Angel’s Comments (group member since May 23, 2017)

Angel’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

Carole wrote: "I wouldn't worry about it. However, don't engage with her, Angel and it will go away on its own."

Thanks, Carole! I'm not going to engage.

Gisele wrote: "Angel wrote: "Hi, everybody! Can I have some support here. An author just went postal when I gave her a three star review. She's so used to her friends giving her all five stars that her first non-..."

Thanks, Gisele!

R.L. wrote: "I def don't think you should attack a reviewer regardless of what you get from them. I wouldn't engage with her if I were you. It only makes her look bad if it's one sided."

Oops! I think I did but I deleted my response to her before she could see it. A lot of these authors have been posting reviewers personal info on these certain sites that harass reviewers to the point they have showed at the reviewers' homes. Should I be worried?

Hi, everybody! Can I have some support here. An author just went postal when I gave her a three star review. She's so used to her friends giving her all five stars that her first non-five star review she totally took it very personal and started verbally attacking me. I've never been so disgusted in my whole life. I'm always honest with my reviews. Even I've gotten negative reviews on my books, but have never personally attacked a reviewer. I have since blocked this author. Do you think I should report it. I have the email she sent me verbally attacking me. What do you guys think?

Hi, C.L. I'm a way outside of the box type of person so... But I'll give it a try. I can send it to you today, but let me look it over again before I do. It's been edited. But my writing style tends to change throughout a story, which is the oddity of my unique writing style. My writing as well as my characters get weirder and more quirky as I write. Compared to any of my other upcoming books this might be one of the less weird. My plots have weird twists and several as well as several intricate plot twists. My manuscript is complete. It's multiracial, multicultural, multilingual/interracial romance, mystery, thriller, suspense, psychological, dark, horror, supernatural, set in the late 1980s to 2007, settings are in Mississippi, UK, Chicago, Japan. Since editing it's 97, 693 words long/362 pages. About 227 pages have been edited out. But I'm looking to rerelease the book this month. Plot consistency, flow, pacing, audience interest are my main concerns. Thanks!

Erica wrote: "We would also appreciate any shares you would like to throw our way to help us reach as broad of an audience as possible. There are share buttons at the bottom of the survey. ;)"

Hi, Erica! Yes, I'm back! Already done.

Ooh, such gems of advice to take into consideration for the future. :)

Erica wrote: "Angel wrote: "Carole wrote: "Sorry to hear that Angel- is there anything I can do?"

No, there's nothing that can be done. I no longer feel comfortable here in this group. I've been feeling like th..."

Thanks for your kind words and advice, Erica. I might return when things are different. Maybe then this group will be a better fit for me. Until then I will press the "leave the group" button for now. I made some awesome friends here so thanks everybody for that. Have a great year, you guys!

Carole wrote: "Sorry to hear that Angel- is there anything I can do?"

No, there's nothing that can be done. I no longer feel comfortable here in this group. I've been feeling like this for months and have been wrestling with the idea and have been trying to hang in there with this group. The people here are great. This just isn't the right fit for me.

Amy wrote: "Angel wrote: "I've decided it's best for me to leave the Navigating Indieworld Group. For reasons that keep becoming apparent to me and I can no longer ignore those reasons."

Why what's up?"

I gave it a try and it's just not the place for me.

Erica wrote: "Angel wrote: "Erica wrote: "Angel wrote: "Erin I have gotten a one star, I've gotten three stars. I don't write my books for the star ratings. I have loads of confidence in my skills.

Maybe its b..."

:)

Erica wrote: "Angel wrote: "Erin I have gotten a one star, I've gotten three stars. I don't write my books for the star ratings. I have loads of confidence in my skills.

Maybe its because I've built the super ..."

Thanks, Erica but those experiences have help me focus on what is best for me as a an author and writer and to maintain the thicker skin I have in this writing and publishing world. Otherwise, I'd be worrying about everything that doesn't go my way and never get where I want to be successful. I know things aren't go to go my way. The top is there we just have to overcome the obstacles and not dwell on them or see them as obstacles when they're only a part of life. I always say I'm on the mountain of endless possibilities.

I use my writing as a way of embracing the darkness and to live with it rather than escape it. People will try to tell you how to avoid the darkness, but they never tell you how to live with it when you can't avoid it, and how to use it to strengthen you and to channel it to work for you. I know how to do it and have been doing it all my life. It's what bring authenticity to my work. Without darkness there can be no light. Light and dark are one in the same. Not separate. People should stop trying to separate them.

Nobody's perfect or else we wouldn't be human. No one will see the same thing in your writing that you do. That's just plain and simple. Not everybody will see it or want to. That's just people. Perceptions are different. People are different. Opinions are different. Live with the disappointment, but don't let it define you. Learn from it and it will guide you. This is how the thicker skin emerges. Reviews and ratings reflect more about the reader than about the author. Think of the reviews and ratings as the reader allowing you the author into their heads. There's a tell there that tells you about them.

I've decided it's best for me to leave the Navigating Indieworld Group. For reasons that keep becoming apparent to me and I can no longer ignore those reasons.

Theodore wrote: "Angel wrote: "I don't worry about it, because it's like watching paint dry and expecting a different result."

I don't do paint well...ask my poor suffering wife of 53 years. She's only let me live..."

LOL!

Erin I have gotten a one star, I've gotten three stars. I don't write my books for the star ratings. I have loads of confidence in my skills.

Maybe its because I've built the super thick skin over these nearly three decades of doing this blessed job. I know for one thing whatever stars or reviews I get doesn't make me question my writing skills. There have been a lot of people who have gotten my story all wrong. Have been totally off the mark.

I've had people to tell me by direct message they refuse to read my book or review because they don't think it shows the brutal honesty that my first book does which is the one that got the one star by the way but has gotten lots of five stars since then.

Which as I said that person obviously didn't read the book, because if they had they would be proven wrong and also that person doesn't know anything about me to say anything like that. That's why it's best to not take these opinions personally. I write what I want to write. Everything I write comes from the brutality of my own real life experiences. Not everybody is going to see that. Whatever is said in a review good or bad four star, five star, two star or one star will never make me stop writing even if I could I can't. Because the reason I write is bigger than a star rating or review, which don't get me wrong I don't mind having them, but that's not the reason why I write.

The reason why I write is literally to keep from taking my own life. It's why I write a lot to put those thoughts, feelings and brutal experiences into my work that I have in my own life from making me want to end it all, which I often do and have attempted to do many, many times. You'll survive it, Erin. In the end if someone does find something they can relate to in my writing that I've shared with them then awesome. Either way my job is done and on to the next.

I don't worry about it, because it's like watching paint dry and expecting a different result.

Erica wrote: "I ran across this today and wanted to share it with my fellow Indie Authors. It isn't until October 14th, but it is never to early to begin planning. This is the second year for this event and I di..."

Thanks for the info, Erica!

Arielle wrote: "I find a lot of the times when I get writer's block, it's actually more of a character block, and it's usually because my character is not developing in a natural or compelling way. This article wa..."

Good job, Arielle! Welcome to the group!

Alexis, I went through the same thing with my first book and much worse with my second I had to change the deadline for publication, well..... I lost count after forty times plus other things put a bloody wrench in it, but after all that turmoil and chaos I finally, finally, finally...... persevered. You will too just as long as you don't give up.

Alexis wrote: "I had about $100 in promotions and giveaway planned. I just cancelled it all. I'm going to hire a great editor instead and then use the rest of my promotional budget for one big investment: bargain..."

That's the first step to great marketing.