I have a novel that just needs the final chapter written. I have been told that the market is too saturated for it. Is this just poisonous advice not to be heeded?
So I've got a 35k zombie novel...is the market oversaturated?
SawyerPentecost
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JT,
I disagree with Jack wholeheartedly. Anything near 40k is becoming a novel (some call them Summer Novels).
Do you know the story of why novels were given a certain number of pages? It's because the publishing industry needed to inflate the number of pages to cover the costs of doing business, so that they could raise the prices.
If I was you, I would publish the book at $2.99. See how it does. If it's a good story, with a great blurb and an awesome cover, it will sell. One of my books is 39k words and I am selling it at $2.99. I can tell you that it has sold beautifully without any warning as to size or calling it a novella. No one has given it any negative reviews for size.
My point is there is no harm in trying. As with any advice, you should only take what makes sense to you. Selling a standalone book is difficult in the era of series-heavy readers. There's no rule saying that you can't leave the book at 3.99/4.99/5.99 and drop it later. Try 99c, even though I would disagree with it. Try things and see how they work for you.
No one is going to come to your house with a gun if you do it wrong.
Value your time. Try different strategies. Write the next book.
I disagree with Jack wholeheartedly. Anything near 40k is becoming a novel (some call them Summer Novels).
Do you know the story of why novels were given a certain number of pages? It's because the publishing industry needed to inflate the number of pages to cover the costs of doing business, so that they could raise the prices.
If I was you, I would publish the book at $2.99. See how it does. If it's a good story, with a great blurb and an awesome cover, it will sell. One of my books is 39k words and I am selling it at $2.99. I can tell you that it has sold beautifully without any warning as to size or calling it a novella. No one has given it any negative reviews for size.
My point is there is no harm in trying. As with any advice, you should only take what makes sense to you. Selling a standalone book is difficult in the era of series-heavy readers. There's no rule saying that you can't leave the book at 3.99/4.99/5.99 and drop it later. Try 99c, even though I would disagree with it. Try things and see how they work for you.
No one is going to come to your house with a gun if you do it wrong.
Value your time. Try different strategies. Write the next book.
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I was told I shouldn't write any stories that had anything to do with vampires a few years back. That the market was over-saturated. I didn't listen of course even though this was right on the tale end of the last vampire craze. But judging by the sheer number of books released in just the last 90 days that contains vampires or elements thereof I'd say I'll be in good company...when I finally wrap things up.
Don't listen to such silly talk and just publish. The idea of over-saturation, completely disregards all the readers who are looking for and enjoying those types of stories.
Don't listen to such silly talk and just publish. The idea of over-saturation, completely disregards all the readers who are looking for and enjoying those types of stories.
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The Nebula, Hugo, and Bram Stoker Awards all consider anything 40k+ a novel. I recently lowered my projected wordcount on my zombie novel WIP from 65k to 40k because I don't know if I have a 65k novel in me. So anything over 40k will be icing, and at least at 40k I'll be in good company.
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I don't think the market is oversaturated. If I did, I wouldn't be writing one. I agree with a lot of the advice already given, so I won't try to throw my own two cents in other than to echo the sentiment of bringing something original to the table. For instance, my zombie novel has a notable sword and sorcery element.
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Another zombie author here. I'll just quote Rachel, since I was going to post something similar. Some people might not mind paying 2.99 for 40K, but I think a lot might. I might release it at 99 cents and then go up, not the other way around. I just released a novella to go with my novel (25K) and it's priced at 99 cents. My novel is 2.99.rachelaukes said:
But you could always start it at 2.99 and go lower if need be.
And the second point is so true. "They" might say the market's oversaturated, but the readers who love zombies will disagree.
Get it out there--why not? Good luck!
And Rachel--I'm pretty sure you're supposed to be in the writing cave, not KBoards.
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@Davesworld: Desmond is correct you deserve props to that post. That is a well thought out critique and should be a nice bit of advice for any writer. I too saved that post ty
No kidding. Where is that "Deadland" sequelSLFleming said:Another zombie author here. I'll just quote Rachel, since I was going to post something similar. Some people might not mind paying 2.99 for 40K, but I think a lot might. I might release it at 99 cents and then go up, not the other way around. I just released a novella to go with my novel (25K) and it's priced at 99 cents. My novel is 2.99.
But you could always start it at 2.99 and go lower if need be.
And the second point is so true. "They" might say the market's oversaturated, but the readers who love zombies will disagree.
Get it out there--why not? Good luck!
And Rachel--I'm pretty sure you're supposed to be in the writing cave, not KBoards.
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$2.99 is what trad publishers, and a lot of indies, are charging for a short story. I think you should be pricing substantially higher than that to leave yourself room. $5.99-6.99 seems to be a good price point for full novels. IIRC 4.99 is the price recommended by DWS, and what makes sense to me.
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Deadland's Harvest is going to my editor tonight. Heading sheepishly back into my cave. Jeesh!jackcrows said:No kidding. Where is that "Deadland" sequel
It's not oversaturated. It seems like very week I see a new up and coming novel in my alsoboughts (usually having something to do with zombies or a virus). I say go for it. What do you have to lose? Touch up your manuscript, make it as a good as you can get, get professional editing and a pro cover. Then slap it on the bottom and send it out into the cruel world.
