Paula’s Comments (group member since Oct 28, 2015)

Paula’s comments from the Science Fiction Microstory Contest group.

Yes, thanks, Jack (and Heather). People, if you click on the "showing N of M topics" link on upper right of the group heading on the main group links-menu, you can find all of the discussions.
In spite of this problem and the lack of a "like" button, Goodreads seems to work well for us--and far better than LI these days.

Nice theme and parameters, Jack.
I'm curious how anyone here found this thread before Jack posted the links on the December thread. Isn't there a subset of Goodreads group threads (sub-URLs, as it were) that the microstories contest threads appear in?

This brings up a general question, the same as I asked about re Carrie's new thread/discussion a couple days ago. How are people to find new discussions of the sf microstories contest on Goodreads unless they are (1) announced *by the poster, preumably,* in an already current discussion thread, or (2) "contained" within the general sf microstories contest set of postings (would this mean Jot would have to post them, or is there a particular method for doing this?)? Certainly, when one looks on one's "Goodreads: groups" page, neither Jack's nor Carrie's threads/discussions come up.

Well, it was a good story, Jack. And here we are, rarin' to go on the January contest. Will you be posting theme and possibly a parameter or two, soon? Looking forward to your ideas.

Could be, Heather. I was referring to book distribution rather than to narrative distribution, yes.
Carrie, thanks, yes--that is very interesting.
Thank you both.
I think we can all learn from this information.

Great, Carrie, I'm sure your promotional info will help people, even though won't help my techie question. By the way, I am wondering what a "successful campaign" such as you've done involves in terms of results--for instance, how many copies sold per ebook? per printed book? how many reviews (in amazon or goodreads? in major print media (NYT, WaPo, Slate, . ..)? In regional /niche media? In SF-only print media/ e-media? And so on.

Someone here indicated I'd found TFIS 1 "hard to sell." Just to clarify--TFIS 1 (and 2) were not (for me, anyhow) hard to SELL, but to get reviewed by either of two serious and known SF authors whom I sent copies to, even though they and I have good collegial relations normally, nor stocked by a noted SF bookstore where, also, I know the book was seriously looked at and, at least in part, read. This is to say, I got the books through those initial barriers books confront, but they were not accepted for stocking or review. The problem may be lack of big names, or it may be perceived quality issues. ---But in all events, this does not impact selling, especially social media sales. What does impact those is our own perception of the books and how much time we therefore would put into the marketing.

lol, my ISP is Verizon--only choice except Comcast, around here; sure, try talking to Verizon. . . Thanks. My concern on this is more whether we are going to share our expertise, as group members, not so much my particular own issue (though nice to answer that too).
Why is the podcast thread moved out of the microstory contest discussions, btw? No matter, really, but people not following today's discussion may perhaps never find it.

Again, can anyone suggest how to get equipment prepared for doing a podcast if one knows the theory but has no sound on one's computer (or uselessly near-silent sound)? Thank you.

Marianne--you asked what story for your podcast? Your "Sting" story, of course! That was a great one. Or "Sighting," also a phenomenal piece.
I'm sure we're all fine with Carrie "taking the lead" re podcasts and/or those social media forms she's skilled in, of course, but as everyone here knows by this time, Jot will make his own decisions on this.
Carrie, I'm curious what you meant in saying you see things differently from others here. I'm sure we each do, but did you have a particular concern? Probably better to share it---

Well, those are good reasons against a "winners"-only filter, no doubt, but there are others--foremost among these the huge differences in reading experience and aesthetic preferences among this group's members---and secondly the downright "contamination" of results by use of non-quality-related criteria, such as (to name a few that have actually been expressed during these contests): "I won't vote for a pessimistic story" (expressed by an otherwise excellent reader); "[stories that] have not enough *science* fiction" (possibly a legit criterion but dinged one of the best stories ever to appear in these contests); "don't like the use of dialect"; "takes place in a spaceship cabin"; story has a child in it; "too poetic--language too complex"; "I just like a simple, manly story" [oh wait the word "manly" wasn't in there, lol], and I'm sure we've each heard others too. This in addition to all the usual group-process stuff. So no, far too many "filters" working askew to any likely best reading experience for our potential audience!

Carrie, it would be great, too, if you could share with us your SEO and twitter knowedge, and how you prepare a social media campaign. I've used facebook and some LI sites for publicizing my own work, with considerable success, but have found these much less useful for publicizing TFIS vol. 1, perhaps because an sf volume obviously needs a more targeted sf audience. How would you do this with twitter (other than by a carefully selected hashtag and well-gathered twitter followers (and followed)? How would you select tags for the anthology to maximize SEO? Seriously questions--it'd be great if we could all share the knowledge so we can help you with this work.

So what happens to us folks with no sound software experience and/or with a mic (or maybe it's the speaker/ or whatever, in the sound pick-up/transmission) on our computers that can't make audible sound? And without the monies for software purchases or skills for anything beyond download-and-use-as-is? Are there persons here who will read another's story for the podcast, and do so with care? --This also for if any persons in this group have voices they feel won't work for broadcasts? Or for persons who can't afford the extra bytes for broadcasting?
That said, I think your offers and suggestions, Carrie and Heather, and Marianne, are terrific, brilliant, exhilarating, and wonderful. And I can't imagine that Jot and others here won't be thrilled by them. Just so long as any necessary work-arounds are done, by those with the skills and equipment, to make this group marketing/exposure available to everyone in the group whether or not they've the equipment, software, and/or skills (and time and/or money for gaining these).
Good work!

Richard wrote: ". . .First vote I've missed in three years- that no one bothered to catch up with me sort ..." NOT SO, Richard. I, for one, and probably not the only one, tried to reach you via GR to let you know you were on Jot's "haven't responded" list. But there is NO WAY, or no way in any sane length of time, to reach you there. This is true of some others too--does not seem a matter only of whether's one GR friends or not. If anyone knows the secret of this, please share it, in fact.

"the old gang", J.J.? Some are here. Some people may have used the move to GR as reason to leave?
J.J. wrote: "Bloody 'ell - after wishing the winner congrats, I just realised I was a finalist!

Thanks to those who voted for my story - such a lovely surprise considering the stories that were here. Unless i..."

Good points, Richard. This is one reason for using the 2-stories (or 3- or whatever) per author mode, as with the first book. Otherwise only the persons selected as "champions" will do any legwork--though your figures would indicates that, even then . . . . Of course, the other issue is that, no matter how one tries, one is playing in a loaded game where the 5 or 6 corporate-owned "Major" publishers (their own self-appointed champions buying and selling authors and review media), and sales and distribution thus are rigged against us. Group morale is crucial in such situation. And yes, that requires everyone feeling everyone is pulling the load.

I don't get any. But that seems to be how I have GR set up. Only a problem if one takes the voting seriously, probably.

Congratulations, Jack--and to J.J., too. Extraordinary stories from both of you.
Jack, love how you evoke those superb characterizations from the get-go---yes, looking forward to more of your tales.

Yes, of course, J.J.---both your and Jack's stories were phenomenal. I was very happy to vote for yours, and there were several others' tales--Jack's, Helen's, Karl's, Andrew's, Thaddeus's, and a couple others'--that were exceptional this month, too. Your work was brilliant.
Incredibly fine work, Jack!

Goodreads may be celebrating its own off-work holiday? Do candy-coated machines celebrate? Probably best to check with anyone whose vote's not timely in by deadline, and/or extend deadline a day, given it's the big English-speaking countries' holiday; can't imagine anyone here minds a day's delay to get an accurate count. . . .