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**I'M DONE!! SO DISCOURAGED & READY TO QUIT**
Dwayne wrote: "I never stop focusing on success. I do, however, expand what I can call success. Success is not just a sale or a royalty payment to me.Things I count as successes:
Being proud of my work.
Trying ..."
Success is very much in the eye of the beholder. I agree with everything that you just said. I consider myself quite successful because I am proud of my work.
Blue wrote: "Dwayne wrote: "I never stop focusing on success. I do, however, expand what I can call success. Success is not just a sale or a royalty payment to me.Things I count as successes:
Being proud of m..."
I aggree whole heartedly. The money that my book made beyond the investment for the copyright cert is just a bonus to me.
Mod
Or, as I have put it to myself: choosing between being a bard or a businessman.
Blue wrote: "I think the wise thing to do as a writer is to stop thinking about success and money and instead focus on what we create."Certainly writing a good story should be the #1 priority. However, I do think of money and success because frankly I don't see this as a hobby. The gods of success need you to help them along and unfortunately that means learning marketing. I'm not aiming at getting rich (because that's pretty unlikely for a writer) but I am aiming at least at putting food on the table.
Bruno wrote: "Blue wrote: "I think the wise thing to do as a writer is to stop thinking about success and money and instead focus on what we create."Certainly writing a good story should be the #1 priority. How..."
I understand about earning money. I don't take writing as a hobby either. I put too much work into it to be a hobby. But to be honest, I have no marketing skill. So I had to make a decision for the sake of my own mental well-being as a writer and that was to let go of the things that I could not control or do and instead focus my attention on what I could control and do which is my writing.
So I had to make a decision for the sake of my own mental well-being Exactly that; well said.
Bruno wrote: "My first book came out in 2009. I have three out now and about 4 short stories. Fourth book nearly finished. So far I've basically made a loss. It's very very hard to get traction. Unfortunately wr..."Bruno, it took me over 20 years (!) to break even on sales of my first two printed books, the first two of my trilogy (printed in 1996 and 1998 respectively)--one reason being I had too many of my first one printed, but what did I know back in 1996?--and in 2018 I finally realized a small profit. A beginning self-publishing author never knows how many books to order for printing, and back before PoD and the indie pub revolution nearly all self-publishing authors either went to vanity or spent whatever they could on book printing. I was dumb in 1996, so in 1998 I only had a 100 printed and most have sold. So, be patient and keep on writing, you will make a profit eventually.
Roger wrote: "Patience, folks. It takes a long time - decades, not years - to get anywhere in fiction, and it always has.
Look at the Lord of the Rings series, or the Game of Thrones series. These things were ..."
Speaking of Lord of the Rings, didn't Tolkien write that in the 1930s? As well as the Hobbit series? And didn't it take these books about THIRTY YEARS to make it big? Because I never heard of The Hobbit until the late 60s, and Lord of the Rings in early 70s! Patience, folks! (Don't know when Game of Thrones was published...)
L.K. wrote: "When I first started self-publishing it felt like I read a lot about how it's going to be impossible and you're never going to get anywhere, but I really don't think this is true. It is hard though..."This was informative and helpful! Thanks.
I got my first book trad published in 2015 and had a good first push on sales, then nothing. It was with a small press and they don't have a good handle on marketing. Then I self-pubbed starting a few years ago under this pen name. I still made more money off my first trad book than I have self-publishing. I always spend more on advert than I bring in. (I'm a niche market, I get it. I write gay fantasy (not romance)).I've read that successful self-publishing authors (as in, they can quit their day job) have approximately 13 books out. (how real this is, I've no idea.) I have 5 under this name (two are short stories). I have a day job (and another pen name I'm writing for), so I don't expect to get to 13 for many more years. So, in my head, I've disengaged from the notion of actually making money at this gig.
But, like many people have said, I do love writing and I've got stories, so I'll keep writing.
It is very hard to sell right now. My short stories don't get picked up (They did 5 years ago). Getting an agent for my trad side has been a failure (still trying). And I haven't found the readers who like plotty gay fantasy yet (I know they are out there!)
But I will keep writing because I have stories to tell. Maybe, when I retire, I'll be able to get somewhere. As it is, this is a mildly spendy hobby. I don't ski, so maybe this takes up that place in my life.
Good luck to us all.
Nat Kennedy wrote: "I'll keep writing because I have stories to tell."Thanks Nat. That's a good reminder.
I could maybe have more success writing things that appear more tame but, along the lines of what Nat said, these are the stories I want to tell
Mod
Please review our rules. We're not here to discuss reviews or to swap them. Also, this thread has been full of great advice for anyone who is thinking of giving up. It's rude to derail it to talk about your book and ask for reviews. Thanks.
I love Dwayne's vision of success. While we all dream of being famous, it all comes with a lot of negatives such as deadlines, expectations of what you write, decrease in writing time, and more pressure to write more and better stories/books. As for marketing, build that email list. Keep them hanging around with an email a month and get them to beta read, buy the book and leave reviews. Learn how to do copy-writing and sent out publicity announcements every 6 weeks. Get to know your society editor, the main librarian, bookstore managers/owners, etc. Find podcasters who would promote your genre of book and make yourself known by commenting and being there. The same with bloggers who are in your genre. Make yourself and expert in some area and keep up with HARO (Help a reporter out) I was actually quoted in a major article a month ago, so you can get publicity if you spend a couple of hours a week working on it. If you keep at it, you'll be surprised at how putting yourself out there will get you noticed. It's all about making contact with those with influence who will help you if you help them. Be that person who is there. If you are consistent, then they will be there for you. It goes for your list too. It shouldn't cost you a small fortune to break even if you get a good sized list, are friends with a few people with a lot of contacts. (Oh, this takes time like everything else, so start early.)
Deborah wrote: "Bruno, it took me over 20 years (!) to break even on sales of my first two printed books."Yes, I have realised that this is not an easy game. Nevertheless, there are people that can make a living off it and if they have managed, then I believe that I can too ... eventually :)
Time makes you better, people like reading books written better. “I feel like I’m your proof reader” was one email comment to my first ebook on Amazon. So I wrote with almost no buyers and I lurked on here. Reading and learning from other’s mistakes, very helpful. Some say it takes five years to see results, so I wrote for the fun of it and forced myself to edit on uninspired days as punishment for not writing that day. Grammarly can feel like hell for writers. So years and two author names later, book listings on three sites, and hard lessons learned - money is finally trickling in. If you can’t keep going than put it aside until you can or if you can’t just choose another path. Like it’s often said, being paid for writing is a marathon, not a sprint. There’s a reader for every style of writing, you just have to keep going until your readers find you. Help them out by getting your works out there any way you can. Free, discounted, or coupons on car windshields under wiper blades at a books-a-million. If it’s meant to be you’ll find a way...
Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger) wrote: "In my humble and uneducated opinion, I believe another reason people don't read as often as is because they are watching movies on TV or playing video games on their phone, computer, tablet, etc...."
I don't agree that people are reading less. When I did my daily commute, everyone had heads down reading phones or tablets, and print on paper. I read a few hours each day, BUT rarely do I get down to reading for pleasure. I think that is the problem with fiction in the demanding world where the workplace requires wading through and reponding to a ton of email. If I read everything in my 'inbox' there would be little left in my day.
A.J. wrote: "Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger) wrote: "In my humble and uneducated opinion, I believe another reason people don't read as often as is because they are watching movies on TV or playing video g..."On July 20 this year, I published my first science fiction novella. I have been writing since 2006. And tried to go the traditional way of publishing but didn't get anywhere. So I ended up putting a website where I began to post my short stories and poems and then linked them to subs for short stories on Reddit. A couple I published on Medium. The experience was great. My stories and poems were well received. When my novella came out, it was the most splendid event in my life but also the most terrifying because now I was in the big bad world and I was afraid that I would be ridiculed. I was not. The book got one great review and two 5 star ratings by two customers who bought it. For an unknown writer, it was the greatest thing that could have happened. Then depression fell on me. I do suffer from chronic depression, so it was not surprising that this happened. From expecting nothing I went to expecting a lot. And I entertained the idea of giving up on writing. It is all out there in my earlier posts here. I am now working on my second novella, a horror story inspired by Doctor Faustus. Today, I woke up with this most amazing feeling. I realized how truly privileged I was. I have talent. I have imagination. And I can write. This is a gift that God has bestowed on me. I had an awesome day today. Not because I have sold a million copies of my first novella. I had an awesome day today because I realized that I had talent and I could write and I was at my happiest when I write. And today was one day that I went without one moment of depression. I have moments when I am happy, but those moments are few and between. I never felt this good before. Knowing that I have been given a gift to write. I do not know if I will ever become famous or rich. But I know that I can write and there is no end to my imagination. Maybe this gift of writing has truly beaten my depression.
