Julie A. Rainey's Blog, page 14
April 11, 2012
Goodreads
As an indie author there are several resources and communities that are beneficial. However, thus far, the one that has helped me the most is Goodreads.
With a huge user base and many different groups to join with a variety of subjects, it's unmatched. In having so many groups you are bound to find one that suits your needs. There are a few that I have joined that are specifically designed to help out indies and a few that are just interests of mine.
As a first time author I really had no concept of how to promote my work and I'm ashamed to say I didn't even know Goodreads existed. But since discovering it I have found a community of my peers that give advice and help out when needed, even with technical issues from different websites.
At first I was intimidated because I was certain that I had nothing to bring to the table, but you would be surprised. For instance, I was able to assist someone with knowledge about audio books and their marketability because I had worked in a bookstore and knew how they sold (or didn't in that case).
The point is, if you need help or just want to be part of something bigger,Goodreads is a good place to start. If you know any other good communities for indie authors I would be happy to hear about them. Just post a comment below.
With a huge user base and many different groups to join with a variety of subjects, it's unmatched. In having so many groups you are bound to find one that suits your needs. There are a few that I have joined that are specifically designed to help out indies and a few that are just interests of mine.
As a first time author I really had no concept of how to promote my work and I'm ashamed to say I didn't even know Goodreads existed. But since discovering it I have found a community of my peers that give advice and help out when needed, even with technical issues from different websites.
At first I was intimidated because I was certain that I had nothing to bring to the table, but you would be surprised. For instance, I was able to assist someone with knowledge about audio books and their marketability because I had worked in a bookstore and knew how they sold (or didn't in that case).
The point is, if you need help or just want to be part of something bigger,Goodreads is a good place to start. If you know any other good communities for indie authors I would be happy to hear about them. Just post a comment below.
April 9, 2012
Reading & Writing
I love to read. When I was younger I was perfectly content to stay in my room and read all night. In fact I used to read one Fear Street novel every night. This of course drove my parents crazy because instead of going to bed at a descent hour, I was up until midnight.
But now that I am writing my own novels I have a fear that I will some how inadvertently plagiarize another author's work. The subconscious mind is a powerful weapon and my apprehension is that with out intending to, I will manage to put in a prop or storyline that I have already read.
So from that fear I have not read anything pertaining to my genre, but quitting cold turkey hasn't been easy. I miss getting lost in a book. That sense of anticipation as you turn the next page. The world that you escape to in your mind drowning out all that surrounds you.
I guess my question is. How do you read without accidentally spilling some of that world you imagined into your own stories?
But now that I am writing my own novels I have a fear that I will some how inadvertently plagiarize another author's work. The subconscious mind is a powerful weapon and my apprehension is that with out intending to, I will manage to put in a prop or storyline that I have already read.
So from that fear I have not read anything pertaining to my genre, but quitting cold turkey hasn't been easy. I miss getting lost in a book. That sense of anticipation as you turn the next page. The world that you escape to in your mind drowning out all that surrounds you.
I guess my question is. How do you read without accidentally spilling some of that world you imagined into your own stories?
April 6, 2012
Multi-Tasking
As a mother it is only natural to have an ability to multi-task. However, there are days when one just wants to do one thing at a time. The problem I've found is that my brain no longer functions that way. If I don't have at least ten things going at once, I can't do anything. My brain is constantly on overdrive.
My thought process for any given day goes something like...Have to write on the book today at least a thousand words, don't forget to run the dishwasher, have to get eggs ready for the Easter party, laundry oh yeah have to do a load of that, organize my recipes for the week, make labels for the tomatoes I'm going to sell this year....
It goes on and on like that all day but I've found I actually like it and work better that way. Unfortunately there are side effects. For example forgetting which day or even month I'm supposed to be at the doctors office. Forgetting what I did with my keys, etc. I guess it's the same as everything else in life. There are good points and there are bad points. You just have to figure out if it's worth it or not.
Do you have to multi-task too?
