Simi Sunny's Blog - Posts Tagged "tips"
NO MORE REVIEW SWAPS!
What's up, guys? I wanted to write my blog post tomorrow, but I know that my day is going to be hectic. So it's better to get it over it, just in case.
Any who, I would like to discuss about what's going on. Earlier today, I was trying to promote my book online, until someone suggested to do a review swap.
So what is a review swap, you might ask?A review swap is when one author wants you to read and review your work, while he or she does the same for yours. It may sound great, but that is wrong. And there have been issues when it comes to review swaps. You would get in trouble and, if you have Goodreads or Amazon account, they would terminate you for that.
So for those who are new authors or-- for this occasion --young authors, DO NOT do review swap. I know that getting reviews is nice, but you need to be honest when you review them. More importantly, don't read something that's not your interest. If you have friends or family who are willing to read your work, that's fine. It's always better to have an audience who can give you feedback.
And I understand that you want more reviews, but this is not the best way to get reviews. Believe me. I'm desperate for reviews, too, but I don't do the cheating way to get reviews. Even if someone wants to review your book because of a blurb, don't let them do it. There's more to it in the book than the blurb, so they don't understand what they're missing out if they don't read the whole book (it happened to me. I swear).
My suggestion is to keep promoting your books as much as you can.
1. Don't over do it, because that's going to irritate people. I usually promote my book through twitter and use hashtags.
2. If you guys have a Goodreads or Wattpad, upload your excerpt and have people read them, before they read your book and review them.
3. Join an author related group chat (or any book lover book chat that allows authors to promote their books). You just need to follow their guidelines, be active on the groups as much as you can, and don't over do it.
4. And one last thing, which it can come and handy, you can do automated messages on twitter or any social media accounts. Sure, it's annoying, but it can be handy. That way, you can spread the word about your book, if people follow you. And the best part is that you don't have to force them.
I hope you guys all understand what I'm trying to say. Also, I hope that these tips would come in handy.
And if you want to check out my book, The White Sirens, you can. Feel free to read the excerpt of my book, if you're interested in. The full version is available on Amazon in ebook version. :) https://www.amazon.com/White-Sirens-S...
Any who, I would like to discuss about what's going on. Earlier today, I was trying to promote my book online, until someone suggested to do a review swap.
So what is a review swap, you might ask?A review swap is when one author wants you to read and review your work, while he or she does the same for yours. It may sound great, but that is wrong. And there have been issues when it comes to review swaps. You would get in trouble and, if you have Goodreads or Amazon account, they would terminate you for that.
So for those who are new authors or-- for this occasion --young authors, DO NOT do review swap. I know that getting reviews is nice, but you need to be honest when you review them. More importantly, don't read something that's not your interest. If you have friends or family who are willing to read your work, that's fine. It's always better to have an audience who can give you feedback.
And I understand that you want more reviews, but this is not the best way to get reviews. Believe me. I'm desperate for reviews, too, but I don't do the cheating way to get reviews. Even if someone wants to review your book because of a blurb, don't let them do it. There's more to it in the book than the blurb, so they don't understand what they're missing out if they don't read the whole book (it happened to me. I swear).
My suggestion is to keep promoting your books as much as you can.
1. Don't over do it, because that's going to irritate people. I usually promote my book through twitter and use hashtags.
2. If you guys have a Goodreads or Wattpad, upload your excerpt and have people read them, before they read your book and review them.
3. Join an author related group chat (or any book lover book chat that allows authors to promote their books). You just need to follow their guidelines, be active on the groups as much as you can, and don't over do it.
4. And one last thing, which it can come and handy, you can do automated messages on twitter or any social media accounts. Sure, it's annoying, but it can be handy. That way, you can spread the word about your book, if people follow you. And the best part is that you don't have to force them.
I hope you guys all understand what I'm trying to say. Also, I hope that these tips would come in handy.
And if you want to check out my book, The White Sirens, you can. Feel free to read the excerpt of my book, if you're interested in. The full version is available on Amazon in ebook version. :) https://www.amazon.com/White-Sirens-S...
The Responsibility as an Author (Self publisher)
Hello, everyone. It is a brand new week. I hope you guys had a wonderful week.
Just yesterday and today, I had been reading a certain topic that's been popping up in one of the groups I'm in. It's about why people don't read books from Self-Published authors. And, I must say, it's quite interesting to read people's opinions.
The main reason that caught my attention was that Self-Publishers are not that serious when it comes to publishing their work. I think I can tell, due to the covers they made and the description they write. But there are other self-publishers who take their work seriously, like I do. But the problem is, if people found out that they are self-publishers, they won't like it.