Mod
Research by the Pew Research Center, Gallup, and American Time Use Survey shows otherwise. I'm sure you've seen people reading on your commute. I see people reading when I'm out, too. The research doesn't say people don't read at all, it says people are reading less.
Deborah wrote: "Roger wrote: "Patience, folks. It takes a long time - decades, not years - to get anywhere in fiction, and it always has.
Look at the Lord of the Rings series, or the Game of Thrones series. Thes..."
LOTR was written in the late 1940s. There are a great many metaphors in that work that are based on what happened leading up to WWII. Also, Tolkien was already respected in the literary world as a teacher, so it was very easy for him to land that first publishing contract. (As modern agents would say, "he already had a platform".
I’ve been trying to get published for 25 years. At least, by going indie, I’ve been able to make eye-contact with the people who would potentially buy and read my writing. That being said, in the last few years I've had more frustration—not with people who don’t want to buy my book—but with people making me feel like I am not welcome in "their" industry. To be honest, I’d much rather have a bad book on the market and let readers give me feedback than having protectionists making me feel like I’m not welcome in their industry (or, in the case of my recent writing group experiences, in their own LARP of the industry).
R. wrote: "I’ve been trying to get published for 25 years. At least, by going indie, I’ve been able to make eye-contact with the people who would potentially buy and read my writing. That being said, in the l..."Hi R, sorry to hear about what you are going through with your recent writing group. As one Indie writer to another, don't listen to them. You do not write for writers; you write for ordinary people who are readers. Write what you like and let readers decide whether your book is good or not. As well, people have different tastes. One book that one person hates might be fully appreciated by another. I don't like writing groups. Never been to one. I don't really need them. I write what I like. And in whatever style that I like. Just don't give up on your dream. Don't go chasing after agents. Give traditional publishing a wide berth. Trust me, they are not all that. Good luck with your writing.
Also, try to remember.. anytime a group of people is together for separate.. but similar goals.. there's conflict of interest. Typically.. most are more interested in their successes than someone else's.. no matter what they say. And in many cases this can come through in discouraging those around them.. while appearing to be well-meaning.. which they may even believe of themselves. In some cases.. making others feel bad.. is how some feel good. If you can avoid spending time with people who make you feel bad about yourself.. you'll be several steps ahead already.. <3Good luck!
Dwayne wrote: "A.J. wrote: "I don't agree that people are reading less."Research by the Pew Research Center, Gallup, and American Time Use Survey shows otherwise. I'm sure you've seen people reading on your com..."
Non-readers are probably less likely to be taking these surveys.. but that's purely theoretical. I will say.. in recent years.. I've met a great many more people who either proudly proclaim that they 'don't read'.. or look down on others who do. It's a strange thing..
R. wrote: "I’ve been trying to get published for 25 years. At least, by going indie, I’ve been able to make eye-contact with the people who would potentially buy and read my writing. That being said, in the l..."Wow! You have more patience than I can muster in two lifetimes. I've gone through similar experiences. That's why I haven't been to a writers' conference since 2015. In that year and the previous one, I was treated so badly--in one case by the keynote speaker-- that I wrote to the organizers. In one of the workshops, the instructor told me, "You're not Frank Sinatra. You're not famous...) I had no idea where she got that from, but finally, I told her, "He's dead and I'm alive. I'll write that book." In another incident, someone told me to get a ghostwriter, and so forth.