I'd charge $2.99.
I'd charge $2.99.
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No market is every saturated for the right product--in this case, book.
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I agree with a lot of the points on this thread.
1) I don't consider 35K a novel, either, but if it's finished, it's finished.
2) $2.99 could work or not.
3) You never know until you try.
I have some zombie stuff in the market and also a medical thriller. The zombie stuff is dramatically far less selling. I wrote "Cure" and it was optioned for film by a big name producer. I wrote "Afterbirth", the sequel, because Cure's script was being developed and the producer wanted the sequel.
Now, if I'd have known then what I know now, I wouldn't have spent almost two years on the series. It was a lot of work for not a ton of return. The option lapsed and lo and behold, the script is a homeless piece of nostalgia--a copy sits on my writing shelf for motivation. That being said, I know a lot of big selling zombie authors. I console myself by saying the film option and coming in runner-up in a book competition means by book was good, but not marketable.
I went with a unique medical thriller take on the zombie apocalypse that turned out to be niche. I would have guessed that at the time, really, but I was having fun writing it--and now it's out of my system.
I've learned over the past three years that no two writers have the same experiences. You won't know if you don't try. Oversaturation may or may not exist, but what's the alternative? You shelf it unpublished? Then you'd wonder, "What if", no?
1) I don't consider 35K a novel, either, but if it's finished, it's finished.
2) $2.99 could work or not.
3) You never know until you try.
I have some zombie stuff in the market and also a medical thriller. The zombie stuff is dramatically far less selling. I wrote "Cure" and it was optioned for film by a big name producer. I wrote "Afterbirth", the sequel, because Cure's script was being developed and the producer wanted the sequel.
Now, if I'd have known then what I know now, I wouldn't have spent almost two years on the series. It was a lot of work for not a ton of return. The option lapsed and lo and behold, the script is a homeless piece of nostalgia--a copy sits on my writing shelf for motivation. That being said, I know a lot of big selling zombie authors. I console myself by saying the film option and coming in runner-up in a book competition means by book was good, but not marketable.
I went with a unique medical thriller take on the zombie apocalypse that turned out to be niche. I would have guessed that at the time, really, but I was having fun writing it--and now it's out of my system.
I've learned over the past three years that no two writers have the same experiences. You won't know if you don't try. Oversaturation may or may not exist, but what's the alternative? You shelf it unpublished? Then you'd wonder, "What if", no?
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I'm a stalker in the Apocalypse Whenever group on Goodreads. Every day I get at least one email that has multiple promotional give-aways for zombie books. I don't follow the group that closely, so some may be duplicates, but the fact remains that there is a lot of activity in that genera.
There's actually a positive here - that group is very active which translates into readers. Like many above have stated, what's it hurt to throw it out there and see if it gains traction?
As I posted the other day, rankings are more difficult to come by. That means more books quality books are available and they are selling well. I think any writer of almost any genera might say that their audience is over-saturated. I know my primary category sure has a lot more books being released every month than what it did just a year ago.
There's actually a positive here - that group is very active which translates into readers. Like many above have stated, what's it hurt to throw it out there and see if it gains traction?
As I posted the other day, rankings are more difficult to come by. That means more books quality books are available and they are selling well. I think any writer of almost any genera might say that their audience is over-saturated. I know my primary category sure has a lot more books being released every month than what it did just a year ago.
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Joe is right: Lots of activity in the zombie genre, but fans are ravenous for material, especially if you have a fresh, new twist and tell a compelling story with interesting characters. Part of the popularity of apocalyptic literature has to do with the times we live in, so as these conditions change, so will our outlook and, consequently, the popularity of the genre. Zombies are, in my estimate, particularly well positioned to exploit this interest because the monsters are both malleable and highly metaphorical.
As for price point, if this is an entry book and you're building your fan base, my gut tells me you'll have better luck pricing lower until you get a number of reviews/ratings showing up. Some have had good luck with higher pricing from the get-go, and $2.99 is a fair price for this length. Again, building momentum is going to be your challenge. The nice thing about self-publishing is that you can fiddle with pricing until you find something that works.
Before you launch, make sure your cover, blurb and first chapter are as perfect and attractive as you can humanly make them. Good luck!
As for price point, if this is an entry book and you're building your fan base, my gut tells me you'll have better luck pricing lower until you get a number of reviews/ratings showing up. Some have had good luck with higher pricing from the get-go, and $2.99 is a fair price for this length. Again, building momentum is going to be your challenge. The nice thing about self-publishing is that you can fiddle with pricing until you find something that works.
Before you launch, make sure your cover, blurb and first chapter are as perfect and attractive as you can humanly make them. Good luck!
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I'll have you all know that Deadland's Harvest is now in the hands of my capable editor.jackcrows said:Nice!
The manuscript came to 80k words, which is 15k fewer than book 1, but, hey, the story felt complete. Of course, that number could grow significantly after I hear back from my editor!
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