tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post8063767358022094789..comments2023-09-29T05:32:04.308-07:00Comments on StrangePegs: Jon Clinch's InkAndrew Leonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-30724791242984101412013-07-27T20:03:54.041-07:002013-07-27T20:03:54.041-07:00Briane: Well, he didn't actually say in the bo...Briane: Well, he didn't actually say in the book, "this is how to do it." he totally presented it as "this is how I did it." Unfortunately, though, because he worked in advertising and marketing as his career, had book store connections due to being published by Random House, and had as much money as he needed, it makes it non-useful to pretty much everyone else to know how he did it.<br /><br />However, I do think Ink was meant to attract indie authors and market his books to them.<br /><br />TAS: Yeah, in some ways that's too bad, but it is the way it is.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-44722531264612215042013-07-27T15:24:08.672-07:002013-07-27T15:24:08.672-07:00Definitely true - one must have the bad to appreci...Definitely true - one must have the bad to appreciate the good.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-8845108470120476242013-07-27T10:54:25.834-07:002013-07-27T10:54:25.834-07:00It seems like there are a lot of people out there ...It seems like there are a lot of people out there offering self-publishing and writing tips, and that many authors are taking the route of writing books that other indie or would-be authors then pick up to see if they would help. I'm not sure that any of them are worth it. I've never heard of this guy before you wrote about him, whereas I have heard of other indie authors making it big, and other big authors making it indie. Your review of his book suggests to me that he was hoping to get some sales through appealing to self-pub writers, and market his books.<br /><br />Most writing tips and insider tricks fall into the category of "If you know so much how to do it, why aren't you doing it?" There's only a certain amount of truth to "those who can't, teach." If he was really that good at marketing, he probably wouldn't need to be writing a book about how good he was at marketing. Brianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01616494058636881575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-30951040366247976232013-07-27T08:53:43.156-07:002013-07-27T08:53:43.156-07:00Jo: Oh, yeah, most of them.
Laoch: I'm not su...Jo: Oh, yeah, most of them.<br /><br />Laoch: I'm not sure I'd go that far. There is a genuine concern over the issue of publishers only looking for the huge hits and how it undermines the book industry as a whole.<br /><br />MP: A little data goes a long way.<br /><br />Mary Mary: But if you're with a publisher like Random House, you shouldn't have to be doing your own marketing. Theoretically, that's what the publisher is for. If you have to do it yourself, why bother with the publisher, which was his reason for leaving them. Why share the profits with them when they're not actually doing any of the work?<br /><br />Jeanne: Yeah, that's the problem. You can't talk about a larger issue through only the lens of yourself.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-78282897729046879272013-07-26T18:53:14.852-07:002013-07-26T18:53:14.852-07:00It seems like he's more interested in talking ...It seems like he's more interested in talking about himself and his books than the "publishing revolution". The fact that part of the book is samples of his work screams "See? It's good, isn't it?!" I believe I'll add this one to the skip pile.J E Oneilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09780097298061829471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-7962670044939348762013-07-26T13:55:03.662-07:002013-07-26T13:55:03.662-07:00It sounds like this book should have been a memoir...It sounds like this book should have been a memoir of some sort. Clinch also sounds like a bit of a Diva, wanting, what sounds like at least, contradictory things. How the heck does this guy measure success then? Also, doesn't he know that when it comes to marketing most authors now have to do their own? I guess you could say he sounds a little bit lazy, too.<br /><br />I found your review very insightful! Thanks!Mary Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09429769115085903305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-61984351525622983422013-07-26T13:20:59.005-07:002013-07-26T13:20:59.005-07:00I get your frustration. I don't like when clai...I get your frustration. I don't like when claims aren't backed up.Missed Periodshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10343265071637032284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-20121759174375804522013-07-26T12:33:31.037-07:002013-07-26T12:33:31.037-07:00It sounds like narcissism is the problem with his ...It sounds like narcissism is the problem with his approach in both his fictional efforts and his musings about self publishing?Sultanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06506141014376919585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-5647657666999779422013-07-26T12:27:06.948-07:002013-07-26T12:27:06.948-07:00Doesn't sound like anyone I would like to read...Doesn't sound like anyone I would like to read. I can think of a lot of writers who would like to get similar advances.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087140585742801854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-5183570782352199122013-07-26T10:33:01.452-07:002013-07-26T10:33:01.452-07:00Maurice: Well, he writes "literary" nove...Maurice: Well, he writes "literary" novels, and they always have a smaller audience anyway, so it's hard to say. Maybe he reached his potential audience or, maybe, he could have reached more if Random House had done anything. At any rate, it's hard to find a reason to stay with a publisher that's not going to work for you. Well, except for the six-figure book deals.<br /><br />Mark: You know, it's not bad to have a lot of zeroes as long as the first digit is not a zero. In fact, the more zeroes the better at that point.<br /><br />David: Everyone wants to believe that, but it's actually quite the opposite in many cases. But I'll save that for an upcoming post.<br /><br />Alex: I don't plan on reading Locke's book. Any of them. I'm guessing the strategy of buying reviews isn't in his book.<br /><br />TAS: Yeah, well, if they were all good, none of them would be, right?Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-27649572490326679472013-07-26T06:03:34.599-07:002013-07-26T06:03:34.599-07:00Kudos to Mark - comment of the day!
Sorry this on...Kudos to Mark - comment of the day!<br /><br />Sorry this one was a disappointment. It sounds like Clinch could do with some reminders as to how lucky he's been.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-32766557662535181342013-07-26T03:50:59.166-07:002013-07-26T03:50:59.166-07:00Mark, score!
It's like John Locke's book. ...Mark, score!<br />It's like John Locke's book. There are a few useful things in there, but the dude was already rich, a marketer, and oh by the way he paid for reviews.<br />Six figures wasn't enough? I've no complaints with my publisher, but dude, want to trade advances?Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-88405589425120522332013-07-26T01:44:12.962-07:002013-07-26T01:44:12.962-07:00I want to believe that if an author is good word w...I want to believe that if an author is good word will get out. Maybe that is naive.<br /><br />I also believe that not everything even good authors write is always good. That might be the case here but it leaves enough doubt in my mind that I won't bother with it.David Oliverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04260130060172457192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-1606000949840588582013-07-25T22:05:19.041-07:002013-07-25T22:05:19.041-07:00I was once offered a six figure deal to write a bo...I was once offered a six figure deal to write a book. Unfortunately, all those figures were zeros.... (rimshot)<br /><br />Anyway...I've never heard of Finn or Jon Clinch, but it sounds like he's had a modicum of success. Now whether it's earned, or not, is a different story, I guess...Mark Meanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08029920604932980141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-41811876333783005192013-07-25T21:55:24.973-07:002013-07-25T21:55:24.973-07:00I dunno. It sounds more like his books failed to ...I dunno. It sounds more like his books failed to find their audience marketing or not. Maybe his book would be more compelling if he could prove that self publishing actually worked for him. Maurice Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15338165486757095191noreply@blogger.com