Now it goes like, "Did you really write those books?"
As R says, focus on what you want to write and on the readers. Long live Indies!
Everything that draws big money is tough. Granted, money isn't your motivation, but remember, anything that is considered art takes time. Write, develop a word game that is yours, build a FB page for your book, do a few promos, and don't stop. We all want the big publishers, book club nods, Today Show interviews, etc. But the day you quit and walk away may be the day before your shot materializes.
Most people forget that it takes years to learn the craft of writing. It's not something you do in just a few hours of study. I've been working at it for 5 years and am just now getting to where I feel like my books are coming together. Writing in hard work. Not only do you need to keep learning, but you also need to learn how to market for yourself and if you ever get that traditional publishing contract. If you are having trouble with getting critiques, go to Scribophile. There are a lot of different genres and groups who will give you anonymous feedback on your writing. I love it when I can get several who will tell me what they find good and bad.
Being indie today isn't like it was when it first started. There are many writers who had good contracts with publishers who have gone indie because they have more control and get paid a whole lot more. It's all about building that fan base. Ads do help, but you need the fan base first to push your book up from the bottom of the lists.
If you have been writing for 25 years, you may need to look at your marketing and who you fans are. Because we are indie, we can write what we would want to read. It's the main reason I decided to forget the contact and publishers. I want creative control of my work. I don't want to be shoved into that corner and forced into writing what is selling today to keep them happy. If I want to write about a shape shifter who is like gumby, then that should be my choice. (And yeah, you could probably find a market for that book.)
This is such a helpful thread. Thanks to Ryan for starting it, and to the many great, inspirational comments.I'm starting to see Indie Publishing as a journey of self-discovery. It forces me to tackle my worst fears (self-promotion) and face the reality that any sales or reviews outside of friends and family is a big deal, and a tough hurdle for ALL writers.
I love the comment from Dwayne about defining success for ourselves. I find it hard to not get depressed on the days of zero sales and zero new reviews, but I try to keep sight of how much I'm learning and growing.
Any reader who spends time with my book and enjoys the experience makes it all worth it. Do I hope I can sell more? Of course. But it's best to recognize my expectations are not based on reality. I need to temper my own expectations and find joy in the process of having created a product I'm proud of. I'm already glad I didn't sentence my manuscript to death on my hard drive because it wasn't picked up by an agent. I never would have grown that way.
It takes a lot of courage to put an indie novel out there. We should all be proud of that, savor the small victories, and then get back to honing our craft.
Ron wrote: "This is such a helpful thread. Thanks to Ryan for starting it, and to the many great, inspirational comments.I'm starting to see Indie Publishing as a journey of self-discovery. It forces me to t..."
Hi Ron. I am a new author. I published by first novella in July this year. It was an exhilarating experience but terrifying at the same time. I believed in my work but at the same time I was terrified that it was bad. I published it as an ebook and when I got my first 5-star customer review on Amazon, I was over the moon, but then I had no further reviews. I got a couple of 5 star ratings on Goodreads. I must admit, having no reviews makes me feel a bit jittery, but having said that, I would never go the way of traditional publishing, because I feel liberated going it alone. I want to be free writing what I like and tell the story the way I like to tell it. Currently I am working on a fantasy horror novella inspired by Doctor Faustus and it is not written in a traditional way. Now I don't know whether it is bad or not, but I like to write it my way. I feel that this story wants me to write it in this particular way. I don't want editors or agents to touch my work. My first book is now available as paperback too because there was a demand for it to come as paperback. Now in terms of sales, I am moving to double digit figures which for an unknown author is pretty good. I think we writers really ought to write because of the love of writing and if it generates money, then this is just a bonus.
It was an exhilarating experience but terrifying at the same time. I believed in my work but at the same time I was terrified that it was bad. "Hi Blue Raven. It is terrifying to put yourself out there creatively. That alone is admirable.
As for reviews, they are vexing, indeed. I have close friends who've read my book and haven't bothered to write one. I can only assume that they hate the book, and now hate me (hahaha). More likely they don't enjoy writing them, or don't have the time.