I'm not sure if that last part is true, but I'm quite certain that my first statement is. I understand that authors are trying to save money while trying to get their work done as soon as possible. But, little do they know, that if you publish your work as quickly as possible, there are chances that you might get criticism. Maybe it's because there's many grammatical and punctuation errors that you forgot to correct them. Or, maybe you don't realize that you have a grammatical or punctuation issues.
That is ok and it's not too late. For those of you who are new to self-publishing or is a traditional author, I can give you some tips as much as possible. And, yes, I can make mistakes, but I can still learn. They're simple to follow, trust me.
1. Brainstorm - If you don't know how to develop a well-thought-out plot, then map it out! Have the who, what, when, how, and why.
2. Edit - Make sure sure that, when you finish writing, edit. Look for grammatical and punctuation errors. And the number one rule: make sure the sentence flows and makes sense!
3. Reread - Even though you finished editing, make sure you reread for any mistakes. Better yet, make sure that the plot is understandable to follow. You don't want to have gaps in your story. Here's a tip that might help. Whenever you read your work, think about your audience. You should know how would they react.
4. Have someone read your work - It's important to have a real audience to read your work. Pick someone who's better at critiquing your writing. You could ask your friend's or loved ones, but the problems is that, well, they are close to you. Your family and friends would only give you positive feedback, and they have might not have much knowledge of writing. But if you're able to find a friend or loved one who knows the scope of writing, then congrats!
That's all that I can come up with so far. And here's another tip that I would like to pass on. If you want to progress on writing, you can feel free to read books like I do. That's how I try to improve. But other ways that I have improved was that I took writing classes during high school and took it with me. But in this case, you can take some writing classes that have little to no cost. Moreover, if you are not sure about the grammatical errors and punctuation, you can look up online or on library books; they can give you information as much as possible.
Other than that, you should be good to go, And just a little pep talk, not all writers can be perfect. So if you have tiny mistakes, don't worry about it. Even Cassandra Clare had little errors in her series (yes, I know that).
And if you need help with descriptive writing, here's a video that might help you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSoRz...
Be sure to be up-to-date with my blogs and stories. And feel free to check out with my novel, The White Sirens. Available on Amazon in ebook version. https://www.amazon.com/White-Sirens-S...
Just yesterday and today, I had been reading a certain topic that's been popping up in one of the groups I'm in. It's about why people don't read books from Self-Published authors. And, I must say, it's quite interesting to read people's opinions.
The main reason that caught my attention was that Self-Publishers are not that serious when it comes to publishing their work. I think I can tell, due to the covers they made and the description they write. But there are other self-publishers who take their work seriously, like I do. But the problem is, if people found out that they are self-publishers, they won't like it.
I'm not sure if that last part is true, but I'm quite certain that my first statement is. I understand that authors are trying to save money while trying to get their work done as soon as possible. But, little do they know, that if you publish your work as quickly as possible, there are chances that you might get criticism. Maybe it's because there's many grammatical and punctuation errors that you forgot to correct them. Or, maybe you don't realize that you have a grammatical or punctuation issues.
That is ok and it's not too late. For those of you who are new to self-publishing or is a traditional author, I can give you some tips as much as possible. And, yes, I can make mistakes, but I can still learn. They're simple to follow, trust me.
1. Brainstorm - If you don't know how to develop a well-thought-out plot, then map it out! Have the who, what, when, how, and why.
2. Edit - Make sure sure that, when you finish writing, edit. Look for grammatical and punctuation errors. And the number one rule: make sure the sentence flows and makes sense!
3. Reread - Even though you finished editing, make sure you reread for any mistakes. Better yet, make sure that the plot is understandable to follow. You don't want to have gaps in your story. Here's a tip that might help. Whenever you read your work, think about your audience. You should know how would they react.
4. Have someone read your work - It's important to have a real audience to read your work. Pick someone who's better at critiquing your writing. You could ask your friend's or loved ones, but the problems is that, well, they are close to you. Your family and friends would only give you positive feedback, and they have might not have much knowledge of writing. But if you're able to find a friend or loved one who knows the scope of writing, then congrats!
That's all that I can come up with so far. And here's another tip that I would like to pass on. If you want to progress on writing, you can feel free to read books like I do. That's how I try to improve. But other ways that I have improved was that I took writing classes during high school and took it with me. But in this case, you can take some writing classes that have little to no cost. Moreover, if you are not sure about the grammatical errors and punctuation, you can look up online or on library books; they can give you information as much as possible.
Other than that, you should be good to go, And just a little pep talk, not all writers can be perfect. So if you have tiny mistakes, don't worry about it. Even Cassandra Clare had little errors in her series (yes, I know that).
And if you need help with descriptive writing, here's a video that might help you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSoRz...
