Price
of Top-selling ebooks Continues to Rise.
of Top-selling ebooks Continues to Rise.
It
has been seven weeks since I last checked the prices of Amazon’s 100 best-selling
ebooks. Some trends seem to be continuing while others are faltering. Overall,
the price of a best-selling ebook seems to be going up.
has been seven weeks since I last checked the prices of Amazon’s 100 best-selling
ebooks. Some trends seem to be continuing while others are faltering. Overall,
the price of a best-selling ebook seems to be going up.
The
trends that continue include a drop in the number of ebooks on the list selling
at 99 cents. This time there were seven ebooks at 99 cents, compared to three
last time which was massive drop from 34 in February.
trends that continue include a drop in the number of ebooks on the list selling
at 99 cents. This time there were seven ebooks at 99 cents, compared to three
last time which was massive drop from 34 in February.
The
number at the ebook guru price of $2.99 continues to drop. This time there were
15, last time 22, which was down from 32 in February.
number at the ebook guru price of $2.99 continues to drop. This time there were
15, last time 22, which was down from 32 in February.
$3.99
has been confirmed as a hot price with seventeen ebooks at that price, compared
to 13 last time and four in February. $4.99 might be a new hot price too, with
eleven at that price this time.
has been confirmed as a hot price with seventeen ebooks at that price, compared
to 13 last time and four in February. $4.99 might be a new hot price too, with
eleven at that price this time.
Thirty-two
ebooks were priced over $7 compared to 47 last time. But overall the price of the
100 best-selling ebooks is increasing. I think part of this increase is due to mainstream
publishers publishing more ebooks and therefore making it harder for cheaper self-published
ebooks to get on the list.
ebooks were priced over $7 compared to 47 last time. But overall the price of the
100 best-selling ebooks is increasing. I think part of this increase is due to mainstream
publishers publishing more ebooks and therefore making it harder for cheaper self-published
ebooks to get on the list.
Ray
Bradbury on Writing.
Bradbury on Writing.
I
recently read that Ray Bradbury recommends writing students write a lot of
short stories. He said that if they write one a week, in a year they will have
written 52 and “I defy you to write 52 bad ones. A story will come that’s just
wonderful.”
recently read that Ray Bradbury recommends writing students write a lot of
short stories. He said that if they write one a week, in a year they will have
written 52 and “I defy you to write 52 bad ones. A story will come that’s just
wonderful.”
A
story a week! I would struggle coming up with the ideas for a story a week. And
how long are these stories he suggests they write each week? As a writer I find
it hard to keep any story under 5,000 words. As a reader, I find most stories
under 5,000 words aren’t large enough to wow me with fully developed characters
and worlds, and that offer an original take on an idea, theme or plot.
story a week! I would struggle coming up with the ideas for a story a week. And
how long are these stories he suggests they write each week? As a writer I find
it hard to keep any story under 5,000 words. As a reader, I find most stories
under 5,000 words aren’t large enough to wow me with fully developed characters
and worlds, and that offer an original take on an idea, theme or plot.
The
more short stories I read the less I am a fan of them. Only about one in five engage
my imagination while I am reading it. One in fifty I might remember the next
day because the story resonated with me. And usually that one in fifty will be
a story over 10,000 words. And I am so sick of stories written around a twist:
ha ha I tricked you. Well many times the writer hasn’t because I have picked up
the obvious twist well before it came along. How about exploring a theme or
idea instead?
more short stories I read the less I am a fan of them. Only about one in five engage
my imagination while I am reading it. One in fifty I might remember the next
day because the story resonated with me. And usually that one in fifty will be
a story over 10,000 words. And I am so sick of stories written around a twist:
ha ha I tricked you. Well many times the writer hasn’t because I have picked up
the obvious twist well before it came along. How about exploring a theme or
idea instead?
I
know a lot of writer’s choose the short story route as a way to improve their
writing and build up a reputation. But I can’t see the point bothering with a
form of writing that generally fails to excite me. I much prefer to engage with
a world and its characters over the extended period of a novel.
know a lot of writer’s choose the short story route as a way to improve their
writing and build up a reputation. But I can’t see the point bothering with a
form of writing that generally fails to excite me. I much prefer to engage with
a world and its characters over the extended period of a novel.
Ray
also suggested budding writers read a short story, a poem and an essay every
night. What about novels? When I read a short story at night, I usually then pick
up a novel. I do read a lot of newspaper articles, blog posts and web articles
on writing, so they would go some way to making up my essay quota.
also suggested budding writers read a short story, a poem and an essay every
night. What about novels? When I read a short story at night, I usually then pick
up a novel. I do read a lot of newspaper articles, blog posts and web articles
on writing, so they would go some way to making up my essay quota.
As
for poems, I find most say nothing to me. For a poem to resonate with me I think
I have to be in a similar head space to its writer when they wrote it. As my
headspace is very different to most people, finding a poem that speaks to me is
much rarer than remembering the short story I read the previous night.
for poems, I find most say nothing to me. For a poem to resonate with me I think
I have to be in a similar head space to its writer when they wrote it. As my
headspace is very different to most people, finding a poem that speaks to me is
much rarer than remembering the short story I read the previous night.
But
I must read a Ray Bradbury short story collection to see what his stories are
like.
I must read a Ray Bradbury short story collection to see what his stories are
like.
0 Responses
Ray Bradbury was essentially a short story writer so naturally he would say that. I read some of his work when i was devouring sci-fi as a teen, which I enjoyed.
Totally agree with you re twists etc. Can't stand them. It's cheap. So is this edict about show vs tell. A topic for another time.
Agreed! Short stories traditionally don't do much for me and yep, so not into those 'clever twists'! But, publishers look for publishing history, so if you don't have any… It might be the only way to break into this hard arse of an industry!