*By the way, the next two days are filled to the brim so if you don't here from me have a wonderful holiday weekend. :)
My thought process for any given day goes something like...Have to write on the book today at least a thousand words, don't forget to run the dishwasher, have to get eggs ready for the Easter party, laundry oh yeah have to do a load of that, organize my recipes for the week, make labels for the tomatoes I'm going to sell this year....
It goes on and on like that all day but I've found I actually like it and work better that way. Unfortunately there are side effects. For example forgetting which day or even month I'm supposed to be at the doctors office. Forgetting what I did with my keys, etc. I guess it's the same as everything else in life. There are good points and there are bad points. You just have to figure out if it's worth it or not.
Do you have to multi-task too?
*By the way, the next two days are filled to the brim so if you don't here from me have a wonderful holiday weekend. :)
April 5, 2012
Out of the Loop
It seems that in this day and age if you do not stay on top of all the growing technologies you will be left in the dust, so to speak. I once was well versed in the language of computers but it seems that even at twenty-six, I am ancient. For example, until a few days ago I had no idea what a widget was and social networking was completely and utterly foreign to me. What do you say, what do you post? All questions I asked my much younger sister who informed me that it didn't really matter what it was as long as it wasn't too ridiculous.
So thus began my experiment with the firestorm that is social media. Word of mouth amplified by a thousand, which can be both good and bad. I've joined several Goodreads groups which I was fearful I would have nothing to bring to the table, considering my late entry into the game, but surprisingly I did have a few items that I had experience with. I've made a Facebook page and now have this blog. I'm hopeful with time that my posts will improve and I will have a better grasp on the whole concept of social media.
Until then I guess I'll fumble around like a dinosaur in a tar pit.
So thus began my experiment with the firestorm that is social media. Word of mouth amplified by a thousand, which can be both good and bad. I've joined several Goodreads groups which I was fearful I would have nothing to bring to the table, considering my late entry into the game, but surprisingly I did have a few items that I had experience with. I've made a Facebook page and now have this blog. I'm hopeful with time that my posts will improve and I will have a better grasp on the whole concept of social media.
Until then I guess I'll fumble around like a dinosaur in a tar pit.
April 4, 2012
Writers Block
Ah yes. The dreaded writers block. Not a good thing to be experiencing when your an author. It seems as though it is an inevitable condition of being a writer. Your brain is happily chugging along, spouting out ideas left and right and then all of the sudden...nothing. You try everything you can to get the juices flowing again, maybe even standing on your head, but alas, nothing works.
I've found that sometimes the best solution is to walk away, at least for a while. Distract your mind with other tasks and it may just kick start again.
What are your best solutions for writers block?
I've found that sometimes the best solution is to walk away, at least for a while. Distract your mind with other tasks and it may just kick start again.
What are your best solutions for writers block?
April 3, 2012
Marketing
As an indie author, marketing is one of those evil necessities that you must do. So how do you market without shamelessly self promoting to everyone you know? I've read a few discussions at Goodreads and apparently I am not the only one that feels a little guilty about bugging the crap out of our friends and family.
Then how do we promote to complete strangers? You can only leave so many links on discussion boards before people will start to get annoyed with you. Which I have tried very carefully only to leave them in the appropriate spots. There are endless lists of websites that promote indie books and/or do reviews but then again, most of them are so overburden with submissions it takes weeks or even months to get your book featured.
Facebook is good if you know people that like the same interests as you but in my case, I am the only nerd I know. So I guess I am just waiting for that spark. Just one review or even one feature might be just what the book needs to get the ball rolling. I realize its only been a week, but I'm not a patient person, as I think I might have mentioned before.
Then how do we promote to complete strangers? You can only leave so many links on discussion boards before people will start to get annoyed with you. Which I have tried very carefully only to leave them in the appropriate spots. There are endless lists of websites that promote indie books and/or do reviews but then again, most of them are so overburden with submissions it takes weeks or even months to get your book featured.
Facebook is good if you know people that like the same interests as you but in my case, I am the only nerd I know. So I guess I am just waiting for that spark. Just one review or even one feature might be just what the book needs to get the ball rolling. I realize its only been a week, but I'm not a patient person, as I think I might have mentioned before.
April 2, 2012
Reviews
Reviews. That seems to be one of the main things an ebook needs. The trouble is how to get them. I've written to a few blogs and filled out forms to be featured on a few more. Now it's just hurry up and wait. I understand why they are so important, I even find myself reading them before purchasing something. With the free promotion I am hoping one of the three hundred and fifty-three people that downloaded it will actually leave one. The more reviews I get then the better I believe things will go.
It's hard when you publish your first work. No one knows who you are and whether your writing is worth their money or not. So I'm going to focus less on how this book is selling and more on writing the second and third book in the series. Hopefully with a few more titles under my belt I will seem like a more legitimate author and the reviews will come pouring in (I hope).
It's hard when you publish your first work. No one knows who you are and whether your writing is worth their money or not. So I'm going to focus less on how this book is selling and more on writing the second and third book in the series. Hopefully with a few more titles under my belt I will seem like a more legitimate author and the reviews will come pouring in (I hope).
April 1, 2012
Roller Coaster Ride
When I signed my book up for Amazon Kindle Select and used a few of my free promotion days I never expected much. Boy was I wrong. Within a day my book went from two people buying it to as of this morning two hundred and ninety four in the US, thirty in the UK and four in Germany downloading it. Meaning there are three hundred and twenty eight people in the world right now reading my book. Which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time.
For a new author publishing her first book, these numbers are wonderful. The book shot through the ranks on the Science Fiction Free Bestsellers and peaked at #35. I hoped against hope it would continue to rise, but alas it fell to #62 by last night. So I found I went back on the marketing trail around the web and by this morning it had jumped back up to #48. I suspect by the end of today it will be lower but what a fun ride it has been.
I guess it just goes to show you, expect the unexpected.
For a new author publishing her first book, these numbers are wonderful. The book shot through the ranks on the Science Fiction Free Bestsellers and peaked at #35. I hoped against hope it would continue to rise, but alas it fell to #62 by last night. So I found I went back on the marketing trail around the web and by this morning it had jumped back up to #48. I suspect by the end of today it will be lower but what a fun ride it has been.
I guess it just goes to show you, expect the unexpected.
Roller Coster Ride
When I signed my book up for Amazon Kindle Select and used a few of my free promotion days I never expected much. Boy was I wrong. Within a day my book went from two people buying it to as of this morning two hundred and ninety four in the US, thirty in the UK and four in Germany downloading it. Meaning there are three hundred and twenty eight people in the world right now reading my book. Which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time.
For a new author publishing her first book, these numbers are wonderful. The book shot through the ranks on the Science Fiction Free Bestsellers and peaked at #35. I hoped against hope it would continue to rise, but alas it fell to #62 by last night. So I found I went back on the marketing trail around the web and by this morning it had jumped back up to #48. I suspect by the end of today it will be lower but what a fun ride it has been.
I guess it just goes to show you, expect the unexpected.
For a new author publishing her first book, these numbers are wonderful. The book shot through the ranks on the Science Fiction Free Bestsellers and peaked at #35. I hoped against hope it would continue to rise, but alas it fell to #62 by last night. So I found I went back on the marketing trail around the web and by this morning it had jumped back up to #48. I suspect by the end of today it will be lower but what a fun ride it has been.
I guess it just goes to show you, expect the unexpected.
March 31, 2012
Eureka, I will miss you.
I know this is a little off topic from writing and publishing but I just have to say that I am not looking forward to the final season of Eureka. Not because I don't like the show but because the sooner it starts the sooner it will end. What is it with SyFy getting rid of all the good shows and since when does wrestling qualify as science fiction?
I know Eureka has been slowly declining, especially when the whole alternate timeline thing happened. I don't like change and defiantly didn't like it in the show. It took some adjustment before I was on speaking terms with them again.
Alas, I liked the show overall and I will miss it when it's gone. Now I'm wondering what they will put in it's place and if it will live up to the standards of its predecessor.
I know Eureka has been slowly declining, especially when the whole alternate timeline thing happened. I don't like change and defiantly didn't like it in the show. It took some adjustment before I was on speaking terms with them again.
Alas, I liked the show overall and I will miss it when it's gone. Now I'm wondering what they will put in it's place and if it will live up to the standards of its predecessor.
