Hello from Edward J. Coburn
Well, not much to say today except that is was a bummer to have to go back to work after three days off. Oh well, at least I have a job. I have start a new poem but only have one verse done so far. I am going to YouTube it when it is finished. I'll also put it on my website and here as well.
I updated only the On Gambling tab today.
Maybe I'll write more befor I go to bed, but I doubt it since I have to answer the door for trick-or-treaters.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
The Pricing of EBooks
Hello from Edward J. Coburn
I am going to dispense with putting the informatioon about why this blog is called what it is. If you want to know that, look at some of my older blogs.
I was looking for information aboout NonFiction publishing to ebook (Kindle) and ran across a couple of interesting blogs. They are:
Myself, I originally priced both of my books:
at $2.99 (70% royalties so about $2 a book) and sold what I consider to be, very few, based upon what I have read about other authors. So, I lowered the price to $0.99 (35% royalties or about $0.35 per book) and for a month, sold only two. One of my daughters says I should price them higher (maybe as high as $5.99 - 70% or about $4.20 royalties per book) because people see value base upon price. I don't know if I'm quite ready to try that yet, but, maybe I will.
Based upon one of the above articles, I think I had better get my nonfiction books out there, I am going to write two to begin with, but I have several others in mind. One is a good book for christmas and one will be good for spring (making an eight-foot waterfall). But then comes the question of what price I should charge. I think I will start at $2.99 and see how that goes.
Overall, I figure if I get enough books of different types out there, I may actually make a little money. I don't expect to get rich, but a bit of extra income when I retire would certianly be nice.
I am going to start writing rhyming children's books too. I have already written two, I am just waiting for my daughter to draw the illustrations. The first one that will be out will be one where the kids in the book are trick-or-treating. It's kind of silly, but it's supposed to be for younger readers and just look at how popular Dr. Seuss books have been (seems like forever) and most of them use silly rhymes and nonsensical words. I am going to steer away from nonsense words because I think todays children are a lot more advanced than they were when Dr. Seuss was writing. Though I still think his books are fun, I am going to stick to my guns and steer clear on nonsense words (like, for example, "A Wocket in my Pocket").
I just read a short blog that says children's books don't do well as eBooks. Well, I'm going to try it anyway since they're already written and my daughter is working on the illustrations.
Well, enough rambling for now. On to writng nonfiction.
I am going to dispense with putting the informatioon about why this blog is called what it is. If you want to know that, look at some of my older blogs.
I was looking for information aboout NonFiction publishing to ebook (Kindle) and ran across a couple of interesting blogs. They are:
Myself, I originally priced both of my books:
at $2.99 (70% royalties so about $2 a book) and sold what I consider to be, very few, based upon what I have read about other authors. So, I lowered the price to $0.99 (35% royalties or about $0.35 per book) and for a month, sold only two. One of my daughters says I should price them higher (maybe as high as $5.99 - 70% or about $4.20 royalties per book) because people see value base upon price. I don't know if I'm quite ready to try that yet, but, maybe I will.
Based upon one of the above articles, I think I had better get my nonfiction books out there, I am going to write two to begin with, but I have several others in mind. One is a good book for christmas and one will be good for spring (making an eight-foot waterfall). But then comes the question of what price I should charge. I think I will start at $2.99 and see how that goes.
Overall, I figure if I get enough books of different types out there, I may actually make a little money. I don't expect to get rich, but a bit of extra income when I retire would certianly be nice.
I am going to start writing rhyming children's books too. I have already written two, I am just waiting for my daughter to draw the illustrations. The first one that will be out will be one where the kids in the book are trick-or-treating. It's kind of silly, but it's supposed to be for younger readers and just look at how popular Dr. Seuss books have been (seems like forever) and most of them use silly rhymes and nonsensical words. I am going to steer away from nonsense words because I think todays children are a lot more advanced than they were when Dr. Seuss was writing. Though I still think his books are fun, I am going to stick to my guns and steer clear on nonsense words (like, for example, "A Wocket in my Pocket").
I just read a short blog that says children's books don't do well as eBooks. Well, I'm going to try it anyway since they're already written and my daughter is working on the illustrations.
Well, enough rambling for now. On to writng nonfiction.
How I write
Hello from Edward J. Coburn
First, I will always copy the explanation of the name of the post, shortened a bit:
You may be wondering why my blog is called Ram's Ramblings on Writing. But why Ram's Ramblings when my name is Ed. Well, it all started with a blog by Robert Adam Madigan (or RAM), a blog that doesn't actually exist because Robert Adam Madigan is a character in a new book I am writing and, in the book, he is the author of the blog call Ram's Rambings although his name is not really Robert Adam Madigan. He is hiding from his real name which is Frederick Martin Scope. You will have to read the book (when it's finished) to find out why.
