tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post2163565427508016793..comments2024-02-16T00:48:56.686-08:00Comments on The Man Who Painted Agnieszka's Shoes: Hold Me to Account: The Success or Failure of a self-publishing collective Part 1Agnieszkas Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-3898979450915687432009-12-03T12:49:45.752-08:002009-12-03T12:49:45.752-08:00There is a thread that is accumulating blog links ...There is a thread that is accumulating blog links for authonomers. You should put your link there.Doug Bremnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04609371767371791556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-73998285057576954792009-09-27T09:45:25.184-07:002009-09-27T09:45:25.184-07:00the true rewards are as easy to count
as grains in...the true rewards are as easy to count<br />as grains in a sandstorm.<br />But if they were as few<br />as oases in the self-same desert<br />they would be enough.<br /><br />I count only lest others follow<br />where they do not want to go<br />and others still<br />say things that are not true.<br /><br />The road I travel brings joy<br />with every click <br />delight with every day,<br />and the comfort of friends new<br />and old<br />each time I close my eyes.<br /><br />I write, and live,<br />amongst friends. <br />That's reason enough to write<br />the way I do.Agnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-26446023463760143672009-09-20T14:44:00.676-07:002009-09-20T14:44:00.676-07:00i find this somewhat amusing because
you will disc...i find this somewhat amusing because<br />you will discover that it is impossible<br />to track the rewards as you go along...<br /><br />it might seem easy enough to calculate<br />the value of beers people buy for you,<br />although that won't help you pay rent.<br /><br />it'll be more difficult to put a value on<br />the couches that your fans let you surf.<br />it's saving you the cost of a hotel, yes,<br />but is it a cheap motel, or a classy one?<br /><br />and how much is sex with a groupie worth?<br />(the literary groupies are worth lots more<br />than the rock ones; they're much smarter.)<br /><br />and life-long friendships with fans? priceless.<br /><br />-bowerbirdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-71104980857879927332009-09-09T08:12:32.872-07:002009-09-09T08:12:32.872-07:00That's a very good piece of advice. We often f...That's a very good piece of advice. We often forget just how wonderful a resource libraries can be for writers as well as readersAgnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-20368913078686428882009-09-09T07:17:41.166-07:002009-09-09T07:17:41.166-07:00Something I found really effective when I self pub...Something I found really effective when I self published a book was approaching library reading groups and offering to come and give a free talk / Q&A if they read my book. Not only did this help sales (with each group ordering an average of 15 copies) but I also got some invaluable feedback from the readers<br />SiobhanSiobhanhttp://www.siobhancurham.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-2860240033029977712009-09-06T04:30:53.036-07:002009-09-06T04:30:53.036-07:00Wonderful. It's already a site that authors WA...Wonderful. It's already a site that authors WANT to be listed on. Which sounds like you've got the start of a virtuous circle.Agnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-25413394169485791772009-09-05T17:23:12.018-07:002009-09-05T17:23:12.018-07:00It will be driven be readers, i.e. us :) And we&#...It will be driven be readers, i.e. us :) And we're damn picky readers too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-88867720567885408432009-09-05T07:21:47.159-07:002009-09-05T07:21:47.159-07:00I very much like the sound of 2. I also love the s...I very much like the sound of 2. I also love the soubd of author/reader interaction - I hope it stays driven by the readers rather than the sites where authors take over and end up talking to themselves, because that would be incredibly valuable - both for authors, and for readers. If there's anything I can do to help, just shout.Agnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-37238955195460843352009-09-05T05:58:14.658-07:002009-09-05T05:58:14.658-07:00Hi Dan,
The answer to question 1 is 'no',...Hi Dan,<br /><br />The answer to question 1 is 'no', and we have already made changes that will show in the future as we catch up with our reading list. There's going to be a lot more author interaction and discussion, and a lot less stories read.<br /><br />This means that the answer to question 2 will be yes, as we are going to start vetting our submissions on more than just basic quality. We will be focussing on stories that have the potential to be exceptional. I'm getting the feel for what the members like, but I also want to throw some unusual works in the mix.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-16446429613415825332009-09-05T03:18:53.671-07:002009-09-05T03:18:53.671-07:00Hey, Merrilee, thank you. I would like to do a pie...Hey, Merrilee, thank you. I would like to do a piece about your site, because I've come across a lot of e-fiction sites in the last week, but I like the way you do things best. What I'm really intrigued about:<br /><br />1. Do you think your model is sustainable as you get flooded with e-fiction?<br />2. Have you found your site developing its own patricular taste? I think that's going to be the crucial thing in determining which sites become the portals of choice.Agnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-72266878028078656792009-09-04T19:05:40.736-07:002009-09-04T19:05:40.736-07:00Nice one Dan. I'll be following to see what s...Nice one Dan. I'll be following to see what sort of realisitic figures result. This is going to be an interesting exercise.<br /><br />And thanks for the plug :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-40053437837496283192009-09-04T04:39:32.258-07:002009-09-04T04:39:32.258-07:00Thank you, Shayne :-) Weherever it leads, and what...Thank you, Shayne :-) Weherever it leads, and whatever I predict, I'm sure the ride will be bumpier than expected!!Agnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-18081720071254687642009-09-04T03:23:25.518-07:002009-09-04T03:23:25.518-07:00Wonderful, Dan. I'll follow this with interest...Wonderful, Dan. I'll follow this with interest. I hope your targets turn out to have been overly cautious!Shayne Parkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11071406385872399178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-28812511236975656882009-09-04T01:03:12.140-07:002009-09-04T01:03:12.140-07:00And Aimee - VERY best wishes for NaNoWriMoAnd Aimee - VERY best wishes for NaNoWriMoAgnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-30891297957685031982009-09-04T00:54:23.762-07:002009-09-04T00:54:23.762-07:00Hey, Amy - wow, thanks! Alas, it could have been p...Hey, Amy - wow, thanks! Alas, it could have been pretty much anywhere - I (er, *hangs head in embarrassment*) googled the title the other day and 78 sites came up, 77 of which were about the book (and one of which was about a project working with Polish prisons, whcih I kind of liked, and may adopt as a cause for serendipity's sake).<br /><br />No, I know where it was, because I remember you commenting - it was on Pitch Parlour. You liked it but you took me to task over my opening :-)Agnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-77270311593031628502009-09-03T18:08:32.038-07:002009-09-03T18:08:32.038-07:00WHERE have I read an excerpt of this? Boggles my m...WHERE have I read an excerpt of this? Boggles my mind, I can't remember...I do know I liked it. I'll order a hard copy, and remind you of that fact when I have one of my own finished...lol. Best of luck to you!Mamehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04853842158606222286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-76916496690295008062009-09-02T14:33:39.059-07:002009-09-02T14:33:39.059-07:00F.P. Thank you. The reason I want to be accountabl...F.P. Thank you. The reason I want to be accountable is because I come across a lot of people who are thinking of self-publishing and watching to see how we do, and I really want them to go in with both eyes open.<br /><br />I agree about success - I want to be read - rather, I want to have readers with whom to discuss words - both mine and theirs. I DO want to earn enough eventually that I can write full time, but that's only because it'll give more time for that conversation.Agnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-50813118052670620682009-09-02T12:33:14.060-07:002009-09-02T12:33:14.060-07:00I won't hold you to account because that would...I won't hold you to account because that would be unfair--I will wish you good luck again! I think you have a good shot today at achieving what you want.<br /><br />I've been self-publishing for almost ten years now, and it's been a hard, mostly no-rewards experience. In the past few years, self-publishing has slowly gained more acceptance (finally), but now I think economic situations have tightened people's fingers around their wallets, which is understandable. <br /><br />So I'd always suggest self-publishers don't have too many expectations w.r.t. sales. Just do it and see what happens. You (whoever you are, self-publisher, small press or big publishing house) probably can't know what will happen with high accuracy until a book's been out there and you can observe what's happened.<br /><br />And I've grown increasingly uncomfortable with the "success" and "failure" words--how I measure these seems to constantly change. But, more often than not, the number of sales isn't involved in that measuring. I'm more interested in my works getting reads.mshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05189632590362435386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-3879410940578823002009-09-02T11:48:41.370-07:002009-09-02T11:48:41.370-07:00Licorice, good luck with everything you're doi...Licorice, good luck with everything you're doing!Agnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-9036532277324569802009-09-02T11:48:03.416-07:002009-09-02T11:48:03.416-07:00Katherine, thank you - yes, someone else (as well ...Katherine, thank you - yes, someone else (as well as Sulci) reminded me about libraries (and also not to forget to sign up for public lending rights!). I had a wonderful day yesterday - the two bookshops I really wanted to take my books will (one of them is Independent Bookshop of the Year, Jaffe & Neale in Chipping Norton; the other is he Albion Beatnik - a bookshop dedicated to music and the Beat Poets - I'm deliberately NOT putting anything in Oxford's Waterstone's yet to make a big thing of the Indie spirit [it's not 100% altruistic - with Freshers week approaching, I can do some great joint events with the shop - it also makes a great story. I write a semi-regular column for The Indie Handbook, and this will make a great story for them]).<br /><br />My first big event will be a music/signing gig. I am lucky to know some awesome bands through my music writing (then again, I do music writing to get to know awesome bands).Agnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-88208469912858957952009-09-02T10:51:22.590-07:002009-09-02T10:51:22.590-07:00Ah, the bacon. I will finish that when I get the t...Ah, the bacon. I will finish that when I get the time. I am working on something(s) else at the moment.<br /><br />That is a nice suggestion, Miss May. (I think that is something ALL of us should keep in mind)<br />-Licorice LainRhys-Lain-Austuriashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11587243133131032025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-58316149990424469842009-09-02T06:27:07.746-07:002009-09-02T06:27:07.746-07:00Good luck it it - an admirable strategy! It's ...Good luck it it - an admirable strategy! It's hard work even if you're not self-publishing, but the more we can all work out ways of getting people to read us, the better. I agree with your previous poster - contact your library. Mine ordered 46 copies after I emailed them, one for each library in the county, so it just goes to show. Looking forward to hearing how you get on./www.katherinemay.co.ukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00170172901664017524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-75404812235559573222009-09-01T05:33:19.677-07:002009-09-01T05:33:19.677-07:00Thanks - I saw your post on TTS - will send you an...Thanks - I saw your post on TTS - will send you an e-mail about bacon!Agnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-65482806873473235082009-09-01T05:24:28.992-07:002009-09-01T05:24:28.992-07:00Very nice, sir. If I have time-I will seriously ha...Very nice, sir. If I have time-I will seriously have to fight my disability like never before to make time-I will check it out.Rhys-Lain-Austuriashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11587243133131032025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020036606005757534.post-81201414987755380562009-09-01T02:52:53.779-07:002009-09-01T02:52:53.779-07:00Thanks, Tony. Your copy is on its way.Thanks, Tony. Your copy is on its way.Agnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.com