The last chapter of the guide does not inspire to pay 10 bucks for it.

May I ask what year you started doing micro?

I should whip one up... "The Brutally Honest Guide to Space-Related Microstock Motion Graphics". I still need to write my other book though... "The Holy Grail: Perfect Crispy Crackling Every Time, and Other Adventures in Pork".

Or I could combine them, two great topics in one book. Could be a game changer.

Chapter 1 � Intro to space stuff
Chapter 2 - Buying the right meat.
Chapter 3 � Scientific accuracy in you animations
Chapter 4 - Preparing the rind
Interview with award winning butcher Kev Meatstation and vfx artist Wayne McBadger.

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The last chapter of the guide does not inspire to pay 10 bucks for it.

This is not a get-rich-quick guide and even the thought of making Microstock sound like an appealing business model (for the vast majority of contributors), makes me want to puke. So, this chapter is basically an exercise in 'thinking outside of the (Microstock) box' to brainstorm sustainable alternatives (perhaps knitting ) using the skills gained by participating in the Microstock market. 

I understand, but why anyone would pay money for a recipe for inaction? I don't have to pay to learn to do nothing. I can do nothing all by myself, without a guru's advice. If I make an effort it is because I want something good out of it.

If you did not succeed in this particular venue, that's fine, it's life, but do you think trying to sell a book on "how to fail to be an actor, scientist, plumber, international spy etc" will work? Do you see many of those around? Perhaps people would like to read about a unique expertise rather than trying to start something they cannot finish because they only learn that they will fail?

I understand, but why anyone would pay money for a recipe for inaction? I don't have to pay to learn to do nothing. I can do nothing all by myself, without a guru's advice. If I make an effort it is because I want something good out of it.

If you did not succeed in this particular venue, that's fine, it's life, but do you think trying to sell a book on "how to fail to be an actor, scientist, plumber, international spy etc" will work? Do you see many of those around? Perhaps people would like to read about a unique expertise rather than trying to start something they cannot finish because they only learn that they will fail?

You make some valid points. I've certainly approached drafting this guide in a rather unconventional way, but in a thought-provoking and accurate manner, nevertheless. So much so that we're having an interesting discussion on what it means to "fail" or "succeed". 

If the aim is to be "brutally honest", I cannot sugarcoat, how easy it would be to make money from Microstock to try to get more book-sales, because everybody here knows how tough this industry is - it would be a "brutally dishonest guide" and i'm sure there's many of those out there.

I don't know whether i'm "failing" or "succeeding" at this game but all I know is that I quite enjoy it and would like to pass on my knowledge to others. I'm by no means a guru, just a travel photojournalist. In any case, I don't believe in "failure", as in life we must learn from our mistakes and try to improve with every minute. It's more like feedback than anything. To receive these feedback to improve, we must try try try try and try - the opposite of inaction. Oh and try some more. 
 
I don't want to give too much away as I'm hoping enough people will want to read it but here's the opening paragraph from Chapter 12 "Getting . Out of Microstock":

It may seem strange in a comprehensive guide to how to be successful at Microstock to end with a chapter on how to get . out of it, but please hear me out! This chapter is aimed at both those more experienced contributors and those just starting out, since both will face similar dilemmas, as I will outline in this chapter.I started in Microstock because my perception at the time was that it was the most practical and low-cost way to monetise my images. During the past four years, I have painstakingly put in the time and effort to keep learning how to make my images stand out from the herd. My experience of submitting to various Agencies has given me an education in the technical and commercial/editorial aspects of photography simply by participating in those markets....

I agree with you in that success/failure is just a silhouette. If it looks like a duck, it could still be a pair of hands and a table lamp .

Perhaps it's a matter of presentation. Instead of getting-out-of-stock pessimistic conclusion, put it as a first chapter. Entitle it something like "If it were easy, everyone would do it". Well, English is not my first language, I am not good with catchy slogans, I am sure you can come up with something better.

