First Cup of Coffee - April 5, 2024

Advice on how to understand and become a part of the writing and publishing ecosystem, including how to know who's giving good advice and a bit on understanding traditional publishing and the associated math.

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Transcript

00:02.53
jeffekennedy
Good morning. Everyone this is Jeffe Kennedy romantasy author of epic fantasy romance I'm here with my first cup of coffee. Delicious. Today is say it with me people. It is Friday who April Fifth 2024 yesterday was 4 4 24 so you're lucky I didn't do a podcast and obsess over all the fours which is of course the number of order. Ah. Like to new I jokeke that's what I've settled on romantasy author of epic fantasy romance big umbrella smaller umbrella. Ah yeah, so I I think they'll work I'm working on that if you're on video you will see that I have wet spots on my amazing Taylor Swift jog bra. It's actually a forme Sports bra but I think it's just gonna be Taylor Swift to us now they have no choice with this branding shout out to listener and mentee Jess Belmont who messaged me that she went and got a Taylor Swift ah sports bra too. And that it is just as epically amazing as I promise so I'm really not trying to ah scam up affiliate money from this I do have an affiliate link in my show notes just because why not. But I mean.

01:33.48
jeffekennedy
You don't have to use it if you if that makes you feel weird I get like I don't know $10 and you get 10% off something like that I'm just really happy that everybody agrees that these are like the most epic it's this posture correcting sports bra I'm sorry guys those of you out there who. Do not have to wear this sort of thing. Maybe they make them for men though because everyone needs to correct their posture. Um, it is just the best thing ever and I'm just so excited that just got one and is so happy with it too. So anyway. That's not what this podcast is about all evidence to the contrary. Ah what I want to talk to about today is a few things I want to talk about traditional publishing deals and I also.

02:28.56
jeffekennedy
And also being part of the community I have several things that I want to respond to so ah, where to begin where to begin I'm I'm going to begin with this if you're on video 2 um I must be like a little bit more. Canted then you so I'm gonna move this. You don't see all my crap on the corner which is normally behind you the door because usually my door's open when I'm not recording and so you can't see those things but you still can see this box of lush bath products. Um, because. The fantabulous Kate Baker executive director of Sifwa Science fiction and fantasy writers association if you do not know of which I'm president. She sent me this really nice box of yummy smelling soaps and bath bombs from lush. And reminding me that I'm supposed to be taking care of myself I know it was just oh look I get a over Klimt it was. It was just a really nice thing for her to do when I just saw I just um, quote tweeted something on quote threaded. What do we call it on threads. We don't know. Ah I like quote tweeted. But anyway there was somebody posted something saying dear first born daughters who deserve to be taken care of too and so it's like I'm getting all these messages from the universe to take care of myself. Ah.

04:00.90
jeffekennedy
And we go all right? So um, there are a lot of people discovering that they're getting good engagement on threads which is nice where nice. It's nice to have conversations. Um, there's 1 author in particular who's like on there every 10 minutes I

04:19.92
jeffekennedy
Complained it about it. 1 of my author discords I'm like is this person just like on threads nonstop these days and someone else replied yes was like okay. Then and she said no seriously I thought maybe it was the algorithm was just showing her to me all the time which is exactly what I thought and she said so I went to look and when she last posted 11 minutes ago so its like ok that's exactly what I did too. Um, an interesting thing about that though is that um. Trying to get wiser about why are we seeing the things that we're seeing right because we understand that the algorithms in social media will quickly figure out what we're interested in what we engage in and they will show us more of that. Ah, which can be a negative thing because if you go to look at some awful person doing some hot take which this author isn't but there's a lot of um, ah maybe I'll come back to it. Ah, but.

05:27.33
jeffekennedy
Then they'll start showing you more of the awful hot takes and then you which leads to misery Obviously so it's interesting to do this double check. It's like if I'm seeing something pop up from someone all the time and this is someone that I that I actually follow. Um.

05:44.67
jeffekennedy
Is it because the algorithm is like oh you want to see everything this person says which I don't I really don't um and I know I can mute I know I can't block I know I can't follow I think I'm not there yet, but sometimes it's. Just because the person is like ravenously all over this new source of engagement which is what I think is going on the problem with that. Um is that it's kind of like someone being in love with the sound of their own voice says she who has a podcast which is entirely about the sound of her own voice. Nevertheless, um, there are people who get really excited when they feel like they're building a social media following they feel like they're being heard that they have interesting things to say that people respond to and so then they get on there and they do more of it and more of it and more of it. And pretty soon they're like commenting on every single thing. Ah and this person was also giving not great advice and you all know you know me by now right? Unless you're first time listener in which case you will learn. Ah um.

