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/lit/ - Literature

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4938476 No.4938476 [Reply] [Original]

Time for a poll about ebooks.
Why a poll? I want to self-publish something, but I don't know if spending a lot of money to print physical books is justified, if everyone prefers the ebook version... On the other hand, I fear piracy from ebooks, because my book is something unique that WILL be talked about (I have $ for marketing budget) and pirated. So, I need stats from actual /lit/ posters. Even if you only read physical books, please respond!

1) Do you prefer to buy a physical book or an ebook of the same work, if the choice is given to you?
2) If you prefer ebooks, do you feel reluctant to buy a physical book when no ebook version exists?
3) Do you actually buy your ebooks, or just pirate them?

Thanks in advance for your honest answers.

>> No.4938528

>>4938476
The way I like to go about it is: classic, physical; contemporary, ebook.

Reason being is that classics usually come with comprehensive essays and discussions that you just don't get in new books (obviously because they haven't had a chance to get digested yet). Editions like the Norton Critical Editions are far better for me as a physical because shifting through notes and translations is a far easier endeavor on physical books than ebooks.

Also, I only pirate eBooks if I actually own a copy of the book.

>> No.4938535

Physical. I like having hard copies of books for lending or so my lady and I can both read. I don't like reading on screens. Electronic devices are detrimental to my attention span and I have a sizeable enough backlog that buying an ereader to steal poorly formatted bullshit would not be worth it.

>> No.4938578
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4938578

>self publishing

>> No.4938580

>>4938476
Don't sorry, anon, no one is going to pirate your terrible book.

>> No.4938682

>>4938528
>>4938535
Thank you.

>>4938578
It cannot be published by a classic house due to strong meme content + really unacceptable things on the formal and moral grounds (think /b/ in a book). But I'll have $20,000 to promote it -- not sure if I have to spend this much for something that's a bit underground.

>>4938580
Wow... Totally unexpected comment. MY WORLDVIEW IS SHATTERED NOW, REVEALING HOW MUCH A FAILURE MY ONW LIEF IS :((((((

>> No.4938690

>>4938476
>1) Do you prefer to buy a physical book or an ebook of the same work, if the choice is given to you?
physical
>2) If you prefer ebooks, do you feel reluctant to buy a physical book when no ebook version exists?
i dont know why anyone would think like this
>3) Do you actually buy your ebooks, or just pirate them?
if the author is alive i will purchase their work
if they are dead i would pirate that shit

>> No.4938715

If I buy a book, I buy physical. If you're looking to make dosh from publishing something, I'd go for physical (even though the only books people buy nowadays are cheesy young adult romance crap)

>> No.4938738

There's no room left to make money in printed books. Only Dean Koontz gets money because he pumps them out faster than his decrepit bowels can force out a stringy turd. Likewise, Barne's & Noble makes bank by dishing out incessantly reprinted copies of classics, each time with a new cover theme or special anniversary cover jacket.

Your best bet is digital, I would think, but it doesn't hurt to try to be in both mediums if you can. In the end you'll probably end up in your "local authors" section at Hastings and maybe those crummy quasi-bookstores downtown that sell Tarot cards and incense holders shaped like intricate dragons.

>> No.4938741

>>4938738
Did I say Dean Koontz? I mean James Patterson. Fuck them both.

>> No.4938749

Step 1. Don't try to live off writing. You're not going to write anything worth reading for a while.
>But my book is unique!
No it isn't. Maybe you think it is, but I guarantee someone is doing each part of your book, but in better ways

Step 2. Realize that if you actually have talent, no one will give a shit for a while regardless, thus refer to step 1.
>But I do really have talent!
So what? You and eight hundred thousand other people, all with several publications and likely more experience than you. Why would anyone read your book?

Step 3. Realize that if you get lucky and everyone swarms your book(s), then you can just quit your job and ride out the money while writing more (see George R. R. Martin) but only if you get lucky will you earn enough money to do so. People are going to pirate your book one way or the other, no matter what you do.

