[Alain Gomez]

I'm curious to see what percentage of kindleboards members are JUST readers.  Authors here will get hassled for never venturing outside the writer's cafe in an attempt to reach the readers.  The moderators here have insisted many times that there are more readers than writers.  I want to call their bluff 

So... vote away!  And yes, I know, writers are readers too. 

 

[4Katie]

<--- Just a reader.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

[Alain Gomez]

<--- Just a reader.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Absolutely nothing is wrong with that

I was just curious to see what type of people use kindleboards.

 

[Lizzarddance]

I'm a reader but I wish I was talented in writing. I have no imagination for a story and haven't written anything since college (over 20 years ago).

 

[Alain Gomez]

Yikes, the results are not looking good for my case.  I'm going to have slink away pretty soon....

 

[KyahCA]

I do write, but I've never published anything for the Kindle. I don't even know how.

 

[Laura Lond]

I've voted, helping to slightly even out the results. 

 

[Betsy the Quilter]

The moderators here have insisted many times that there are more readers than writers. I want to call their bluff

Alain--

LOL! I can't speak for the other mods, but I don't bluff!

Some numbers for you:

KindleBoards has nearly 44,000 members. Extrapolating from a survey of half the approximately 6200 threads in the Book Bazaar, there are roughly 2500 authors with book threads. Even allowing for not all authors having book threads....the numbers really aren't in your favor.

But, don't slink away! Join the party! There are bound to be some topics that you'd enjoy posting in!

Betsy

 

[NogDog]

Of course, it's possible that authors are more likely to write on forums while readers are more likely just to read, so maybe that accounts for the perceived abundance of writers?

 

[Alain Gomez]

I do write, but I've never published anything for the Kindle. I don't even know how.

See now THIS is why you should hit up the writer's cafe. Everyone there is very helpful.

 

[Alain Gomez]

I've voted, helping to slightly even out the results.

Seriously lol. I'm kind of shocked. In all honesty, I was expecting 50/50.

 

[telracs]

This is why I keep telling you authors to come out of the cafe and bazaar. If you only associate with other writers, you're preaching to the choir.  But remember, us "readers" come here to talk to other kindle owners and don't really want to just be seen as customers.  Come, be part of the community and we're more likely to look at your book bazaar posts then if all you're doing is posting about your sales numbers in the cafe.

Oh, and Alain, I'm not a moderator, but I've been here a while, and as Betsy said, we don't bluff about membership, we see it and we know it.

 

[Alain Gomez]

Alain--

LOL! I can't speak for the other mods, but I don't bluff!

Some numbers for you:

KindleBoards has nearly 44,000 members. Extrapolating from a survey of half the approximately 6200 threads in the Book Bazaar, there are roughly 2500 authors with book threads. Even allowing for not all authors having book threads....the numbers really aren't in your favor.

But, don't slink away! Join the party! There are bound to be some topics that you'd enjoy posting in!

Betsy

Lol. Well I knew that there were readers. But I just assumed that everyone in the book corner were just the same people in the writer's cafe talking about books. I needed proof! I will now change my screen name to doubting thomas.

 

[Alain Gomez]

Of course, it's possible that authors are more likely to write on forums while readers are more likely just to read, so maybe that accounts for the perceived abundance of writers?

Riiiight... just like how writers are supposed to be writing all the time....

 

[telracs]

No, in the book corner, it's readers talking about books to be read or what kind of books they like.

In the cafe, it's authors talking about sales and craft and stuff.  A number of us readers (I speak for myself and some friends) actually avoid the cafe because we're not interested in how many books people have sold this month, or how to get your books up on smashwords or kobo or nook....

 

[Alain Gomez]

This is why I keep telling you authors to come out of the cafe and bazaar. If you only associate with other writers, you're preaching to the choir. But remember, us "readers" come here to talk to other kindle owners and don't really want to just be seen as customers. Come, be part of the community and we're more likely to look at your book bazaar posts then if all you're doing is posting about your sales numbers in the cafe.

Ugh... it's so bright out here though...

Oh, and Alain, I'm not a moderator, but I've been here a while, and as Betsy said, we don't bluff about membership, we see it and we know it.

Well, what I was actually curious about active membership which is why I wanted to poll this area. It's like when you're at a baseball game they say 50,000 in attendance! But that is really just reflective of the number of tickets sold, not how many are there. But I am fully prepared to see the error of my ways and admit that the book corner is a different crowd from the writer's cafe.

 

[telracs]

Ugh... it's so bright out here though...

Yeah, but we have chocolate. And ice cream. And we share.....

Oh, and btw, I sort of object to the all caps word in your thread title. I'm not JUST anything.

 

[Bob Mayer]

I've always found that there are tons of lurkers on-line.  While authors are posting away, I think a lot of readers, well, are reading.  They're watching and seeing the community.
I think you bring up a good point, though, that I need to think about.  Too often we're addressing ourselves to other authors, rather than to readers.  The questions is:  what topics do readers want to discuss?  What would they like to know from authors, other than getting bombarded with promo? 

 

[telracs]

I've always found that there are tons of lurkers on-line. While authors are posting away, I think a lot of readers, well, are reading. They're watching and seeing the community.
I think you bring up a good point, though, that I need to think about. Too often we're addressing ourselves to other authors, rather than to readers. The questions is: what topics do readers want to discuss? What would they like to know from authors, other than getting bombarded with promo?

We want you to come and post on the threads outside the cafe and bazaar. Look around, I'm sure you'll find something to talk about.

But as has been said other times, do not simply use it as a way to mention your book. We want to know YOU, not the book.

Please, click on the Not Quite Kindle board, the photo boards, intinst's infinity thread....

 

[Alain Gomez]

In the cafe, it's authors talking about sales and craft and stuff. A number of us readers (I speak for myself and some friends) actually avoid the cafe because we're not interested in how many books people have sold this month, or how to get your books up on smashwords or kobo or nook....

Eh. It's addicting, what can I say?