06:59.88
jeffekennedy
I hate it when people give bad advice and a lot of times. It's because their motivation is to get people to engage with them right? because they're you know it's like oh people are listening to me as I'm going to say more things and they're not thinking about what they're saying. They're not thinking about. The effects of their advice. So um I want to talk a little bit about traditional publishing because there have been a lot and lots of hot takes I mean cut. It's an ongoing conversation right? Actually I'm going to step off. Just a bit to the side I saw somebody post saying um, could you please I'm begging people I'm begging people when you post a piece of advice ah to please say what you are an author of because. Advice for nonfiction writers doesn't apply to advice for fiction writers and and I really really wanted to reply to this when people say that I am indiscreet my standard reply is you have no idea how many things I don't say I am so discreet I am the soul. Of discretion because there are so many things that I wisely do not type so I really really wanted to reply but did not I wanted to say Google is your friend. So but I am saying it here because I don't want to I don't want to? ah.

08:31.50
jeffekennedy
Point out that particular person I don't want to call them out I understand the sentiment behind the request but let me Google that for you right? 1 of my favorite things. You'll like there I don't know if it's still out there but there used to be like the little animation showing. Like how you go to Google and you type in the question into Google let me Google that information for you I am going to in turn beg you all and probably not you because I you know I feel like this is a ah preaching to the choir moment. But if you are. Let's say on threads looking at author threads looking at advice from the author community it not only behoves you it. What's the word I want um I feel like it's mandatory. You should. Be looking up these people. It is so simple to click on their profile. You can I don't click on people's profiles all the time who is this saying this? um very often. Their website is right there in the profile you can click on that it. Takes you 1 or 2 clicks to find out what this person writes how much they've written um who they write for It's really easy to figure out and I'm going to give you a little pro tip just in case people don't know how to do this. This is what I do ah go to Amazon I'm sorry.

10:02.72
jeffekennedy
Amazon has great metadata on this. It's part of why Amazon rules go to Amazon type in their author name go to their author page on Amazon if they don't have one yet that there that tells you something right? ah.

10:19.99
jeffekennedy
Pick out their most popular book usually Amazon will show that to you first their most popular book that will tell you right? Their most popular book right? if their most popular book has 10 ratings that tells you something right? Ah, you know you can look at their most recent. Sometimes I look at their most recent book because that tells me how recently they have published yoga sometimes their most recent book is 5 years old. It's like okay well that's because you're spending all your time on threads instead of actually writing your frickin books. Um, but tryfe just going to their most popular book. Scroll down to the metadata and there's the section where it gives all of the you know like publication date and ia n and the isbn and so forth and it'll show you their publisher. This is how you tell if someone is self published or if they're traditionally published. If. You don't recognize the name of the publisher which will be right in there. Um, guess what you can do I want to hear it everyone shout it out. You can Google it yes, copy paste copy that publisher name paste it into Google find out what that publishing house is and. I swear you know like nobody's expected to know everything but you are expected to do your research so look up if it says published by Amazon Services it's self-p published um some self-p publishers create a company name minus bright links publishing.

11:50.37
jeffekennedy
I did that a long time ago for reasons because I started it that way I've just kept going it that way some people do it to disguise the fact that they're in the um, it really doesn't matter but paste that into Google find out what it is. Ah, sometimes it's some obscure imprint I'm so I'm surprised because I'll be like running bets with myself I'll be thinking. Oh that's their made up publishing house name and it'll turn out to be. You know like some obscure imprint of Mcmillan or something like that and then I will have learned something right? It's like oh. Now I'm familiar with this obscure imprint from mcmillan ah, because you are wanting to be part of this business. You want to be part of this community. You want to be part of this ecosystem. Whatever word you want to use for it. Even if you only ever want to self-publish. You should be familiar with who the big 5 publishing houses are who the smaller presses are you should have an idea of what all the avenues are and if you see someone giving hot takes on threads. Look them the fuck up. Don't expect people to like hand you this information inside of the actual post right? Um, first of all, that's it's a lot to ask. Nobody's going to do it. Okay, no, one's going to do that.

13:23.80
jeffekennedy
Ah, second of all, it takes you one click to look at their profile where that information is also you need to learn these things you need to learn who people are in the community. It is not that big. It's actually quite small. It's small. It's insular. It's a. Occasionally incestuous and it is really good to know who people are especially the ones who are out there giving advice. So anytime you have an opera duty but but an upper to to a tea. But anytime you have an opportunity to discover a piece of information about the ecosystem about someone else in the writing community that is great because that is just I don't know more snowballs for your fort. It is ah. It is fodder. It is food. It is ammunition. Um, knowledge is power right? Let's just go with that knowledge is power. Come back to ah any opportunity to learn is a good 1 right? I know it seems overwhelming at first. But.

