Megan’s Comments (group member since Mar 08, 2013)

Megan’s comments from the Megan S. Johnston hosts a Q & A group.

Wendy wrote: "Megan -

Congrats on new release and thanks for the invitation.

Very interesting exchange and am learning a lot. My number top questions have to do with marketing. You mention book blogs, how di..."

Hello Wendy, thank you for joining us. The way I found the different tours, is here on Goodreads. I searched different groups until I found several that worked for me. I also found several through twitter, where I have over 16,000 followers. Social media has been a great source for me. It takes time, but in the end is worth it.

Celeste wrote: "Hi Megan,
I have a question for all the authors here because I see that you have used a company to do marketing. I'm curious what others, who have not hired someone, do to market their self publish..."

Celeste,

Point taken by Lura! You can do a lot on Goodreads to promote your novel for FREE. I did a giveaway and over 700 people added my novel to their TO READ LIST. Also, R2R (Read to review) is a great site here on Goodreads. Give them the information and get readers to review it on Amazon, B & N and Goodreads. Also, do book tours with bloggers, you can find some that do it for FREE too.
Hope this helps...

Megan

Pierce wrote: "Thanks Megan!

You know, I've published 3 books, but since Twistir is my first novel, I feel like it's all new to me... hearing feedback from new readers who've been living with my characters for a..."

I can understand your frustration, I am half way through the second novel in my series, The Chimera Hunters, and feel the stress of getting it done.
I find working on my novel first thing in the morning when I am refreshed, to be the best time for me. It seems as though we follow the same line of thinking.

Megan

Pierce wrote: "Hey everyone, my name is Pierce Minor, author of the TWISTIR novel. Thanks for the invite Megan!

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17..."

Welcome to this question and answer group Pierce. I will check out your novel. What was it like for you when you first became an author?

Lura wrote: "Megan wrote: "Lura wrote: "Research. When do you do it and when do you recommend doing it? Should I finish researching before I start the first draft of a novel? Or is it okay to do research while ..."

Lura wrote: "Megan wrote: "Lura wrote: "Research. When do you do it and when do you recommend doing it? Should I finish researching before I start the first draft of a novel? Or is it okay to do research while ..."

Lura,

My first draft of Transition was in first person and was awful to say the least. It took me 4 months to re-write it in 3rd person, which I found much easier. I am in the process of writing the 2nd in the series and I will continue to write in 3rd person point of view.

Megan

Destiny wrote: "Megan wrote: "Hello everyone! Thank you for joining my Q & A about what it's like being a new author.
I will be here everyday for the next two weeks answering your many questions. I am hopeful I wi..."

Your very welcome Destiny.

A.F. wrote: "Megan wrote: "A.F. wrote: "Hello, and thanks for the invitation. I'm a writer of fantasy and horror stories."

Hello A.F., Do you have any questions on the writing process?"

I'm curious, since I w..."

A.F., what an awesome question:

Yes, my novels are based on myths and legends. I take an idea then make it my own. My first novel is based on the Chimera, in Greek mythology, which is a fire-breathing female monster resembling a lion in the forepart, a goat in the middle, and a dragon behind. But my Chimera are a race of people who can change their shape into different animals and were condemned by the Gods to walk the earth in search of their one true mate for life.
I took an idea,(fiction)and ran with it.

Lura wrote: "Research. When do you do it and when do you recommend doing it? Should I finish researching before I start the first draft of a novel? Or is it okay to do research while writing or even after finis..."

Lura,

In regards to research: When I write, I find it is easier for me to do the research as I go along. For some authors, they write everything out, then do their research. It is a personal preference on what is easier for the author.
In regards to the editing of the drafts, I believe I must have edited my novel at least ten times before I sent it to my editor. Then she did a first draft, then a second.
I hope this helps.

Megan S. Johnston

Catrina wrote: "Hello Megan, I'm also a "new" writer. Thanks for the invite.
I've written since June 2006. My first full-length novel launches March 29th.
If you have any questions about marketing your books, or ..."

Hi Catrina, I think everyone would like to know about marketing, since it is so time consuming.

Megan wrote: "Robin Leigh wrote: "Hi Megan,
My debut YA Paranormal/Time Travel/First Kiss romance novel entitled "I Kissed a Ghost" got released on December 20, 2012.

If you like to have some information about ..."

Hi Robin,
I will check out your novel. Do you have any questions for me?

A.F. wrote: "Hello, and thanks for the invitation. I'm a writer of fantasy and horror stories."

Hello A.F., Do you have any questions on the writing process?

Wendy wrote: "Hi Megan -

Thanks so much for the invite!"

Thanks for joining Wendy...

Lura wrote: "Hi, Megan! Thanks for inviting me to this group. I'm looking forward to the Q&A next month. I'll be sure to think up some good questions in the meantime. ^_^

I recently finished the first draft of..."

Hi Lura, is there anything you would like to know about the writing process?

Vanessa wrote: "Thanks a lot for inviting me to your Q & A session... I have considered doing one myself!

I self published my first novel last year, then published the second book in November www.theevolutiontri..."

Vanessa wrote: "Thanks a lot for inviting me to your Q & A session... I have considered doing one myself!

I self published my first novel last year, then published the second book in November www.theevolutiontri..."

Well Vanessa, after months of deliberation I decided on Author House because they offered some of the same things a traditional publisher does, at a reasonable rate. I also wanted the experience of self-publishing. Even with traditional publishing you have to do most of the marketing yourself. The process went very smooth, they walked me through everything.
My novel came out in May of 2012, and I wish I had started my social media prior to it coming out.
I went with M3 Media for a lot of my marketing, but now they only do my twitter media for me, I do the rest. And yes, it is time consuming. I will be pitching the next novel in the series this coming July to Agents and Editors at the PNWA.

Hello everyone! Thank you for joining my Q & A about what it's like being a new author.
I will be here everyday for the next two weeks answering your many questions. I am hopeful I will have the right answers/advice for you.
It took me about 2 1/2 years from start to finish before I self-published my first novel, Transition, The Chimera Hunters, with Author House.

This answer is for Destiny: Finish your novel first, and after it is edited many, many times, then look at your choices of whether to self-pub or go traditional.

Robin Leigh wrote: "Hi Megan,
My debut YA Paranormal/Time Travel/First Kiss romance novel entitled "I Kissed a Ghost" got released on December 20, 2012.

If you like to have some information about Off-Line Marketing I..."

Robin,
I tried to check out your website, but it doesn't go through. Would you please check it again?
Thank you

Megan

Hello everyone! Thank you for joining my Q & A Group. You can ask any question you like on what its like to be a new author, or anything about the writing process.
I will start on April 10th and be here for two weeks.
In the mean time, please introduce yourself.

If you are an author, please post the name of your novel.

Thank you
Transition