Today I thought I might explain a technique that I found very useful when I wrote Last Killer Standing.
I wasn't quite sure how I wanted the book to procede, but I knew how I wanted it to end. Thus, I laid out my chapters in what I thought was a logical progression. Then, about when I had finished chapter four or so, I decided the order of the chapters was wrong for what I then had in mind. Therefore, I took the short chapter summaries and put them in Excel (a spread sheet) so they were easy to move around. For example, at one point what I thought should go into chapter 25 I then decided, because of what I had written, needed to be chapter 18. With Excel, all I had to do is move the summary line for that chapter to the appropriate point.
I found many additional benefits from using Excel.
But. I digress, the point was how I determined that five edits, or so, for each chapter is enough. Well, while writing my textbooks I found that constant editing sometimes caused more harm that the help it provided. I found that after a while, I ended up changing a passage back to what it was several edits ago.
So, how much editing is enough. I find that after I have corrected all the misspellings, which generally only takes one edit, I am editing for content. Ocassionally I run across something that doesn't make sense in it's position, and I have to go back to an earlier portion of the chapter, or even an earlier chapter, and make additions or changes. But, after I have gone through a chapter a couple of time with virtually no changes, I consider that chapter done. Unless, of course, that chapter is changened because of something found in another, later chapter. Then I may feel obligate to edit it several more times.
I have read postings on the internet where writers have claimed they are editing their material 20 or more times. I'm afraid I don't believe that. I really can't image that anyone edits a chapter more that six or seven times. As I said, to my way of looking at it, you would end up changing it back to a previous version.
If you disagree with this, please leave me a comment. I relish differences of opinion.
Today, Saturday, 10/29/2011, I have added a new tab to post a few of the more interesting passages from my books. Hopefully they will not prove to be spoilers. I will try hard so they won't be.
I also posted changes in the following tabs:
First, I will always copy the explanation of the name of the post, shortened a bit:
You may be wondering why my blog is called Ram's Ramblings on Writing. But why Ram's Ramblings when my name is Ed. Well, it all started with a blog by Robert Adam Madigan (or RAM), a blog that doesn't actually exist because Robert Adam Madigan is a character in a new book I am writing and, in the book, he is the author of the blog call Ram's Rambings although his name is not really Robert Adam Madigan. He is hiding from his real name which is Frederick Martin Scope. You will have to read the book (when it's finished) to find out why.
Today I thought I might explain a technique that I found very useful when I wrote Last Killer Standing.
I wasn't quite sure how I wanted the book to procede, but I knew how I wanted it to end. Thus, I laid out my chapters in what I thought was a logical progression. Then, about when I had finished chapter four or so, I decided the order of the chapters was wrong for what I then had in mind. Therefore, I took the short chapter summaries and put them in Excel (a spread sheet) so they were easy to move around. For example, at one point what I thought should go into chapter 25 I then decided, because of what I had written, needed to be chapter 18. With Excel, all I had to do is move the summary line for that chapter to the appropriate point.
I found many additional benefits from using Excel.
- I could keep track of whaen a chapter was finished (by putting the date in another column)
- I could keep track of how many pages were in each chapter (word would tell me that) and a running total of how many in entire book, which is approximately 96,000.
- I could keep track of how many times I had reedited a particular chapter (a different column for each time it was edited). I edited each chapter at least five times before I published it along with the edits other people suggested for me.
- Visual Basic Made Easy
- Visual Basic 5 Made Easy
- Microsoft Windows 98
- Advanced Basic Structured Programming for Microcomputers
- Microcomputers, hardware, software, and programming (my first textbook)
- And others
But. I digress, the point was how I determined that five edits, or so, for each chapter is enough. Well, while writing my textbooks I found that constant editing sometimes caused more harm that the help it provided. I found that after a while, I ended up changing a passage back to what it was several edits ago.
So, how much editing is enough. I find that after I have corrected all the misspellings, which generally only takes one edit, I am editing for content. Ocassionally I run across something that doesn't make sense in it's position, and I have to go back to an earlier portion of the chapter, or even an earlier chapter, and make additions or changes. But, after I have gone through a chapter a couple of time with virtually no changes, I consider that chapter done. Unless, of course, that chapter is changened because of something found in another, later chapter. Then I may feel obligate to edit it several more times.
I have read postings on the internet where writers have claimed they are editing their material 20 or more times. I'm afraid I don't believe that. I really can't image that anyone edits a chapter more that six or seven times. As I said, to my way of looking at it, you would end up changing it back to a previous version.
If you disagree with this, please leave me a comment. I relish differences of opinion.
Today, Saturday, 10/29/2011, I have added a new tab to post a few of the more interesting passages from my books. Hopefully they will not prove to be spoilers. I will try hard so they won't be.
I also posted changes in the following tabs:
- On Ed's Job
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Ed On Writing
Hello from Edward J. Coburn
Okay, finally, here is my second post. I have decided that I will try to post every day (at least a little) and I will post anytime I put anything on the tabbed pages so with a quick look at the front page you can always see what new was added. First, I will always copy the explanation of the name of the post, shortened a bit:
You may be wondering why my blog is called Ram's Ramblings on Writing. But why Ram's Ramblings when my name is Ed. Well, it all started with a blog by Robert Adam Madigan (or RAM), a blog that doesn't actually exist because Robert Adam Madigan is a character in a new book I am writing and, in the book, he is the author of the blog call Ram's Rambings although his name is not really Robert Adam Madigan. He is hiding from his real name which is Frederick Martin Scope. You will have to read the book (when it's finished) to find out why.
So today, Sunday, 10/23/2011, I have posted changes in the following tabs:
You may have wondered why I posted my latest book (Last Killer Standing) as a Kindle (ebook) book rather that getting it traditionally published. Well, the answer to that is simple.
It is next to impossible, if not downright impoossible, to get to a publisher without having an agent and getting an agent is next to impossible as well. And what's worse, when you send a submission in to an agent:
The problem with that is that with so many books being self-published through Kindle, yours and mine, no matter how good, they are hard to locate and can easily fall through the cracks without hardly any readership. Which, of course, translates into no money for all your (and my) hard work. And, anyone who thinks that writing a book and self-editing it many times isn't work, has never done it. And, of course, it is very frustrating work when nobody get the opportunity to read your brilliant prose.
But, a note about doing a book as a POD book. What is POD you may ask? POD stands for Print On Demand. In theory, it is a good idea. The pulisher warehouses only a few books and prints in sets of 25 when the demand dictates that they need more copies. The problems with this concept are many:
My new book (about Ram) is just going to be the first of 26 (at least) and I have ideas for about 15 or so "Standing" books in that series, and I have ida for several "Order of the White Feather" books (series).
To make matters worse, I have started to write rhyming children's books which my daughter Shannon, will illustrate for me (she's a good artist and the inital drawing she has sent me are wonderful) while my other daughter Heather, as she has done in the past, is helping me edit, acts as a reader and critic (though, sometimes, I think she is not aa critical as she should be, not mean (I hope), just critical when my wtiting is not up to what I can really do). I have at least 7 ideas for other chidrens books in that series (I guess I will keep Heather and especially Shannon quite busy).
Well, I will call a halt to this posting for now. More postings will follow, I promise.
Okay, finally, here is my second post. I have decided that I will try to post every day (at least a little) and I will post anytime I put anything on the tabbed pages so with a quick look at the front page you can always see what new was added. First, I will always copy the explanation of the name of the post, shortened a bit:
You may be wondering why my blog is called Ram's Ramblings on Writing. But why Ram's Ramblings when my name is Ed. Well, it all started with a blog by Robert Adam Madigan (or RAM), a blog that doesn't actually exist because Robert Adam Madigan is a character in a new book I am writing and, in the book, he is the author of the blog call Ram's Rambings although his name is not really Robert Adam Madigan. He is hiding from his real name which is Frederick Martin Scope. You will have to read the book (when it's finished) to find out why.
So today, Sunday, 10/23/2011, I have posted changes in the following tabs:
- On YouTube videos
- On Strokes and Other Problems
- On Ed's books
- On Interesting Quotes
- On Ed's Poems
- On Gambling
You may have wondered why I posted my latest book (Last Killer Standing) as a Kindle (ebook) book rather that getting it traditionally published. Well, the answer to that is simple.
It is next to impossible, if not downright impoossible, to get to a publisher without having an agent and getting an agent is next to impossible as well. And what's worse, when you send a submission in to an agent:
- some will answer you with NO so soon after submission you have to wonder if they read you proposal at all (probably not)
- And the others you will probably never hear from at all.
- Heard from two so soon I seriously doubt that they could have read the proposal,
- Heard from about 10 of the other ones after a lot of weeks with no more explanation than a blanket refusal
- The others I never heard from at all after waiting five months.
