P.H. Solomon's Blog, page 266
August 20, 2016
What Wattpad Can Do For You Now
I’m not usually an early adopter when new social media, software and other services hit the public. I like to sit back and see how well it works and let the kinks get worked out.
That being said, I recently joined Wattpad – finally – and found that it’s been very beneficial. I know, a writer not on a form of social media designed to share writing. But there are several reasons why you should be on Wattpad, including it’s partnership with Smashwords to feature existing authors.
Reasons I Joined Now
1. With the release of The Bow of Destiny I wanted to share related, pre-release short stories as well as what I’ll be working on in the future.
2. I wanted to interact more with other authors. Let’s face it, writing is a solitary process so the chance to give and receive input from other authors is important.
3. I wanted to expose my fiction to reader response to improve the final drafts before release.
Clip Art Image Copyright by Microsoft. Clip Art Used by Permission of Microsoft
Why You Should Join Now
For all the reasons above, plus one additional reason – join early in your writing career to build your following. By building your following you want to gain trust for your writing. The sooner you begin this process the more you establish your writing brand. Personally, I wish I had started much sooner than I have. My mistake was viewing this purely as a development platform rather than one which is social as well as constructive.
But this isn’t all. As you may have read from the link above, Smashwords teamed with Wattpad to feature works by 72 romance authors, covering 74 books – all of which have been on Smashwords. All of the books featured were free, giving the authors exposure to millions of readers in such a way that their brands gained more visibility as a result. I haven’t seen much on the results but you can bet that this will be done again using authors from romance, fantasy, science fiction and other genres.
Experience
So far, I’ve found Wattpad unresponsive with IE 11. However, it works well with Chrome though I haven’t tried it with Firefox yet. I like the format though the editor is rather difficult at times. I do like being able to save it as a draft and then go public as well as withdraw content as necessary.
Over all, I’m happy to be on Wattpad, sharing content and writing insights with other writers. I currently have What Is Needed out for pre-release and feedback until it’s out on Kindle, Smashwords, etc, for September. I’ll have another short story for August up on Wattpad within a week for pre-release before it’s posted on retail sites for free. Everyone’s welcome to read what’s out there and comment- I’m happy to receive feedback to improve the story before it’s released.
Interested in more of my writing? After checking me out on Wattpad, check out The Bow of Destiny.
Haunted by his past. Hunted in the present. Uncertain what is real.
Athson has seen things that aren’t there and suffered fits since being tragically orphaned as a child at the hands of trolls and Corgren the wizard. When a strange will mentioning a mysterious bow comes into his possession, he’s not sure it’s real. But the trolls that soon pursue him are all too real and dangerous. And what’s worse, these raiders serve Corgren and his master, the hidden dragon, Magdronu, who are responsible for the destruction of his childhood home. Athson is drawn into a quest for the concealed Bow of Hart by the mystic Withling, Hastra, but Athson isn’t always sure what’s real and who his enemies are. With Corgren and Magdronu involved, Athson must face not only frequent danger but his grasp on reality and the reasons behind his tragic past.
To find out more about The Bow of Destiny, click over to one of these online retailers:
About the Author
P. H. Solomon lives in the greater Birmingham, AL area where he strongly dislikes yard work and sanding the deck rail. However, he performs these duties to maintain a nice home for his loved ones as well as the family’s German Shepherds. In his spare time, P. H. rides herd as a Computer Whisperer on large computers called servers (harmonica not required). Additionally, he enjoys reading, running, most sports and fantasy football. Having a degree in Anthropology, he also has a wide array of more “serious” interests in addition to working regularly to hone his writing. The Bow of Destiny is his first novel-length title with more soon to come.
Sign-up to receive my free ebooks today.
Privacy Policy
This blog does not share personal information – including email addresses – with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies (which is a WordPress.com function and not mine).
You can turn off the use of cookies at any time by changing your specific browser settings.
I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without our permission.
This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on July 2nd, 2015. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly here: ph at phsolomon.com (replace the “at” with @, it’s written that way to avoid spammers).
