Elliott Turner's Blog, page 7
November 5, 2012
Locked & Loaded
Hey folks,
I shipped the manuscript to the editors! Yes, it's in a relatively clean state and pretty coherent. I'm trying to take time away from this labor of love to read Moby Dick, and thus can come back with a fresh set of eyes.
However, my wife already made some pretty big suggestions. First, I included the Spanish italics/English explanation formula from the first book, but it's kinda an eye sore in this book. You can only read "Real Zaragoza" so many times in italics before you go cross-eyed. Thus, I'm changing that.
Also, I'm torn - I just nixed the short but sweet conclusion. I'm not convinced it's sweet enough. I kinda like ending the book at the very end of the 20th century when Barcelona has risen to great heights, but Real Madrid with Raul snagged back a few Champions Leagues. The allure and mystery of the nascent Perez era pre-we know what the fuck happened "Galaticos" seems like a good ending point.
We'll see - Charley Erwin and Christopher Mann will obviously have a big hand in how the final product shapes up.
I shipped the manuscript to the editors! Yes, it's in a relatively clean state and pretty coherent. I'm trying to take time away from this labor of love to read Moby Dick, and thus can come back with a fresh set of eyes.
However, my wife already made some pretty big suggestions. First, I included the Spanish italics/English explanation formula from the first book, but it's kinda an eye sore in this book. You can only read "Real Zaragoza" so many times in italics before you go cross-eyed. Thus, I'm changing that.
Also, I'm torn - I just nixed the short but sweet conclusion. I'm not convinced it's sweet enough. I kinda like ending the book at the very end of the 20th century when Barcelona has risen to great heights, but Real Madrid with Raul snagged back a few Champions Leagues. The allure and mystery of the nascent Perez era pre-we know what the fuck happened "Galaticos" seems like a good ending point.
We'll see - Charley Erwin and Christopher Mann will obviously have a big hand in how the final product shapes up.
October 29, 2012
Self-editing for the Hypersensitive
Some people are difficult to work with. I am one of those people. On the one hand, I am very demanding. I have high standards. Yes, sometimes a factual error or stray comma pollutes my prose. However, I strive to thrive. Or something. On the other hand, I've improved at accepting criticism, but do not yet possess skin of steel.
And this is a major problem when self-editing. No, I don't give myself the benefit of the doubt. However, the hairdryer treatment is impossible in a one-man show. I'm neck-deep in book revisions, and I am generally happy with the organization, paragraphing, etc. However, a few things bug me.
First, on the down side, I use some worthless verbs. These terms pop up too much: "managed to" and "attempted to." Sound familiar? I hope not. Every time I see a conjugated verb+verb combo, I want to barf.
Second, on the up side, I've only had to reorganize one full page and a very small amount of paragraphs. The book flows. The early chapters are mercifully short. The middle chapters are longer. The later chapters are even longer. Still, I've got details on unexamined angles, a conclusion that is not armchair sociology drivel, and original artwork. What's not to love?
But, if you ever have to edit your own work and are hypersensitive, I suggest writing under a pen name. Then you can totally rail on that prick who can't string together a coherent sentence. You know the guy. Idjit.
And this is a major problem when self-editing. No, I don't give myself the benefit of the doubt. However, the hairdryer treatment is impossible in a one-man show. I'm neck-deep in book revisions, and I am generally happy with the organization, paragraphing, etc. However, a few things bug me.
First, on the down side, I use some worthless verbs. These terms pop up too much: "managed to" and "attempted to." Sound familiar? I hope not. Every time I see a conjugated verb+verb combo, I want to barf.
Second, on the up side, I've only had to reorganize one full page and a very small amount of paragraphs. The book flows. The early chapters are mercifully short. The middle chapters are longer. The later chapters are even longer. Still, I've got details on unexamined angles, a conclusion that is not armchair sociology drivel, and original artwork. What's not to love?
But, if you ever have to edit your own work and are hypersensitive, I suggest writing under a pen name. Then you can totally rail on that prick who can't string together a coherent sentence. You know the guy. Idjit.
