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

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

Thanks again, Carole. I've put it in a safe place...

'Cull' - yep that's a good word for the job. I have phases. In one book I had 'shawls' everywhere.

Not exactly a grammar solution but a sentence construction idea which I find useful is to run a 'find' on certain overused words.

Mine are had, could, just, that, and a few others that I can't remember now! You'll probably have your own list. I run 'find' and take out the surplus or exchange the word for a synonym.

Sometimes it means I have to completely reconstruct the sentence but it's always worth it.

Time consuming stuff isn't it!

As for using any automated grammar correcter - forget it. I'd be shouting 'wrong' at it. A well-educated beta reader is a treasure and not easy to find!

I have a plan! It's born of many years' experience. Everything in my life is factored in, including time for housework and so on.

So long as I stick to the plan (to the minute) life and writing/marketing trundle along well. But one interruption like a long phone call, and it all gets behind, so I have to have at least half-an-hour everyday to allow for over-runs. Have I got OCD? No. It would be better if I did. I'm now over-running my 'catch up on social media' time by 10 minutes.

Every now and then I rebel - feels so goooooood! Then I wish I hadn't.

Make a plan and stick to it. Best advice.

I've just remembered something funny. I was once awarded as a prize. Careful... rein in those thoughts. I was to spend a morning with a start-up business putting in a time management plan. The person who 'won' me was pretty good already, so the fact you are asking the question probably means you're on the right road.

The 70/30 rule is a good one and I happen to run on that.

But you've got the right idea, Alex, what can we learn from this?

I've donated two stories to two anthologies for different causes. I think they are now lost in the mists of the millions on Zon. And one has had to be withdrawn for compliance reasons. And someone put in a lot of hard work into collating, editing, and publishing them. Very little money raised.

I think a lot of us have already done something similar. That is, been published in an anthology. I didn't read the whole article, perhaps I should, but it started to get very complicated and veered away from the good idea of banding together. But perhaps I should shut up until I have read it all.

Haven't time to read all of your link R.L. at the mo, but crikey! I'd never have thought to do such stuff in a million years and why would I want to? Tainted forever! Yuk! Sorry if that sounds a bit high and mighty.

I like to be able to trust Amazon. I do hope they are not moving into corrupt practices.

With names I think you need something that is going to be pronounced roughly as you need it to be to convey the meaning or link with the war/your book.

The first two can be pronounced in several different ways.
The next two also, except more people might have a grasp of Latin or at least the root of your chosen word.
The fifth doesn't sound like a war - too nice a word.

So for me, it's numbers 3 or 4.

Didn't one of your earlier posts say something about if God is for it, who can stand against it!

R.L. wrote: "Let me know your experience Anna. I was a little scared at first, but back in 2014 when I was first going to publish this thing, it was going to be 4.99 out of the gate. Now you mention 5 bucks and..."

I've taken the plunge! Well, dipped my toe in the water and raised my time travel book from $2.99 to 3.25. So we shall see...

Carole wrote: "We have two threads with reviewers available. The more the merrier. Get as many people as you can to review. Check out https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

You are a great Mod, Carole. I hope everyone is remembering to find your reviews 'helpful'!

Sorry, can't resist hints like this.

Hi Sarah - thanks lots and lots.



and



These are just in case you've run out of things to read! Please give your dog an extra cuddle from me.

@ R.L. I was thinking of upping the price on one of my books by a tiny amount. Maybe I'll try that.

If i feel brave enough (I'd hate to stop the trickle), I'll let you know the results.

Pat wrote: "From a readers point of view, I've stopped reading the big name authors and opted to read more Indie authors. The novels are just as good or better. The issue is the price. I haven't read any novel..." and also " Indie novels are my source for enjoyable reading."

Three cheers for Pat! You give us hope. We love you for it.

Also Alex is so right! When I ran my own company I learnt that I must first establish credibility then establish visibility. I'm trying to follow that rule for writing too. (Sorry if I've said that already somewhere!)

And yes, I have noticed the price of traditionally published ebooks. Are they making up their loss of profits in the last few years? Hmm...

I suppose we writers can seem boring to an 'outsider' as we appear to sit and tap away at every opportunity.

While that may be true, some of us have lived amazing lives by the sounds of it, which gives us something to write about!

My most unbelievable eccentric character is based on a real person. Well known too. I'm not telling about the others...

I know someone whose grandmother is a respected author and the author uses not only family members as characters but also barely disguises their names. Needless to say, this upset several people who do not like what they see.

I have promised not to use close family - on pain of being strung up, I think.

It definitely is!

Hello Chrys, and welcome. You have an interesting profile and I'm sue you'll like this group as much as we all do.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Jonathan has started something new but I am too busy with the wip and life in general to start a new project.

Anyone interested?

I've just taken one very deep breath followed by one very loud sigh. That sums up how I feel for you, Carole. I've just spent an afternoon with my daughter showing me how to set up my iPod. I almost did it myself! But it locked me out. Four months later, I now have a couple of things on it. But I still haven't listened to them. So I'm with you, Carole.

I'm putting off getting my books into paperback. Still.

Wishing you success soon and a week's holiday to follow.