Random stuff - the something good happened thread Showing 1,151-1,200 of 3,973

[Carole]

Ted you should write Annie as well!!

[Theodore]

Carole wrote: "ted u should write Annie as well!!"

I can do that. roger, all. Thanks. T

[Theodore]

Carole wrote: "ted u should write Annie as well!!"

Done! Thanks. I must say, she did yeoman's work on your reviews. Truly outstanding.

[Carole]

It's an amazing post

[Theodore]

Carole wrote: "I'm wring from a phone. It's an amazing post"

I've never seen anything like it. One review, sure...but something on all your books. To die and go to Heaven!!!

[Carole]

It's hard to pick which one I want them to write about- so I send them a sample of each different series.

[Erica]

Thanks, Carole. I wrote them. :)

[Carole]

Great- you have to pursue everything!!

[Angel]

Shared, Carole. Congrats!

[Aislinn]

That's amazing Alex! Congrats! I'm really happy for you.

My books are doing terribly considering the amount I paid for promo over the last few days, but I'm really glad one of us is succeeding. ;)

[Aislinn]

No worries.

Yeah, particularly because this was one of the last-ditch hail mary passes I had to try and make this writing this a success. I'm actually *thisclose* to giving up because I can't keep getting my hopes up and then having yet another thing fail. I've been in a depressive episode all week because of it - it's pretty much the only thing that triggers my bad mental health now. I just really can't keep doing it because it's making me miserable. But then the thought of giving up makes me miserable because I want to make a living off this so bad. (But then, of course, the fact that I DO want it so bad makes the failures so much worse. A vicious cycle.)

I don't know. All I know is that I can't keep working myself into exhaustion trying things only to have it be yet another thing fail. So if I disappear at any point in the few weeks or months, you'll know why.

[Amy]

Aislinn I hear you. I don't sell books. I haven't paid for promo due to funds. My latest sold about 6 copies. I need to do paid for promo. But I suspect I'll be proving a point rather than actually selling copies when I have some money.

[Aislinn]

See, I HAVE paid for promo, and I haven't got anywhere either. This last promo I've paid over $420 USD and I haven't even made half of that back. It's a lot of money to lose. This was after doing research into what were the best ones, too.

I work at this more than full time. 12 hours a day (sometimes more) 7 days a week. It's not sustainable, particularly when I don't see any improvement. I've put out 3 books and 2 novellas since October last year, and I'm still making exactly the same amount of money each month.

I'm just...tired. And heartsick.

[Aislinn]

Sorry, this is meant to be the 'something good' thread. I forgot. Ignore my misery. Focus on the positives.

[Amy]

Lol. But it's difficult sometimes when efforts go unrewarded!

[Carole]

Being an author is a lot like being in business for yourself. It's not like having a regular job with a steady paycheck. There is no security. It's a very hard road. I have been in business my whole life- there were days I never knew how I was going to pay for food. My friend is a teacher with a very reliable paycheck. We often talked and she would tell me she could never live the way I did.
I respected her opinion- it's not for everyone. I look back on my life and think- I was educated as a teacher- I have never had a real "job," I never really worked for anyone else. My friend had a steady life- like a ride on a carousel. It was fun- she enjoyed the ride. My life was like a roller coaster with amazing dips- highs and lows- thrilling and hair-raising turns with twists I never saw coming- Like a good novel. While some of the lows were hard, they made the highs so appreciated, so rewarding. I think they toughened me up (I was such a baby when I started out). I don't think I'd trade it for anything in the world. They say the more hard knocks- the tougher you get.

[Aislinn]

I understand that. I never thought it would be easy. But I'm not getting any of the highs. My books have been in a steady decline since I published them. I haven't had one day where I was like 'that was a good day'. It's Sisyphus and his boulder: Fighting for every step and then having it come back to knock you flat on your arse again. I try again, same thing happens. Endlessly for eternity.

I've been doing this for 1 year and one day now (my publishing anniversary was yesterday). I'm nearly 2.5k in debt just on this writing thing. So the end of the end of the year figures make it look even more dire, not better.

I still love writing, but it's tough to find motivation when you know no one will ever read it. I can't keep crying myself to sleep forever feeling like a complete failure. Just one 'win' would keep me going for a while, but it just keeps getting worse. I quite honestly can't take it anymore. I'm not a soft person, I've been through really tough stuff without blinking an eye. But this is really killing me and I need to get out before I do my mental health permanent damage.

