches can be irritating, but still, there is room for innovation. You can use the genre to smuggle in whatever book you want; in a way, that's the talent required for modern authorial success as a novelist. You write to market but to innovate just enough to create something unique -- something worth holding on to for readers who enjoy that market.
I do believe this is what has happened to the many genre authors who have been successful self-publishing over the last decade or so. Whether they're writing LitRPG, Isekai, Haremlit, Progression Fantasy, or WHATEVER, there's still a path. It's not easy, but it's never been easy.
There's a narrow way through. And as an aspiring fiction novelist, you have to find it. It's either that, or write politics, like every other Tom, Dick, and Harry -- fuck that.
Yeah, I have not nor will ever water down my work to write "to the market." Fuck the market. Those are the books no one wants to read. There is a nice space for people that want literature, and steering clear of Amazon's bullshit has been the best thing for me as a writer. I've made more money dropping them and only publishing physical books than anything they can offer, especially when their censorship kicks into high gear.
Unfortunately I stopped reading because it sounded too damned much like AI. Definitely fit the profile of far too many email scam class pitches I see in how it was structured, whether written by AI or not. Apologies but I’ve seen too many essays like this and I start seeing stuff that is either wrong, out-of-date, or out-of-touch with publishing realities.
Here’s the deal, from someone who’s been in the selfpub trenches since 2011.
Do not do Kindle Select (aka Kindle Unlimited), UNLESS you are in a popular genre such as subsets of romance and military fiction.
Use other platforms such as Draft2Digital and Ingram Spark for distribution as well as KDP. Yes, that means you need to figure out cover art and formatting. But you should at least KNOW those basics before self-publishing (and don’t use KDP for print OR Ingram Spark for ebook. KDP print is lesser quality, that’s why it’s cheaper than Ingram, and Ingram’s ebook distribution is not as solid as D2D’s. Plus D2D gets you into libraries).
Do not throw money away on Facebook or Amazon Ads. Spend your money on editing and after that, cover art. If you don’t have money but you have a skill such as editing, graphic design, audiobook production, or layout…leverage those skills to swap for skills you don’t have.
Stay on top of the latest developments within the industry, both tradpub and selfpub. That means reading a lot of industry insider newsletters and blogs. Subscribe to Writer Beware so you know what the latest scams are.
Go where the readers are. That’s going to take some research. Engage with others beyond “buy my book!” Ask questions (I promise, despite my occasional snark, I don’t bite!). Network with other authors. Learn about the big sales like Naratress and others.
Realize that publishing, whether trad or self, is a LONG game, and so-called “overnight successes” usually have 10 years or more behind them. That’s the most important piece.
It's not AI (I call my style "Norwegian Hammer"), and I do get into this at the end, but I appreciate your tips here--many invaluable ones, especially the actionable ones, such as Writer Beware and D2D. I've seen D2D mentioned before, but I've stayed in my niche of KDP so far.
That's dark. But I like dark.
Back in the day, Kindle was the "end all be all", and no one knew what they were doing, haha. Now we're a little wiser. I'm glad more options are emerging for self-publishing, because ick Amazon.
Damn shame I can't share this article because of the AI thumbnail because I think you have a good message to spread. This is nice work nonetheless.
Thank you for sharing such a valuable information.
I don't want anything to do with Amazon if I can help it after dealing with their customer service. Knowing that all it takes to lose an account is getting locked out and having the stupid customer service reps refuse to do anything about it (I've determined it was ultimately a G-mail filter that kept sending password resets to the trash) on top of how comically evil they are to writers who don't have the clout to get special treatment I don't think whatever they "offer" is worth the devil contract you have to sign.
You get people on the phone who'll tell you over and over in a thick Indian accent that they're working on xyz problem and to wait a few business days, just to have nothing happen? Nah. I know what's going to happen. Not touching that. Besides writing "to market" makes my skin itch. I'm here because I wanted freedom.
"Play the human game instead: earn a small, real audience, give them work that holds them, and let the platform respond to the only thing it actually understands—proof of appetite."
I was thinking about this same subject this morning. This quote is very similar to where I landed after asking myself why I wanted to write and to publish (probably though Amazon at first). Thank you for writing your thoughts out, I know I appreciate them.
Talk of algorithms has been popping up more and more recently when it comes to self published authors losing themselves in the stats and algorithms. It's a trend, one that I hope sparks within more and more creatives.
Happy writing!
