From Publishers Weekly “A Bookselling Tail” from 2006 noting 2004 Bookscan data

• 80% of books sell fewer than 99 copies
• 96% of books sell fewer than 1,000 copies
• Average American book sells 500 copies

According to Editorial Ass in 2008

• Sell 7,000: “you’re a star.”
• Sell 4,000: “strong seller.”

From Association of American Publishers on publishers.org

• 2009 eBook annual sales up 177% overtaking audio books
• 2009 overall book sales down 1.8%

From Bowker

• 288,355 new traditional books in 2009
• 764,448 new non-traditional books in 2009, up 181%
• 45,181 new traditional fiction books in 2009, down from 53,058 in 2008

From New York Times citing Bowker 2009 data

• Hardcover: 35% of total sales
• Trade paperback: 35% of total sales
• Mass market paperback: 31% of total sales
• eBook: 2% of total sales
• All e-commerce sites at 20% total book sales

Nearly 300,000 new books each year is tough competition. 700,000 new books in a year is a great deal of noise. In “What’s Louder than Noise?” Kristine Kathryn Rusch claims that the great American novel is now an impossibility making the point that it is now harder than ever for even established authors to get noticed. Instead of searching for the new book that will sell millions of copies, publisher should promote a thousand authors that each sell a thousand. Writing fiction isn’t a good career choice. The majority of authors never make any money.

The fiction author must set good goals: writing for family and friends, sharing with their community, selling a 100 copies, marketing to a specific niche, or simply getting a story out there. Write for love. Write for the skill. Write for the pursuit of knowledge. Write for your mom.

The love that goes into the telling makes a story worth reading.

Why do I write? I write for Torre.

[Update: The Digital Reader post claims Amazon Kindle book sales pass hardcover and the numbers imply 2009 sold Kindle books at 50% of hardcover sales. According to this TBIResearch post, Amazon controls 90% ebook market. Given Amazon sales are less than 20% of market, this claim makes sense since.]

I started a Facebook page for Draco Torre Books where I’ll post about my books. On the main page (www.DracoTore.com,) I added a “Like” button so Facebook users can start following. The Facebook icon at the top of the sidebar links to the page. This way you don’t need to try to be my Facebook friend. Just follow the page.

Click the the “Like” button. It’s fun!

Shadow Memories

My ebook, Shadow Memories, is now available on Amazon for Kindle and Kindle for iPhone. See my previous post, “New Book: Shadow Memories,” for details.

Find the book here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003U2TNDK

You will also find Shadow Memories at Smashwords participating in the Summer/Winter Sale for 100% off during the month of July. Use code SW100 at checkout (or donate a dollar if you prefer.)  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/17029

Shadow Memories coming soon to iBookstore, B&N, and others.

Standing desk

After two months of using the Standing Workstation at the Office and four months standing at home, I’m still standing while working on the computer. I should have switched sooner.

Nearly five yours ago, I started working full time at a desk. My health slowly deteriorated even though I commuted daily by bicycle. It was a creeping change. I finally realized the problem: The chair is our enemy.

Humans aren’t designed to sit for long periods of time.

Since I started standing at my desk, I have lost weight, my energy has increased, and my productivity has shot up. Standing, and moving around, increases alertness. Bicycling to work in the morning wakes me up, but sitting drains all the benefits away. Now that I’ve tried standing at my desk for a few months, I can safely say I’m never going back to sitting for hours at a time.

Like any desk, only taller

Sitting is for resting. Stand up to work.

Yes, the iPad is practical. After a month, I find myself leaving the laptop behind and using the iPad including doing some heavy IT work. The right applications make all the difference. Here is a list of my favorite iPad apps for the traveling writer.

Reading Software

Don’t forget to test your latest eBook in all the readers including iBooks (iTunes link,) Kindle for iPad, Stanza for iPhone, and B&N Reader (soon.) Make sure the contents page works and pictures look nice.