October 22, 2012
It's the Pro-Motion in the Ocean that Counts
One of the things I learned pretty quickly from my first eBook was the importance of "promotion." I've worked in sales (telemarketing no less) before, but am kinda gun-shy about yapping about me. And my writing. This GR author blog is and was a good first start. However, these things can either turn into a way too general (and not useful) "indie book advertising" guide or a rant about a specific bad idea that blew up in your face.
In trying to strike a balance, here are my thoughts on formal advertising.
PPC can be very, very useful. I ran Google Ads, I tweaked key terms, and I did very well. On a very modest three figure budget, Google moved books. I chose the Amazon Kindle edition as my target link because Amazon controls a huge chunk of the ebook market. Lots of folks have Amazon accounts. I also included the term "ebook" in the ad, so as not to confuse anyone.
I even created an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of books sold with vs. without Google Ads. I then created an even more narrow field of days with ads vs. without ads. Google Ads correlated with sales. The conversion rate for different words and days varied, but that's life. Google moved books pretty close to instantly and consistently. I will be using them again.
I noticed a truism of all book sales - they move best around December/January (holiday time) and in the summer. During the fall, folks are too busy sipping hot cocoa to buy and read a book. During the spring, they are too horny to see straight.
I also tried some other sites. I tried an ad on my beloved Reddit. Reddit instantly moved people to the Amazon link, but the conversion rate was close to nil. The PPC cost was also higher than Google. Reddit and subreddits allow you to find a really cool niche, but I'm not sold they have the cash to splash on a book. In fairness to Reddit, I only tried a few days and not during peak book-sale season.
I tried an ad on one of those "Kindle Review" websites. It moved a single book and cost way too much money. If you have your own website and twitter feed, I'd recommend against it. These sites may work wonders for free and $0.99 books, but my $5.99 price tag may not have gone over well with the normal readers.
I did not try Facebook. I liked the ability to target on Facebook, but the PPC cost was a bit high AND I'm not sure anybody buys anything from a Facebook link.
I did use this very website here: Goodreads. And I was and am a happy camper. Goodreads does not give you same the instant movement as Google: lots less pageviews and whatnot. However, the conversion rate was pretty great. Folks either bought the book or added it on Goodreads. Does it offend you to be reduced to a number as a "conversion rate"? I'm sorry. I owe you a coke. I will, however, be using Goodreads for ads again.
In terms of non-direct promotion, or, rather, informal advertising, I posted a link to the Amazon sales on my twitter handle and the top of my website. The twitter handle probably moved some books. Twitter, of course, was super useful when I first launched the book.
I also wrote and write lots of guest posts at great sites: some of the kind editors allowed me to include a link or mention of my book. Others did not. The book mentions in guest posts definitely moved some books. Thank you, Fox Soccer, Dirty Tackle, and others. I also owe you guys a coke.
In trying to strike a balance, here are my thoughts on formal advertising.
PPC can be very, very useful. I ran Google Ads, I tweaked key terms, and I did very well. On a very modest three figure budget, Google moved books. I chose the Amazon Kindle edition as my target link because Amazon controls a huge chunk of the ebook market. Lots of folks have Amazon accounts. I also included the term "ebook" in the ad, so as not to confuse anyone.
I even created an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of books sold with vs. without Google Ads. I then created an even more narrow field of days with ads vs. without ads. Google Ads correlated with sales. The conversion rate for different words and days varied, but that's life. Google moved books pretty close to instantly and consistently. I will be using them again.
I noticed a truism of all book sales - they move best around December/January (holiday time) and in the summer. During the fall, folks are too busy sipping hot cocoa to buy and read a book. During the spring, they are too horny to see straight.
I also tried some other sites. I tried an ad on my beloved Reddit. Reddit instantly moved people to the Amazon link, but the conversion rate was close to nil. The PPC cost was also higher than Google. Reddit and subreddits allow you to find a really cool niche, but I'm not sold they have the cash to splash on a book. In fairness to Reddit, I only tried a few days and not during peak book-sale season.
