164: #WhoIsThisHelping

Subscription services like Kindle Unlimited and Audible do make books—some books—cheaper for readers, but what do they do for authors—and what are readers missing? (with Sarina Bowen)A few highlights from this episode: If you take something expensive—good content—and you pay people reasonably to create it, it’s tough to make this work. What we're often seeing as consumers are loss leaders for big media. Amazon doesn't have to make money from Kindle Unlimited. One you might not have heard of: Scribd (https://www.scribd.com) . So far, it's reasonable for authors and for readers (although their "unlimited" may really mean "unlimited unless you're a superuser, in which case maybe not"). The takeaway for writers: limit yourself to Kindle Unlimited with great caution.The takeaway for readers: Unlimited is still limited--to what's there and available. Relying on suggestions and highlights from various services is probably limiting what you see, and maybe what you read. #AmReadingSarina is seeking "great books with ghosts in them." Which reminds me (KJ) of one Sarina and I both enjoyed: The Keeper of Lost Things (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062473554) , Ruth HoganJess is listening to Nick Hornby's Slam (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781594484711) , and Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780735214484) from David Epstein. She added an appreciation for Stephen King's Ur.  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur_(novella))KJ is slowly reading Author In Progress (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781440346712) and regretting some Kindle Unlimited downloads from an author she once enjoyed (Katie Fforde). She also read, appreciated and did not enact the advice from Newsletter Ninja! (https://newsletterninja.net/#)This episode was sponsored by Author Accelerator, the book coaching program that helps you get your work DONE. Visit https://www.authoraccelerator.com/amwriting for details, special offers and Jennie Nash’s 2-tier outline template.Find more about Jess here (http://www.jessicalahey.com/) , and about KJ here (https://kjdellantonia.com/) .If you enjoyed this episode, we suggest you check out Marginally, a podcast about writing, work and friendship (https://www.marginallypodcast.com/) .Want more Sarina Bowen? Go here (https://www.sarinabowen.com/) . This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe