Tomas’s Comments (group member since May 15, 2018)

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

As a reader, I pay more attention to reviews on GR than Amazon. First, it seems GR is more aimed (and built) for that and it's more user-friendly (people can like reviews and have a different approach to them). Second, Amazon reviews are likely one-way only so if you review a book from an author you share the genre with, it's likely that he/she won't be able to review yours (even with verified purchase) because of a potential reviews swap.

Hence, my approach is that I always write reviews on GR and my blog but only sporadically on Amazon (the few cases last time were when the author asked me for it - once was on GR through PM, the other was through my blog, I believe).

I've probably mentioned it already somewhere: when Amazon sends me the weekly (or so) book tips and some catches my eye, I'll look it up on GR first and foremost. Of course, it's my personal approach and different people might have different decision process for choosing a book.

Hailey wrote: "I started my college classes today so while I won't have as much time to work on it"

*Giggles*
I feel like I've done the most when I used writing as my main procrastinating tool from uni stuff...

Now, that's like a bar confession from me, right?

While I have several files, it's all part of one grand project: the hopefully almost-beta draft of #1 and the first drafts of #2 and #3, an early "sketch" of a prequel novella and notes for what could eventually turn into other works in the same "universe".

*raises a mug of green tea* Gratz, I'm happy for you!

When I feel like I'm stuck (or about to get stuck), I take a writing break. I read a book or two and mix it with some sport, if the weather allows for it.

Rewrting the blurb was on the back-burner for a while as I worked on the actual story but I am back with the third try now, five months later.
I've adjusted the first paragraph a bit and changed the other two. it now shows that the story actually starts when Kraasian' son is on the verge of adulthood and hints at his power and its contribution to the story. I am still not satisfied with the ending (last sentence).

Now, the blurb itself:
For generations, the Order of Eternal Defenders had fought to defend their lands from the endless hordes of demons. Blessed by the godlike Eternals, the Eternal Defenders can turn the tide of battle with expertise in arms or magic. Yet, few as they are, they can't win a war alone – not when their leaders are used to stalemate and beset by personal grudges.

The legendary warrior Kraasian Darkwood lost friends and family to the demons. When Tyr'eshal, his twenty-year-old son, accepts the offer to wield an almost forgotten power, Kraasian realizes there might never be a better chance. Along with his closest friend, Archmage Ereanel, he believes their experience and his son's budding skills are the key to ending the long war.

As Kraasian and Ereanel plan to defeat the demons forever, Tyr'eshal struggles to deal with the expectations put on him – and the resurgence of another, underestimated foe. Despite being challenged by friends and foes alike, Kraasian leads the Eternal Defenders against the demons only to realize the victory might cost them more than he anticipated.
----
Feel free to ask anything that might be unclear.

I agree with Dwayne. B is getting more chaotic with each sentence past the first paragraph (which is good). Pointing out who the MCs are would help. I needed to read it through a few times to get what you mean by the "(not when)" but I got it in the end.

Note: I am not someone who'd try to make a blurb draft based on what I see, I just give general thoughts/ideas. Also, I am probably not your target audience so I might not know some genre specifics.

I think it would help to have the second part give a strong description of the Interplanetary Allegiance and its agenda. Maybe something like "Instead of merely observing the Earth, the IA's ambassador(s) ended up genetically modifying humans for an unknown purpose" followed by something that'd show the involvement of the main characters, whoever of the list is the most important for the story. Maybe something like (taking a wild shot so don't take it to the point) "Jasper, Zoey's weird neighbor, is tasked with capturing the wayward IA scientists and the altered survivors but Zoey might prove a challenge."

And lastly, please forgive me if I am missing something, but the blurb has a strong Sci-Fi vibe with genetical alterations and interplanetary stuff. You say it's NA PNR but the blurb might let me think it's mad scientist sci-fi with romance elements so there might be some risk of a wrong type of readers picking up your book. Hope I did not confuse you by the last bit.

I'd really like to help you with this but... well, you know, I am not done yet so can't answer all the questions. I've asked for comments on the first two takes here in the group and I will do so when I write the third "draft" of the blurb. I plan to ask beta-readers on that matter, if they are willing.

I am coming with a possibly strange question (and topic to discuss). Goodreads allows sharing Kindle Highlights - something I do as a reader but (as a not-yet-published writer) have no idea how it works for an author - and how authors use it (if they even do).

Hence, I wanted to ask people around a few questions:
- Does Goodreads notify you when someone shares their highlights?
- Do you have a look at the highlighted passages?
- If yes, do you think about why people highlighted those specific passages and/or why they (likely) liked them?

Haru wrote: "I also remember that at fanfiction.net they show you a list, when you sign up, of authors that don't want a single comma from their work reproduced anywhere, Anne Rice among them. I would stay clear of them!"

They must surely be great people /sarcasm off

Wally wrote: "Is there a preferred genre?"

The user was most likely a spambot, considering he/she joined the group and instantly made two self-promoting posts in several groups, after looking at the user's page. Posts were removed.

Post deleted for breaking promotion and link rules.

Post deleted for breaching self-promotion/advertising rules.

Haru wrote: "If I put it on Booksprout now, I'd be breaking the contract if I'm found out.
Now, if they do find out that I did break the contract and the book is taken out of KU, can I enroll it later again if I take it out of Booksprout? Or would there be a problem?"

I'd suggest you rather wait out the first 3-month KU period, then take the Booksprout trial. It's the safest way. What would happen would probably depend on how Amazon sees the service - if it's explicitly ARCs only, then the result might be different than if the service does full wide distribution along with ARCs (which would be a severe breach of KU and could probably lead to very bad things if someone had a bad day).

It also depends on the person. There are people (bands, even) who think that song cover is pretty much stealing their art - and there are really fan-friendly bands. I've used it where I felt the name was way more original than any generic chapter title I could've come with.
(view spoiler)[For example, the end of my current WIP takes place after a battle which had some losses. I've named it "Darkened days to come" after a song of a Nordic gothic-metal band instead of any generic 'funeral' title. The other cases are not even to the word but slightly paraphrased. (hide spoiler)]

Deciding whether or not to take part in KU is probably enough for a topic of its own, I'll just point out that it might differ much by genre.

Jay wrote: "Assume your reader has never heard of the song, or game. What does that name you've assigned contribute to the reading enjoyment? Only the feeling that they may be missing something that matters.
"

It's done when the song's name fits the chapter as a name, not out of nowhere. Hence, if the reader has no clue where it came from, there's no problem in that. I would not make any kind of reference the way you hinted because I realize it would do more harm than good. I am keeping it on the subtle side.

J. wrote: "More re reading: It's good that your writing is improving with each book you write. But you can improve it much faster by reading in ANY genre."

Amen to that. If I put the beginning of my first draft side-to-side with the current draft, the difference would be obvious. Between my start in 2015 and now, I've read some 80-ish books and rewrote most of my story, some parts even more than once. Every bit of that helped me improve. I could see a difference from draft to draft.

You can re-enter KU anytime but need to make sure it's not available anywhere else when you do. Otherwise, they might bug the hell out of you for it.

For me, there's pretty much one main goal: finish Eternal Defenders #1. It's a lot of time since I started in 10/2015 as a clueless fool and I hope that I might get it finished by the end of the year.
If it goes well, I might get some internal revisions done on #2 and #3 which are both in the first draft - so when I'm done with #1, I can go straight to working on the next one and cut down the break between them.

And I think this is a good opportunity to thank anyone who helped me - even a single sentence of advice or support is appreciated and those who helped much more... well, bless them and their writing! (or something, I am an atheist)
Good luck to everyone with their goals.