I tried an ad on one of those "Kindle Review" websites. It moved a single book and cost way too much money. If you have your own website and twitter feed, I'd recommend against it. These sites may work wonders for free and $0.99 books, but my $5.99 price tag may not have gone over well with the normal readers.
I did not try Facebook. I liked the ability to target on Facebook, but the PPC cost was a bit high AND I'm not sure anybody buys anything from a Facebook link.
I did use this very website here: Goodreads. And I was and am a happy camper. Goodreads does not give you same the instant movement as Google: lots less pageviews and whatnot. However, the conversion rate was pretty great. Folks either bought the book or added it on Goodreads. Does it offend you to be reduced to a number as a "conversion rate"? I'm sorry. I owe you a coke. I will, however, be using Goodreads for ads again.
In terms of non-direct promotion, or, rather, informal advertising, I posted a link to the Amazon sales on my twitter handle and the top of my website. The twitter handle probably moved some books. Twitter, of course, was super useful when I first launched the book.
I also wrote and write lots of guest posts at great sites: some of the kind editors allowed me to include a link or mention of my book. Others did not. The book mentions in guest posts definitely moved some books. Thank you, Fox Soccer, Dirty Tackle, and others. I also owe you guys a coke.
October 15, 2012
The Price of Pricing Out Success
So, I finished the conclusion and all the first draft edits. Overall, the book is 78 pages long in WORD and boasts 40,000 characters for you online reader types. Thus, it is twice as long as my last book. This raises a serious dilemma for an independent publisher: what sticker price do I put on it?
As a former purchaser of dead tree-produced books, I am suspicious of any book priced under $5. Even an eBook. Yes, I gobble up the free out-of-copyright classics, but I need a solid rec from a good friend (or somebody on Goodreads) before I spend $3 on an Indie book. Hence, I priced my last eBook at $5.99. Just high enough to look respectable, but not about to break the piggy bank.
This book is twice as long, has taken three times as long to write, and, I've heard, just may be a bit more commercially viable than en esoteric foreign language guidebook. Also, as an Indie publisher, I face the real possibility that Amazon or Google will cut my asking price without my consent (as they did with my first eBook). The increased file size will eat away at my royalty (curse these edelivery costs).
Thus, the little devil on my right shoulder whispers that $6.99 and $7.99 is not so far-fetched. However, on the other hand, I want my writing to reach as many people as possible. I also think my first eBook did so well because it was modestly priced.
As a reference point, Junot Diaz's most recent eBook price tag is $12.99. Call me arrogant, but I think my book will be at least 50% as enjoyable for soccer-lovers. Also, some recent soccer eBooks have launched at prices between $6.99 and $9.99. Thus, I'm leaning towards staying at the $5.99 price tag.
As a former purchaser of dead tree-produced books, I am suspicious of any book priced under $5. Even an eBook. Yes, I gobble up the free out-of-copyright classics, but I need a solid rec from a good friend (or somebody on Goodreads) before I spend $3 on an Indie book. Hence, I priced my last eBook at $5.99. Just high enough to look respectable, but not about to break the piggy bank.
This book is twice as long, has taken three times as long to write, and, I've heard, just may be a bit more commercially viable than en esoteric foreign language guidebook. Also, as an Indie publisher, I face the real possibility that Amazon or Google will cut my asking price without my consent (as they did with my first eBook). The increased file size will eat away at my royalty (curse these edelivery costs).
Thus, the little devil on my right shoulder whispers that $6.99 and $7.99 is not so far-fetched. However, on the other hand, I want my writing to reach as many people as possible. I also think my first eBook did so well because it was modestly priced.
As a reference point, Junot Diaz's most recent eBook price tag is $12.99. Call me arrogant, but I think my book will be at least 50% as enjoyable for soccer-lovers. Also, some recent soccer eBooks have launched at prices between $6.99 and $9.99. Thus, I'm leaning towards staying at the $5.99 price tag.