Filed under: Amazon, Author Platform, Barnes & Noble, Cover Reveal, Creativity, Editing, Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, Goodreads, iBooks, Indie Publishing, iTunes, Kobo, Mailing List, Pinterest, Planning, Pre-order, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Smashwords, Social Media, Tech Tips, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Tips, Twitter, What is Needed, Writing Tagged: Amazon, Announcement, blogging, Coverart, creativity, Editing, Facebook, Fantasy Fiction, Goodreads, Indie Publishing, Launch, Marketing, P. H. Solomon, Pinterest, Self-publishing, Smashwords, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Tips, Twitter, Wattpad, What is Needed, writing
Wattpad: How You Can Begin Reaching Your Audience
I’ve been enjoying Wattpad recently. If you haven’t, maybe you should give it a try.
Last week, I wrote about what Wattpad can do for you now and I’m following up today with more information. As mentioned last week, I uploaded a prequel short story to The Bow of Destiny entitled, What Is Needed to my Wattpad. Today, I’ll share some a bit of what I’m doing with it and other content as well as some pointers and ideas from other blog sites and news articles.
What Is Needed has done well in the last week with a number of reads, several votes and some nice comments. One thing I did during the past week is add it to a fantasy genre club that allows weekly posts of content. When using one of these clubs, keep in mind that there may be rules on posting (how much) as well as how to do so. My experience was very good.
This week I’ve added another story to my Wattpad, Trading Knives. This is another short story prequel to my upcoming book that I’m giving some play on Wattpad before it goes to online retailers for free in a few weeks. Give it a look but remember it’s still being edited so there will be changes, however, comments are helpful. As just a hint, this story is about one of the main antagonists in The Bow of Destiny so enjoy a little darker story.
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As promised, here are some links that may help you figure out how you may want to use Wattpad for your writing:
1. Joanna Penn hosted a guest post by Ashleigh Gardner, head of content with Wattpad. The post details aspects of marketing with Wattpad.
2. Indies Unlimited has also posted a blog entitled, Wattpad for Writers, which is very helpful as well.
3. Suw Charman-Anderson wrote an article for Forbes that discusses serializing your writing on Wattpad to attract an audience.
4. Molly Greene shared on her blog about how to get started on Wattpad – it’s a nice guide to make a quick, effective start.
5. Publisher’s Weekly also weighed-in on how Indie authors can build an audience using Wattpad.
These are all wonderful pieces that can help you puzzle out what you can do on Wattpad with your writing. Remember, Wattpad now has over 40 million readers – yes readers. It’s not just for writers and it’s proving to be just as important a social media outlet as Goodreads, the former being for more direct interaction with your content in progress and the latter more for book reviews.
Interested in more of my writing? After checking me out on Wattpad, check out The Bow of Destiny.
Haunted by his past. Hunted in the present. Uncertain what is real.
Athson has seen things that aren’t there and suffered fits since being tragically orphaned as a child at the hands of trolls and Corgren the wizard. When a strange will mentioning a mysterious bow comes into his possession, he’s not sure it’s real. But the trolls that soon pursue him are all too real and dangerous. And what’s worse, these raiders serve Corgren and his master, the hidden dragon, Magdronu, who are responsible for the destruction of his childhood home. Athson is drawn into a quest for the concealed Bow of Hart by the mystic Withling, Hastra, but Athson isn’t always sure what’s real and who his enemies are. With Corgren and Magdronu involved, Athson must face not only frequent danger but his grasp on reality and the reasons behind his tragic past.
To find out more about The Bow of Destiny, click over to one of these online retailers:
About the Author
P. H. Solomon lives in the greater Birmingham, AL area where he strongly dislikes yard work and sanding the deck rail. However, he performs these duties to maintain a nice home for his loved ones as well as the family’s German Shepherds. In his spare time, P. H. rides herd as a Computer Whisperer on large computers called servers (harmonica not required). Additionally, he enjoys reading, running, most sports and fantasy football. Having a degree in Anthropology, he also has a wide array of more “serious” interests in addition to working regularly to hone his writing. The Bow of Destiny is his first novel-length title with more soon to come.
Sign-up to receive my free ebooks today.
Privacy Policy
This blog does not share personal information – including email addresses – with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies (which is a WordPress.com function and not mine).
You can turn off the use of cookies at any time by changing your specific browser settings.
I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without our permission.
