• About
  • Contact
  • Reviews
  • My Novel in Progress
  • Blog Honours

Thomas Cotterill

~ Integrating Philosophy, Creativity, Psychology, and Spirituality

Thomas Cotterill

Category Archives: Self-publishing

Ebook Pricing Strategies for Indie Authors

14 Tuesday Aug 2012

Posted by Thomas Cotterill in Indie Authors, Self-publishing

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

99 cent ebooks, ebook downloads, ebook price psychology, ebook pricing, ebook sales, free ebooks, indie market, strategic price point

State of Confusion with capital buildings and overlaid by "state of confusion."

Confusion abounds when deciding the best price for ebooks.

Please note that material such as this is time sensitive and may vary somewhat from one genre to another. I offer what is here as a framework for your own research and thinking. Do your homework.

Many fairy tales surround pricing for indie ebooks. Looking over the first four pages of the Smashwords bestseller list for full length science fiction, I see only one title for sale at the often-recommended price of $1.99 – everything else is higher, most of it much higher. I have been studying the price issue for months and have concluded the following: Continue reading →

Advertisements

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Do Indie Writers Need a Pen Name?

01 Sunday Jul 2012

Posted by Thomas Cotterill in Indie Authors, Self-publishing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

advantages and disadvantages, common surname, name recognition, promoting sales, search results, self-published authors, shared surname, unique pen name

Mark Twain

Mark Twain is probably the most famous pen name. A special nom de plume can make you stand out, but there are other pros and cons.

Some indie writers operate under a carefully chosen pen name. Is there an advantage to this? Does it increase the author’s ability to sell his or her works? When I set out to become an indie, I thought the strategy had some merit. Subsequently, I had cause to reconsider.

About two months after I decided to become an indie author, I discovered that I would not have, as I confidently expected, exclusive use of my somewhat unusual surname in the fantasy genre. I finally thought to search Smashwords Continue reading →

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Ebook Covers for Indie Writers

27 Wednesday Jun 2012

Posted by Thomas Cotterill in Indie Authors, Self-publishing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

composite covers, concept, copyright issues, free images, licensed images, PhotoScape, public domain images, title fonts

Demonstration Ebook Cover for the sci-fi novel SCAT.

After finding the public domain artwork, I made this cover in fifteen minutes using a donationware application called PhotoScape.

As an indie writer who has not yet made his fortune it does not pay me to have ebook covers made by professionals. This is especially true for short stories. That being the case, I learned – like most indies – to make my own covers. I manage my ebook collection with Calibre and since that stellar application allows me to add covers to public domain ebooks, or even replace covers on DRM-protected works, I set aside a little time each day to create covers for the assorted ebooks that most needed them. It does not take long to get reasonably good at this.

The biggest headache for the ebook cover maker is the infamous copyright issue. Luckily, as long as you Continue reading →

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

How to Do a Messy Blog Startup and Be Happy

01 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by Thomas Cotterill in Self-publishing, Writing

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

blog dashboard, blog names, blog statistics, blogging advice, getting started, humour, learning to blog, search engine referrals

Smug Cartoon Cat with High Tail

How it feels to be a 62 year-old blogger with three weeks experience under his belt! (Image: WPClipart)

This blog is now three weeks old. In the beginning, I took some advice from a slick how-to-blog website and just plunged right in, opting for WordPress as the blog host and choosing the 2011 theme used to illustrate the article. Definitely a monkey see, monkey do scenario. As it happened, the advice was pretty sound.

I had been dithering over blog hosts for a couple of weeks and probably would have dithered over a lot more blogging aspects if not for that gentle shove. Instead, I’m now up and running with a real live blog, and while I’m not doing anywhere near as well as some others who got started around the same time (I have been looking over the fence at their greener grass), I am making progress (unlike some quickly abandoned blogs I have come across). I have a few likes, a handful of followers, and even a comment or two. Things are picking up. Continue reading →

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Should Indie Writers Choose Print or Digital?

24 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Thomas Cotterill in Indie Authors, Self-publishing

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

cheap ereaders, comparing sales, digital editions, ebook revolution, print editions, print is retro, traditional publishing, vanity presses

Old Hand Operated Printing Press

Print is now ancient and definitely on its way out. Your local bookshop probably fills space with new kinds of merchandise.

