The hosts delve into the financial intricacies of book publishing, sharing firsthand experiences with their own projects. They discuss the complexities of audiobook production and the stark contrasts between self-publishing and traditional routes. Insights about revenue shares and production costs reveal the challenges authors face in monetizing their work. An exciting book club launch focused on sci-fi and fantasy adds a community element, while an analysis of successful indie titles provides a glimpse into lucrative publishing opportunities.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Nathan's Novella Progress
Nathan shares progress on his novella, excited by the backstory and character development.
He aims for 23,000 to 30,000 words, targeting an optimal novella length around 75-100 pages.
insights INSIGHT
Amazon's Under-Two-Hour Category
Amazon's Kindle Short Reads category partitions books by length, including an under-two-hour fiction segment.
Ranking in this category can boost visibility, especially for novellas under 100 pages.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Sequel Writing Feels Easier
Writing a sequel or novella is easier after completing the first book due to clear world and character understanding.
Build momentum from the first book to flow naturally into subsequent writing projects.
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Nat and Nathan dive deep into the nitty-gritty financial details of book publishing, from manuscript development to audiobook production. The duo shares their personal experiences with their respective projects - Nathan's progress with his novel and novella, and Nat's journey launching "Husk."
A fascinating discussion unfolds around audiobook economics and distribution, revealing surprising insights about the industry's payment structures and the stark differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing routes. The hosts explore various platforms' revenue shares, production costs, and the strategic decisions authors must make when bringing their books to audio format.
The episode concludes with the exciting announcement of the Between Drafts book club, where they'll be reading and discussing popular sci-fi and fantasy books monthly, starting with Christopher Ruocchio's "Empire of Silence." They also share an intriguing analysis of the success of "Dungeon Crawler Carl," offering a glimpse into the potential earnings of successful indie authors in today's publishing landscape.
TIMESTAMPS
[00:00] Between Drafts book club [00:41] Nathan's novel editing progress [01:40] Nathan's novella writing progress [03:30] Amazon's "under two hours" reading category [08:44] Nat's progress on novella and Husk 2 [11:25] Writing productivity and daily word count goals [12:21] From underwriting to longer manuscripts [17:05] Finding and selecting a book cover designer [19:14] The audiobook production process [31:21] Amazon's audiobook pricing and revenue structure [35:32] Calculating optimal word count for novellas [41:56] Book club format and first selection announcement [44:48] Deep dive into "Dungeon Crawler Carl" series success [49:52] How much a popular book can make
Between Drafts 