Cassandra O'Shea
Yeah, quit FUCKING WITH AMAZON. Here's your teachable moment.
https://articul8madness.substack.com/p/dear-authors-leave-amazon-the-hell
I'm a reviewer, not a published writer, but I'm still impressed by the amount of quality content Vane keeps offering every week while some other indie authors either post dumb memes or discuss their latest book cover.
Cheers from the Strange Girl 💜
A good article, tons of useful information there on how amazon's algorithm works.
I learned a lot of this the hard way - and what I learned I share in my publication. You can even start without a list - there are promo sites that you can use for launch. It's important to show the algorithm that your book generates some traffic and sales.
I was just researching KDP trying to figure out its angle. Thanks for coloring it correctly for me.
This was an eye opening. I was planning to self publish eventually, and it’s good to know what I’m in for
I really wish I’d known this from the start. One sentiment I kept running into while researching was that KDP works well mainly if your goal is to order author copies and sell them yourself, in person.
It sounds a bit defeatist, but honestly, the whole setup feels stacked against you. Still, I think it’s worth the effort regardless, especially if you have something you're proud of.
Let me help you before you jump into hell. https://articul8madness.substack.com/p/dear-authors-leave-amazon-the-hell
I will check it out!
You know I thought this was going to be another pissed off rant from an author who self-published on Amazon only to find that he got no engagement whatsoever.
Because honestly, that's unsurprising. It's what anyone should expect. Obviously, no one owes you anything, and as a nobody, there's no reason why anyone would check out your work. We live in a very strange age, one where the fantasy authors of old have subsided, and yes, quality is lower than ever. Literacy is as well. But there's still a distinct path to success.
Genre fiction is attacked relentlessly by high brow "literary people", but the reality, I think, is that one must write to market and then smuggle in the kind of book they want to write. Think of the genre as a vehicle, nothing more.
I'm writing to market and publishing my very first fantasy novel in the next few months. I'm done with the 1st draft and have beta readers for when the second draft is done. The book itself is absolutely something I'm proud of, even if it was written to a very specific market. I will be publishing on Kindle Unlimited, getting my beta readers to post reviews, and relentlessly promoting the book where I can. I'm prepared to lose money on book 1 through KDP investment to pick up followers for book 2.
Did I have to sacrifice something of myself to conform to the genre I'm aiming at? Yes. But is it still doable? Absolutely. I've already had the chance to hook up with multiple best-selling authors in the genre, and they've gone to amazing lengths to help me. Now I still have a lot to learn -- and I'd be interested in how much money you sunk into KDP as well as your book's name, genre (if any), and anything else -- but I'm happy to have come this far.
In a way it comes down to whether or not you're just happy you wrote the book in and of itself. I am. If it sells, then great. If it doesn't, then I'll keep reading from the genres that interest me and take another shot at a new series after book 2 in that series. There's a unique game here and you have to play it. That's just the way things are. It was different during the 90s and 00s when I was coming up, but then I don't think I would've made it in those days -- the fantasy greats of that age were phenomenal writers.
And it's too easy to look back on the past and say that things were better. Maybe they were, but we live in the now, and we must adapt.
There seems to be a prevailing narrative out there that you just cannot make it writing fantasy these days, and that's just not true. Yes, the literacy is lower. Yes, the genre cliches can be irritating, but still, there is room for innovation. You can use the genre to smuggle in whatever book you want; in a way, that's the talent required for modern authorial success as a novelist. You write to market but to innovate just enough to create something unique -- something worth holding on to for readers who enjoy that market.
I do believe this is what has happened to the many genre authors who have been successful self-publishing over the last decade or so. Whether they're writing LitRPG, Isekai, Haremlit, Progression Fantasy, or WHATEVER, there's still a path. It's not easy, but it's never been easy.
There's a narrow way through. And as an aspiring fiction novelist, you have to find it. It's either that, or write politics, like every other Tom, Dick, and Harry -- fuck that.
Yeah, I have not nor will ever water down my work to write "to the market." Fuck the market. Those are the books no one wants to read. There is a nice space for people that want literature, and steering clear of Amazon's bullshit has been the best thing for me as a writer. I've made more money dropping them and only publishing physical books than anything they can offer, especially when their censorship kicks into high gear.
But good luck with your war effort.
Vane, my friend and my brother.
The cover picture scared the shit out of me. its creepy with that smile,and those eyes.
I hope next time you find a cover that doesn’t scare me.
Yours truly,
—The Dark Humanities
I liked the ideas and insights. Thanks for sharing!