Self Publishing your backlist

shaldna · Feb 13, 2012

Hi folks.

A while a go I asked for help with a paper for college and some of you have been great, answering questions etc.

I originally asked over on research because I was looking at backlists and republishing in general, but I'm looking today for folks who have been traditionally published and then self published their backlist.

If anyone has a couple of minutes to answer some questions or offer any advice or warnings I would be eternally grateful.

J. Tanner · Feb 13, 2012

Do you consider reprinting short fiction originally sold to magazines/anthologies "backlist" or just novels?

triceretops · Feb 13, 2012

I have a heck of a large backlist of novels, and I'm currently considering pubbing them through Amazon. My rights have been returned in writing, so I know I'm good to go. But I also would like to know who has done this and what the results were.

Tri

shaldna · Feb 13, 2012

J. Tanner said:
Do you consider reprinting short fiction originally sold to magazines/anthologies "backlist" or just novels?

both. so long as, in this instance, they have been published before and are being republished via self publishing.

Sheryl Nantus · Feb 13, 2012

I've put up some short stories I've previously sold, including a piece I sold to GRIT magazine back in 2009. I sell about 5-10 a month of that one and a handful of others previously published in other magazines.

It ain't a lot but I look at it as all gravy since I made good money on the original sale. However I would take into consideration the huge numbers now rushing to self-publish and how hard it's going to be to get your voice out there among the rising tide.

Good luck whatever you do!

triceretops · Feb 13, 2012

It ain't a lot but I look at it as all gravy since I made good money on the original sale. However I would take into consideration the huge numbers now rushing to self-publish and how hard it's going to be to get your voice out there among the rising tide.

Spoken for truth. The wave of writers seeking self publishing right now is on the increase and will eventually peak. Getting lost in the sheer numbers is what concerns me about taking this route. I'd also have to hire somebody to format and create new covers.

Tri

veinglory · Feb 13, 2012

I put up a collection of reverted short stories. It seemed a waste to just drawer them.

James D. Macdonald · Feb 13, 2012

All of my reverted short stories are up. Any money is found money. But Tri is right: It's hard not to get lost in the sheer numbers, as everyone and their dog is rushing to self-publish (and in many cases the dog has superior spelling, grammar, and story-telling skills).

evilrooster · Feb 13, 2012

James D. Macdonald said:
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/doylemacdonald(and in many cases the dog has superior spelling, grammar, and story-telling skills).

When the dog has a superior author photo, then it's time to really worry.

Al Stevens · Feb 13, 2012

I self-epublished two backlisted computer programming books. One of them was in its 7th edition when I got the rights back. It sold well throughout its fifteen-year run as a print edition. It is my strongest selling ebook and, as someone said, is found money. I did the conversion in about a day.

I'd do it for others, but their content tends to become obsolete in short order.

If you have questions, shaldna, I am happy to answer them if I can.

J. Tanner · Feb 13, 2012

shaldna said:
both. so long as, in this instance, they have been published before and are being republished via self publishing.

Gotcha. I've self-published the short fiction I'd previously sold and found no down side. I had zero expectations to make a lot of money. (The advice that you should expect 0-5 sales per month on each short fiction "book" and collection has held true for me.) So I kept my expenses at zero by doing my own formatting and covers. I like techie stuff and I have access to a graphics designer to help out and make sure my covers won't be a complete embarassment. I found the "work" of self-publishing quite fun. So the lunch money made, and readers gained are all net positive despite modest numbers.

Self Publishing your backlist

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

J. Tanner

triceretops

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

Sheryl Nantus

Holding out for a Superhero...

triceretops

veinglory

volitare nequeo

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

evilrooster

Wicked chicken

Al Stevens

J. Tanner