Last night I attended Booktoberfest – a gemütlich gathering for writers to learn about local self-publishing support and to meet published authors, editors, book designers, and publishers – all of whom had display tables. Local microbreweries provided samples of their varieties and a caterer on the corner provided quality munchies. One delight for me was visiting with colleagues and another was receiving great feedback from people who have attended my classes. And of course schmoozing with writers in a variety of genres and level of skill.
The event was sponsored by Mechanics Institute Library, a private library in San Francisco founded in 1854 – the oldest library in the Western US. The gathering filled the main floor, which has three floors of stacks open around a central area what is normally filled with an information table, reading tables, and computers for members. The second floor of the library includes two more floors of stacks – some 175,000 volumes. Drinks and food served at the checkout counter.
When I first joined the library in the mid-60s (my motivation: to be able to take home art books that were in the reference section of the public library), it was typically inhabited by old men snoozing in leather chairs with international dailies spread across their bulk. Today it has eight librarians, at least three of whom devote their time to developing programs – weekly films of literary and historic interest, concerts, cultural programs with other private libraries and museums, book clubs, literary luncheons, author presentations, eight writing groups, a self-publishing support group, and a series of presentations for writers (of which I’ve done several) on how to write and market. They also offer Nook and Kindle ereaders for two week loan.
Another service that Mechanics provides is shelf and display space to members who self-publish. As a member you can develop a personal web page and post your writing on their website. That is a great way to make your skills known and browse what others are doing literarily. I am enthusiastic about the model MIL has established, and glad to be among the contributors to the success of the writing programs.
After a couple of hours we adjourned to the fourth floor café-presentation space. Mark Coker of Smashwords – the largest ebook publisher and distributor – spoke about the reality of self-publishing as the industry rides the tectonic plates of the internet riding over the print book industry. The important points are:
There are more titles self-published than commercially published (though paper is generating more income – but not necessarily to the author – for now).
Authors receive about 80% retail price on self-pub ebooks, less than 15% on commercially published books.
In 2008 Smashwords published under 200 books. By September 2013, 250,000 titles.
If you will publish several books, offer the first for free to develop a reputation that will create a market for the ones that follow.
Volume of paper to ebook sales are 1 to 1000 for most self-pub authors.
Books priced at $3.99 sell the most titles (after free, at 91% of all downloaded books – but are people merely hoarding? or actually reading these?) as well as make the most money.
Non-fiction books can bear higher prices than fiction – the more specialized, the greater the knowledge value to readers and the more they will pay.
In general, paper books are only useful for self-pub authors with speaking engagements (generally non-fiction) and authors with a massive “platform” (readers whom the author can access directly or who will respond to their name).
US is the largest book market, but Apple ebooks are now 45% global in 51 countries.
Tablets are taking over among ebook readers.
Romance is the most popular genre.
Mark refers to pre-2008 as The Dark Ages!
Smashwords offers free downloads of their three ebooks:
Smashwords Style Guide
Smashwords Book Marketing Guide – How to Market any Book for Free
Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success
I’m always glad to find and share new models for writers to enhance their skills and find readers. Please let me know of any you have discovered.
Until next time, delight in the process.
Mechanics Institute café-meeting room in which I present, taken from in front of the projection screen.