October 8, 2012
Super Hero Re-Writer
Ghost Rider. Night Rider. Why wasn't there ever a super hero or talking car named Re-Rider? It's simple. It'd be boring as fuck. The talking car would drive forward a mile. Then, the car would drive in reverse over that same mile stretch of track. Then, the car would drive forward a mile over the same stretch of track. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Think NASCAR, but in hell. No white trash bystander distractions. No chance of a fatal explosion. Just monotony.
I am the Re-Rider. And I am hard at work re-writing my book. I read a page. I make edits. I re-read that same page. I make more edits. I re-re-read the same page. I make edits to my edits.
I get disgusted and decide my original edits were bad, my second edits were okay, but my third edits were absolutely unnecessary.
Then, I re-read the page and make a fourth round of soul-killing-yet-affirming edits. I un-split infinitives. I misuse semicolons. I un-splice commas in the middle of sentences. I misuse more semicolons. I open the new Murakami novel. I blankly stare at the letters connected to one another on the paper page and consider jumping back into it. I blink. I put down the new Murakami novel. I return to comma splices.
Get the picture?
Right now, I feel one major tension: keep the text tight, action packed, and quick moving, or give some long and thoughtful analysis on players, conspiracies, etc. Some of the books on this topic go into such minutiae it would make an amoeba squint. Other books are long-winded on conclusions, but gloss over facts.
I'm leaning towards tight and to the point. Except for that needlessly second half of the last sentence sentence. And that last sentence. And...
Think NASCAR, but in hell. No white trash bystander distractions. No chance of a fatal explosion. Just monotony.
I am the Re-Rider. And I am hard at work re-writing my book. I read a page. I make edits. I re-read that same page. I make more edits. I re-re-read the same page. I make edits to my edits.
I get disgusted and decide my original edits were bad, my second edits were okay, but my third edits were absolutely unnecessary.
Then, I re-read the page and make a fourth round of soul-killing-yet-affirming edits. I un-split infinitives. I misuse semicolons. I un-splice commas in the middle of sentences. I misuse more semicolons. I open the new Murakami novel. I blankly stare at the letters connected to one another on the paper page and consider jumping back into it. I blink. I put down the new Murakami novel. I return to comma splices.
Get the picture?
Right now, I feel one major tension: keep the text tight, action packed, and quick moving, or give some long and thoughtful analysis on players, conspiracies, etc. Some of the books on this topic go into such minutiae it would make an amoeba squint. Other books are long-winded on conclusions, but gloss over facts.
I'm leaning towards tight and to the point. Except for that needlessly second half of the last sentence sentence. And that last sentence. And...
September 10, 2012
The Last Chapter
Boom. I'm proud to have written the last chapter, covering the 1990's. From Cruyff's Dream Team to the rise of the Chaval to Figo's treacherous move, the last decade contained almost too many plot points. I enjoyed researching and writing it, but it was kinda exhausting.
The next step is a brief conclusion section (which I already have in mind), then some serious re-writing and editing, and then I'll ship it to the two editors.
Every time I've stepped away from this project, I've thought, "Oh great, A.F.R.M.B.B." [Another Fucking Real Madrid Barcelona Book]. Since announcing this book on Kickstarter in May, I'm convinced everybody is writing an English language book on the topic.
Still, when I return to the material, it jumps off the page. The sport. The politics. The shady finances. The clasicos. The not-so-clasicos. I love it.
I hope you do too.
The next step is a brief conclusion section (which I already have in mind), then some serious re-writing and editing, and then I'll ship it to the two editors.
Every time I've stepped away from this project, I've thought, "Oh great, A.F.R.M.B.B." [Another Fucking Real Madrid Barcelona Book]. Since announcing this book on Kickstarter in May, I'm convinced everybody is writing an English language book on the topic.
Still, when I return to the material, it jumps off the page. The sport. The politics. The shady finances. The clasicos. The not-so-clasicos. I love it.
I hope you do too.
