Indie author in need of help

[J.L.]

I am currently editing the third book I've finished writing, and I feel a bit adrift here. I am fully interested in the journey as an independent author, since my second novel, Dreamscape, was manhandled at the hands of so-called professionals. I've tried to build a different sort of tale, but agents attempted to help me make it more commercially viable, but the core of the book story was gutted in the process.

I left that story feeling disheartened and jaded, moving on another tale I had on the back burner. Now I've completed this story, a novel called EverKnight, and I am grinding away at the editing process to get it up to my standards, not someone else's.

As a person who prefers to research and know what I am getting myself into, I find the indie market both exciting and daunting, as well.

I cannot express how glad I am to have stumbled upon goodreads and I think this place should become my new home. However, I am lost in this vast landscape of a community and I would like truly appreciate some help, if any snippet of help in fact.

When I'm satisfied with my own editing I plan on using a professional editor that I've eyed for a while now. From there I will first upload on Amazon to test the whole KDP aspect, and then upload my novel to more readers while I re-edit my second novel - that butchered child of mine.

Any help in any regard would be vastly appreciated.
Thank you all!

[Alexes]

Most genres have a home somewhere on Goodreads. Click the Groups tab at the top of your home page. You might also check out The Awesome Gang and World Literary Cafe on Facebook, two excellent sites for writers filled with knowledgeable, helpful people. Best of luck to you.

[Raymond]

JL - I think it's best to start...with a question :)

[Scott]

Raymond wrote: "JL - I think it's best to start...with a question :)"

Interesting, what sort of question?

Scott

[J.L.]

Thank you, Lou and Alexes, you gave me some good information to consider.

Raymond wrote: "JL - I think it's best to start...with a question :)"

Good point, Raymond. Well, at this moment I am brimming with questions, but I should start with the most important one. Mostly I am a bit in the dark concerning KDP and how best to approach it, since I've been reading a lot on the topic and feel overexposed at this stage.

When I do allocate my free days in the KDP select program, how should I go about to make the most of the limited time at my disposal?

[Raymond]

I think it helps to get on a blog tour that coincides with the free days and also communicate it where appropriate in forums. I'm not a fan of KDP select as I don't like the limitations. I publish with kindle but also smashwords- that allows me to generate coupon codes so I can give free or discounted copies whenever and as often as I like.