tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29518890.post3125665241044188946..comments2011-04-13T11:37:29.016+08:00Comments on A Teacher in Taoyuan: Third guest post - Sean Banville, author of 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language TeachersHall Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16333231225730156242noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29518890.post-23239649749130010262010-08-25T12:09:55.921+08:002010-08-25T12:09:55.921+08:00Great piece. Occasionally think about putting my r...Great piece. Occasionally think about putting my rejected book ideas into e-book form, and the fact that I've never got round to it seems to show that the publishers were right not to entrust me with a big project!self publishing a bookhttp://www.publish-book.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29518890.post-6756959986793070172010-07-17T18:27:27.194+08:002010-07-17T18:27:27.194+08:00Great piece. Occasionally think about putting my r...Great piece. Occasionally think about putting my rejected book ideas into e-book form, and the fact that I've never got round to it seems to show that the publishers were right not to entrust me with a big project!<br /><br />The last comment seems to be spam, just cut and pasted part of Ken's, which is a common trick (you can delete this part of my comment when the spam has gone if you like)Alex Casehttp://www.tefl.net/alexcasenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29518890.post-77859148894944344632010-07-10T22:48:15.286+08:002010-07-10T22:48:15.286+08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.self publishinghttp://www.publish-book.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29518890.post-73221122761962096712010-06-05T19:10:05.475+08:002010-06-05T19:10:05.475+08:00Thank you Ken for this insight. I now feel a more ...Thank you Ken for this insight. I now feel a more accomplished e-author. Indeed, if ever I broke my sales record, might have to start practicing my autograph:-)<br /><br />What you said is interesting. I often wondered how (un)lucrative it was to write resource books. After all, I don't know too many writers who have retired early from the proceeds. Now I know why.<br /><br />It's also true, and perhaps a little sad that free online materials are replacing books. I suppose in part, I have myself to blame for that. <br /><br />There are a lot of people out there who refuse to buy ELT materials. I spoke to a colleague just last week on the matter of charging for my sites. He said he would never pay even $5 a year - not because he didn't like the sites, but it was against his principles. Oh well. <br /><br />Thankfully, there are a good number of people who do like to buy books and materials. I spent about $10,000 on them (went a bit mad) when doing my Master's - worth every penny. I still like holding, smelling, leafing through a new book.Sean Banvillehttp://seanbanville.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29518890.post-79934091324630715292010-06-01T18:09:08.300+08:002010-06-01T18:09:08.300+08:00Thanks for that informative and entertaining post,...Thanks for that informative and entertaining post, Sean. One part made me laugh so loud, my wife Dede heard it downstairs and asked me to share what I'd heard. When I've finished writing this, I will do just that.<br /><br />The part that made me laugh was this:<br />"I got five orders, which made it my most successful day ever. That was nearly five years ago. I was really pleased with that first day. The fact that I've never matched those heady sales figures since has never really worried me."<br /><br />The fact is, you're probably selling more copies than 'the glossy book containing only 23 activities'. It's an open secret that, with a number of high-profile exceptions, resource materials in book form are not big sellers. From the publishers' point of view, they add gravitas to their lists, and from the author's point of view, there's a certain satisfaction in seeing one's life's work in printed form. <br /><br />There was a heady moment about ten years ago when photo-copiables became very popular, at even higher prices that you talk about. Sales of the books of ETT sketches quickly re-vamped by Macmillan took off like a rocket. Like the firework variety, they fell to earth just as quickly.<br /><br />As for high sales of resource material nowadays, forget it. A certain high-profile UK publisher recognised this last year when they announced the end of their resource book series.<br /><br />What you've actually hit on as well is the fact that teachers can find so many resources online for free (yours as a golden example) that they maybe don't feel the need to buy such material in book form. This is the first sign that online is replacing books, something that will presumably increase.<br /><br />But again, thanks for the warmth and good humour of this story.Ken Wilsonhttp://kenwilsonelt.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com