[Erica]

Alex- I cant even express how happy I am for you. I am wishing you continued success!

Aislinn- I completely understand what you are going through. I have been back and forth on that thought myself. Everytime I get a new opportunity to promote (paid and free), I get my hopes up. Then when I see the flat lines on my sales graphs, my heart sinks. I have decided to stick with free promotions for now, unless it is a very unique opportunity, and focus on having fun writing, my family and my "real" job. I can't imagine giving up writing completely because it is a big part of me and I enjoy meeting other authors and readers.

[Erica]

To me, no matter what is going on in my life, I am always happy to celebrate a friend's success. :) I enjoy hearing your good news and am sure many others feel the same way.

[Prakash]

Hi Asilinn
Being an author is really tough task. I agree with Carole. First of all, we have to decide why we are writing? If it's hobby then free promo is best, if you are a new author then also I would suggest free promo only. Bestsellers can't be created within a year or two.
I am open to all, I may help if anyone needs.
I would suggest you to continue your writing and if required search for a job altogether. The more you write, the more you will get.
Wish you all the best!

[Angel]

I am happy for you too, Alex. I'm glad your journey has paid off. Aislinn I'm going through a similar thing with my books declining. I have yet to pay for promotion because like Amy lack of funds to spare. But I've done lots of promotion though, just not paid. So that my heart definitely goes out to you about the paid promos.

But its times like these that I try not to let my usual depressive mental health come in. I'm writing more books, but I still think in the back of my mind, "Does it really matter?" And somehow I know it will in the long run. I've been doing the writing and publishing thing a lot longer than you.

Even though I started in this writing and publishing thing when I was a middle schooler, which was 27 years ago. (Man, I feel old in this industry even though I'm just in my late thirties). I still know I have more miles to go. Many times I wanted to give up. But something in me no matter how deeply and utterly depressed I am won't let me quit. My dream is to live off my writing full time, too.

Hang in there, Aislinn. It will pay off, you'll see. Even if it doesn't look like it right now. It's a journey. You have all our support here! :)

Something that Tyler Perry said the other day that struck a chord with me. He said, "Whatever your intention is that's where you'll end up." You intend on making it as a writer full time. That's where you'll end up. Don't give up and you'll get there.

[Carole]

It's hard and time consuming. Success can be selective as well as fleeting.

I have kept my day job. I enjoy the writing and it is like a second job for me. The marketing part takes up a lot of time too. They are demanding.
I have set up every goal we've ever gone after with a five year plan. If we see we are not heading in the direction we wanted, we often have to readjust the program.
Be realistic, be prepared and understand very few make it to a place where they can support themselves solely on their earnings.

[Chrys]

I'm one of those extremely fortunate people who loves my day job (I'm a full time Christian minister). My writing is one of my hobbies. I started to self publish around two years ago, and only in the last few months have I started to see real sales. I put this down to having three books in a series, so I can do offers on the first one, as well as the linking up I've done with other writers and bloggers.

From what I've read, even to earn modest amounts from writing takes several years. I did my tax return the other day, and I've spent twice as much as I've earned! But I'm in this for the long haul.

Please don't lose heart.

[Carole]

You said it all, Chrys. I think your experience is typical of us all.

Thanks for sharing.

[Ellis]

Aislinn, a year is not really long at all. Think more like five to ten years. And $2,500 is not much money. I know, I know! It's a lot when you don't have it! I totally get that.

When I talk about what it costs to hire cover art, editor, marketing and the rest, people say gosh isn't that a lot of money. Yes it is. But as hobbies go, it's pretty cheap. Cheaper than a boat, for example. Cheaper than an RV. Cheaper, even, than model railroads or collecting comic books.

I don't regard the money spent as going into a hole. It's just money I've spent. I could have gone to Vegas or Disneyland. I've spent five times that to go to Europe. None of that money has been wasted (well, maybe Vegas).

I have to write. I've been writing my whole life. If I spend some money on that writing, that's pretty much fine by me. I figure out how much I'm willing to spend and I spend it and I don't look back. Plus, I have actual books!

