Jim Vuksic's Blog, page 11

Explanations for What I Do and Don't Do on "Goodreads"

Occasionally, I receive a private message on the Goodreads literary website pertaining to something I have or haven't done. Since I seldom respond to a private message, hopefully, the following explanations will suffice.

When someone challenges your comment, why do you seldom bother to respond?
If someone doubts the accuracy of my statement, cursory research on their part will provide data and details that support and defend it more convincingly than a rebuttal from me.

Why do you constantly inform others that a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulation requires consumer reviews that have been solicited, purchased, swapped or exchanged for a free book include a disclaimer stating so?
Two reasons: First, because it does and secondly, because many who post a review that has been solicited or in exchange for compensation by the author obviously are unaware of or choose to deliberately violate the FTC regulation. How do I know this? Deductive reasoning! The reviews of books by authors who constantly solicit reviews and offer some type of compensation for one rarely include the required disclaimer.

Why do you seldom interact with other members in discussion threads?
I occasionally share my knowledge of a subject, but only if no one else has previously provided similar information. Speculation and redundancy contribute nothing of worth.

You sometimes advise writers regarding what to do or not to do in order to enhance the chances of becoming commercially successful. Do you consider yourself an expert?
The information provided has been obtained from seminars, books, articles, lectures and classes. The instructors and authors are the experts; I merely pass along their combined knowledge and expertise.

As a writer, don't you think it would be nice to encourage, support and promote fellow writers?
I don't consider myself a writer. I wrote one novel four years ago and do not intend to write another. I support and promote writers by purchasing, reading and reviewing their work.

To Obsess Over Consumer Ratings & Reviews or Not to Obsess; That is the Question

This exercise will demonstrate unequivocally that consumer reviews of the exact same book often differ dramatically. A list of 130 books which I rated, reviewed and posted on Goodreads is provided. Within each rating category (5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 stars), books are listed in alphabetical order by author. Discover how often and radically your opinion differs from mine.

5 Stars = "Outstanding! Highly Recommended" (19 of 130 = 15%)
Non-Fiction
Son of the Morning Star by Evan S. Connell
Cracking Da Vinci's Code by James L. Garlow & Peter Jones

Fiction
The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children Series - I) by Jean M. Auel
The Valley of the Horses (Earth's Children Series - II) by Jean M. Auel
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue
Alas Babylon by Pat Frank
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Scarecrows by Christine Hayton
Aztec (The Aztec Trilogy I) by Gary Jennings
The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower Series - II) by Stephen King
The Stand by Stephen King
Cain at Gettysburg by Ralph Peters
The Chosen by Chaim Potok
My Name is Asher by Chaim Potok
The Promise by Chaim Potok
The Godfather by Mario Puzo
The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

4 Stars = "Very Good. Recommended" (38 of 130 = 30%)
Non-Fiction
I Had a Hammer by Hank Aaron
1,000 Years, 1,000 People by Gottlieb & Bowers
The Marine Machine by William Mares
We Were Soldiers Once...And Young by Harold G. Moore
The War: An Intimate History, 1941 - 1945 by Geoffrey C. Ward & Ken Burns

Fiction
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
The Mammoth Hunters (Earth's Children Series - III) by Jean M. Auel
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
Me, Myself and Why? by Mary Janice Davidson
Three Roads to the Alamo by William C. Davis
Coyote Summer by Michael W. Gear
The Morning River by Michael W. Gear
To Kill a Mockingbird by Lee Harper
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Earnest Hemingway
Good-Bye Mister Chips by James Hilton
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
The Wastelands (The Dark Tower Series - III) by Stephen King
Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower Series - IV) by Stephen King
Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower Series - V) by Stephen King
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Fire and Ice Series - I) by George R.R. Martin
A Clash of Kings (A Song of Fire and Ice Series - II) by George R.R. Martin
A Storm of Swords (A Song of Fire and Ice Series - III) by George R.R. Martin
A Feast of Crows (A Song of Fire and Ice Series - IV) by George R.R. Martin
No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
The Sand Pebbles by Richard McKenna
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Dust by Charles R. Pellegrino
In the Beginning by Chaim Potok
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (The Harry Potter Series - III) by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (The Harry Potter Series - IV) by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (The Harry Potter Series - V) by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (The Harry Potter Series - VI) by J.K. Rowling
The Human Comedy by William Saroyan
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - III) by J.R.R. Tolkien
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

3 Stars = "Good. Worth Reading" (62 of 130 = 48%)
Non-Fiction
Damon Runyon by Jimmy Breslin
In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam by Robert S. McNamara