A lot of struggling writers are still hoping to break into print. They see self-publishing as a humble temporary stop on a journey towards grander things. Their ebooks are merely practice runs as they whip themselves into shape for their real careers as print authors. It is easy to see why they might have this attitude. The old publishing paradigm has been around for centuries, an awful lot has been written about it, and it is still surrounded by a powerful aura of tradition, respectability, and substance. Even the least literate know a little something about the lives of a famous print author or two. Many such authors are positively draped in glory, with reputations that span the globe. Some of them have even become very wealthy. What up-and-coming author would not want to join them? Continue reading →

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

My Favourite Indie Publishing Books

22 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Thomas Cotterill in Self-publishing, Writing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

author advice, experienced authors, how to self-publish, indie publishing, indie writing, publishing guides, selecting titles, vanity presses

An Indie Writer's Odyssey

Francis Porretto’s enjoyable and enlightening look at the indie writing experience.

I decided to look into self-publishing on January 7, 2012 (thereby fulfilling a New Year’s resolution) and began in the obvious way by reading a whole slew of how-to books. These are often short – little more than articles really – and do not require a lot of time. Since their authors use them to promote other works, many of them are free for the downloading on Smashwords. Most of the rest are inexpensive. What you learn from them is essential if you are to have any chance of success. Do not skimp on this step. My advice is to soak yourself in self-publishing ebooks until the juices have made you a dyed in the flesh indie. I spent about a month with them. Continue reading →

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Search the blog

Follow Thomas Cotterill on WordPress.com

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Translate

Thomas Cotterill


I am a manic-depressive made philosophical by my long struggle with the disruptive mood disorder, during which I spent sixteen years living as a forest hermit. I write philosophical essays, fantasy, and science fiction. My attempt to integrate creativity, psychology, philosophy, and spirituality imbues everything I write. You will find hundreds of related essays and articles on my blog. I live quietly in British Columbia's scenic Fraser Valley, a beautiful place in which to wax philosophical.

Recently Popular Views

  • Romanticism's Claim on Individuality
  • The Ship as Metaphor for the Self
  • Explaining Mysticism’s Dark Night of the Soul
  • Idealism and Perfectionism Are Enemies of Creativity
  • Creativity Can Cause Anxiety
  • How Artists Develop Their Artistic Vision
  • Affirmation or Negation - Two Ways to Approach Life
  • Being Creative with Associative Thinking
  • Outrunning the Hound of Heaven
  • Synergistic Thinking

Archives

Search the blog

Categories

  • Blog Honours (6)
  • Creativity (67)
  • Indie Authors (12)
  • Jungian Psychology (13)
  • Mind (38)
  • My Own Novel (1)
  • Philosophy (84)
  • Psychology (53)
  • Reviews (13)
  • Self-publishing (6)
  • Spirituality (20)
  • Writing (51)

Liked Most Often

  • The Glorious Psychology of Blogging
  • The Useless Passion
  • Are You Fed Up and Longing To Be a Hermit?
  • The Concept of Liberation in Psychology
  • The Mental Gatekeeper
  • Very Inspiring Blogger Award
  • Debunking the Butterfly Effect
  • Turn Your Anxiety into an Asset
  • Epiphanies and Cascading System Failures
  • The Constant Self Is Real

Pick Up Feeds Here

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.com

Copyright

© Thomas Cotterill, 2012-17. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Thomas Cotterill with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Search the blog

Advertisements

Click for a list of related posts:

artistic ambition artistic dedication artistic passion artistic vision artists motivation associative thinking attacking reason authentic self authentic will autobiography biography childhood memories chronic depression chronic self-alienation conscious awareness consensus worldview creative daemon creative lifestyle creative process creative thinking creative vision creativity research cultural hypnosis emotional literacy emotionally important ideas establish mood ethical behaviour existential angst experiencing synchronicity false persona favouring emotion favourite things fear of death feeling tone feminist viewpoint fiction writers finding meaning flexible goals genuine will getting results H. G. Wells hermit lifestyle hidden reality humour idealized self individual subjectivity individuation process inner conflicts inner guide inner nag inner voice intellectual life intellectual process intuitive insights irrupting unconscious lack of self-knowledge life of the mind living by emotion logical thinking martial arts meaningless paradox memory and mood moral standards mortal individual nagging conscience nanny state non-linear thinking outlining vs extempore pain of loneliness perceiving meaning personal freedom personal responsibility personal transformation personal wisdom personal worldview pursuing self-realization recapturing mood religious beliefs repressed wishes science fiction seeing signs and omens self-discovery sense of identity sensitivity to mood Simone de Beauvoir social alienation solitary writers stressing individuality subjective worldview synergistic thinking system of ideas Thomas Cotterill tolerating polarities traditional publishing unconscious association unconscious mind wholeness and authenticity work habits writers block writers life

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
%d bloggers like this: