Does anyone here publish work though Smashwords?
@morgandrake (2136)
United States
July 2, 2011 11:51pm CST
Recently, I have been looking around various self-publishing and ebook sites. I am looking to find a decent ebook outlet for the novel that I am working on. Now, one of the sites I have found is Smashwords.
Smashwords looked ok until last night. Now I am not so sure.
The reason for the change of heart---last night, I was reading their "style guide" (really a manual on how to format the Word document). It is the most complicated formatting guide I have ever seen.
And now I am wondering if it would even be remotely worth going though that much trouble to format something like that.
So is there anyone here who has experience with Smashwords? Is it worth my time? Or should I look into individually submitting my stuff to the various ebook platforms?
2 people like this
3 responses
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
3 Jul 11
Smashwords has such difficult requirements because they automatically publish to as many formats as possible, so they need everything to fit. If I remember correctly, they even do a straight-text version for people with simple readers!
The most popular alternatives are Lulu or Amazon (I don't like Amazon, though, since they got a bit dictatorial when they started their service and sounded like they were going to allow self-published stuff on their site ONLY if it was done through them). Lulu pretty much lets you upload a PDF and that's that.
Check out Writer Beware before you decide anything - they cover all the scams and bad stuff, plus give great advice on getting published through traditional routes (which are, without a doubt, better).
Hope it helps!
1 person likes this
@morgandrake (2136)
• United States
3 Jul 11
I have done a publication though Lulu---they allow you to upload your actual Word document as is; you don't have to jump though loops to get it though the grinder. The only reason I removed the publication from Lulu is that they changed the minimum page count for the type of cover I had choosen. I have yet to pad it out to get it to the point where I can get it back in print.
Amazon's behavior always worries me. I used to be one of their Amazon Associates before Colorado passed the law about requiring sales tax collection on sales orginating in the state. Amazon's response to the law was to cut ties with all Associates living in Colorado. And they have done it in other states also.
For much of my work, the traditional route will not work. Like for the publication that I have done on Lulu, I was once told by someone deep inside a publishing house that prints that type of work that my target market was about a thousand people, therefore it would never get published though the traditional route.
I will admit that outside of that speciality field, for instance my fiction writing, I am still willing to go the traditional route. In fact, one of my Facebook friends has given me a lead on an agent she knows who might be interested in representing me on the fiction front.
I love the Writers Beware blog.
1 person likes this
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
3 Jul 11
The traditional route definitely has advantages (like them doing the marketing). I'd love to land a deal like that... guess I'd have to actually finish a novel first, though!
Have you read Miss Snark? I mentioned it on another thread - she's closed her blog now but all the old content's still there: she was (is?) an agent who had to go through the slush pile all the time and her commentary is brilliant. URL is, er... ah, yes: http://misssnark.blogspot.com/
@morgandrake (2136)
• United States
3 Jul 11
I have been busy with college classes, and trying to make a living as a writer. And taking photos for my wife's new jewelery business. Tonight, I decided to slip in here for awhile and take a break.
It is good to see you too! 
