Anna’s Comments (group member since Mar 21, 2017)

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

You can tell I went on one of these big company 'management' courses, can't you? So that I could learn and then teach my team.

I remember that tasks should be given tags of urgent, important, desirable and other things (forgotten). Urgent and important? Do that first.

Amy has made me realize how little I have followed this advice in regard to writing. I have an 'urgent and important' task I should be doing and here I am - chatting away on a writing-related forum raising writing-related to the level which forces out the urgent and important task that was left from yesterday... But I am a happy bunny :) But getting increasingly worried. :(

Navigating Indieworld - something we should all have read! On Amazon.com I think it was.

I can see what you mean, Alex. They're all sky high!

@ message 1832. The way I'd look at it, Amy, is if you like writing/producing books but it doesn't make you any money, then it is more like a hobby than a way of making a living or even enhancing it.

That's not a bad thing! Once you can definitely put it in the 'much loved hobby box', then it stops guilt feelings. Allocate it 'allowed-for-a-hobby' time.

If pursuing fame and fortune (even just a teensy bit of either) then that's OK too so long as it is not harming (even destroying) other parts of your life.

Or you can give it all you've got. There's a risk of losing something of the life you have already invested in and built up but maybe you will hit that line where it starts to support you and those you love and/or are responsible for.

There are more scenarios you could play with. But I'd draw some boxes and put tangible pros and tangible cons (rather than possible pros and cons) in each box. Then add the possibles.

One thing seems certain to me: you like writing - so don't give it up altogether.

Any help?!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for asking because it has made me put both my ads on 'pause' to stop them running away with the click money but insufficient sales. I need to spend more time refining them.

42 reviews and 4.9 stars - oh boy, Carole! That is some feat. I'm going to leave this as a mystery to others as to which book of yours I'm referring to.

I found them quite effective for a while but in terms of getting my money back - no. That might be my books, of course, and not the ads. The problem is, now that even more people are using them, you are in competition with, probably, millions of others who can afford to pay more for more prominent positions. They do, I think, keep up my Kindle Unlimited reads; even so, I don't think I get my money back. I monitor sales reasonably carefully. Others may find a difference. I also think it would help if I had more books available. Must get my head down and write, write, write.

I would suggest using them for a boost. I need now to follow my own suggestion! I shall be doing this sooooon. I am running out of hope.

We Indies have to find alternative ways of making ourselves visible now that the big publishers seem to have done deals with Amazon to both their advantages.

Carole is a champion on this issue. x

They look terrific! Worth all the hard work.

Even more interesting, Theodore, at least to me, is that most of us put adjectives in the right order without even thinking about it. Thankfully!

Thanks Sela, it seems i/net chatter can get things done.

I've just seen this on another group, I haven't checked it but the person who posted the original and the person who copied and pasted are both reputable!

This is about a site called Underlined where writers can post excerpts and get feedback.

"Copy and pasted from the site.

By posting your content on the Sites, you expressly grant PRH a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully paid-up worldwide, fully sub-licensable right to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, transmit, perform and display such content and your name, voice, and/or likeness as contained in your User Submission, in whole or in part, and in any form throughout the world in any media or technology, whether now known or hereafter discovered, including all promotion, advertising, marketing, merchandising, publicity and any other ancillary uses thereof, and including the unfettered right to sublicense such rights, in perpetuity throughout the universe. We may refuse or remove User Submissions for any reason and without notice. All User Submissions are deemed non-confidential and PRH shall be under no obligation to maintain the confidentiality of any information, in whatever form, contained in any User Submission. "

PRH is Penguin Random House

Yes, mum's are VIP's. And isn't Mothering Sunday (UK) coming up shortly?

Yes do plough ahead. You know all the greats have been rejected many times so if you want to be a great writer, you have to collect at least 20 rejection slips.

Wow! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Could say so much more but I don't want you to lose heat by blushing too much!

Then your day is your own! Few can say that. Least of all me! I seem to 'belong' to a lot of people and things. But I have a home-office with a door that shuts... then the phone rings.

Stephanie wrote: "I sincerely hope that you find time to eat and shower, too."

Had to laugh, Stephanie, I was thinking something similar. I'd be extremely fortunate if I got 2,000 words done in any one day and nothing else writing related. (Apart from Navie postings, of course). Even my so-called writing days are sabotaged. I'll spare you this morning's events. Just a glimpse? 32 minutes 'on hold' - I gave up and put the phone down - yes I did something while holding on but not writing-related.

Good luck, Alex, and whatever you do, don't get married or find even a part-time job.

Tell her please, Dale, that we'll miss her and that we hope she'll find a replacement soon and thanks to you both for letting us know.

I'd worry that I'd have to write to a schedule and that the books would have to be perfect and brilliant - so no GFM for me either!

I'm already in and I thank you for your hard work and enterprise.

Looks so good!

Thank you, Felicia, I've just had a quick peek and I'll check them out further later. Looks good.