Pages

The iPad version of Pages has everything a writer needs. I love the lack of “bells and whistles” clutter seen in other word processors. It supports formatting options, pictures with text flow, headers and footers. Save the fancy layout for a page layout program like InDesign if print is necessary. Share documents with your desktop using mail, MobileMe, DropBox, or using GoodReader (below.) A Bluetooth keyboard allows faster typing.  I paid $9.99 for Pages.

Dictionary.com

The Dictionary.com (iTunes link) dictionary and thesaurus based on Random House Unabridged Dictionary includes audio pronunciation, and stores recent queries. A free app.

GoodReader

Use GoodReader to read PDFs with flowing text, move office documents from your desktop computer to your iPad wirelessly, read the office documents, or open them in iWork using the new Document Sharing feature in iPhone OS. (See my last post.) I paid $0.99 for this app.

SketchBook Pro

Sketch latest ideas or produce cover artwork using Autodesk SketchBook Pro with or without a stylus. Layers support allows complex drawing or working from a pencil sketch template. I paid $7.99 for this app and purchased a Pogo Sketch stylus to go with it.

Advanced Tools

If you need to work on your home or office computer while away try Desktop Connect or iTap. Some network knowledge required. Non-techies may try LogMeIn service.

Other Considerations

• Evernote: Some like this; some don’t. Supports voice and other multimedia notes. Service in the cloud for access from other machines.
• PaperDesk: organize notes or doodle with a stylus.

How do you keep productive on your iPad?

My flash story hiatus continues. Besides the busy world of writing computer programs, I have several writing projects that need my attention. My novel, Raven Memory, is in the final stages nearing the end of a four year journey. I also have another novel nearing completion. Very soon, I will publish a collection of short stories. Check back for posts on these projects.

I will post more #FridayFlash fiction sometime in the future. If you missed some of previous stories, check the Stories category, Flash Fiction tag, or the Short Stories tab at the top.

Looking for #FridayFlash stories? Check these:

• Mad Utopia for weekly reports
• search #fridayflash on Twitter
• FridayFlash Facebook Group

Thanks for reading.

Standing workstation at the office

Last month I decided to get off my butt and stand at the computer while I write my stories after a full day of writing computer programs. My posterior can’t handle sitting all day. I also noticed that my health has declined since switching to a desk job. And I bicycle daily! As I pointed out in my previous post on my home solution, two studies concluded (NYT report and physorg.com) that daily jogging isn’t enough to offset the damage of sitting at a desk for eight hours. I agree. Sitting is a killer.

Writing computer programs

My office purchased an Alvin WorkMaster height-adjustable drafting table. Upon its arrival, I ripped open the boxes and assembled this beauty. The key to working in comfort is the table height. The keyboard should be low enough so that elbows are at the sides and palms remain off the surface. I stand at 72 inches tall, and setting the table height at 40 inches seems about right. The CTO decided I also needed a stool. Changing positions saves the body from stress.

This desk includes a shelf underneath for my computer programming references and (most important) speakers for music. As seen in the photographs, there is plenty of room for multiple monitors, books, sketchpads, and decorations. Plus, I now feel powerful gazing down at the underlings (just teasing.)

Shelf for references books and music

Over the last month, the standing desk at home has worked out great. I do all of my writing while standing and some of my other work. I feel more alert keeping focused on writing.

Next month I will post an update on working daily with a standing workstation.

Optional stool primarily used for hanging jacket

For weekly talk on healthy habits for writers (and other desk slaves) see #writerlbsOff at Don’t Fence Me In by Anne Tyler Lord, or follow the tweets with hashtag: #writerlbsOff on Twitter.

Stand up and write!

Part of the What Time? series, an exploration in science fiction.

Here in no particular order are some of my favorite time travel (or time related) movies. We will come back to a few of these as we explore time. Video trailers belong to their respective owners.

The Time Machine (1960)

Before Einstein’s famous paper, the H.G. Well’s story shows us that time is relative to the observer.

Back to the Future

Small changes in the past translate into serious alterations in the future.

Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure

The fun part of this film is the solving of problems by remembering to travel back in time later to supply the aid.

