[']

How many authors here write literary fiction? Is it harder to sell than genre fiction?

 

[Victorine]

I write genre fiction, but I'm guessing literary fiction is harder to sell, just by looking at the top sellers on Amazon.

Vicki

 

[']

Hi Vicki,

I checked out Not What She Seems on Amazon UK. It is one of twelve books in the top twenty list (Bestsellers in Romantic Suspense) selling at under £1. Congratulations on doing so well! Have you offered the book at a higher price?

 

[Victorine]

Hi Vicki,

I checked out Not What She Seems on Amazon UK. It is one of twelve books in the top twenty list (Bestsellers in Romantic Suspense) selling at under £1. Congratulations on doing so well! Have you offered the book at a higher price?

Thank you. Yes, I had the book at $1.99 for the first three months of its life, then I raised it to $2.99 for three more months, and then I lowered it to 99 cents. It sold more and earned more money for me at 99 cents so I've kept it as a loss leader for me.

Thanks for asking!

Vicki

 

[Douglas E Wright]

I've been told that my fiction has a literary bent to it. I enjoy literary much more than genre. And yes, it it much harder to sell. I think it's because it is not as commercial. 

 

[RJ Keller]

I do. And yes it is. (Sorry if that's not encouraging.)

 

[Steve Silkin]

i grew up reading literary fiction; i've never really read much genre. so it was never really a question.  i'm not sure i'd know how to write genre.

 

[']

I've been told that my fiction has a literary bent to it. I enjoy literary much more than genre. And yes, it it much harder to sell. I think it's because it is not as commercial.

Hi Douglas,

I've visited Victoria three times (1985, 1987, 1989) and loved it -- my husband taught summer school at the university. I noticed that your books are priced either $0.99 or $2.99. Why not $1.99?

 

[']

I do. And yes it is. (Sorry if that's not encouraging.)

Hi RJ,
I do, too. I find that my work is very much enjoyed if it is free, and I receive wonderful feedback, but that's as far as it goes. I clicked on your book and saw that it is one of AmazonEncore's books. It must have sold well to be picked up by this new imprint. Congratulations!

 

[RJ Keller]

Hi RJ,
I do, too. I find that my work is very much enjoyed if it is free, and I receive wonderful feedback, but that's as far as it goes.

It can be done (with a LOT of marketing). My book has done well for lit fic, and was picked up by AmazonEncore (rereleased by them a couple of weeks ago). But it's a long climb.

 

[']

It can be done (with a LOT of marketing). My book has done well for lit fic, and was picked up by AmazonEncore (rereleased by them a couple of weeks ago). But it's a long climb.

LOL! I was editing my post while you typed in yours!

 

[RJ Keller]

Hit and run posting. 

 

[']

i grew up reading literary fiction; i've never really read much genre. so it was never really a question. i'm not sure i'd know how to write genre.

Me too! I see that your books are all priced the same. Have you changed the price at any time?

 

[Douglas E Wright]

Hi Douglas,

I've visited Victoria three times (1985, 1987, 1989) and loved it -- my husband taught summer school at the university. I noticed that your books are priced either $0.99 or $2.99. Why not $1.99?

Hi Shelagh,

I've lived all over Canada, but lived in Victoria twice. I figured once my career with the post office was over, I'd move to a place where winter really doesn't exist.

I did try the $1.99 and it seemed perfectly logical to me for the collections and novella to be in that range. But, it seems the buyers didn't agree. I'm trying a little bit of everything. My next, will be a novel, and I'll likely price it at $3.99 or so.

 

[41419]

I think there is a market there that hasn't been tapped into yet.

I don't see a lot of indies doing historical fiction or literary fiction, especially the latter.

I released a literary short (my first title) and it sold 100 copies in three weeks, and it was only 4000 words. I think the standard for covers is very high, and I also think that the readers of literary fiction are sniffier than your average reader about reading self-published work, so you have to present it carefully.

But I think there is money there, for sure.

 

[NoraCarroll]

Mine is literary and my sales are doubling every month.  But mine is literary/women's fiction, so that may make a difference.  I'd call it upmarket/book club fiction.

 

[41419]

Cheryl Shineman is doing very well with a similar kind of book. I think she is selling 200 a day. So there is certainly a market for that.

Perhaps "straight" literary fiction readers are print obsessives and can't see themselves owning an e-reader?

It's possible. Having said that, I'm sure there are just as many who have or are considering an e-reader. If not now, then next year.

 

[Paul Clayton]

Hi, I think my novel, Carl Melcher Goes to Vietnam, has a literary bent to it also.  And, it sells far fewer copies than my genre fiction.  But no matter.  My future work will be more in the literary vein, not the Vampire vein. 

 

[MegHarris]

R.J. Keller is a good example of an indie author (now published by AmazonEncore) whose writing has a literary bent. Karen McQuestion's A Scattered Life is another (and she is also now published by AmazonEncore).

 

[LB Gschwandtner]

Shelagh & RJ et al:

My first book The Naked Gardener is mainstream women's/literary. It's sold a few short of 8,000 copies across all platforms since August 2010. It continues to sell steadily. Some days more than others. March was crazy good. But it has settled into a steady rhythm. So I think it can be done although it's no get rich quick scheme. For that I plan to put it all on the red in Vegas.

Meanwhile working on the sequel.