Be sure to be up-to-date with my blogs and stories. And feel free to check out with my novel, The White Sirens. Available on Amazon in ebook version. https://www.amazon.com/White-Sirens-S...
More Announcements
Hey, everyone. I hope you all are having a pleasant day so far. I want to give you guys a little update before I head out.
For starters, there's a video that my sister has posted, which I am in it (again). It has been posted and, I guarantee, it will be funny. Also, please check out the last video I have posted on Goodreads--the one that is the Christmas video. I didn't get to do that two weeks ago, since I have forgotten. I encourage you all to check them out whenever you get the chance.
In other news, I have published my own article for the Indie Author Magazine. So please be aware of that. I do hope that it will be in. It just talks about how I give important advice to authors, new and old. So I do hope that it will help whenever you struggle as a writer. In the meantime, please check out the website where they publish their magazine. https://www.indieauthorsmonthly.com/r...
I'm still in the process of writing. I know! I haven't even finished typing it up which pisses me off, due to the fact that I have a busy schedule to tend to. But I do promise that when time flies, you will get to see the finished masterpiece. You will love it and it is fantasy/Young Adult, if you guys are interested.
In the meantime, stay up-to-date with my blogs and social media. Be sure to check out my novel, The White Sirens. It is available on Amazon if you want to check it out. Have a nice day, guys!
For starters, there's a video that my sister has posted, which I am in it (again). It has been posted and, I guarantee, it will be funny. Also, please check out the last video I have posted on Goodreads--the one that is the Christmas video. I didn't get to do that two weeks ago, since I have forgotten. I encourage you all to check them out whenever you get the chance.
In other news, I have published my own article for the Indie Author Magazine. So please be aware of that. I do hope that it will be in. It just talks about how I give important advice to authors, new and old. So I do hope that it will help whenever you struggle as a writer. In the meantime, please check out the website where they publish their magazine. https://www.indieauthorsmonthly.com/r...
I'm still in the process of writing. I know! I haven't even finished typing it up which pisses me off, due to the fact that I have a busy schedule to tend to. But I do promise that when time flies, you will get to see the finished masterpiece. You will love it and it is fantasy/Young Adult, if you guys are interested.
In the meantime, stay up-to-date with my blogs and social media. Be sure to check out my novel, The White Sirens. It is available on Amazon if you want to check it out. Have a nice day, guys!
Blog Interviews and More Big News
Hey, everyone! Warm air still coming but, this time, even hotter. It looks like we all have to shed our winter coats and go out into the sun (if you can).
I should have announced this earlier, but I had been busy with things, which I will discuss later in this post. I promise! But now, I will tell you the good news. Just one or two days ago, I have been featured in Peaks Journal blog, where they interview authors and review their books. They did an amazing job, and I had so much fun answering their questions. Here's the article, if you guys want to check it out. I discuss my experience as a writer and my upcoming fantasy novel. And if you authors want to either get reviews or be in an interview, Peaks Journal has got you covered! https://peaksjournal.com/2018/05/01/p...
I'm not sure if I shared this before. If I haven't, I apologize. Usually, I share exciting news, but I guess I may have missed this one. This was posted in January, so if you like to check out my interview with Elise J. Geither, you can. I talked about my mystery novel, my writing experience, and books and authors I love. https://elisejgeither.wordpress.com/2...
So I think I have told you all that I finished writing my Fantasy/Young Adult novel, right? If I didn't... well, I did. The problem is that I have been waiting for the cover designer to respond, but so far, he/she didn't respond. So it looks like I'm might publish my book on a later date. Not exactly sure when, but I know it will be much longer than I thought. I apologize, if you guys have been waiting for my book to be published. I wish for you guys to read it this year, once the book is published. But hey, fate has other plans of its own.
And I want to share something special, but it's out of writing. So earlier this year, I told you all that I was finishing up school (since I couldn't hold back, due to the issues have been having). But after so many months of trial and error, I have finished school and got a certificate from the certification test. It's from a medical program that I have been taking. I'm really grateful for what I have accomplished so far. Hopefully, it'll back me up in life and help me with my writing career. Now all I have to do is apply for jobs, which I have been doing since the last couple of days.
So wish me luck with success, and I hope you guys can continue giving me support. I'll make sure to be up-to-date with anything else. For now, enjoy the weather! Have a good day!
I should have announced this earlier, but I had been busy with things, which I will discuss later in this post. I promise! But now, I will tell you the good news. Just one or two days ago, I have been featured in Peaks Journal blog, where they interview authors and review their books. They did an amazing job, and I had so much fun answering their questions. Here's the article, if you guys want to check it out. I discuss my experience as a writer and my upcoming fantasy novel. And if you authors want to either get reviews or be in an interview, Peaks Journal has got you covered! https://peaksjournal.com/2018/05/01/p...