Maybe you can find an editor you trust and like to work with? I find it invaluable to work with one, and it makes going Indie less lonely. Plus you can publish with more confidence. Cheers!
I'm going to start 2020 (four hours away) by purging myself of the self-doubt and negativity that has built up over the last few years. I have six books, and I think they're awesome. I've lost count the number of people (family, friends, reviewers, random acquaintances) that have agreed/promised to read one of them and never do. I spend $2,000-$3,000 per book to get it right (cover, editing, advertisement). I just want someone to tell me if I'm wasting my money. I'll always like my stories, but I can look past some typos and save a couple grand if nobody else is willing to spend time on them. I hold out hope that the promises of others DO mean something, but apparently not when it comes to reading my material. Thankfully, I know the roaring 20s (part 2) will be my decade to turn it around. I'm leaving the negativity of the past year behind me. (Though, I would still like the advice on whether I should just save my money.) Thanks for letting me vent. My pity party is over. At least I still have fun with my stories. Eventually others will too.
Mod
Anyway, in today's world with limitless possibilities of entertainment in a myriad of forms, you pretty much have to ask actual readers rather than friends or family. It's one of the reasons the only person in my family who knows I'm writing is my sister (and her ex-BF). It's just as with people who put their book as 'want to read' on GR. It means absolutely nothing until they do read it.
I've been doing some beta swaps lately - and a beta read of a book I could otherwise read in a week can easily take 2-3 months because it needs a bit different approach to spot things. and I haven't yet seen a beta reader who'd be able to take on a bunch of chapters in a single day the same way one can do with a finished book.
I remember what one of my uni teachers said about developing software: 80% of the desired features can be done at 20% of the cost. I think it's similar with books: writing the story itself costs little aside from time (and electricity the computer consumes). Cover, depends. It's the editing and the marketing that'll eat the most money and a hard decision how much to spend on those.
I still don't know how much I'll invest in my stories. Hell, I still don't now much I might be able to - $2000 is more than two monthly wages for the ordinary people where I live so it takes a lot of saving to get that money for a hobby - especially when you can't know how much you might get back.
Mod
This is great, Phillip. The only thing I'd change is - do not wait until a new decade or even a new year (even if they're only four hours away) to purge yourself of self-doubt and negativity. Do this daily, even hourly if you need. So, you had a bad day of writing. The words weren't flowing or you got to the end and realized everything you wrote that day was trash. Put it away and vow to do better the next day. So, you went a couple of weeks without a sale. Tell yourself they'll come and soon and then bask in the days when the sales are rolling in. So, you had a couple of negative reviews this week. Remind yourself that they're just the opinions of others and it's beyond your control. Remind yourself that you weren't writing for these people in the first place. Someone close said they'd read your book but never has. People get busy and while your book is full of your sweat, blood, and tears, it's just a book to them and easily put aside when something more important comes along (like that episode of Law & Order that they really liked is being rerun).
Dwayne, that’s so very true. We sometimes overlook how negativity can only attract more negativity (and I’m not saying that in a karma sort of way—just in general). If we beat ourselves up over how poorly we “think” we write, we’re more likely to believe it and that can affect our writing. Confidence and positivity go a long way. Also, if we are not kind to people around us, even on the Internet, we are bound to get more negative responses and even poorer reviews when we tick the wrong people off. Instead of seeing things through a negative lens and playing the victim, keep moving forward with more optimistic ways of thinking. There will always be people who both love and hate our book. If more people hate it than love it or it’s not getting any attention, there may be something other than our writing behind it. Certain genres and subjects get more attention depending on a a variety of reasons, and sometimes it’s just luck, they say. If our writing or particular book truly needs some work, this can be corrected (or in the next book) and seen as a learning opportunity. No one wakes up one day as an amazing writer. Some may have certain talents, but even talents need work and practice, especially when it comes to writing an entire novel.
Ryan, I guess you have written the kind of book you like to read yourself. You need to find an audience that likes that type of story. Firstly, more women than men read fiction, secondly nowadays the mention of religion puts people off and thirdly, your style seems better suited to audio. Just be glad you have written something that has been published. Treasure it. You either write for yourself or other people. If it's for other people you need to consider what they wish to read. Many of us don't make a penny.
