C h a z z W r i t e s . c o m

See all my books at AllThatChazz.com.

09/05/2012 • 4:05 PM 1

Jackie Barbosa: “Devaluation” & Other Pricing Myths

You think your book is too good to go for such a low price? I think so, too…or rather, that’s what I feel. However, author Jackie Barbosa makes a great case for why we shouldn’t listen to those diehards who believe a low price must indicate that we’re trying to fob off a crappy book.

For instance: “…unfortunately, writers can’t make their living by depending solely on the readers who see a higher price point as a sign of quality. We have to appeal to the readers whose impulse buy point is free or 99 cents or “look, it’s under $2 and on a bestseller list so it must be a good book.”

I love this post. It’s tastes vinegary, but it’s good for us to keep in mind when we set prices for our books.

Read the entire argument by Jackie Barbosa here.

Filed under: publishing, bestseller list, books, E-book, how to set book prices, impulse buy, Jackie Barbosa, Literature, Price point, Pricing, setting prices, Writers Resources

03/01/2012 • 3:17 PM 1

Mad as Hell! Huge Problem with the Book Pricing Options!

Via Scoop.it – Writing and reading fiction
We’re always talking about self-publishing ebooks here, but what about paper books published independently. At WDLady’s The Nightmare Never Ends blog, she details her trials in dealing with CreateSpace and paperbook pricing. Check this link for more (and some cool illustrative cartoons.) ~ Chazz

This is me calling the Createspace Support Representative about my book pricing options…This is me finding out that I’m going to be making -$2.13 for a book that’s $4.99…

Via wdlady.wordpress.com

Three things that annoy and why I don’t worry about ebook piracy, either (chazzwrites.wordpress.com)
Review: The highs and lows of a book promotion campaign. What works? (chazzwrites.com)
What moves books? And what is ‘Parketing’ anyway? (chazzwrites.com)

Filed under: publishing, self-publishing, Useful writing links, Writers, book, Business, Createspace, Pricing, publishing, self-publishing

09/16/2011 • 1:01 AM 3

The price and value of ebooks Part II

Image via Wikipedia

There’s a lot of talk about ebook pricing. You’ve seen the numbers. Today I’m pointing you to the comments section on a post on this very blog because a great dialogue arose that I haven’t seen elsewhere and I don’t want it lost. A writer and a reader have a very thoughtful point-counterpoint discussion, not just about the numbers, but how they feel about the numbers.

Thanks to both Tracy Poff and Reena Jacobs for both their passion and civility as they had an impressive meeting of the minds about ebook pricing from an author’s and reader’s perspective.

You’ll find the comments under this post: Do readers expect too much of ebooks?

Filed under: author Q&A, authors, ebooks, Guest blog post, publishing, self-publishing, Amazon Kindle, Author, E-book, ebook price, Pricing, publishing, readers, self-publish, self-publisher, setting ebook price, writers

04/20/2011 • 5:36 AM 3

How much should fiction cost?

There’s quite a gap between what publishers charge for ebooks and how self-publishers are pricing their work. Many authors (and readers) have a visceral reaction to price. Of course people are sensitive to a price they perceive too high, but many believe that if it’s too cheap, it must be crap. (JA Konrath suggests self-publishers play with price, and experiment to find the right price point.)

However pricing affects you intuitively, there’s no direct correlation between price and quality. Many fine ebooks are often priced low because the author is not well-known. Lower prices encourage timid readers to take a chance on new fiction. When the price is lower, readers buy more. It is freeing to click, click, click and still pay less for fiction than you might for a latte and a croissant. Self-publishers hope to make it up on volume.

If you are trying to figure out how to price your ebooks, or what a fair price might be, Dean Wesley Smith has a great and useful summary.

His suggestions have influenced my thinking greatly. As a result, my first book (that will be available digitally) will be a short story collection. I still plan to roll out my big novel in November, but the collection, including some award winners, will come this summer!

It’s all happening very quickly. It has to. And most glorious of all, now it can happen.

Time and me?

We wait for no one.

Not anymore.