Fiction
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Watership Down by Richard Adams
The Plains of Passage (Earth's Children Series - IV) by Jean M. Auel
The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children Series - V) by Jean M. Auel
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness by Alan Burgess
A Clockwork Orange| by Anthony Burgess
Tai-Pan by James Clavell
When the Horses Came by Amanda Cockrell
The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games Trilogy - I) by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire (The Hunger Games Trilogy - II) by Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay (The Hunger Games Trilogy) by Suzanne Collins
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
The Never Ending Story by Michael Ende
Flight Lessons by Patricia Gaffney
Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
A Farewell to Arms by Earnest Hemingway
Dune by Frank Herbert
Hanto Yo by Ruth Beebe Hill
Battleship Earth by L. Ron Hubbard
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Aztec Autumn (The Aztec Trilogy - II) by Gary Jennings
From Here to Eternity by James Jones
Some Came Running by James Jones
If the South Had Won the Civil War| by Mackinlay Kantor
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower Series - I) by Stephen King
Song of Suzanna (The Dark Tower Series - VI) by Stephen King
The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower Series - VII) by Stephen King
Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz
Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis
Main Street by Sinclair Lewis
How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn
The Testament by Eric Van Lustbader
The Late George Apley by John P. Marquand
A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Fire and Ice Series - V) by George R.R. Martin
Peyton Place by Grace Matallious
Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Kappillian of Malta by Nicholas Monsaarat
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Almost Adam by Petru Popescu
Ship of Fools by Katherine Anne Porter
The Wanderers by Richard Price
The Inverted World by Christopher Priest
The Cardinal by Morton Robinson
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (The Harry Potter Series - I) by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (The Harry Potter Series - II) by J.K. Rowling
Guys and Dolls by Damon Runyon
The Killer Angels by Michael Sharra
Gods and Generals by Jeff Sharra
The Terror by Dan Simmons
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
Quo Vadis by Henry K. Stenkiewicz
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - I) by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - II) by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Shoes of the Fisherman by Morris L. West
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
Judas My Brother by Frank Yerby

2 Stars = Not terrible, but not very good. Not recommended" (7 of 130 = 5%)
Non-Fiction
Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield
About Face: Odyssey of an American Warrior by David H. Hackworth
Mein Kampf by Adolph Hitler
The Duck Commander Family by Willie Robertson

Fiction
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Shortgrass Song by Mike Blakely
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

1 Star = Not good. Not recommended (4 of 130 = 3%)
Fiction
The Holy Bible: King James Version by Anonymous
The Land of the Painted Caves (Earth's Children Series - VI) by Jean M. Auel
The Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith, Jr.
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

The fact that one reader's "best book ever" may be another reader's "worst book ever" is precisely why consumer ratings and reviews have less impact upon purchasing decisions than many are led to believe. So, rather than obsessing over and soliciting reviews, redirect that time and effort toward writing something worthwhile reading. People will purchase and read your book. Some will rate and review it, but most will not. That doesn't matter. What does matter is that they purchased and read your book.

Behavior Guaranteed to Antoganize People and Encourage Them to Avoid You

If people tend to avoid you, you may have already mastered most of the techniques listed below.

Cultivate the "I Syndrome".
Insert as many personal pronouns as possible into every paragraph that you write or speak. Try to work them all in whenever possible: I, me, my, myself, mine.

Seek every opportunity to turn an intelligent debate into an antagonistic argument.
If it's not what you want to hear, make stuff up! Challenge fact with factoids. Disregard what has actually been said or written and deliberately misinterpret or misrepresent another's viewpoint.

Make every conversation about you.
Feign interest in what others are saying, then expound upon every remarkable or unremarkable feat you have ever performed or intend to perform someday, maybe.

Permit no aliment, injury or terrible experience to be worse than yours.
If someone breaks a bone, provide gruesome details about the compound fracture you once suffered. If they have a headache, complain that you suffer from chronic migraines. If someone has been in an automobile accident, describe how your car was demolished and that it is a miracle that you are still alive.

Seek sympathy at every opportunity.
Should someone mention a recent social activity, sadly state that you seldom get to go anywhere. If a neighbor buys a new car, complain that you can barely afford basic necessities. If an acquaintance is excited about an upcoming family gathering, exclaim that your family members apparently don't care enough to visit very often.