The Butterfly Effect

The main character travels back to his younger self making small changes altering his present in unintended ways.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

“There is no fate,” the future and past are changeable.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Traveling into the future is easy, just go fast. Here, the crew finds a way to travel into the past.

12 Monkeys (1995)

Fate locks the past and future. Do the past or future exist?

What are your favorite time travel or time bending movies?

Sad Stats

• “Most U.S. youths unfit to serve, data shows” Pentagon study reveals 35% age 18-34 physically unfit, was 6% in 1987.
• Obesity.org says “no state met the Healthy People 2010 objective of 15 percent”
• “Study Finds that Sitting May Increase Risk of Disease” (2007) stating, “Only 28 percent of Americans are getting the minimal amount of recommended exercise” and “exercising, even for an hour a day, was not sufficient to reverse the effect [of physical inactivity.]“
• “Rising obesity will cost U.S. health care $344 billion a year” by 2018 eating 21% of costs for the physically unfit.

Background

A few months ago I sought out a new desk with adjustable legs so I could ensure proper keyboard height. The thought of standing while working crossed my mind, but table heights never reach high enough. I purchased a Gallant desk with extension from Ikea. Besides adjustable height, I liked the ability to connect parts to vary length including corners. The maximum height of the tabletop is 32 inches, too short for anyone standing taller than 66 inches.

My primary job places me at a desk working on a computer for 9 hours each weekday and sometimes a few hours on weekends. I also write stories and do artwork placing me at a desk in my free time which quickly loses appeal. My previous positions kept me moving about, so my current occupation is my first experience at office lifestyle. Even though I bicycle every day, I’ve noticed my health declining during the last 4 years. My cholesterol is up, my weight increased, and I’m tired more often. To compensate for a sore rear, cramped legs, and increasing tiredness I find myself walking around interrupting work. I sometimes kneel at my desk or march up and down the stairs trying to save my body from breaking down.

The article “Stand Up While You Read This” on New York Times points out that “your chair is your enemy.” At the bottom the opinion article sites studies that show that even daily jogging fails to offset the heart problems and obesity of sitting for too long. After my recent work experience, I agree. Bicycling everyday fails to offset the negative impact of sitting for 9 hours.

Standing workstation

Enter the Standing Workstation

Standing while working at the computer seems like the natural solution, at the very least saving a sore rear. Since my desk is not tall enough, I searched for solutions to increase height. One option is placing the desk on a pedestal. I found a cheaper solution: purchasing two matching monitor stands. I placed my monitor on one stand and my keyboard and mouse on the other creating a narrow tabletop 6 inches above the desktop.

Standing workstation desktop. Wallpaper photograph is Portland.

I remove the keyboard riser if I need an unbroken desktop space for other activities, or if I wish to sit. The desk height is easily adjustable, but not something I want to do for a short period. The risers I chose have adjustable legs so I can set the height for perfect typing while standing.

One advantage of standing for a few hours is that sitting is less painful, almost like relaxing. Typing while standing is no different than sitting. The key is proper keyboard height. Fingers should hang with palms off the surface while typing. My keyboard is at about my belt. I recommend switching between sitting and standing, and keep moving! After two weeks of using the standing desk at home, I find that I’m less distracted and more efficient. I get more work done!

I’ll post in update in a few months covering the longer term.

Conclusion: Get Off Your Ass!

My plan:

• Take the stairs at the office each day (10 floors)
• Continue bicycle commute to office (24 miles/day) and ride on weekends
• Install a standing workstation at the office with a cozy stool
• Switch between standing and sitting.

Modern jobs place many of us at a desk. American’s are in poor physical condition (not just obesity) driving up the cost of health care. Just look at the statistics. From 6% to 35% physically unfit youth in less than 30 years? We are a nation in poor health depending on older citizens to defend our country.

Do something about it. Get off your butt!

