Where is "out there"?

[Tassa]

Garfield, I love the energy that you're bringing to this group. I'm beating my own drum, and my own path, and anything else that needs beating on my way to getting my books "out there", somewhere. I guess that's the first order of business. Where is "out there" and how do I get there? What do I need to do?

What goals have you authors set for yourselves? How do you plan to get there?

[Garfield]

Great Tassa....you got energy too my dear. We are not following the traditional rules when we can beat our own drums and achieve our goals

[P.]

Hi, Tassa and Garfield (and all):

Thank you for starting this group. I think we indies need to support and network as much as we can... if for no other reason, to feel less lonely. We do our craft, after all, in solitude. I'm currently shopping my two series with agents, but I'm not all that concerned about whether I get picked up or not. I'm seeing a bit of success as an indie, and with only a bit of investment in advertising. I'm okay with it taking some time to be discovered, and I feel like there's a slowly building audience.

So, I have changed my perspective. Early on, I wanted to be discovered -- and quickly. I got discouraged when sales were low and no reviews coming in. I did free promos and saw (in one weekend, but there have been several like this) upwards of 1500 copies downloaded. Yet, crickets for reviews and responses. With the 2nd book, I expected to see a huge bump in sales from all those freebies on book 1. But.... while there WAS a bump, it wasn't what I'd hoped for.

So where am I now? I've adjusted my perspective. I'm writing for the love of writing, and for seeing the enthusiasm in reviews and emails from those who ARE discovering my books. The rest, it seems to me, will come. Oh, trust me... I'm still trying and working for self-promo, but I think it's really important for all of us to stay focused on the joy of writing.

[Billy]

I've set a record. This month I've made more money from book videos than selling my books - I can afford a cup of coffee.
I'm working up to a bottle of Cava. In twenty years maybe I'll have earned enough from my titles for a bottle of Bollinger.
A glass half-full.