I'm retired. I can afford to be a little philosophical. If I were thirty and trying to make a living at it, I'd be less patient. But I do think that choosing to spend, say, $3000 a year on the project is an okay choice (assuming I have that!). The time isn't wasted. The money isn't wasted.

All this advice is based on the assumption that you're going to keep writing anyway, because the prospect of not writing is worse. I've always held that if a person *can* stop writing, they should. Or at least they shouldn't fret over the decision.

[Carole]

Sound advice, Ellis

[Erica]

Thank you for sharing Chrys and Ellis. Very encouraging advise. :)

[Chrys]

I've only started marketing this year (I waited until I had three novels in my series) and I wrote a blog on my first real attempt. If you want to have a read, it's here:

http://chryscymri.com/blog/a-first-at...

[Nat]

Aislinn wrote: "No worries.

Yeah, particularly because this was one of the last-ditch hail mary passes I had to try and make this writing this a success. I'm actually *thisclose* to giving up because I can't keep..."

Aislinn, I felt much the same way. I wanted to 'make it' with writing and quit my day job eventually, but realize it's not going to happen for me at this point in time. (I've been at it two years, but my productivity is slow - day job and life.) I've settle back into thinking of writing as a hobby, and I'm actually enjoying myself more. I feel like less of a failure and am just having fun writing again. Not sure if a new perspective can help. Sorry about the sales, though... I can give away my books, but nobody seems to want to buy them. I get it.

[Nat]

Alex. Super awesome on your successes! High fives all around.

[Carole]

Most of the authors I have met- who publish books- do have a "day" job- even it's it's writing articles for magazine.

[Erica]

Nat, I completely agree. In college, I originally pursued a degree in music performance and education. I started the degree program because I loved music, but the more it became a job, the less I enjoyed it until I got to the point I didn't even want to pick up an instrument. When I began writing, I told myself that I would not make that mistake again. I set out knowing that it wouldn't become a full time job for me, but I at least hoped to make back what I put into it. I am finding more and more that is not the case and have been trying to refocus my mindset on enjoying writing again. If I am not enjoying it, then I have lost the point of writing.

[Chrys]

I find it a bit of a tussle. I write because I have to, and I don't need to make a living from it. But on the other hand, I love the characters I'm writing about, and I want other people to meet and to love them too. Sales means not only other people meeting these characters, but that people want to meet them badly enough that they're willing to pay for it.

[Chrys]

Well done Alex!

[Eldon]

Well after 16 months in publishing, yesterday I crossed over 1,000 copies :) On to the next thousand!!

[Erica]

That is fantastic news Alex and Eldon! Congrats to you both!

[Eldon]

Erica wrote: "That is fantastic news Alex and Eldon! Congrats to you both!"

Thanks Erica and Alex :) My goal is to make the next thousand in less time ;)

[Eldon]

Alex wrote: "Eldon wrote: "Erica wrote: "That is fantastic news Alex and Eldon! Congrats to you both!"

Thanks Erica and Alex :) My goal is to make the next thousand in less time ;)"

Sound thinking. Now you've..."

Best of luck Alex!! I'm sure you'll make it :D

[Amy]

Awesome well done.

[Carole]

great news, Alex!!

[Angel]

Awesome, Alex!

[Erica]

That's awesome, Alex!

[Nat]

*thumbs up*

[Chrys]

I set up my Amazon Author page on their German site last week. In the last few days, four copies of my novel have sold via Amazon Germany. I can't think that that's a coincidence!

[Amy]

Well done Chrys.

Are we supposed to have Amazon author pages in more than one place? Don't they copy round to all available markets?

[Chrys]

No, they don't. You have to set them all up yourself in the five markets which offer them, namely USA, UK, Germany, France, and Japan.

[Amy]

Ugh. Remind me which century this is again? I worked in IT for a few years almost 20 years ago and sometimes I come across things that make me wonder if we're not going backwards in time.

[Amy]

I'm clutching at straws here, but I need something to cheer myself up with. Last night my husband told me that he was talking to a colleague who was reading an excerpt of one of my books and he apparently told my husband "that's really rude, I might have to buy that." He hasn't bought it, but at least the comment was vaguely positive.

[Carole]

Any notice is good notice!!!

[Chrys]

I didn't find Germany or France that difficult. Trying to work out Japanese, on the other hand...