I began receiving your newsletter only a month ago because I liked your writing, and I haven't read your serial and have no idea what it is about. Therefore, I'm not the right person to answer your question merely to state I'm a book reader, not a serial reader, if that helps at all.
I will start by saying I am enjoying The Wistful and the Good. Although I have been busy these past two weeks and am now two chapters behind. My problem with serials is the wait. I hate waiting a week for chapters. But if you published daily, I would probably have trouble keeping up. 🤣 Perhaps two or three chapters per week is a happy medium? Who knows? Which is why most people like ebooks. No waiting.
Although I would have never read The Wistful and the Good if it had been released as an ebook initially. It was only through discussing your newsletter venture on Discord that I discovered it. So...
I tried Kindle Unlimited when I published my first novel. I only got one full book read from it totaling 76 cents. I think KU works best for genres with voracious readers, like romance. And you have to crank out the books regularly. For me it wasn't worth the exclusivity.
I see no reason you can't continue publishing the serial and offer the book for those who don't want to wait (unless you plan to be tied to Amazon exclusivity that KU requires.)
As far as your newsletter, I am asking myself the same question. What do readers want? My most popular newsletters are my short humor and fiction. Then in December I did one humorous non-fiction newsletter about eggnog that is now my most popular post. My serials are the least popular. I have no sage advice.
But I will continue to read The Wistful and the Good as long as you continue to publish it. Honestly, I have too many unread books in my Kindle library. So reading your serial is working for me. Knowing my track record, if I buy it, it will probably go unread. Too easy to put it off. But when I see a chapter in my Substack app, it is a reminder.
Thanks Mark, that is really helpful. I am getting several votes for the serial format, so I am definitely going to maintain it. Like you, though, I have found that the serial chapters do less well than the essays I post. I'm guess that this is a similar case to what Elle Griffin has reported. Her literary journalism does better than her serial on Substack. But that makes sense, because Substack is a journalism platform. I conclude that for both me and Elle there is a Venn diagram where our fiction and non-fiction audiences overlap, but we also have people who will only ever read our non-fiction, and people who will only ever read our fiction. Maintaining the serial make sense to server the people in the overlapping category, but maybe it is time for me to move it to a separate section on Substack so people can choose which to follow.
From a purely economic point of view, the TBR pile is interesting. We all have one -- the books we have bought but not yet read. Some of mine go back decades. The money has been in the author's bank account since I bought them. Economically, then, I should be fine with people buying my books and not reading them. But I'm not. If serializing means some people read who otherwise wouldn't, that is reason enough to continue.
Yeah, I think we are all discovering that the serial fiction audience is not huge. But having both a serial and other writing together does allow some crossover. Plus it's less work to do one Substack than two.
I definitely think having a dedicated section for your serial is a good idea. Then Substack creates a table of contents and a permanent menu item at the top of your Substack automatically.
You could also put your essays in a section to make it easy to access.
And I agree about reading. I don't want people to buy my book and not read it. Unless it was 1,000,000 people. Then I could deal with it. 🤣
Heck, I'd keep reading it if you published as a serial. And no, you don't get a lower rate outside of Kindle Unlimited. Price the book between 2.99-9.99 and you get a 70% royalty. It's actually a better deal than KU. You aren't writing in a genre that is going to be particularly attractive in KU, but you want to be on Amazon. So. Publish on the 'Zon, but also go to Draft2Digital and put it up there. Same price. This way you end up on Apple, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and library outlets that you won't have via KU. I've made more money over the years by going wide.
Kindle Unlimited works best for certain genres, and not that well for others. Use the Substack as a reader magnet, and promote the other books when you post.
Thanks for this, Joyce. You made me go back and read the Amazon agreements again and I see you are right about the 70% -- you have to be in Kindle Select to get 70% in a few markets that I'm never going to sell well in anyway, but not the main markets that will make a difference to me. Thanks too for you comment on genre that do well in Kindle Unlimited. I Googled that and found you were right about that too. So what you suggest is pretty much what I think I will do. Thank you!
You're welcome! Ten-plus years of experience has to be good for something. Maybe I need to start holding workshops or something--I just don't know if people will do them or not. On the other hand...I have done workshops for Northwest Independent Writers Association.
Maybe you should! While there is a ton of advice out there, it is often contradictory, and often trying to sell you something. But finding simple things like a nuts and bolts checklist and straightforward directions is well nigh impossible. Clear straight talk from someone who knows the territory well could be invaluable.
I admit that I don't read much fiction. The only fiction I consume, I listen to with Audible. But my attention span fizzles out before I finish most books (sadly). I recently switched to Blinkist and really like that shorter format. I only say this to add some context my answers to your questions.
Re serializing the novel on substatck, I'd rather have it as a single ebook. That way I can maintain context if I were to read it it all the way through. Personally, I'd also investigate ways to have an AI read it (so that I could simply listen to it while biking).
Again, I'm much more into non-fiction, but I enjoy your non-fiction essay posts much more than fiction. I do think your natural mode is the essay. Your style and cadence just seem more engaging.
