Guys: Kindle is the Ticket!

[GobBluthJD]

anyone published an erotic novel on kindle? if so, how many words did you write and how is the selling going?
i'm thinking of writing one around 10,000-20,000 words.

Some of my best sellers are erotica. They range anywhere from 4,000 to 18,000 words. People will pay more for erotica, for whatever reason, so it's a good genre (if you can find the right sub-niches within the genre).

 

[cazzina]

Can you give a little hint on the subniches? I was thinking of just writing about a straight relationship, a littl bit 50 Shades of Grey like.

 

[GobBluthJD]

Can you give a little hint on the subniches? I was thinking of just writing about a straight relationship, a littl bit 50 Shades of Grey like.

You're gonna have to get much more specific than a straight guy/girl relationship, if you hope to make any serious bucks in erotica.

 

[cazzina]

You're gonna have to get much more specific than a straight guy/girl relationship, if you hope to make any serious bucks in erotica.

50 Shades of Grey is also just a straight guy/girl relationship and it made serious bucks. Obviously I'm not saying that my story will be as successful as this one, but it means that there is demand.

 

[jessica7689]

ok, Op if you dont mind... I posted 'Kindle Writing Bible' in the members download section for those interested in writing non fiction.

http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackh...le-how-write-bestselling-nonfiction-book.html

 

[jazzc]

As i said this means you need to have a legal business running (1000$ per month cost) and i will still be taxed in my country....this is not a solution.

You 're talking nonsense. If you had bothered reading carefully what it says about taxation and the double-taxation treaties, you 'd see there 's no requirement to register as a business and the withholding percentage is exactly 0.

 

[aldoraine]

I have five books up, and only two are really selling. But they are selling pretty well with really no marketing. I need to research some marketing strategies, and maybe some review exchanges.

 

[cazzina]

I have five books up, and only two are really selling. But they are selling pretty well with really no marketing. I need to research some marketing strategies, and maybe some review exchanges.

Can you tell us a bit more, what kind of books do you have up and how many do you sell per day?

 

[blackfatcat]

I don't think you should be fooled as to how many books you sell a day - rather how many books you sell a month. According to the OP he sells dozens of copies per title per day without marketing. I have now published 12 books since in the last 6 weeks and according to my sales I will be fortunate if each book racks up 5 sales a month. So Kindle is not as easy or as simple as the OP makes out - unless you hit the jackpot and write something that goes viral.

One of the guys posted earlier in this thread about publishing lots of books and making small change out of them, and eventually it will build up to some decent income each month. I think he hit the nail on the head. But it's a long and hard road with a mammoth amount of work involved. I am a professional writer - that's how I earn my living, so I write all the books myself in various genres, so dismal sales is not as a result of bad quality.

The OP makes it sound so easy and perhaps he has some secret sauce as far as finding the right niches, using clever keywords, and even more intelligent marketing. But for the ordinary guy or gal starting from scratch be prepared: it's a long and hard and steep road ahead.

 

[GobBluthJD]

I don't think you should be fooled as to how many books you sell a day - rather how many books you sell a month. According to the OP he sells dozens of copies per title per day without marketing. I have now published 12 books since in the last 6 weeks and according to my sales I will be fortunate if each book racks up 5 sales a month. So Kindle is not as easy or as simple as the OP makes out - unless you hit the jackpot and write something that goes viral.

One of the guys posted earlier in this thread about publishing lots of books and making small change out of them, and eventually it will build up to some decent income each month. I think he hit the nail on the head. But it's a long and hard road with a mammoth amount of work involved. I am a professional writer - that's how I earn my living, so I write all the books myself in various genres, so dismal sales is not as a result of bad quality.

The OP makes it sound so easy and perhaps he has some secret sauce as far as finding the right niches, using clever keywords, and even more intelligent marketing. But for the ordinary guy or gal starting from scratch be prepared: it's a long and hard and steep road ahead.

I never said it was easy, fast money. Look at my original post. Almost the very first thing I wrote!

Okay, this isn't to say that this is easy or there aren't cons. There are. Lots of them. Which is why, I imagine, there's not a lot of Kindle talk around this forum.

Con #1: It's a LOT of work. Even if you're outsourcing. I started by doing it all myself: research, writing, formatting, cover design, uploading, marketing. Everything. It's a huge time investment, and I suspect this is the step that scares most people off.

Con #2: It's NOT instantaneous. We're always looking for quick money in the IM world. Kindle is not that. It takes time and effort to build up an audience, to learn how to outsource correctly, to streamline the process for efficiency. It's worth it, but it does take a great deal of time.

 

[GobBluthJD]

50 Shades of Grey is also just a straight guy/girl relationship and it made serious bucks. Obviously I'm not saying that my story will be as successful as this one, but it means that there is demand.

50 Shades is not just a simple m/f book. #1 it's a Billionaire niche, which is very hot right now. #2 it's loaded with BDSM stuff, which is also hot right now. It's not guy meets girl and they get it on. You have to look deeper into the niches to understand how it's successful.

 

[aldoraine]

I have everything from Romance to Detective. I'm selling around 6-8/day at the 2.99 price point. Not great but not terrible. Once I get ten books up I'm going to take a break from uploading, and work on some different marketing strategies.

Can you tell us a bit more, what kind of books do you have up and how many do you sell per day?

 

[cazzina]

I think it's not bad at all. I'll also update as soon as I have a book up

Two more things:

1) Any input on using a female or male pen name for erotica?

2) Is there any way to make the book look reduced in price? Like for example, I want to sell my book for 2.99 but it would be nice
if it looked like it was reduced from 5.99 or so. Or is that a bad idea?

 

[Audacity]

Do you have to advertise the ebook or will people just download it out of the blue?

 

[zack]

Thanks a lot for all the information! +rep added.

I will give this a try. I was into content writing previously and I know a niche that may work well. Will do a bit more research on the niche and get back to you if I taste success or if I have some doubts.

 

[cazzina]

I think it's not bad at all. I'll also update as soon as I have a book up

Two more things:

1) Any input on using a female or male pen name for erotica?

2) Is there any way to make the book look reduced in price? Like for example, I want to sell my book for 2.99 but it would be nice
if it looked like it was reduced from 5.99 or so. Or is that a bad idea?

OP, can you answer these questions?

 

[aldoraine]

Some of my best sellers are erotica. They range anywhere from 4,000 to 18,000 words. People will pay more for erotica, for whatever reason, so it's a good genre (if you can find the right sub-niches within the genre).

I have an erotic book. I just couldn't edit it when I was reading haha. I think I might just tough it out, and put it up this weekend.

 

[chockfactor]

alright I am not sure you have covered this already, but how do you find out what each chapter in your book should be about? Could you give some good instructions on that. Since I am not totally sure on that point.

 

[Ascendah]

alright I am not sure you have covered this already, but how do you find out what each chapter in your book should be about? Could you give some good instructions on that. Since I am not totally sure on that point.

What a random question! It totally depends on the book and even then, there is a lot of variation in how you set-up chapters and what they should each be about. It's really down to the author, you'll know if it makes sense when you write it.

 

[x55xx77]

Which website do u use to sell your "books" ?