Cliff Burns posted on the forum topic New Media and the Long Tail in the group New Media Publishing:

"Innovation" and "originality" aren't exactly hallmarks of traditional publishing and I think that is where indie writers who have broken away have the advantage. We are not limited by "niches" or market requirements, we need not pay lip service to the old regime, but can forge an entirely new approach and aesthetic to fiction, [...]

  2 years ago · View

Cliff Burns posted on the forum topic New Media and the Long Tail in the group New Media Publishing:

Smart answer, Nathan.
In the end, I suppose it's up to readers (and listeners) to use their critical thinking to determine who's a wannabe and who truly has the right stuff.
The new technologies have led to a proliferation of amateur writing on the web and that might be a good thing (to some) but it also [...]

  2 years ago · View

Cliff Burns posted on the forum topic New Media and the Long Tail in the group New Media Publishing:

I read Chris Anderson's book and looked into the "long tail" phenomenon.
The difficulty writers find in the "freeconomy" is discovering ways of gaining income through their work. The folks who populate the net aren't exactly eager to pay money for ANYTHING–not when they can copy it, download it, pirate it, whatever.
The on-line [...]

  2 years ago · View

Cliff Burns posted on the forum topic Print on demand experiences wanted in the group New Media Publishing:

Well, I've been playing around on Lulu, trying out a mockup of my manuscript…and their system refuses to read the pdf I created with my Mac "Pages" word processing software…and it STILL won't read it, even when I change it to an Adobe pdf.
Grrr…grrr…
So all of these places have their little nuisances and [...]

  2 years ago · View

Cliff Burns posted on the forum topic Print on demand experiences wanted in the group New Media Publishing:

I checked out CreateSpace and their may info page on publishing seems scant compared to Lightning Source.
And as someone not native to the United States, I have to apply for a special tax form–
https://www.createspace.com/International
–check out the link, keep scrolling and click over to the IRS site, if you want more amusement.
Sigh.
Honestly, with all [...]

  2 years ago · View

Cliff Burns posted on the forum topic Print on demand experiences wanted in the group New Media Publishing:

Matt: I think your fees for Lightning Source are a bit out of date: the price quoted in the batch of stuff sent to me seems to be a minimum of $175 (likely more, since the calculation is based on a 300-page book and mine is closer to 430).
Plus, as you say, there's [...]

  2 years ago · View

Cliff Burns posted on the forum topic Print on demand experiences wanted in the group New Media Publishing:

And here's one further thought: do these print-on-demand places derive the majority of their profit from book sales…or from the fees being charged writers?
If it's the latter, kids, we're being screwed…

  2 years ago · View

Cliff Burns posted on the forum topic Print on demand experiences wanted in the group New Media Publishing:

Here's a pertinent question for my fellow self-publishers:
If companies like Lightning Source are doing so well by writers, why do they have to charge ANYTHING for set-up fees or catalogue listings? Why not derive their profits solely from the sale of their authors' books? After all, they get a cut of every book [...]

  2 years ago · View

Cliff Burns posted on the forum topic Print on demand experiences wanted in the group New Media Publishing:

I'm composing a lengthy list of questions for Lightning Source. Not touching the contract until I get clarification. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding but it seems like I pay one set-up fee for North America ($175-200) and another setup fee (same amount) if I want my book printed and sold in the U.K. Aren't [...]

  2 years ago · View

Cliff Burns posted on the forum topic Print on demand experiences wanted in the group New Media Publishing:

For anyone who's had to reformat their PDF's–for Adobe or whatever format the printer in question is using: was it a complicated process? Did the translation into the new format go smoothly or were there glitches because of the different margins, etc.? I have about 30 footnotes in my novel (referring to [...]

  2 years ago · View

Cliff Burns posted on the forum topic Print on demand experiences wanted in the group New Media Publishing:

Good detailed advice–even better than what I was hoping for. Again, thanks for taking the time for the in-depth responses.
Authors and indie publishers aren't in competition with each other, we're colleagues, always quick to offer advice, support and, when required, a word of caution. Cheers!

  2 years ago · View

Cliff Burns posted on the forum topic Print on demand experiences wanted in the group New Media Publishing:

Kee-rist. I downloaded a ream of material from Lightning Source. It's a good thing I've done some publishing before because I don't think theirs' is the most "user friendly" approach. Nonetheless, I am plowing through it, educating myself, making sure to read the fine print. Perhaps their customer service reps will [...]

  2 years ago · View

Cliff Burns posted on the forum topic Print on demand experiences wanted in the group New Media Publishing:

Thanks, this is all great feedback–I'd like as much info and advice as possible before I commit to ANYONE.

  2 years ago · View

Cliff Burns posted on the forum topic Print on demand experiences wanted in the group New Media Publishing:

Create Space was another one mentioned to me, as well. I'm going to register with Lightning Source, at least initially, until I can get some hard figures and do some informed comparisons. I note that I was e-mailed by a customer service rep from Lightning Source this morning, after signing up on the weekend [...]

  2 years ago · View