Celebrating the 2nd. Anniversary of Jim Vuksic's Blog

Today marks this blog's 2nd. Anniversary. The inaugural post appeared on November 18, 2013. To-date, 59 Goodreads members have identified themselves as regular followers. Many others occasionally view a post. The blog has been viewed 2,571 times and has received 166 comments and 100 Likes.

The majority of the posts focus upon the trials and tribulations associated with being a writer, being an unknown author, the publishing process, promotion, marketing, reviewing books or reflections upon life in general. Occasionally, an anecdote about my personal life will appear; nothing very exciting or extremely interesting, but since the blog is titled Jim Vuksic's Blog, I thought a few of the posts should be about Jim Vuksic.

I wish to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all who follow Jim Vuksic's Blog on a regular basis or just glance at it occasionally. Your comments are always welcome and duly noted. Some of my best ideas have come from others; so please keep them coming.

Sincerely,
Jim Vuksic (Nov. 18, 2015)

Self-Imposed Guidelines for Reading Choices, Reviewing and Literary Website Participation

Self-imposed guidelines influence my reading choices, reviewing protocol and participation in literary website discussions. Some will agree with them, others will not. Different opinions and conflicting beliefs are what make life interesting and learning so compelling.

Reading Choices
Genre does not matter as much as the author's technical writing ability and narration skill. I will purchase a book or borrow one from the library, but choose not to read books by authors who routinely charge nothing for their work. Experience has taught me that, too often, they are poorly written and badly narrated, and therefore, worth exactly the price being charged for them.

Posting Reviews
I have posted 131 reviews to-date. However, I refuse to read, let alone review, a book by an author who solicits, purchases, swaps or offers free books in exchange for reviews. A Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulation requires that such reviews include a disclaimer stating so. Some, including myself, consider such reviews to be unreliable. Those novice writers who solicit and obsess over reviews often do so because they grossly over estimate their impact upon sales.

Participation in Literary Website Discussions
If I believe my personal opinion may be of value, I will join in a discussion. I enjoy an intelligent debate fueled by experience, logic and facts; however, I refuse to take part in a ridiculous argument fueled by egotism, emotion and falsehoods.

What, if any, guidelines do you choose to follow regarding these activities?

Due Diligence and Research Prior to Publishing Avoids Conflict and Issues Afterward

The desire of a novice author to seek the quickest and least complicated method of having their work published is understandable. However, quick and easy is often a recipe for failure. Due diligence and research prior to publishing greatly reduces the possibility of post-publication aggravation and frustration. The following may prove helpful and can be studied in more detail by accessing books, articles, classes, lectures and seminars on the subject.

Many publishers are honest and trustworthy, some are not.
There are books and periodicals that provide lists of well-established, legitimate publishers, along with lists of those that are not. Most of them recommend eliminating the internet as a research tool. Why? Some self-proclaimed authors routinely post rants, supported only by innuendo, half-truths and blatant falsehoods, to discredit a publisher that had the audacity to reject their masterpiece or with whom their book failed to achieve commercial success.

A publisher's claims may be easily confirmed.
There are reliable sources that may be contacted to evaluate a publisher's reputation: The local Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau and State's Attorney General's Office.

A well-established, legitimate publisher will provide most, if not all, of the following:
- The address and phone number of a physical location. Visitors are welcome.
- Registration of the copyright and ISBN for each format published, plus the filing of an Intent to Use and Grant of Merchandising Licensing Rights application with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office - all on behalf of the author in his/her name.
- The services of employees or contracted personnel (acquisition staff, copy and conceptual editors, layout and graphic design artists, audio technicians, professional narrators, publicity and marketing support), along with direct contact information.
- The capability to provide a variety of formats: Traditional print (hard cover & paperback), E-book, audio book (compact disc & download).
- Widespread distribution and access to numerous commercial vendors.

Publishing Contract
A legitimate publisher will insist upon a written contract to protect both parties. Review the document with a qualified attorney before signing. Negotiate any recommended changes. If the publisher is unwilling to compromise, look for another publisher.

The adage "Anything worth doing is worth doing well" is worth heeding.

A Professional Author Always Writes Like One; No Exceptions and No Excuses!

Some published authors routinely post comments within discussion groups of literary websites that contain misspelled words, improper punctuation, grammatical errors and/or incorrect syntax. Justifiably or not, some readers interpret this to be an indication that the author's published work is probably also poorly written and edited and, therefore, not worth purchasing or even procuring for free.

Very little time and effort is required to proofread a paragraph or two before hitting the Enter key. Since the eye tends to see what the brain anticipates, occasionally an error will escape detection; however, such instances should be the exception rather than the rule.