September 3, 2012
The Seventh Inning Stretch
As an American, I grew up with baseball, hot summer days, peanuts, and steroid-injecting muscle men. One of my favorite traditions from baseball is the 7th inning stretch, both a practical necessity and acknowledge of baseball's inherent lackadaisical nature. Just as the game reaches conclusion, everybody takes a break. Mascots run a rigged race around bases. Hats or shells move horizontally at a progressively faster pace in an attempt to conceal an object. No pitches are thrown. No balls are hit.
What's not to love?
Baseball has seeped into my writing habits. I am very good about: (1) Clear thesis, (2) Organized outline, and (3) Revision. However, I am absolutely awful when it comes to writing the last 15% of any book, blog post, or article. I don't know if it's a Seventh Inning stretch mentality or an Ingmar Bergman fear of death transposed upon the "end" of a writing project, but, shit, my brain goes jelly and my will power dissipates.
So, yes, I can see the summit of the end of my manuscript's first draft, but the trail to the peak is personally a treacherous climb. There's, like, moving ice bridges, backstabbing sherpas, subzero temperatures, and shifting 75mph Arctic winds. At least in my head.
My wife will ask me - have you been writing or playing Angry Birds? To which, defensively, I will reply: do not speak about Angry Birds in such a negative tone. Studies show computer games in healthy doses develop problem solving skills in grade school children.
Studies of adults remain sparse and generally inconclusive.
What's not to love?
Baseball has seeped into my writing habits. I am very good about: (1) Clear thesis, (2) Organized outline, and (3) Revision. However, I am absolutely awful when it comes to writing the last 15% of any book, blog post, or article. I don't know if it's a Seventh Inning stretch mentality or an Ingmar Bergman fear of death transposed upon the "end" of a writing project, but, shit, my brain goes jelly and my will power dissipates.
So, yes, I can see the summit of the end of my manuscript's first draft, but the trail to the peak is personally a treacherous climb. There's, like, moving ice bridges, backstabbing sherpas, subzero temperatures, and shifting 75mph Arctic winds. At least in my head.
My wife will ask me - have you been writing or playing Angry Birds? To which, defensively, I will reply: do not speak about Angry Birds in such a negative tone. Studies show computer games in healthy doses develop problem solving skills in grade school children.
Studies of adults remain sparse and generally inconclusive.
August 27, 2012
Your Kickstarter Dollars: Re-Allocated
For my first book, I dropped a three digit figure to get it "professionally" converted from a Microsoft Word doc to both ePUB and MOBI format. For noobs, ePUB is the basic language used by the Nook, IPad, Adobe Digital Editions, and other e-readers. MOBI is the basic language used by the Kindle. I figured out how to convert it myself using the excellent open source Calibre software, but there was a problem: illustrations.
As in, every time I used Calibre, my eBook would have weird sized illustrations. I scoured user guides, forums, and message boards to find the problem. However, time ran out and I needed to publish or lose the much coveted summer reading window.
Not so for my second book! I have played around with Calibre and Open Office, and, thanks in part to the Smashwords Conversion Guide, I am confident I can handle the conversion to ePUB and MOBI even with illustrations. The trick is going from an HTML doc to MOBI, or going from an .ODT doc to ePUB. You also have to anchor the image as a character and play a bit with the actual proper image size bit by bit.
What will happen with those Kickstarter dollars you graciously gave me? Nope, no refunds. Rather, I will now be buying six or seven more books on the topic.
As in, every time I used Calibre, my eBook would have weird sized illustrations. I scoured user guides, forums, and message boards to find the problem. However, time ran out and I needed to publish or lose the much coveted summer reading window.
Not so for my second book! I have played around with Calibre and Open Office, and, thanks in part to the Smashwords Conversion Guide, I am confident I can handle the conversion to ePUB and MOBI even with illustrations. The trick is going from an HTML doc to MOBI, or going from an .ODT doc to ePUB. You also have to anchor the image as a character and play a bit with the actual proper image size bit by bit.
What will happen with those Kickstarter dollars you graciously gave me? Nope, no refunds. Rather, I will now be buying six or seven more books on the topic.