I've been there and it is painful. I am 82. I am living on Social Security so cannot afford editing or formatting for my newer books. Moreover, I have a learning disability that means my writing is dotted with errors that neither I nor spell and grammar check catch.
Two things keep me going: First, I love writing; I love sharing knowledge. If one person reads something I wrote, I am grateful. It would be nice to make money, gather lots of readers, but if you don't love the process it isn't worth it. Few writers make a living by writing.
Second, I now write and publish to get some paperback copies to leave as a legacy for my grandchildren and their children. They are the audience I know will be there and at least one or two will be inspired or proud.
Have no idea if this helps but as I said I love sharing hard-earned knowledge.
Sometimes, all it takes is a tiny change in perception. Forget friends and family. They are the worst audience. Forget book signings and conventions. Unless you are fairly well known, people will walk by your table without even looking at you.
Forget about freebies. People who download free books don't read them most of the time.
Focus on the long run. Focus on a solid strategy. Understand what makes your audience tick. Blog, provide them with good content. Interact with all sorts of folks.
Partner with supportive people.
I completely understand how frustrating it all is, trust me. Take a break, think of your priorities and what you want from writing. Then, come back and continue hustling. :-)
Mod
Quite often when I offer a freebie, I get a few sales the following day. I sometimes get a review or two, too. Maybe your experience has been different and I'm sorry for that.
Dwayne wrote: "Cendrine wrote: "Forget about freebies. People who download free books don't read them most of the time."Quite often when I offer a freebie, I get a few sales the following day. I sometimes get a..."
I'm happy that you get sales after offering freebies. That's great! But it doesn't work for every genre. And you don't have to be sorry. :-)
Offering a freebie once in a blue moon is a good idea. The problem is that authors do it way too often, and end up driving the prices of ebooks dangerously low.
Mod
That's very generalized. Since this is really an individual game, I always think it's best for each author to try various things and see what works. Do a few freebies and see what happens. If nothing, hold off on it a while. If your books are selling at a "dangerously low" price, try upping your price a little and see what happens. One of the greatest lessons an Indie can learn is that very little advice applies to all of us. In the end, it's all about trial and error. Try what someone else is being successful with and see if it works for you.
Cendrine, any time I do a free promo, I can track a lot of KDP pages read pretty immediately. I think it’s situational. That’s literally where most of my reviews come from. I think every book and genre will have different results. Freebies have worked to boost my book quite a bit, but that’s just me. 😉
Phillip wrote: . . . "I just want someone to tell me if I'm wasting my money. I'll always like my stories, but I can look past some typos and save a couple grand if nobody else is willing to spend time on them. . . . (Though, I would still like the advice on whether I should just save my money.) ..."To the money question, I think we need to put out a product that meets our individual expectations. Since you mentioned money twice, I would say, can you put out the product and meet your expectations for less money?
I do my own editing. For one thing, I'm not that knocked out by the so-called professionally edited books. I see mistakes and lots of editing seems to have been farmed out to, basically, boiler room 'editors.' They do a good job to a certain extent, but nuance is a different matter. So that's one thing. Can you do it on your own? Or do the template. I like to know how things work and learning is part of the fun (for me), so I can do that as well.
Covers. There are good pre-made covers. I've again seen covers that--and art is really individual, the reaction to it--just don't bear out the cost of, well, what I know they cost. :)
Ads/promotion. This is somewhat of a bottomless pit--or it can be, because even if a book is number one, it won't stay there unless more money is spent. That to me is the Catch-22. Once a number one position is reached, it's really hard to not want to stay there. It's addictive. So, more money.
Readers who say they will read and don't - aka - the 'flake factor.' People like to say 'yes,' it gets a happy response from the person requesting, so we are sort of programmed. But after the fact, I think it's pretty common for the person to have second thoughts; or just the reality of that 'yes' sets in. In a communication class, every person there said they need to learn to say 'no.' (Except for me. :) So, keep in mind the flake factor. Most yesses are well-meant, but said off-the-cuff when the reality of the time it takes is a completely different matter.