This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on July 2nd, 2015. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly here: ph at phsolomon.com (replace the “at” with @, it’s written that way to avoid spammers).
Filed under: An Arrow Against the Wind, Barnes & Noble, Blogging, Brain to Books Blog Tour, Cover Reveal, Creativity, Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, Goodreads, iBooks, Indie Publishing, iTunes, Kobo, Mailing List, Marketing, Pinterest, Planning, Pre-order, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Social Media, Tech Tips, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Tips, Trading Knives, Twitter, Wattpad, What is Needed, Writing, Writing Groups Tagged: blogging, Coverart, creativity, Editing, Epic Fantasy, Facebook, Fantasy Fiction, Goodreads, Indie Publishing, Launch, Marketing, P. H. Solomon, Pinterest, Planning, Rave Reviews Book Club, Self-publishing, Short Stories, Social Media, The, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, Tips, Trading Knives, Twitter, Wattpad, What is Needed, writing
August 19, 2016
Building Engagement (Sales Model post #2)
More for authors and marketing from Felix Fox. Interesting points to consider in this series. Reblogging on Archer’s Aim!
This is a continuation of the Sales Model of an Indie Author post, and part of my musings during and about my journey to become a highly successful author.
This also comes in the wake of the Fifty for Fifty celebration we ran last month. A lot of fellow indie authors asked me how I got there – and they deserve a somewhat longer answer than “hard work”.
As mentioned before, and is often proven by statistics, pay-per-click ads on Amazon, Facebook, Goodreads and the like do not lead directly to sales. Without going into too much detail, your ad needs to be first displayed (impressions), then clicked (click-through), then effective (conversion – resulting in a sale). Usually the percentages for each stage are so low, that whatever you spend on ads is unlikely to be covered by sales.
Mailing list services do result in sales. BookBub is the premier service, but…
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Sales Model of an Indie Author
Here’s and interesting take for authors about marketing. Reblogging on Archer’s Aim
This article was originally posted on my Quora blog. I’m posting and summarising my experiences in writing and marketing my novels, both as notes to myself and as advice from the trenches for other budding authors.
One of the worst aspects of becoming an author, is marketing your own book. I mean, if I was some kind of extrovert, I wouldn’t have chosen to sit alone in a dark room for hours, typing by myself – would I?
But this is the life of an indie author. And, increasingly, of traditionally published authors as well. Unless your last name is Rowling, King, Martin etc., you just don’t get “little people” to do it for you. Most publishers actually would prefer you come with fans, before picking your title up.
This post is about reaching an audience – namely, my novel sales model, both current and planned.
It’s going to be a…
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August 18, 2016
GHOSTS OF THE TRISTAN BASIN
I’m really intrigued by this book. I’ve never read a flintlock fantasy but I may just be reading my first one. Reblogging on Archer’s Aim.
Ghosts of the Tristan Basin by Brian McClellan
Genre: Fantasy – Flintlock
Series: Powder Mage #0.7
Publisher: Self Published (February 16, 2016)
Author Information:Website | Twitter
Length: 90 pages
My Rating: 4 stars
Today, I’m reviewing my latest read from Brian McClellan’s Powder Mage world. Yes, I realize I’ve been devouring these things fairly regularly lately, and I do sound like a major fanboy whenever I review one, but I can’t help it: I love this stuff. So much so, in fact, that I’m going to start reading The Crimson Campaign next week. (Just a little forewarning for those of you who tire of my gushing adoration for the series.) But let us focus on Ghosts of the Tristan Basin.
As your brain begins to create the images described in Ghosts’ first paragraph, the swampy wildlands of Fatrastan slowly materialize before your reading eyes; Taniel Two-Shot and Ka-poel…
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Corgren makes a living as a prize knife-
Corgren makes a living as a prize knife-fighter in the rough fighting rings along the Hart river. When a mysterious stranger offers him power to gain revenge on his enemies for his service, Corgren dismisses it as a con. But when the stakes are high against an opponent as skilled as himself, will Corgren accept offer?
“A prequel short story that surprised me by how entertaining it was. Especially great were the intense knife-fighting scenes.”
“Solomon has a taut and controlled way with words. His style reminds me a bit of Isaac Asimov but with a high fantasy twist. I was intrigued by this story after the first few pages and he definitely left me hanging and wanting more. I’d recommend this to lovers of fantasy for sure.”
FREE on:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1UOkXt7
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1TOMOML
iBooks: http://ow.ly/y01O301vaU1
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1WyTz4h
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1JcVHsM
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Back-To-School Book Blog Party with Rave Reviews Book Club!
Sorry I missed visiting and commenting yesterday on this great stop on the month-long #RRBC blog party. Check out this a nice line-up of books from Linda Covella! Reblogging on Archer’s Aim!
Welcome to my book stop on the #RRBC blog party tour here in sunny (and sometimes foggy!) Santa Cruz, CA.
I will be giving away prizes of a $20 Amazon Gift Card to two lucky winners. All you have to do to be entered in the contest is leave a comment at the end of this blog. And besides, I’d love to hear from you!
I write for kids and teens and currently have four books published, all award winners! Please take a look below at book blurbs, links to trailers, and other information.
Thanks again for stopping by! And please check out these other amazing RRBC authors’ blog party stops.
In 1775 New Spain, on a journey from Mexico to California, 15-year-old Fernanda Marquina, half Spanish and half Pima Indian, will discover not only romance, but truths that will change the way she sees her ancestry, her family…
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Rave Reviews Book Club Book & Blog Party #RRBC
Here’s another stop from a few days ago for the #RRBC blog party going on all month. Reblogging on Archer’s Aim.
Welcome to my post which is coming to you from Post Aransas Texas and is only one of the 65+ posts on this year’s Rave Reviews Book Club Book & Blog Party. You can go here to see the complete lineup.
Today if you will leave a comment on this post you will be eligible to win:
A Ten Dollar Gift Card from Amazon
There will be one gift card given away, but you need to comment to be entered in the drawing. The winner will be announced tomorrow.
I would like to give you a little information about my Books.
The first book in the John J. Cannon Trilogy is My GRL
Blurb: John J. Cannon successful San Francisco lawyer takes a leave of absence from the firm and buys a boat he names My GRL. He is unaware that his newly purchased boat had already been targeted by…
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Welcome to #RRBC’s Back-To-School Book & Blog Block Party!
This is one of the #RRBC stops on the month-long blog party. Reblogging on Archer’s Aim.
Hi! Welcome to Rave Reviews Book Club’s Back-To-School Book & Blog Block Party. We are partying all month long with 71 awesome blog stops (Yes, 71!) and fantastic prizes to be won. It’s a party you don’t want to miss. For fellow authors and avid readers, if you’re not a member of Rave Reviews Book Club, I highly recommend joining this incredibly supportive community. Here’s why!
Thank you for joining me here in Petawawa, Ontario, Canada.
Here’s What I’m Giving Away Today to Three Lucky Winners:
(1) $5 Amazon Gift Card
(1) Paperback copy of “THE HEART’S JOURNEY HOME”
(1) E-book copy of “THE HEART’S JOURNEY HOME”
A total of three prizes!
Just leave a comment below and your name will be entered for a chance to win!
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I never imagined that I would become a published writer. I have loved the idea of writing – choosing words and weaving them together…
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RRBC Book & Blog Block Party
One of yesterday’s stops on the #RRBC month-long blog party. Reblogging on Archer’s Aim!
Greetings and welcome to Rave Reviews Book Club’s BACK-TO-SCHOOL BOOK & BLOG BLOCK PARTY at The Indie Spot! Location: Lansing, Michigan, USA.
Here’s What I’m Giving Away Today:
*Three (3) $10.00 iTunes Gift Cards
# of Winners for this stop: 3
I invite you to check out my books and the book trailers that go with each title. I’ve included an excerpt of Jazz Baby and a short blurb for each book to help you become better acquainted with the stories!
Jazz Baby Chapter Four Excerpt
722 Dauphine Street promised little in the way of excitement—from outward appearances. What once had been a Digby’s Department Store now went by the somewhat famous Crescent Club.
Revelers of every color, size, and persuasion lined the sidewalk out front, passing around flasks of bootleg hooch, eager for the doors to swing open so nighttime could finally begin.
Nobody paid us any mind as…
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