August 20, 2012
Pilgrim's Progress
No barren winters. No attacks from natives. No scurvy. No pox. My plan to colonize the history of Real Madrid & Barcelona slowly hums along. How much humming, you ask?
Well, the project covers the foundation of both clubs up until the year 2000 (the first 101 years technically). Right now, my original manuscript is mid-80's, just before Real Madrid elects Ultras Sur loving President Ramon Mendoza and the Quinta del Buitre takes full flight.
In sum, 1 and 1/2 chapters plus a brief conclusion remain. I'm pretty stoked and have already sent myself a MOBI version to proofread on my Kindle (e ink = easier on the eyes). Once I've finished the manuscript and proofread it two or three times, then I'll turn it over to the editors.
Then, you have to wait until MAY 2012 to read it, unless you backed me at Kickstarter. Don't you wish you'd backed me at Kickstarter? I wish you had. But you broke my heart.
Well, the project covers the foundation of both clubs up until the year 2000 (the first 101 years technically). Right now, my original manuscript is mid-80's, just before Real Madrid elects Ultras Sur loving President Ramon Mendoza and the Quinta del Buitre takes full flight.
In sum, 1 and 1/2 chapters plus a brief conclusion remain. I'm pretty stoked and have already sent myself a MOBI version to proofread on my Kindle (e ink = easier on the eyes). Once I've finished the manuscript and proofread it two or three times, then I'll turn it over to the editors.
Then, you have to wait until MAY 2012 to read it, unless you backed me at Kickstarter. Don't you wish you'd backed me at Kickstarter? I wish you had. But you broke my heart.
August 13, 2012
Your Kickstarter Dollars At Sloth: Procrastination
Everybody knows that to become a respected writer, you must develop neurotic obsessions that cause you to procrastinate and blow deadlines. My book is due out next April, so I gave myself a good chunk of time to research and write. Nevertheless, I still have found (and find) ways to read novels & short stories instead of working on the book.
Here are the creative works I've been reading in lieu of writing my own creative work:
Drown by Junot Diaz.
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen.
The Complete Short Stories of Flannery O'Connor.
Norwegian Wood by Huraki Murakami
Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.
In addition to reading, I do promise that I've put your Kickstarter dollars to good use. For example, I've withdrawn all $1200 from an ATM in twenty dollar bills. Each night, I spend about 5 minutes forming stacks of $100 on my desk. Then, after making stacks of $100, I turn on a fan and blow around the bills. Then, I make stacks of $200. Then, I turn on a fan and blow around the bills. Then....
You get the picture. On occasion, my wife knocks at the door to the study and asks if there's a problem and why am I turning on and off the fan so much? To which I reply - "Just putting my backers' dollars to work and stack'in d'em billz."
But seriously, I've finished 8 chapters, have 2 left, and the artist Erik Ebeling has submitted some amazing sketches for the artwork. I'm starting to get excited and we're still 6 months away from sending out the backer rewards (and the book comes out in April for backers, in May for the rest of ye).
Here are the creative works I've been reading in lieu of writing my own creative work:
Drown by Junot Diaz.
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen.
The Complete Short Stories of Flannery O'Connor.
Norwegian Wood by Huraki Murakami
Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.
In addition to reading, I do promise that I've put your Kickstarter dollars to good use. For example, I've withdrawn all $1200 from an ATM in twenty dollar bills. Each night, I spend about 5 minutes forming stacks of $100 on my desk. Then, after making stacks of $100, I turn on a fan and blow around the bills. Then, I make stacks of $200. Then, I turn on a fan and blow around the bills. Then....
You get the picture. On occasion, my wife knocks at the door to the study and asks if there's a problem and why am I turning on and off the fan so much? To which I reply - "Just putting my backers' dollars to work and stack'in d'em billz."
But seriously, I've finished 8 chapters, have 2 left, and the artist Erik Ebeling has submitted some amazing sketches for the artwork. I'm starting to get excited and we're still 6 months away from sending out the backer rewards (and the book comes out in April for backers, in May for the rest of ye).
