Dwayne’s Comments (group member since Apr 01, 2017)

Dwayne’s comments from the Support for Indie Authors group.

I don't care much for books that have no polarizing moments. Do you want a limp, wishy-washy book? Or do you want to be bold?

Pamela wrote: "I'm not sure I understand this thread. I have any number of ideas, but why would I want to share them with anybody? There are many better places to look for inspiration."

I kinda had the same reaction. The things I write are very personal, usually inspired by some small yet memorable event in my life. It would feel weird to give the ideas away to someone else. But, we all work differently. If someone prefers to get their inspiration from other authors and other authors are willing to share ideas, cool.

Christina wrote: "I've cut down to one pot per morning."

Lightweight!

Ah. G.G. That's why I was having trouble deleting that.

Jude, if you're interested in Jane's offer, just leave a message here and she'll get back to you. No links, please. Thanks.

Christina wrote: "too much coffee"

No such thing.

D.M. wrote: "...but editing you definitely need to be of "right mind"..."

Soft reminder that we're not here to tell one another what needs to be done. Sober, drunk, or high... whatever works best for the individual is what needs to be done.

Robert wrote: "Does anyone find they write more, better, or more better with a little liquid inspiration?"

I don't really drink alcohol anymore, but I nearly always have some coffee at hand when I write or edit or ite or wredit.

W. wrote: "cereal fiction?"

*Giggle* Cereal fiction can be Grrr-rr-eat!

Most likely DJay is right. If it continues to be a problem, keep working with Amazon on the issue. Thanks.

Comment deleted. Per the rules and even mentioned in this very thread - NO LINKS! It's probably time to close this thread.

Bookwhacking, self-promoting, and links are against the rules. Please review. Message deleted.

G.G. wrote: "Ok, but a new title and new cover may sound even more sneaky since people who bought and read the original might spend money for the 'enhanced' same story."

I didn't say "enhanced". I said a new story. That means - using the same concept with a different plot, different theme, different characters, everything changed except the basic concept.

Holy moley...

B.A. wrote: "I agree with what Dwayne said about about editing a book after it is published..."

I feel like I really want to add here - I do get it. I have a couple of early short stories I'm completely unhappy with and wish I could redo them. I will not. I may, eventually, unpublish those. I might also write a new story with the same concept, taking a little more time to work it through. If so, I will be sure to give it a new title and new cover. So, yeah, I understand the temptation to fix up something that has been published. Other than reading them over from time to time and fixing stray typos, I don't change anything.

Lila wrote: "...I felt there were enough changes (mostly in typs & formatting) ..."

I'm gonna break one of my weird little rules and mention I've been reading your book lately. (Yeah, I know. I'm probably not your target audience, but - I bought it months ago and I'll read about anything). Anyway, I haven't noticed a great many typos. A few here and there, yes.

Just wanted to toss that out there.

And tell Morgan Maxwell from a guy who has always had facial hair - *raspberry*

My Kindle does not update. I've seen authors post on social media, "I rewrote parts of my book with extra chapters and better written passages. Check it out!" Yet, I still see the same version I bought.

I seem to be in the minority on this topic. I can't help, though, as a reader feeling ripped off when someone rushed to get a book out, then went back and "fixed it" leaving me with their original version. As a writer, I can't imagine doing this to my readers. It's unprofessional. I understand the temptation to rush a book out there and start selling it right away, but it's better to refrain and get it right before publishing. What are the chances that the first buyers of the book will come back and buy more of your work if the book you rushed to get out there is full of typos or the writing is mediocre?

To clarify, I don't think there's anything wrong with finding a typo or two later and fixing it. It happens. But, if you are rewriting whole passages because the wording was poor or you have several people pointing out your errors after you published, you might consider slowing down on your next book.

Seems a dirty trick to play on those who have already bought your book. Or, as you said, sneaky. I wouldn't be happy as a reader to find that an author put out a better written version of their book after I bought it. Why not try to get a "good first impression" when you first publish the book?

PM me please.

B.A. wrote: "Pick a thing from your past which created emotions (anger, happiness, love, hate, fear...etc) and write it as if you are the age you were at the time..."

This is a great prompt and it's one I have used. When I was a teenager, working in the fields, another kid dared me to cut him with a bean hook. I did, then I felt terrible for making another human being bleed for no real reason. That two minutes of my life is in the middle of an otherwise nearly 100% fictional novel I'm currently working on.

Jeremy wrote: "I'm so used to academic assignments where I have to fluff up the word count..."

Understandable. I remember those days. Fluff is poison in creative writing and blurbs. I don't really do poetry, but I'm guessing it's not a good thing in poetry, either.

Probably many, actually.