Three months ago, I found myself in a brief conversation with Ben White (@midnightstories) on his blog post, “19 years young and other tidbits.” On White’s post, we find this strong argument:

What is the impetus to serialize a story? After all, we don’t have the tangible, real-world constraints that necessitated the serialization of many early 20th-century stories in the first place. Do readers really digest serials bit by bit as they’re fed, or do they wait until the end to feast? My gut feeling is that the easy access to instant gratification in all forms of entertainment makes serialization (at least in terms of the storytelling itself) about as antiquated as watching live TV with commercials.

I argued that there is an audience for serials and series. Readers enjoy following continuing tales with familiar characters or familiar worlds.

We no longer need to wait for a specific time on a weekly schedule to watch our favorite TV episodes. Hulu and Netflix stream our favorite shows on our own schedules. Readers can instantly purchase an entire novel for their Kindle, Nook, or iPad and read at their own pace in comfort.

Why should writers expect readers to wait for periodic chapters “fed” to them?

Some claim the web will revitalize serials (and short stories, and poetry) either by reaching readers with short attention spans or new reading habits emerging thanks to the web as stated in “Sorry, English major, the engineers have triumphed.” As the article points out, not all experts agree. Even though reading has been in decline since the invention of radio, the decreasing percentage of readers read an increasing amount of the long form. Of course, the problem with predicting future habits and consumer desires is that there is always something looming on the horizon that nobody has given much thought yet, and it bites our predictions in the ass. Readers have long attention spans and find time to read. Another hurdle I’ve discussed before in “Short Fiction Decline” and “Short Fiction Needs a Platform,” the short story market is shrinking even with the web! Can short serials reach a new audience?

Serial Experiments

Stephen King’s “N.” appeared both as a mixed media serial and as a traditional short story. Both versions tell the same story, but differ in the narrative compensating for the visual aspect of the serial. Some readers enjoyed the multimedia serial while traditionalists enjoyed the short story.

Was “N” a success? Plenty of readers tuned in to the episodes, but even more read it in the book. This is Stephen King, after all.

JC Hutchins serialized his novel into podcasts to great success launching his career. However, many other novel podcasts have gone nowhere.

Fiction on Blogs

Reading for a long period is uncomfortable at a computer. Fiction is unpopular on blogs. Most blog readers would rather read how-to, news, or opinion. Visitors here would rather read my crazy ranting on poetry or picking on a clueless high ranking professor. While waiting in line, readers scan news and opinion on their phones. Fiction readers want to get comfortable, curl up, enjoy the experience from a traditional book or eReader. Web readers tend to scan for information.

Want to reach thousands of readers? Take stories off the web into eReaders, or turn them into something new. The web is where you build your platform and share the really cool stuff.

Experiment: Dunston Monster

Normally, I would never expect readers to read something I would not read myself. I have an occasion read serials, so I decided to give serialization a try as an experiment. You may read my results. In summary, it turned out as I expected: traffic gradually lowered until the final episode when traffic spiked, and even then none of the episodes reached as much traffic as my best posts. “The Only Color,” a tiny flash, beat Dunston Monster in number of comments and traffic. I will never write a traditional serial again.

Serial and Series Strategies

A week is too long between 5-minute flash fiction episodes. Daily makes more sense for traditional flash, story fresh in the reader’s mind enjoyed a bite at a time over lunch or after dinner. Note that “N.” episodes arrived three times a week. A weekly flash series works best based on theme or character without a continuing story. For a thematic series, check out Friday Fables by Barry J. Northern. What about traditional serials? We find ourselves back at White’s point. Why not release the story at once? Let the reader do what the reader loves: read.

The audience for the traditional serial is small, and it’s no easy task competing against complete short stories and novels snatched instantly on eReaders.

The Penny Dreadful aims to resurrect serials including flash, mixed media, and comics. A hosted blog links story episodes and providing various authors with a common place to build a platform. In order to grow beyond the confines of a small audience, it will need to grow as well and break barriers. Visit them at tpdonline.wordpress.com and show them your support.

My advice: think different.

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What others are saying

• “Long Live Fiction: A Guide to Fiction Online“