I'm not sure if I shared this before. If I haven't, I apologize. Usually, I share exciting news, but I guess I may have missed this one. This was posted in January, so if you like to check out my interview with Elise J. Geither, you can. I talked about my mystery novel, my writing experience, and books and authors I love. https://elisejgeither.wordpress.com/2...
So I think I have told you all that I finished writing my Fantasy/Young Adult novel, right? If I didn't... well, I did. The problem is that I have been waiting for the cover designer to respond, but so far, he/she didn't respond. So it looks like I'm might publish my book on a later date. Not exactly sure when, but I know it will be much longer than I thought. I apologize, if you guys have been waiting for my book to be published. I wish for you guys to read it this year, once the book is published. But hey, fate has other plans of its own.
And I want to share something special, but it's out of writing. So earlier this year, I told you all that I was finishing up school (since I couldn't hold back, due to the issues have been having). But after so many months of trial and error, I have finished school and got a certificate from the certification test. It's from a medical program that I have been taking. I'm really grateful for what I have accomplished so far. Hopefully, it'll back me up in life and help me with my writing career. Now all I have to do is apply for jobs, which I have been doing since the last couple of days.
So wish me luck with success, and I hope you guys can continue giving me support. I'll make sure to be up-to-date with anything else. For now, enjoy the weather! Have a good day!
Rejections Make You Stronger
Hey, everyone. What a hectic week it has been for me. I can honestly say that I was stressed out from work, after covering for someone. Later on, I will be even more busy, but I will do my best to relax and take it easy on myself.
I just wanted to share my rejection story, because I could shed some light to those who aspire to write. A year ago, I submitted a short story for an anthology. I was really excited, because it's once in a lifetime opportunity, so I'd rather not miss it. The next day, I got rejected (how quick was that, huh?). At first, I was disappointed for a couple of days, because, honestly, it was my first rejection letter. Plus, they didn't even point the "serious editing issues" that I have in my short story. But after that, I decided to share my short story in my blog so that you guys can read it (remember A Christmas Spark? Yep, that was the one).
This year, I entered a short story competition for a chance to have it published through a publishing company. You may be wondering, but it was only because I wanted to give it a shot. Besides, I wanted to get the feeling of going through the traditional publishing route. So I waited a few weeks after submitting my story, until I received another rejection today. But hey, at least I gave it my best shot. And honestly, I wasn't hurt because this happened. Plus, I was so worried about not making it until now. 😊
So what am I trying to say? I'm saying that don't be crestfallen, just because you received so many letters. Be proud that you made an effort to submitting your work. Keeping finding opportunities and have some fun. Even if you get several rejection letters, you will eventually get stronger 😊 It's the honest truth, coming from a writer who has lived through these experiences. ❤💕
But I will still self publish my work, while I find opportunities to get myself out there. I promise you. I'm still working on my next book so far, and I hope to finish it really soon for all of you.
Stay up-to-date with my blogs or my general posts. And stay tune with the special announcement that I want to share. I'm going to talk about it before Aug. 27th, I promise you. Anyway, take care, my lovely audience! Have a great weekend!
I just wanted to share my rejection story, because I could shed some light to those who aspire to write. A year ago, I submitted a short story for an anthology. I was really excited, because it's once in a lifetime opportunity, so I'd rather not miss it. The next day, I got rejected (how quick was that, huh?). At first, I was disappointed for a couple of days, because, honestly, it was my first rejection letter. Plus, they didn't even point the "serious editing issues" that I have in my short story. But after that, I decided to share my short story in my blog so that you guys can read it (remember A Christmas Spark? Yep, that was the one).
This year, I entered a short story competition for a chance to have it published through a publishing company. You may be wondering, but it was only because I wanted to give it a shot. Besides, I wanted to get the feeling of going through the traditional publishing route. So I waited a few weeks after submitting my story, until I received another rejection today. But hey, at least I gave it my best shot. And honestly, I wasn't hurt because this happened. Plus, I was so worried about not making it until now. 😊
So what am I trying to say? I'm saying that don't be crestfallen, just because you received so many letters. Be proud that you made an effort to submitting your work. Keeping finding opportunities and have some fun. Even if you get several rejection letters, you will eventually get stronger 😊 It's the honest truth, coming from a writer who has lived through these experiences. ❤💕
But I will still self publish my work, while I find opportunities to get myself out there. I promise you. I'm still working on my next book so far, and I hope to finish it really soon for all of you.
Stay up-to-date with my blogs or my general posts. And stay tune with the special announcement that I want to share. I'm going to talk about it before Aug. 27th, I promise you. Anyway, take care, my lovely audience! Have a great weekend!
