I've noticed that some of my books are selling much better than others. I don't know why. There's no real way of finding out why some stories sell well and others don't. If a reader likes my writing, what makes them decide NOT to buy the next story I have published - because that has to be the crux of it. Yes?
So what puts you off purchasing?
1. Cover
2. Blurb
3. Genre
4. Price/length
5. Other
Any chance of putting those in order?
For me, when I have to make a purchase decision - first I look for the name of the author, then I read the back cover. I don't care about the front cover, the length/price - though I won't buy hardback. I don't care about genre - I'll read almost anything if that author has impressed me previously.
So what would stop me buying? I guess if the subject matter really didn't interest me - eg wrestling, NASCAR or other racing track stuff, or the same old vampire story.
How about you?
8 comments:
Author. Blurb. Excerpt. Genre. Those are my only criteria. But if the author is someone I've read and liked, I don't even glance at anything else. I want to read it. You could sell your grocery list and I'd buy it.
Ha - that's nice! Some authors are an automatic buy for me - Jenny Crusie (but not with that guy she writes with) and Susan Elizabeth Phillips - straight purchases with no question, no read of the blurb!
The cover will catch my eye, but the blurb is what I care about, and then the cover becomes irrelevant. If the blurb sparks interest, and the opening page isnt lame, I'll check out the author. Someone I know and like, then I'm buying.
If I dont reconize the name, I flip to read a bit further in.
Genre is of no concern. Too short, I won't pay more than a few bucks. If its a hardcover, I ponder whether I want to wait for paperback.
Thanks, Arlene. Best I get the blurb right then!
I would say:
1. Author
2. Blurb
3. Genre
4. Length (not so much price)
5. Cover
I don't know how much cover art means to me, at least when it comes to e-books. If it's paper/hardback it would be a bigger deal because then I have to watch what I have around the kids!
The blurb/excerpt is a big deal as if I don't enjoy that much, why by the book?
Genre's a really big deal for me as well as certain things, such as time travel, tend to annoy me. Most author's do a horrible job writing those and they're extremely cheesy and I just avoid them with only a few exceptions. The whole shapeshifter/vampire/vampire hunter/etc thing is out of hand as well and though I like it from a few select authors, I limit what I'm willing to buy.
Book length is a big one for me as I've noticed that the lengths seem to be getting shorter while prices are rising. I can't justify paying$5 for something that I'll be done reading in an hour. I'm much more willing to pay more for a book that will keep me entertained for a day or two.
And yes, I'm very loyal to my favorite authors! There are those that I either always buy or nearly always without a second thought. For the bigger nam authors I'm quite willing to pay for the hardback the day it comes out as I'm usually starving for a good read!
Thanks, Dreama, that was very interesting. With a couple of exceptions I seem to be incapable of writing anything short. I start off thinking it might be and it grows and grows!
I'm worried about my blurbs now - thinking I'm not making them interesting enough. I'd rather write 100,000 word novel than a 300 word blurb. Groan.
I guess it depends. When it is an e-book publisher I choose by genre or by an author I already know and love. Genre is a big one for me, I don't mind the vampire/shape-shifter stories but Sci-Fi and homosexual romances aren't my forte. But if the blurb sounds like something I would enjoy I usually end up buying it no matter what the price. And usually the longer the better, I like getting my money's worth.
Paperback it is usually author, blurb and I hate to say it, usually the last chaper :).
Tinkerbell !!! You read the last chapter of a paperback - oh I could never do that. I DO see where you are coming from but I just couldn't.
Thanks for those thoughts - it just confirms I need to get my act together on the blurbs. I have no idea why it should be so hard to write a couple of hundred words saying what the book is about. Mind you if someone asks me - I can't even string three sentences together to do that either!
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