The Kindle Question and Answer Thread

[sadshow]

When you're promoting a new book on the free days to get some traction, are you just using facebook, twitter and the kindle giveaway sites? I'm only hitting around 200 downloads after my 5 free days and I've been submitting to ebook sites like crazy.

I think I'm missing the mark somewhere just not sure where. Do you explain exactly where you promote on free days in your ebook? I'm getting downloads but not enough to get any momentum going.

 

[kkai4u]

Hey,
I have a question.
I've got a collection of a good 40-50 short stories which were shared for free on a website(it was hot like 4 years ago, but good as trash now), so can I just bundle them up, like Collection of Short stories ( 7-8 in each book) and sell them??

 

[kkai4u]

I mean.. I just ran a few articles through copyscape and they passed, so that website is not being indexed anymore.. Is there any chance of like the author suing me for selling his free stories for a price?
(Sorry for noobish question, new to the kindle scenario )

 

[GobBluthJD]

Is there any chance of like the author suing me for selling his free stories for a price?
(Sorry for noobish question, new to the kindle scenario )

Yes. If you're stealing, there's always a chance of getting caught.

 

[d0mino]

What format should i upload to kindle. The simple MS Word file (doc/docx) or a .PRC file.

 

[GobBluthJD]

What format should i upload to kindle. The simple MS Word file (doc/docx) or a .PRC file.

I always just upload a Word doc. If you write without anything fancy in Word, it'll upload and transfer just fine.

 

[cazzina]

i have my first book and cover ready now- it's a word doc (the text) but i don't know if i should format it in a special way?
i tried to download the kindle formating tool but somehow it doesn't work on both of my computers. so is there anything special i have to pay attention to when formating the word doc?

 

[kkai4u]

Yes. If you're stealing, there's always a chance of getting caught.

Something posted on a public forum, and I am just copying what they posted, will qualify for stealing? :O

 

[bartosimpsonio]

Something posted on a public forum, and I am just copying what they posted, will qualify for stealing? :O

Yup! Same with photos. I can post my photos anywhere and if someone is caught using them without my permission, I make a bundle of money.

In fact, that is how a bunch of unethical photographers make bundles of cash.

 

[Hoggie]

Something posted on a public forum, and I am just copying what they posted, will qualify for stealing? :O

Sounds exactly like stealing to me.

How long did it take most of you to write your first book?

 

[Touchdown]

GobBluthJD

Just want to say thank you and you truly inspire me!
I can't PM you is there a way you can email your guide? or ebook?
I did post on Craigslist for writers but I'd tell ya those kids on there won't take a 10,000 words job for $25 bucks.
I think I am going to start with non fiction because thats all the books I own. How do you find out what niches work? how tos? tech?
Also, is kindle still in? I assume its still a good way to make money but with awesome content right?

 

[Carepolice]

Sounds exactly like stealing to me.

How long did it take most of you to write your first book?

Hey Hoggie,

It took me about two weeks to write my first book. I'd like to clarify, though. I had finished my rough draft on the third day (while still working on my other daily tasks) and then took the next week to have my peers read through it and make suggestions. It's important to listen to people during this process because you're writing for the reader and not yourself. After several edits I was finally pleased with the result and moved to publish. That extra week of work may sound frustrating but it's definitely worth it and the proof of that shows up in my bank account on a regular basis.

Take your time, plan thoroughly and create a quality book. Abraham Lincoln once said:

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."

One great book will almost certainly outweigh 3-4 mediocre ones.

 

[wzn888wzn]

thanks for this useful thread!what do you think is most important part when publishing your ebook on kindle?thanks!

 

[mem1975]

thanks for this useful thread!what do you think is most important part when publishing your ebook on kindle?thanks!

Your selling books so...

The ability to write well or the ability to outsource to someone who can write well.

 

[Touchdown]

I am having a hard time finding good USA writers that will take the $25 for 10,000 words. Any ideas?

 

[youtalkmedia]

This is a very good thread but I don't fully agree with your 99c hate. I am actually doing a journey for amazon where I am putting short 1000 word stories and selling them at 99c a pop. I think it is a great way of building up a following. I will be putting a bunch of the 99c stories into one larger book (say 10 together) and selling for about $7. It allows you to charge more for them together then you would get if you just wrote 10k words. People who enjoy the stories will end up buying the bundle of stories to save money.

I think the key is to just have some good quality and fun/entertaining books.

 

[GobBluthJD]

This is a very good thread but I don't fully agree with your 99c hate. I am actually doing a journey for amazon where I am putting short 1000 word stories and selling them at 99c a pop. I think it is a great way of building up a following. I will be putting a bunch of the 99c stories into one larger book (say 10 together) and selling for about $7. It allows you to charge more for them together then you would get if you just wrote 10k words. People who enjoy the stories will end up buying the bundle of stories to save money.

I think the key is to just have some good quality and fun/entertaining books.

$0.99 is great to build a following, but not so great if you want to earn money. I do a mixture. For a 4-book series, I'll set the first book at $0.99 or perma-free. That gives people an incentive to try book #1. When they do, they get hooked, and buy the remaining books at $2.99 each, or buy the bundle at $6.99 or so. Best of both worlds.

 

[ortogonk]

$0.99 is great to build a following, but not so great if you want to earn money. I do a mixture. For a 4-book series, I'll set the first book at $0.99 or perma-free. That gives people an incentive to try book #1. When they do, they get hooked, and buy the remaining books at $2.99 each, or buy the bundle at $6.99 or so. Best of both worlds.

That is going to be my strategy as well, you have to have a couple of books in your series ready to go when you get the first one out there at $0.99 or perma-free.
you hook your audience with the free and lead them to your $2.99 or the full series bundle at $6.99.

you just have to keep pumping those books out there.

Are your books in the series 20000 words/ 80 pages or less?

 

[GobBluthJD]

Are your books in the series 20000 words/ 80 pages or less?

Usually each one is in the 10-20k range; that way the compilation is 40-80k, or novel sized at least. So far, no complaints from customers, and lots of sales, so I think it works.

 

[thejake]

I got a few:

Why do so many people bitch about refunds on other Kindle forums?

Sample chapters or no?

I've seen recommendation that for everything you publish, update everything you've already published with a link. Does AZ review updates before they're pushed to the store?

Anybody doing mostly graphics/pictures (KF8) publishing?

When promoting your own work, are you using AA (affiliate links) or no?

It would probably be good to just consolidate these kindle threads into a faq and protips thread in the correct section