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Writing a software book and making over $100k

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Re: Writing a software book and making over $100k

#121

Post by perlgeek »

ghaff wrote: post #120
perlgeek wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've gone the traditional publishing route with three books so far. Making money wasn't the goal. A traditional publisher organized a technical review, editorial review, cover design, type setting and project management for me; the result was better than I could have done on my own. Sure, I could have hired an editor and a cover designer and all that, but would have been exhausting and a financial risk. So, I went wi…

The main flipside is that you also have to play by the publisher's rules, so length, deadlines, and (importantly) price. You probably can't set a lower price or give away digital copies like you can if you self-publish which may work against a desire to use the book for exposure/reputation/etc.

At least my publisher (Apress) is pretty open to giving away free copies for review (everything that helps bring reviews on Amazon is a plus), and limited discount vouchers etc.

But yes, you don't have all the freedom that you have with leanpub & co.

Re: Writing a software book and making over $100k

#122

Post by TACIXAT »

timClicks wrote: post #111
hohenheim wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You mentioned publishers leave you with 10% of the sales. I can't wrap my head around that, how is that possible and acceptable by authors?

That's what I'm receiving from Manning for Rust in Action. I didn't sign the book contract with a traditional publisher for the money, I signed up for the credibility. Also, that 10% is after discounts and payment processing fees. So it works out at about $2/book.

I bought your book very recently! I was reading the online version and it kept losing my place, so I bought the ebook version for the epub. It was recommended on Twitter when I asked for Rust resources.

Re: Writing a software book and making over $100k

#123

Post by ghaff »

perlgeek wrote: post #121
ghaff wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The main flipside is that you also have to play by the publisher's rules, so length, deadlines, and (importantly) price. You probably can't set a lower price or give away digital copies like you can if you self-publish which may work against a desire to use the book for exposure/reputation/etc.

At least my publisher (Apress) is pretty open to giving away free copies for review (everything that helps bring reviews on Amazon is a plus), and limited discount vouchers etc. But yes, you don't have all the freedom that you have with leanpub & co.

I have a book through Apress as well. Among other things, their contract was pretty generous about my repurposing small chunks of book material for other purposes--which I've taken full advantage of. They also offered some sort of discount so that an organization could have me do a book signing though I don't know the financial details. (And said organization might have done this if it weren't through a known publisher.)

On the other hand, the price is set quite a bit higher than I would have set it personally for maximum exposure. And I don't have the right to broadly distribute free electronic copies to just anyone I want.

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