>> No.4938801

>>4938690
>>4938715
Thanks.

>>4938738
I don't understand any of your examples because I am not American and my language is not English. Also I'm not wanting to "make money", I just want to be read, without losing money.

>>4938749
My book has a big something that was never done in history before. I'm not making a wild claim here.
Read my other post in this thread and you'll understand that I certainly don't need to "live off writing" since I can shell out $20,000 to promote my book without even blinking. This sum isn't a sacrifice in any way for me; but I don't want to lose money (hence my fear of piracy).
And I don't know why you assume I'm a beginner that can't write/can't be published since I'm 30 and have many connections in the publishing world (of my country). But what I'm writing is very special, and unacceptable/incomprehensible for normalfag publishing houses (but not for a certain public).
All this is perfectly uninteresting; why don't you answer to the poll?

>> No.4938812

>>4938801
If your book is so revolutionary why not post a small sample? Just a couple paragraphs, nothing anybody would be able to steal your idea from. As for your poll, I only read physical books, but I also mainly read authors who are no longer alive which nearly invalidates my vote anyways.

>> No.4938815

>>4938476
1. ebook. Can carry it easily, don't need to worry about losing it, easier to annotate and share annotations. Also easier to share (I put my fiance on my Kindle network). Easier to read in the dark (Kindle Paperwhite).

2) Yes.

3) Buy them. I respect the writers. I am a writer, too, and want people to buy my print/ebooks (though I'd probably be flattered if anyone went through the trouble of pirating them).

>> No.4938819

>>4938801
>filled with memes
>unique
>revolutionary

>> No.4938825
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4938825

>>4938682
>strong meme content
>/b/ in a book

>> No.4938836

>investing 20,000$ in 4chan:the book

give it a charity instead

>> No.4938843

>>4938812
I don't post a sample because it only makes sense in the book form; the point is that it has to be a book (and nothing else) to "work". To be honest, even the ebook form would ruin the experience. It has to be printed on real paper, and look like an actual book, to make its full effect. But I don't want to print 1,000 copies and be unable to get rid of them because my potential readers prefer ebooks!

>> No.4938856

>>4938843
>inb4 you accidentally wrote a house of leaves clone

>> No.4938857

buy the book and usually pirate ebook, unless it cost a dollar or something. thing is, I live in the bad part of euroland, where literature is freaking expensive! Like, buy four books and stay hungry this month expensive, so no multiple purchases of.the.same item for me.

>> No.4938861

>>4938815
Thanks. I respect that too.

>>4938819
The fundamental innovation of the book does not lie in the use of memes. They are just here because the book is even more unacceptable with them.

>>4938836
I do not give to charity, unless the hobo is GRRM.

>> No.4938870
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4938870

>>4938682
>strong meme content
>/b/ in a book

You're right. That would have to be self published.

>> No.4938878

>>4938856
Danielewski and I are quite different beasts, but I respect his work.

>>4938857
I understand. Central Europe, maybe?

>> No.4938896

>>4938870
Hilarious stuff... But I'm making a real work of art out of the most cringeworthy /b/ material, something that makes you laugh in amazement at the beginning, then think more deeply, then feel something strange and new.

>> No.4940145

>>4938476
Where will we be able to find your book?

>> No.4940165

I use openlibrary.org and read their books using text-to-speech -- whatever they have available.

How pleb am I?

>> No.4940180

>>4938476
1) physical
2) -
3) -

>> No.4940197

>>4940165
mongoloid/10

>> No.4940208

>>4938476
ebook
I do actually, I really don't have enough room for books, that's why I got a Kindle
buy them, always

>> No.4940213

>>4938476
Piracy is free advertising. Why care?

>> No.4940226

Why do people get mad that I don't pirate?

>> No.4940260

I'd prefer a physical copy in this case.

>> No.4940920
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4940920

Sono kimochi when the Kindle price of your weeaboo novels suddenly doubles for no reason and is now only $1 less than physical copies.