A writer who resents being labeled an amateur can remedy the situation simply by not behaving like one. No true professional would permit indifference, impatience or carelessness to negatively impact their writing under any circumstance. Expend the time and effort to master and then consistently demonstrate impressive technical writing skills so that the impression left upon those who read whatever you write is a positive one.

In Search of a Vocation or What to be When I Grow Up?

After Sixty eight years, one would think that I would have discovered my life's calling by now, but I haven't. There were times when I thought I had, but changed my mind. For instance:

Roman Catholic Priest
I attended St. Mark Seminary in Erie, Pennsylvania for four years, but then realized that the religious life and even religion itself were not for me.

U.S. Marine
I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and seriously considered a military career. A thirteen-month deployment to Vietnam (Feb. 1967 through March 1968) convinced me otherwise.

Musician
I played rhythm guitar, electric bass and sang with a Country/Western band for eight years. Eventually, the lost weekends and long hours on the road became tedious and aggravating.

Manager
Various management positions within the H.J. Heinz Company, though financially rewarding, required a lot of time away from my wife and children. Five promotions and an astute financial planner allowed me to retire at the age of fifty four.

Author
My novel was published in 2011. To-date, only 959 units have been sold, earning me a walloping $2,219.76 in royalties; thus the absence of the adjective Successful in the title.

I now spend my time socializing with my adult children, grandchildren and friends, dating interesting women, hopping in the car for spontaneous road trips, reading books and drinking single-malt scotch. Perhaps I have discovered my true vocation after all. Is doing whatever you please whenever you please considered a profession?

I Advise You Not to Take My Advice Regarding How to Become a Successful Author

I have often wondered why so many ignore the wealth of information and knowledge regarding writing, publishing and marketing in books and literary periodicals available in the public library or through free and low-cost seminars, lectures and classes, choosing instead to seek advice from those whose knowledge and experience usually only marginally exceed their own, if that.

Some who claim to be a successful author constantly offer advice and attempt to discredit anyone who dares to disagree with them. However, the value or veracity of the evidence presented to support their claim is usually difficult, if not impossible, to determine. Successful authors do not tout their qualifications and achievements. Since true success spawns notoriety, most avid readers have, at the very least, already heard of them and their work to some extent.

If becoming a commercially successful author is your ultimate goal, by all means, pursue it, but consider pursuing a few other activities first. Before one can do, one must learn. Before one can learn, one must study and practice. Before one can study and practice, one must research and then access the appropriate material and other proven learning resources available.

Once we have learned how to do what we wish to do, then it is time to actually try doing it and gain experience. Success is never guaranteed, but we have no chance at all of succeeding if we don't at least try. Expend the time and effort necessary to seek out well-established, formally recognized and proven sources of the knowledge and expertise you seek rather than waste time seeking my or anyone else's amateurish advice. I wish you success.

A Successful or Failed Social Experiment - An Invitation to Let the Readers Decide

Those who have read the novel Levels are invited to share their personal opinion as to whether or not the experiment to create and sustain a perfect society and ideal physical and psychological environment for its members has succeeded or failed.

Those wishing to participate may respond in the comment section at the end of this blog post, within any literary website's promotional thread for Levels or via the secure and private communication page of the book's website, created and maintained by the publisher. Please refrain from including spoilers, if possible.

With which, if any, of the prominent characters did you personally identify and why; perhaps saying to yourself: "Hey, that's me!"?
Cecil - Jonathan - Peter - Alfred - Robert - Clarence - Edward - Catherine - Andrew - Francis - Jade - Ronald - Phillip - Rose - Celeste - Lucille - Michael - Barbara - Dianne - Heather - Charlotte. (Listed in the order of their appearance in the story.)

Levels depicts the end result of a 300-year social experiment, during which institutions, philosophies and behavior believed to have contributed to the downfall of previous societies have been eradicated. Do you agree that all those selected had to be eliminated in order to achieve the ultimate goal or should some have been preserved?

Sensitive issues and relationships depicted and addressed throughout the story include attitudes and practices regarding deception, restrictions, death, spirituality, physical and mental impairment, sex loyalty and homosexuality. Do you believe they were handled appropriately and respectfully? If not, which do you think were not and why?

This exercise is not intended to incite passionate debate or question anyone's personal beliefs. It is simply a solicitation for input from those who have actually read the book. I personally would love to live in the world depicted in Levels, but understand why many would not.

I wish to thank those who have purchased and, presumably, read or listened to the novel and hope you enjoyed visiting the world of Levels as much as I enjoyed creating it.