Okay so its been 15 days since I uploaded the two free short stories.
The first one 'Cake' has had 76 downloads and 8 reviews. It was approved for Premium distribution on the 11th April.
The second story (that I uploaded one day after Cake) has had 55 downloads and 2 reviews. It was approved for PD on 12 April.
Premium distribution hasn't really made any difference. When I first uploaded I got 10-15 uploads a day. But this has slowed right down to maybe 1 every two days. i put this down to the fact Smashwords lists chronologically - so for a while there, my free short story was on the first page. Now I am somewhere miles down so unless someone 'happens' upon it I wont get seen.
Next stop is to finish my YA novel. After reading a few blogs etc I have decide to break the novel into two novellas. Apparently these sell quite well. I might make the first one free......and if some one loves it - chances are good they will purchase the second.
Thats all for now :)
Tessa
ps: this website is fantastic for newbies like me and they also have a blog http://thewritersguidetoepublishing.com/
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Here we go..................
I discovered this website
http://www.smashwords.com/
After reading a fascinating blog conversation all about the virtues of e-publishing versus traditional publishing.
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/03/ebooks-and-self-publishing-dialog.html
I have been trying to get a literary agent for a few years now. I have had lots of lovely rejection letters - some with excellent feedback and the promise of a second read. I was firmly in the camp of 'if its not published on paper and stocked in a bookshop it's not really published'. I truly believed that self publishing was what the rejected try-hard wannabe authors did. However after reading the above I changed my mind almost immediately.
I signed up with Smashwords the very same day and uploaded a short story. I have decided that my short stories should be free. The first one CAKE http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50279 was uploaded on 29th March 2011 and as of today has had 63 downloads, 10 Facebook likes and 8 reviews. All but 2 of the reviews are from my own circle of contacts.
The second short CERTAINTY https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50598 was uploaded the next day on the 30th march and as of today has had 43 downloads, 6 Facebook likes and 1 review.
So far the stories are still pending review by Smashwords in order to be made available to lots of other e-book retailers. I wonder if this will make a difference - it should.
Watch this space - I'll keep you posted.
http://www.smashwords.com/
After reading a fascinating blog conversation all about the virtues of e-publishing versus traditional publishing.
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/03/ebooks-and-self-publishing-dialog.html
I have been trying to get a literary agent for a few years now. I have had lots of lovely rejection letters - some with excellent feedback and the promise of a second read. I was firmly in the camp of 'if its not published on paper and stocked in a bookshop it's not really published'. I truly believed that self publishing was what the rejected try-hard wannabe authors did. However after reading the above I changed my mind almost immediately.
I signed up with Smashwords the very same day and uploaded a short story. I have decided that my short stories should be free. The first one CAKE http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50279 was uploaded on 29th March 2011 and as of today has had 63 downloads, 10 Facebook likes and 8 reviews. All but 2 of the reviews are from my own circle of contacts.
The second short CERTAINTY https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50598 was uploaded the next day on the 30th march and as of today has had 43 downloads, 6 Facebook likes and 1 review.
So far the stories are still pending review by Smashwords in order to be made available to lots of other e-book retailers. I wonder if this will make a difference - it should.
Watch this space - I'll keep you posted.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)