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The GRRRR!!!!!! thread
It's taken me two years, but now I'm selling about 2 or 3 novels a day when I'm not spending on advertising. (Goes up dramatically when I pay for some marketing.) I now have a series, so I can offer the first book for low or free, and people go on to read the rest. Still not huge numbers, but as I'm about to bring out the fourth novel, I can only hope for things to go up.Have you tried bloggers? Even if they won't take the time to review your book, they're usually happy to do an interview. I've also linked up with other authors in my genre to do cross promotions. I did a newsletter swap, and 32 people bought my novel when the other person mentioned my book in her newsletter.
Amy, are you on Facebook? There are loads of groups that do cross promotion - many for erotica. It's mostly free, too. I think that would really help. I'm in a few of the groups and found some amazing opportunities that way.
Chrys wrote: "It's taken me two years, but now I'm selling about 2 or 3 novels a day when I'm not spending on advertising. (Goes up dramatically when I pay for some marketing.) I now have a series, so I can offe..."Yes I got well into list of bloggers. Some claim to read every genre until you get to the small print where it says "no erotica" of the ones I found I got "I read Sci-Fi and Erotica, but yours doesn't seem like something that would interest me." I gave up with bloggers and concentrated on writing the second book. It's the same with promo sites. I get excited when I hear of a new one, fire it up and see "no erotica". I don't yet have the money for that anyway, but I had hoped to at least have one or two places I could throw money at.
I'm going to have to start again and switch genres.
Aislinn wrote: "Amy, are you on Facebook? There are loads of groups that do cross promotion - many for erotica. It's mostly free, too. I think that would really help. I'm in a few of the groups and found some amaz..."Yes I'm on Facebook. I've joined a few groups. I post regularly, but not enough to annoy people. I'm getting to the point where I'm sick of seeing my cover graphics when I post them.
I'll start again. I need to write a genre that isn't so readily dismissed by people.
It's a slow process as everyone knows. But I now feel I've wasted the last two years of my life trying to build something that is dead in the water.
I have several books written which I've decided not to publish. I do believe that, as writers, we improve with each book. So it's not time wasted. In the past (days before self pub), a writer usually had to write several books before producing one which a publisher thought was good enough. That used to be the norm.
Amy, I don't mean groups where you post your books. I mean groups where authors meet and join together to do group promotions and cross promotions. Like this: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autho...
The top sign up there is for an erotica collaborative promotion.
Chrys wrote: "I have several books written which I've decided not to publish. I do believe that, as writers, we improve with each book. So it's not time wasted. In the past (days before self pub), a writer usual..."This is very true. I've got a few I wouldn't dream of publishing without an edit to the point where they'd be unrecognisable.
Also it's August. I'm in the Northern Hemisphere. I'm wearing clothes I would normally wear in November.
Aislinn wrote: "Amy, I don't mean groups where you post your books. I mean groups where authors meet and join together to do group promotions and cross promotions. Like this: https://www.facebook.com/groups/auth..."
Thanks I'll read up on that Aislinn.
(ETA the erotica promo listed is for erotic romance which isn't me as I've been told by trad publishing. I've joined the group though.)
Alex wrote: "You have my sympathy for the ggrrr!!! Amy, I know I've said it in the past, but I really dislike the prejudice of promotion sites, and some readers, against erotica. I find it even harder to under..."
I'm sure the websites are out there, what I lack is the time to find them. I read websites as slowly as I read books. In an ideal world what I'd have is a team. I doubt I'll ever have the backup I feel I need in the Indie world. I'm more cut out for the trad publishing model. It was never my intention to do it what I consider the hard way. I take my hat off to anyone who manages to make a go of it this way.
Amy wrote: "Alex wrote: "You have my sympathy for the ggrrr!!! Amy, I know I've said it in the past, but I really dislike the prejudice of promotion sites, and some readers, against erotica. I find it even ha..."
Reviews most genres including erotica:
https://puretextuality.com/
Can submit Erotica for promotion to:
http://steamyromancebooks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pg/KornerKaf...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Goodreads Erotica Groups:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Lists of Erotica Groups:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show_...
For those who've given out paperback copies of their books and then, have been "stiffed" by those promising reviews, you'll want to read this:http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2017/0...
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Hope they sort something out Alex. Been going on a while. The article just probably proves my point. 700 downloads of Modified for free. (OK not print copies.) I wasn't promised anything. And low and behold no sales no reviews. It was exactly what I expected for giving something away for free.
Anyway more importantly, again, I hope your mum is ok Alex.
Alex--Hopefully they will be able to make the adjustments she needs.
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Uncertainty is a horrible thing. I do not cope well with it or anything 'pending'
Getting old is not a lot of fun. Every morning I wake up and wonder, Okay! What's not going to work today. Adding in medication compounds the problems. Fix one problem and now you have two or three others because of the side effects.
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I've got new meds. Been on them for almost three months. Had some crippling cramps on them. Still waiting to see the improvement. Hey ho.
Carole wrote: "That's (the response in your link) exactly what I was thinking. I believe that people take too many books and don't get to half of them- but I also think that some read the book and don't like it a..."That's a good practice. I've pretty much settled on it as well.
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I hope they get it sorted soon, Alex. It sounds very stressful.
Alex wrote: "Mum isn't coming home today now, apparently the consultant wants her to be seen by someone else so she's staying in another night. Going in to see her in a bit."I wish you and your mother well, Alex.
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Keep us posted, Alex.
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Is knackered. Why am I at my busiest when the family are home at the weekend? Yesterday, podiatrist for Gemma. She has the same musculoskeletal problems I have though thankfully not at bad, it seems. Then we went fruit/veg picking. An hour round trip, two hours there. Today no fewer than 5 hours of shopping in two different towns to visit 6 shops. Got back and we're baking with the fruit whilst I'm cooking a roast. It's coming up to 7pm. Apart from sitting in the car I haven't sat down all day and because of my disability I'm shuffling around. Grrrr. Knackered.
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Better make it two weeks time. I'm in the bath. But yes all those things. Tiny bits of potato in the air fryer- even my son ate them. First time for everything.
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I did chicken. It's the only thing everyone eats (sighs and raises eyebrows)
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I love food too. Not helpful when I've got another 3st to lose.
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I'd like to but I want to fit in my clothes more lol. Plus I work in weight loss. It's sort of a thing I must be able to do. (Massive sigh)
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Makes me ill. We had home made apple and blackberry crumble and custard tonight.
Over the years I have lost a resounding 16 stone. 5 st at age 19 because I was always over weight when I was a kid. 5 after a pregnancy. 6 after another pregnancy. Then I just didn't lose holiday weights over many years. So a few pounds here and there crept on and I didn't lose it. A stoke didn't help in 2013. I shifted 2 stone last year. 3 to go. I'll still be classed as over weight when I'm done but not by much.
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Carole wrote: "Ice-cream! My favorite."We get free Ben and Jerry ice creams at work.
Damn those evil enablers!!
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Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie
Books mentioned in this topic
Amy Robsart: A Life and Its End (other topics)Iridessian Haunts (other topics)
Welcome to the 1* club Alex.
I'm in a serious Grrrr mood. I'm having one of those days where I'm thinking of chucking it all in. Talent counts for nothing if you have no cash to buy promotion. None of the free things I've tried have sold more than 1 ebook a calendar month. And I'm not the type of personality that can call myself a success just because I pressed some keys and a book came out. I expected more from myself.