Hope that helps. If every author were as proactive as you, and followed through as you do, that would be a great thing.
Mod
This is the reason why I learned to take a 'yes' as a 'maybe' until it actually becomes 'yes' in these situations. And I'm way too lazy to make something up so if anyone asked me I'd give them a fully honest 'maybe' if it sounded interesting or 'no' if it didn't.
Expect nothing and you won't be disappointed, I guess.
First of all, Phillip, you aren't wasting your time. I started reading the book I got and I love it so far. I can see where it's going but I'm looking forward to how they get there. As to freebies, I only use a novella as a "reader magnet" to get people to sign up for my email list. Other than that and giving them another free book for doing so, I give no other free books. Because I'm currently writing in two genres, I'll have two free books that I'll use to get those email subscribers.
I have found out that very few will actually read those free books. I do when I get to them and will leave a review.
Katherine, at 82, I can understand your not having the money to edit. You might want to see if you can find some free beta readers who will help you with those errors. I'm lucky in how I'm still able to work and can afford the editors. As ML wrote, many of them aren't all that great anyway and miss tons of stuff.
As to sales, my goal is to have steady sales, which means that number one for a few hours isn't a goal. Keeping my sales going is. I'm working on that and trying to figure out how to best get those steady sales. Sure, I'd love to be a top seller, but then again, unless it is organic, I don't have the thousands to put into ads to get there.
Dwayne wrote: "One of the greatest lessons an Indie can learn is that very little advice applies to all of us. In the end, it's all about trial and error. Try what someone else is being successful with and see if it works for you."That's brilliant, and very true. Writing, like any other art form, is so subjective and based on the individual at every level, from writing the story to the readers who read it.
Dwayne wrote: "Cendrine wrote: "Forget about freebies. People who download free books don't read them most of the time."Quite often when I offer a freebie, I get a few sales the following day. I sometimes get a..."
Same with me, Dwayne. My free pdf at my site isthe third book in my trilogy. The downloads lead to sales of the whole trilogy book. But I get what Cendrine is saying. It can work either way.
Thank you all for responding to my initial comment. What B.A. said is the core of the issue: "I have found out that very few will actually read those free books."
I have had this discussion with many indie authors and they state the same thing. People download free books all the time and then add them to their to-read-when-I-have-nothing-left-to-read pile. More often than not, they forget about them or end up deleting them after a while.
I am very happy to read that freebies work for you. And I am certainly not discouraging anyone from offering them. Quite the contrary.
I have been self-publishing for 14 years and seen the effect of too many freebies on the market. I am just warning against the potential impact it can have in the long run. I write poetry, one of the most difficult genres, if not the most difficult, to market. Many people (not my audience, of course) do NOT understand why I charge for my books, which was not the case at all when I started.
At the end of the day, I also agree with what you all said. Each author is different. What works for one person may not for the next.
Cendrine, I can imagine that poetry is difficult to market, and it probably has a smaller and more specific audience. So I understand your point of view.
Phillip wrote: "I'm going to start 2020 (four hours away) by purging myself of the self-doubt and negativity that has built up over the last few years. I have six books, and I think they're awesome. I've lost coun..."And this is exactly the point. Writers should have fun with their writing. You should enjoy the world building, the characters, and the self discovery as you process things and learn about yourself as you write your novels.
The way I see it, writing is the one thing in my life that no other person in this world has a right to put their hands on. I control it. It's mine, and nobody can come in and regulate it, put rules or restrictions on it, or take it away. If readers find and appreciate what I write and make their own self discoveries (which I pray they do), then all the better. If others ignore it, dismiss it, or leave snarky reviews - hey, I've placed in a couple of awards and won some writing contests, folks. It's all subjective.
Let's all purge that self doubt in 2020 and admit why we write: because it's our world, and we love it. If readers join us, great. If they don't, let them go where they will. I'm still a writer. Nobody can stop me from being one. They can't stop you, either.
It takes a long time - decades, not years - to get anywhere in fiction, and it always has.
Look at the Lord of the Rings series, or the Game of Thrones series. Thes..."
Amen