Or use another angle. Say, first steps in industry, learning it while getting stuff sold.

Thanks for your suggestion. I wanted to be shocking, but you're right that it may also put people off.

English isn't my first language either, that's why I'm a Brasilnut

Brutally honest? Ok...

Your shutterstock portfolio is 95% walk-around, point-and-shoot, editorial shots. No working with models. No studio table top. (strobes?) No concepts. Pretty much vacation snaps of cities. And some architectural interiors with verticals off. (?)

Kinda a narrow (and easy) niche.

This makes me question your knowledge and experience that would qualify you to write a guide to Microstock photography.

But  anyone who helps dissuade more competition in this industry is fine with me.

I appreciate your brutally honest feedback. 

I stick to travel & news editorial as my main niches - I can't possibly cover all niches within Microstock or claim to be proficient at still life, for example.

�We were tired of living in a world that revolved around fixing our weaknesses. Society�s relentless focus on people�s shortcomings had turned into a global obsession. What�s more, we had discovered that people have several times more potential for growth when they invest energy in developing their strengths instead of correcting their deficiencies.� - Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath 

On a side note, I've stopped submitting my premium images to SS about a year ago, they now go to Midstock agencies as RM where they should be. So you're probably only seeing my leftover work there at SS earning me those 33cents here and there but I did get a $14 extended license download today. For a better idea of my premium work I recommend to check out my Robert Harding collection - https://www.robertharding.com/photographers/alexandrerotenberg/. 

Anyway, it's all explained in the book, hope you will check it out soon

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Brutally honest? Ok...

Your shutterstock portfolio is 95% walk-around, point-and-shoot, editorial shots. No working with models. No studio table top. (strobes?) No concepts. Pretty much vacation snaps of cities. And some architectural interiors with verticals off. (?)

Kinda a narrow (and easy) niche.

This makes me question your knowledge and experience that would qualify you to write a guide to Microstock photography.

But  anyone who helps dissuade more competition in this industry is fine with me.

I appreciate your brutally honest feedback. 

I stick to travel & news editorial as my main niches - I can't possibly cover all niches within Microstock or claim to be proficient at still life, for example.

�We were tired of living in a world that revolved around fixing our weaknesses. Society�s relentless focus on people�s shortcomings had turned into a global obsession. What�s more, we had discovered that people have several times more potential for growth when they invest energy in developing their strengths instead of correcting their deficiencies.� - Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath 

On a side note, I've stopped submitting my premium images to SS about a year ago, they now go to Midstock agencies as RM where they should be. So you're probably only seeing my leftover work there at SS earning me those 33cents here and there but I did get a $14 extended license download today. For a better idea of my premium work I recommend to check out my Robert Harding collection - https://www.robertharding.com/photographers/alexandrerotenberg/. 

Anyway, it's all explained in the book, hope you will check it out soon

Brutally. I dont see a big diff between your premium or your stock...in my opinion premium should be something uncommon, superb, you cant find in rf,unique lighting or subject. Really what shot in premium agency you have can have any of this quality?

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Do you sell anything there? Better than Shutterstock?

I'm still building my portfolio there with just over 100 images so it's early days. They are extremely picky on what they choose. Commission is 35% and commercial licenses go for a minimum of EUR290. Editorials minimum EUR70.

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Brutally. I dont see a big diff between your premium or your stock...in my opinion premium should be something uncommon, superb, you cant find in rf,unique lighting or subject. Really what shot in premium agency you have can have any of this quality?

It's good you guys have such high standards as it helps me to push for better and better.
I agree on your definition of "premium". I used the term loosely earlier and admit that I have only a few that I consider to fall under this stringent standard, although always striving to create more. I'll paste them here (are they premium, yes or no?).

they good but premium?
i don't know they are very good images, but the 3 have something different, the last is not bad, the rest for me not .

You probably have the most critical audience you will find here not many of whom are likely to be your target market. The answer to whether they are premium or not is answered if they sell or not.