J. Daniel’s Comments (group member since Mar 10, 2015)

J. Daniel’s comments from the Support for Indie Authors group.

I bite my nails. Always have. But when I'm writing, I gnaw those suckers to the nub, most of the time not even realizing I'm doing it. I'm just staring at the screen, trying to find the right phrase to move the image in my head on to the page, when I suddenly realize if I chew any further it might technically be considered cannibalism.

Anybody else out there practice any bad habits while writing?

Seconded! Tacos rule!

Forget the "like" button, we need a "rimshot"

I lurked around in this group during February, joined in March, and usually check in a few times a day to see what's going on. I'd like to share a few things I've learned, if you'll indulge me for a few moments.

Never respond to reviews. Unless you are directly contacted, don't say anything. I know the temptation can be great, and maybe you could get them to see the error of their ways, but chances are you'll do much more damage to yourself than any single bad review could ever accomplish. Provided with the opportunity, I truly believe "me" from a few months ago would have completely blown this.

Be excellent to each other. This is good advice in any aspect of your life, and not something I learned from this group. However, in here this philosophy is embraced, encouraged, and even enforced. It's a pity about that last bit, but such is the world in which we live.

There are no rules in writing. One of the biggest attractions and advantages to indie publishing is the complete control over your own work. If you want to publish a stream of consciousness account of your daily bowel movements, no one is going to stop you. Furthermore, within this group you will likely find someone to beta read it, review it, blog about it, and you'll certainly receive words of encouragement for telling the story YOU wanted to tell. No one can or should tell you what you write is wrong.

Everyone has something to offer. No matter how much or how little one has written, we each have had a unique experience. This means there will be questions for which only you will be uniquely qualified to answer. Don't be afraid to provide that answer!

Even mods make mistakes. They are human, just like the rest of us, BUT they are always quick to acknowledge their mistake, apologize, and make amends. They are all truly kind people and I am proud to call them fellow indie authors.

That's all for now. Feel free to add your own observations.

Now everyone back to work!
And I call dibs on the stream of consciousness novel idea.

Dwayne wrote: "I have no idea how many references to "Back to the Future" I worked into "We Fear the Living", but it's at least a dozen"

October 1985! Slipped right by me. Now I have to go back and read it again.

Stripes - that's a classic. Love that movie!

Epic

I remember this word being used everywhere a couple of years ago, even so much as being the title of a movie. It lost all meaning for me and I refuse to use it.

I don't care how good it is, a sandwich, a nap, or even a car should not be described as "epic".

My first novel was a horror/vampire 125,000 word novel. I was told it was too long for a first time author, but I submitted to publishers anyway. At that time you headed down to the library, picked up the latest copy of Writer's Market and found suitable publishers. Many of them would not look at multiple submissions, meaning you could only send to one publisher at a time, and wait, and wait. It also meant making copies, boxing up samples, shipping them out, and waiting on that SASE. The only thing resembling a personalized response I received stated that the editor was tired of vampire novels.

Honestly, looking at it now, that novel had no business being published anyway. It is currently in the middle of a massive rewrite. I'm talking select all, delete, begin again rewrite.

My second novel is sci-fi and clocks in at 94,000 words. A much more respectable sum for an unknown author. Many more publishers and agents had online submissions when I started trying to get it published, so in some ways the waiting was much less. I received requests for sample chapters based on my queries, so I felt that showed I could successfully craft a query, but ultimately I wound up with an inbox of form rejection letters. This novel is patiently waiting for me to look at it again and decide what to do with it.

This last novel I completed is an 86,000 word fantasy. I sent it out to numerous publishers and agents I researched and determined to be reputable, but again received only form rejection letters, IF I received any response at all. This was probably the most frustrating thing about sending out queries. I understand agents receive a ton of submissions, but how hard is it to reply with a template rejection letter just so I know you received it and glanced at it. The only slightly personalized response I received was a comment that the story didn't seem unique enough.

So, I've grown tired of the blind rejections, and have decided to go the route of self-publishing. I don't think I've ever been more excited about writing since I made this decision. I'm excited to see my book in print (or e-print) and am interested to see how it is received...even if it takes years for anyone to stumble on it. I like what I've seen others say here, and I agree with them: self-publishing is a long game and I'm in it for the long haul.

Awesome quote Charles. I'm keeping that one.

How about when you comment about how loud something is, or that you're having a hard time hearing and the response is "What?" or "Huh?" After the third time they either get the joke or give up. I can't catch my wife with that one anymore, but the kids are a different story.

My wife and I have been married for almost 17 years (and together for 19) so she's immune to my awful puns now. Or, so she says, but I still see her giggle from time to time.

OK, I know it was a comment from two months ago, but I'm just reading it now. The puns comment by Ann - don't jump in the shower - totally something we've used in our house too. My dad is the worst with puns and my brother and I definitely inherited the gene. One that I started at the office and is frequently used - someone says "I'm going to run out to that client office. Be right back." Response - "It'll be faster if you drive!" Insert groans here.

Are you writing for you, or for everybody else? If you force yourself to stick to a genre then you may end up writing stories you aren't excited about, and nobody wants to see that happen.

Awesome title. It would definitely make me stop for a closer look.

So, you have a damsel (presumably in distress), but I don't see a gallant knight bent on rescuing yon fair maiden.

The concept sounds great, but I've got to be honest. When I got to the end I was just thinking what a great video game it would make. Dibs on The Indomitable Primadonna.

We seem to be collecting a large number of books on our bookshelf. Could you add shelves for specific genres (fantasy, sci-fi, etc.)? Then authors could place their novels on the appropriate shelf and readers can more easily find a new author to support.