I managed to LOSE money doing an Indiegogo a few years back, which has soured me on this a bit. But your thoughts on books has inspired me. Also given me some ideas about where my branding has gone wrong. So back to the drawing board ...
Ooh, I'm sorry to hear that. One thing I didn't mention in this post is that my wife and I finally get to combine our opposite superpowers: mine in creative and authoring and marketing, hers in numbers. I've asked her to be my realist and pessimist, building in lots of margin and thinking of every expense so that it that sort of thing doesn't happen.
I will say that you could see your experience as a great learning experience if you wanted to. The first campaign is often seen as a trial, to work out the kinks. Well, you did work out kinks ... and I do doubt you'd make the same mistakes next time.
Thanks to following Russell and working with him I had already decided to do Kickstarter for my next book. Now you're helping to show how much more I could do on my NEXT Kickstarter project. Now to wait for spring break so I can actually launch this thing :-)
Well done, sir. Yeah, Fiction Unboxed was a wild ride. And the story that came out of it was pretty amazing. The Blunderbuss... I mean The Dream Engine.
Anyway, love that you're doing this. Not just the kickstarter, but the whole artisan thing too.
And I can't wait to read the final version of Gore Point!
Thanks, David! I enjoyed thinking it out in order to write this post. This sort of thing is so useful for me ... and big bonus if others get something out of it as well. :)
That was the epiphany that made it all click for me. I could feel it, but couldn't articulate it until that hit me. Experiences use all the senses -- that's why beautiful books mattered to me!
We'll see how it goes. I'm actually fighting my natural tendency to try to maximize it, remembering that the goal is to learn from this first for-a-book campaign so that my later, hopefully larger campaigns can benefit from that knowledge.
I sort of insist on doing things my own way, then hoping it works! Can't do it any other way regardless ...
What a great and immediate answer to my just written prayer...do I stay or go or just keep looking elsewhere...it's the collective adding onto, that spoke volumes to me here its not what's lost... but what left ....that makes the most surprising paths appear...I'll be following along and be celebrating your journey and I'm grateful for landing on your perfectly said words..
Love the idea of a community-supported project like getting a book onto Kickstarter. Anyone that thinks you’re a money-grabbing jerk is a jerk! Hope it works out well Russell.
Hey, you never know! When we did Fiction Unboxed in 2014, we got some of that ... and that wasn't technically for a book, but more of a performance of sorts!
Good luck! I just successfully wrapped a Kickstarter for a prose horror collection and, just like with comics, there’s definitely a supportive community out there.
*sigh*
I managed to LOSE money doing an Indiegogo a few years back, which has soured me on this a bit. But your thoughts on books has inspired me. Also given me some ideas about where my branding has gone wrong. So back to the drawing board ...
Thanks - and good luck!
Ooh, I'm sorry to hear that. One thing I didn't mention in this post is that my wife and I finally get to combine our opposite superpowers: mine in creative and authoring and marketing, hers in numbers. I've asked her to be my realist and pessimist, building in lots of margin and thinking of every expense so that it that sort of thing doesn't happen.
I will say that you could see your experience as a great learning experience if you wanted to. The first campaign is often seen as a trial, to work out the kinks. Well, you did work out kinks ... and I do doubt you'd make the same mistakes next time.
I have Fiction Unboxed sitting on my end table in my office where I read this.
Looking forward to both of these.
OH HELL YES
I love this SO much.
Thanks to following Russell and working with him I had already decided to do Kickstarter for my next book. Now you're helping to show how much more I could do on my NEXT Kickstarter project. Now to wait for spring break so I can actually launch this thing :-)
Sweet! Good luck!
Well done, sir. Yeah, Fiction Unboxed was a wild ride. And the story that came out of it was pretty amazing. The Blunderbuss... I mean The Dream Engine.
Anyway, love that you're doing this. Not just the kickstarter, but the whole artisan thing too.
And I can't wait to read the final version of Gore Point!
Between seeing you here and Mgon in the likes (probably a different Mgon, though. It's a common name), I feel like it's 2014 all over again!
Fascinating read, really enjoyed it!
Thanks, David! I enjoyed thinking it out in order to write this post. This sort of thing is so useful for me ... and big bonus if others get something out of it as well. :)
Love this! Especially the part about books being an experience!!
That was the epiphany that made it all click for me. I could feel it, but couldn't articulate it until that hit me. Experiences use all the senses -- that's why beautiful books mattered to me!
I wear a beret now- made me LOL.
I've shyed away from KS because I feel like my audience isn't big enough. But you're basically doing it the way I would, good luck!
We'll see how it goes. I'm actually fighting my natural tendency to try to maximize it, remembering that the goal is to learn from this first for-a-book campaign so that my later, hopefully larger campaigns can benefit from that knowledge.
I sort of insist on doing things my own way, then hoping it works! Can't do it any other way regardless ...
What a great and immediate answer to my just written prayer...do I stay or go or just keep looking elsewhere...it's the collective adding onto, that spoke volumes to me here its not what's lost... but what left ....that makes the most surprising paths appear...I'll be following along and be celebrating your journey and I'm grateful for landing on your perfectly said words..
Wonderful sentiment! Thanks so much.
I've done two children's books on Kickstarter. Lots of work, but great experiences overall. No way my books would exist without it .
I'm really looking forward to it. I spent all morning fleshing things out and looking into all the little details I'm liable to forget. Fun times!
Love the idea of a community-supported project like getting a book onto Kickstarter. Anyone that thinks you’re a money-grabbing jerk is a jerk! Hope it works out well Russell.
Thanks, but I have run dozens of campaigns. This was written but a guest writer,
Apologies to Johnny, I saw the name but it didn’t click that it was a guest post - good luck Johnny!
Hey, you never know! When we did Fiction Unboxed in 2014, we got some of that ... and that wasn't technically for a book, but more of a performance of sorts!
No worries. I just don’t want to take undue credit
Good luck! I just successfully wrapped a Kickstarter for a prose horror collection and, just like with comics, there’s definitely a supportive community out there.
Thank you!
Awesome!