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We started this one out with an announcement that 1) We really like our own podcasts, 2) I’m eating a banana, and 3) I (Johnny) am writing a new story that is really damn hilarious and awesome but that I’m unwilling to tell you anything else about.
Talk about useless.
Should you keep writing new stuff while you’re editing an earlier project?
Despite the fact that we’d already rambled on for fifteen minutes, we spent 15 more minutes rambling on to answer a question Stacy emailed us about whether or not it makes sense to start working on a new writing project while editing something else.
Sean said he does but thinks it’s not ideal.
I said that I don’t have any problem with it at all and plan to edit my current project while writing the next one.
Dave opened a Diet Coke.
And like I said, a long-ass answer followed.
Amazon’s new Kindle Serials program is awesome-looking, but not for indie authors yet
Last week, Amazon announced its new Kindle Serials program, which will allow readers to subscribe to a book once and receive updates over time.
This contrasts with the way Sean and Dave are serializing, which requires readers to either buy every single episode or to wait for the full “season” of six episodes and buy that.
The disadvantages of Sean and Dave’s way are that they have to work-work-work-get paid, whereas the Kindle Serials program would let them get paid up front. It’d also be better for readers, who wouldn’t have to buy multiple books and would get updates automatically, the same way podcast subscribers get new podcast updates automatically.
We spent a lot of time going back and forth, with questions like these:
- The Kindle Serials program is currently invite-only. Will it ever roll out to all indie authors, or will serials authors have to be hand-picked by Amazon?
- Will this hurt Sean and Dave’s current model, because people will get used to the new paradigm?
- Is this a good thing for ALL serials, because it makes serialization more mainstream?
- Will a mainstream influx of new serials flood the marketplace?
- and of course
- What is the “deal” for Kindle Serials authors? They haven’t announced it yet. It it like a traditional buying of a book by a publisher? What are authors paid?
To view the video version of this episode, go to: Self Publishing Podcast #21 – Serialization in Amazon’s New Serials Program
Now I really want a banana
Thanks for answering my question, guys! That was really helpful.
Oh and Sean, please tell us how you *really* feel about anonymous reviews!
Stacy
LOL
They suck.
The serialization idea seems very interesting – you’ll be turning into a one man producer show and keep your “junkies” hooked with continuously flowing crack-content (so to speak), haha. You guys were pioneers with this idea, I hope Amazon opens this up for the rest of us.
I agree that the more “competition” you have in the space, the better for you.
I bet some peeps were confused by Sean & David’s serialized format, and only
the curious ones get really into it. When the idea becomes mainstream, it will be the most natural thing in the world.
Do you guys think “old-fashioned” novel formats will go out of favor compared to serials ?
No, I don’t think novels will ever go out of style. I think there’s plenty of room for both.
My favorite non-famous quote lately is from my friend Lee Stranahan: “In the future, I predict that people will want to be entertained.”
If you do that, you’ll be set. And for the foreseeable future, it’s hard to imagine humanity simply losing interest in delving into something that might take some time to finish reading.