Thanks Tom. I've certainly always enjoyed the essay form, and I find that writing fiction provokes a whole raft of essay topics. I'm not sure that I could ever be just an essayist. But it seems like whatever else I am doing, I have to write essays about it! (But then, you would know about that too!)
I'm also planning on doing an audiobook version (I am told I have the right sort of voice for it) and since I am hearing from a number of people who like the serial format, I think I will release the chapters in podcast form as well.
I have actually been listening to an AI read the book -- Word's Read Aloud feature -- because it is a great way to proofread a final MS. All those things the eye misses, the ear catches. The quality of the reading is remarkable good these days, but it's not quite there yet as a medium for recreational listening, at least to my ear.
I have so enjoyed the instalments on the 4 weeks I have been with Substack but would prefer it as an ebook to be read in one fell-swoop. I'm an indie author, have been since 2010 and am currently writing my 14th book. My experience within the indie industry has been the greatest experience of my life and I went into it with absolutely no expectations.
Would I ever serialise on Substack? Never. It would, I feel, dilute the narrative. But that's just my opinion.
I'm surprised that agents/publishers are telling you that Dark Age fiction is not sale-able. It's one of the fastest rising timeframes currently, led by the likes of Cornwell, Harffy, Turney and many others. It's one of my favourite timeframes to read.
If you want freedom to continue as you do AND maintain what you already have on Substack, have you thought of publishing through Draft2Digital. Their rules are less stringent than Amazon's. I have published through both but am currently exclusively with Amazon for business reasons. I do not engage with Kindle Unlimited though. That's a personal choice.
If you want to ask me any questions at all, feel free to contact me through my website pruebatten.com
I had one agent tell me in so many words that you can only sell books set in Anglo-Saxon times if your name is Bernard Cornwell. It does seem like Cornwell has now opened the door for other writers of warrior's tales set in the period. Whether there is now a developing market for other types of stories set in the period, I don't know. Certainly mine in not a warrior tale. If you have any specific pointers to books more like mine in that period, I would be delighted to hear about them.
The majority of those who have responded to me would prefer an ebook, but a significant number have expressed a clear preference for the serial, so I am going to keep the serial going, at least to the end of this book. I think my plan is going to be to go to Amazon directly and to Draft2Digital for all the other markets.
I'm also going to experiment with podcasting the chapters on Substack, and if that goes well, I may do an audiobook version on Audible. Basically, go wide and see what sticks.
Thanks for the offer. I may well take you up on it the next time I get stuck on something.
I began receiving your newsletter only a month ago because I liked your writing, and I haven't read your serial and have no idea what it is about. Therefore, I'm not the right person to answer your question merely to state I'm a book reader, not a serial reader, if that helps at all.
Hi Karen.
That absolutely helps. I'm a book reader too, but I've found that a number of my readers like the serial format, so I plan to do both.
Thanks for subscribing!
I will start by saying I am enjoying The Wistful and the Good. Although I have been busy these past two weeks and am now two chapters behind. My problem with serials is the wait. I hate waiting a week for chapters. But if you published daily, I would probably have trouble keeping up. 🤣 Perhaps two or three chapters per week is a happy medium? Who knows? Which is why most people like ebooks. No waiting.
Although I would have never read The Wistful and the Good if it had been released as an ebook initially. It was only through discussing your newsletter venture on Discord that I discovered it. So...
I tried Kindle Unlimited when I published my first novel. I only got one full book read from it totaling 76 cents. I think KU works best for genres with voracious readers, like romance. And you have to crank out the books regularly. For me it wasn't worth the exclusivity.
I see no reason you can't continue publishing the serial and offer the book for those who don't want to wait (unless you plan to be tied to Amazon exclusivity that KU requires.)
As far as your newsletter, I am asking myself the same question. What do readers want? My most popular newsletters are my short humor and fiction. Then in December I did one humorous non-fiction newsletter about eggnog that is now my most popular post. My serials are the least popular. I have no sage advice.
But I will continue to read The Wistful and the Good as long as you continue to publish it. Honestly, I have too many unread books in my Kindle library. So reading your serial is working for me. Knowing my track record, if I buy it, it will probably go unread. Too easy to put it off. But when I see a chapter in my Substack app, it is a reminder.
Thanks Mark, that is really helpful. I am getting several votes for the serial format, so I am definitely going to maintain it. Like you, though, I have found that the serial chapters do less well than the essays I post. I'm guess that this is a similar case to what Elle Griffin has reported. Her literary journalism does better than her serial on Substack. But that makes sense, because Substack is a journalism platform. I conclude that for both me and Elle there is a Venn diagram where our fiction and non-fiction audiences overlap, but we also have people who will only ever read our non-fiction, and people who will only ever read our fiction. Maintaining the serial make sense to server the people in the overlapping category, but maybe it is time for me to move it to a separate section on Substack so people can choose which to follow.
From a purely economic point of view, the TBR pile is interesting. We all have one -- the books we have bought but not yet read. Some of mine go back decades. The money has been in the author's bank account since I bought them. Economically, then, I should be fine with people buying my books and not reading them. But I'm not. If serializing means some people read who otherwise wouldn't, that is reason enough to continue.
Yeah, I think we are all discovering that the serial fiction audience is not huge. But having both a serial and other writing together does allow some crossover. Plus it's less work to do one Substack than two.
I definitely think having a dedicated section for your serial is a good idea. Then Substack creates a table of contents and a permanent menu item at the top of your Substack automatically.
You could also put your essays in a section to make it easy to access.
And I agree about reading. I don't want people to buy my book and not read it. Unless it was 1,000,000 people. Then I could deal with it. 🤣
Heck, I'd keep reading it if you published as a serial. And no, you don't get a lower rate outside of Kindle Unlimited. Price the book between 2.99-9.99 and you get a 70% royalty. It's actually a better deal than KU. You aren't writing in a genre that is going to be particularly attractive in KU, but you want to be on Amazon. So. Publish on the 'Zon, but also go to Draft2Digital and put it up there. Same price. This way you end up on Apple, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and library outlets that you won't have via KU. I've made more money over the years by going wide.
Kindle Unlimited works best for certain genres, and not that well for others. Use the Substack as a reader magnet, and promote the other books when you post.
Thanks for this, Joyce. You made me go back and read the Amazon agreements again and I see you are right about the 70% -- you have to be in Kindle Select to get 70% in a few markets that I'm never going to sell well in anyway, but not the main markets that will make a difference to me. Thanks too for you comment on genre that do well in Kindle Unlimited. I Googled that and found you were right about that too. So what you suggest is pretty much what I think I will do. Thank you!
You're welcome! Ten-plus years of experience has to be good for something. Maybe I need to start holding workshops or something--I just don't know if people will do them or not. On the other hand...I have done workshops for Northwest Independent Writers Association.
Maybe you should! While there is a ton of advice out there, it is often contradictory, and often trying to sell you something. But finding simple things like a nuts and bolts checklist and straightforward directions is well nigh impossible. Clear straight talk from someone who knows the territory well could be invaluable.
I admit that I don't read much fiction. The only fiction I consume, I listen to with Audible. But my attention span fizzles out before I finish most books (sadly). I recently switched to Blinkist and really like that shorter format. I only say this to add some context my answers to your questions.
Re serializing the novel on substatck, I'd rather have it as a single ebook. That way I can maintain context if I were to read it it all the way through. Personally, I'd also investigate ways to have an AI read it (so that I could simply listen to it while biking).
Again, I'm much more into non-fiction, but I enjoy your non-fiction essay posts much more than fiction. I do think your natural mode is the essay. Your style and cadence just seem more engaging.
Thanks Tom. I've certainly always enjoyed the essay form, and I find that writing fiction provokes a whole raft of essay topics. I'm not sure that I could ever be just an essayist. But it seems like whatever else I am doing, I have to write essays about it! (But then, you would know about that too!)
I'm also planning on doing an audiobook version (I am told I have the right sort of voice for it) and since I am hearing from a number of people who like the serial format, I think I will release the chapters in podcast form as well.
I have actually been listening to an AI read the book -- Word's Read Aloud feature -- because it is a great way to proofread a final MS. All those things the eye misses, the ear catches. The quality of the reading is remarkable good these days, but it's not quite there yet as a medium for recreational listening, at least to my ear.
I have so enjoyed the instalments on the 4 weeks I have been with Substack but would prefer it as an ebook to be read in one fell-swoop. I'm an indie author, have been since 2010 and am currently writing my 14th book. My experience within the indie industry has been the greatest experience of my life and I went into it with absolutely no expectations.
Would I ever serialise on Substack? Never. It would, I feel, dilute the narrative. But that's just my opinion.
I'm surprised that agents/publishers are telling you that Dark Age fiction is not sale-able. It's one of the fastest rising timeframes currently, led by the likes of Cornwell, Harffy, Turney and many others. It's one of my favourite timeframes to read.
If you want freedom to continue as you do AND maintain what you already have on Substack, have you thought of publishing through Draft2Digital. Their rules are less stringent than Amazon's. I have published through both but am currently exclusively with Amazon for business reasons. I do not engage with Kindle Unlimited though. That's a personal choice.
If you want to ask me any questions at all, feel free to contact me through my website pruebatten.com
Best of luck with what you decide going forward.
Thanks Prue,
I had one agent tell me in so many words that you can only sell books set in Anglo-Saxon times if your name is Bernard Cornwell. It does seem like Cornwell has now opened the door for other writers of warrior's tales set in the period. Whether there is now a developing market for other types of stories set in the period, I don't know. Certainly mine in not a warrior tale. If you have any specific pointers to books more like mine in that period, I would be delighted to hear about them.
The majority of those who have responded to me would prefer an ebook, but a significant number have expressed a clear preference for the serial, so I am going to keep the serial going, at least to the end of this book. I think my plan is going to be to go to Amazon directly and to Draft2Digital for all the other markets.
I'm also going to experiment with podcasting the chapters on Substack, and if that goes well, I may do an audiobook version on Audible. Basically, go wide and see what sticks.
Thanks for the offer. I may well take you up on it the next time I get stuck on something.