How to change how your audience perceives you as a writer

[John]

I have been building up a strong audience around my alternate universe Sherlock Holmes, but when I put out something that is totally different, no one seems to care.

Is this a common problem with writers? If so, how does one go about curing it?

Do I need to market under a different name, different blog, etc.

Thanks for any help with this.

I love Sherlock Holmes, but I have a lot of other stories I'd like to tell as well.

[Brock]

I don't think the problem is your audience's perception of you but simply gaining the attention of a book-buying audience. Let's face it, most of our followers are acquaintances and fair-weather friends who are likely following dozens of authors. The key is how to stand out from the crowd and get their attention through the overwhelming background noise. It is the greatest hurtle us authors who do write enjoyable stories face. Let's face it, there is a lot of junk out there written by people who simply are not serious about the craft, spewing out poorly-written, poorly edited works in hopes of snagging a sale. It is the classic wheat and chaff scenario, one that I am certainly no closer to solving.

[John]

Thanks for the comment.

Best of luck with your own projects.

John

[Will]

John

The hard part is getting noticed. There are literally millions of books out there - a small number of very well known authors like JK Rowling and Stephen King, and a much larger number of unknown writers. Why should readers take a risk on the unknown writers when they have easy access to the "safer" choice of an established author?

And as Brock says there are plenty of badly written books. It is all too easy for even a great book to drown in a sea of mediocrity.

One way to get noticed is to link yourself to something that people are interested in. In your case, it sounds like you've had some success associating yourself with Sherlock Holmes. That's great news - well done for that.

But it's a lot harder without an association like that. I definitely wouldn't advise changing your name. If people aren't finding you now, a new name isn't going to help.

You might have more success by converting your Sherlock Holmes readers into general readers of John. Presumably your Sherlock Holmes novels signpost readers to your other books. You do have a "By the same author" page in every book, don't you?

Apart from that, it's the usual slog of write a good book and then advertise it widely. If there is a magic formula then I haven't found it yet.

[John]

Thanks Will.

I do link all my books at the end of each published story or novel. I'm also going back to my earlier ones and doing the same so they're uniform.

I'm doing an online blog of a Sherlock Holmes novel and have introduced two new characters who have two adventures of their own in the hopes of that sparking some interest in a different direction.

Since my stories take place in a pocket universe with an alternate version of Holmes, maybe the audience will accept something as wild as him meeting a character from our own world, but more modern times.

Just ideas now, but working on it.

Thanks again, Will for your timely advice and concern.

How's everything going for you?

[Will]

John wrote: "How's everything going for you?"

Slowly!

I've got three books written and waiting to be published. I'm about half way through a fourth new book. But real life has got in the way, as it has a habit of doing. The day job and a death in the family has meant that neither I nor my wife (who edits my books) have had much time for writing.

I suppose the thing to do is to carry on carrying on. One foot forward. Then the other. In the end, that's all any of us can do.

Best of luck with your Holmes universe.

[John]

Sorry for your loss.

Yeah. Life's a bitch and then you get rich. :)

But seriously, I wish you the best as well. I am finally retired from my teaching job and can do my work full time; but it still isn't enough, since I do everything...including covers, editing, promoting, blogging, etc.

We just keep chugging along, keeping our eyes on the road, and not worrying how soon we reach our goals, just aiming for the highest and seeing where it lands us.

Best.

John