The problem with that is that with so many books being self-published through Kindle, yours and mine, no matter how good, they are hard to locate and can easily fall through the cracks without hardly any readership. Which, of course, translates into no money for all your (and my) hard work. And, anyone who thinks that writing a book and self-editing it many times isn't work, has never done it. And, of course, it is very frustrating work when nobody get the opportunity to read your brilliant prose.
But, a note about doing a book as a POD book. What is POD you may ask? POD stands for Print On Demand. In theory, it is a good idea. The pulisher warehouses only a few books and prints in sets of 25 when the demand dictates that they need more copies. The problems with this concept are many:
- The publisher I used, (AuthorHouse) acording to many things I have read on-line, isn't paying me, or most of the other authors that used them the royalties which their books have earned through sales.
- Self-publishing is expensive (though POD publishing is less expensive than traditional vanity publishing).
- Some of POD publishers do a lousy job with the publishing process and you end up with a book that looks horrid (according to what I have read). AuthorHouse did do a good job of the publishing process, fortunately. (too bad they don't pay the authors the way they should)
My new book (about Ram) is just going to be the first of 26 (at least) and I have ideas for about 15 or so "Standing" books in that series, and I have ida for several "Order of the White Feather" books (series).
To make matters worse, I have started to write rhyming children's books which my daughter Shannon, will illustrate for me (she's a good artist and the inital drawing she has sent me are wonderful) while my other daughter Heather, as she has done in the past, is helping me edit, acts as a reader and critic (though, sometimes, I think she is not aa critical as she should be, not mean (I hope), just critical when my wtiting is not up to what I can really do). I have at least 7 ideas for other chidrens books in that series (I guess I will keep Heather and especially Shannon quite busy).
Well, I will call a halt to this posting for now. More postings will follow, I promise.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Ram's initial post
Hello from Edward J. Coburn
You may be wondering why my blog is called Ram's Ramblings on Writing. Well first of all, I wanted to call it just Ram's Rambings but there is already one called Rams' Rambings. It is written by a columnist in the Winston-Salem Journal about the Ram's of Winston Salem State (sports team for the college). But why Ram's Ramblings when my name is Ed. Well, it all started with a blog by Robert Adam Madigan (or RAM), a blog that doesn't actually exist because Robert Adam Madigan is a character in a new book I am writing and, in the book, he is the author of the blog call Ram's Rambings (with, I guess, apologies to Winston-Salem State). I think, with author's license, I can call it anything I want to as a fictional blog, especially since Robert Adam Madigan is not my character's real name. He is hiding from his real name which is Frederick Martin Scope. You will have to read the book (when it's finished) to find out why.
But what about this blog? I am going to use this blog for ramblings, some mine, some Robert's. Whatever comes to mind on the particular day will go into this blog. Many of my ramblings will be about writing to be sure, but some of them will just be ramblings, pure and simple.
I will ramble about
You may be wondering why my blog is called Ram's Ramblings on Writing. Well first of all, I wanted to call it just Ram's Rambings but there is already one called Rams' Rambings. It is written by a columnist in the Winston-Salem Journal about the Ram's of Winston Salem State (sports team for the college). But why Ram's Ramblings when my name is Ed. Well, it all started with a blog by Robert Adam Madigan (or RAM), a blog that doesn't actually exist because Robert Adam Madigan is a character in a new book I am writing and, in the book, he is the author of the blog call Ram's Rambings (with, I guess, apologies to Winston-Salem State). I think, with author's license, I can call it anything I want to as a fictional blog, especially since Robert Adam Madigan is not my character's real name. He is hiding from his real name which is Frederick Martin Scope. You will have to read the book (when it's finished) to find out why.
But what about this blog? I am going to use this blog for ramblings, some mine, some Robert's. Whatever comes to mind on the particular day will go into this blog. Many of my ramblings will be about writing to be sure, but some of them will just be ramblings, pure and simple.
I will ramble about
- Strange things that have happened in my life (Robert will probaably ramble about them as well)
- The struggles I am having writing this book
- The struggles I have had in my writing career which has stretched over many years
- The two books I have on Amazon in Kindle (ebook) format and how sales are (or are not) going
- When I finish and post a new book and what it is about, I have several series in mind. There is the Order of the White Feather series, the Standing series (starting with Last Killer Standing) and the series staring Robert Adam Madigan. I won't give you the name of this series as I don't want someone else to write any of these books before I have the chance.
- The struggles I have had in life in general
- The new things I have posted on my web site at EdwardJCoburn.com such as poems, book chapters and short stories
- The new YouTube videos I have posted. Thus far, there are two, Mighty Bradley a "take off" of Casey at the bat except about football, and If I Could, a love poem. The next one I will post is Circle of life, which I hope to post today or tomorrow.
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