14:37.86
jeffekennedy
It's the only way for it to become less overwhelming is for you to begin to educate yourself right? Look people up look them up all the time. Let's talk about traditional publishing so there's this whole idea of math right? ah. And people giving advice on how math doesnt doesn home work. Um, one thing that's really funny about self- publishing authors is that they occasionally will post things about the magic of percentages. Ah which you know is sort of like i. I'm gonna sound condescending but you'll they'll be alike. You have to understand how percentages work and I'm like well didn't we discover the joy of percentages in like fifth grade somewhere around there. Um, yeah, the thing is is that. When people are trying to discuss how math works between the percentages that you get as a self-p publishlisher versus as a traditional publisher. Um, they're often not getting all the details right? But I'm gonna focus I'm not gonna go into the math I'm not gonna. Talk about the joy of percentages. Ah I ah okay, I'm going to talk one little piece about the joy of percentages that people like to trot out a whole lot is that they will say look if you self-publish on Amazon you get 70 % of the royalties

16:09.11
jeffekennedy
Whereas if you traditionally publish you only get 10 to 12% of the royalties therefore you make more money self publishing and that is what we call? What do we call it. You got you? all will probably have the word for me. Um, it's a false correlation. Okay, it's saying oh because the number 70 is bigger than the number 10 therefore there's more money and that eliminates a whole hut of other information. Um, both quantitative and qualitative. So whenever somebody tries to tell you well obviously 70% is better than 10 they've just outed themselves as having no idea what they're talking about the piece that I want to discuss with you is when. People are talking about traditional publishing deals and a lot of this has come from people saying well if you get $100000 advance for a 3 book deal over 3 years ah dead it works out to excuse me I'm getting choked up talking about it. Um. It works out to less a minimum wage. Um and I kind of want to say to that? Well welcome to being a creative being a creative people figure out very early on that you cannot figure out your hourly wage. Ah you are not being paid to.

17:40.62
jeffekennedy
Lift crates or bad groceries. You are creative and your time is not going to be um, figurable as an hourly wage. It's good to be aware of what your time is worth but the math doesn't always math right? Ah so. Things that get left out. That's what I want to talk about and I'm almost out of time. Ah, what's really important to remember on those is that not all deals are 3 book deals. 1 reason why I'm really happy with my tor bramble deal is I got $100000 for 2 books. Okay. Which is considerably better pay attention to how many books people have sold. Also we could say well that's for 2 years um I'm fortunate to be prolific I am smart to be hybrid. Ah, writing those 2 books one of which is already written right? and which happens a lot so you know basically I've gotten paid a big chunk I got a third of the advance upon signing for book that I've already written. So it's you know that's money in my pocket now. Ah, and yes, it's important to remember that out of that. Let's say $100000 that yes you pay 15% to your agent for making the deal for you and I saw somebody posting also of probably this threads thing will go down and I'll stop talking about threats all the time but somebody was saying well.

19:15.58
jeffekennedy
Why not just get a literary lawyer please authors who have agents tell me why I should do this otherwise and again I want to say well let me Google that for you, let do a little frickin research people. There's a lot of reasons to have an agent if you all really want me to talk about that on the podcast I will maybe I'll make a note of it. Um. But a literary lawyer is on the same thing. Some people use some. We're not going to go there right now. Um, and then you have to pay taxes right? You have to pay taxes on everything I'm just gonna I'm sorry if that's news to you. Um, everybody pays taxes on all the money that they make ah whether you bad groceries or whether you write books that's just a thing. Ah but say the other thing is is that with this deal. Um, it's 2 books I can write other books during that time. Ah, the people who really complain about this, you know like getting a $100000 for 3 books for 3 years and so they immediately take it down to you know you're only making $33000 a year less than that if you take the 15% off of the top. It's like well you don't get to just. Set around and watch soaps and eat bonbons. You know you you can write other books in that time you could sell other deals you can self- publish and I'm sorry if that's not what you want to do? Um, maybe it's not the life for you? Maybe it's not the career for you because it is a hustle.

20:47.99
jeffekennedy
And most full time authors if you are not in the stratosphere you are hustling. You're hustling all the time and if that's not for you complete sympathy. But then don't do it right? Don't tell us that we need to go back to the publishers and tell them to make. You know, pay us more money because you know I've I have news for you there it it ain't gonna happen. The other thing that I want to point out is that with this deal from tor that they're bringing these books out in hardbeck they're in hardcover and they are giving it great placement. And I am super excited about that and no not everba gets that which is part of I've never gotten it before which is why it's exciting for me. Ah, but putting books out at Hardbeck and getting distribution the way they're gonna distribute these books that is not something I could have done as an indie. So.

21:44.70
jeffekennedy
I think I'll leave it there for today. Um, ask me questions. Let me know if you want me to clarify things for like Monday's podcast or next Friday I'm happy to do that. Actually next Friday's podcast will be recorded at Eastern New Mexico University right and lovely portalis where I will be for the Jack Williamsson lectureship so that'll be fun all right I am going to maybe we'll do like an interview thing. What do you think Ah Jon you want to do a back and forth conversation that could be fun. We could get Kelly Robson on there too. All right. I'm going to go get to work I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I will talk to you all on Monday you all take care bye bye.