Indie Book Collective discussion
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How long does it take for your first book to be discovered?
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I worried a lot the first few months, but now I honestly don't care if it sells or not. Currently I am working on the next instalment, but it's going slowly, so I am keeping myself busy doing writing and graphic design for a non-prophet organization. By doing so I am learning a lot about the niche market I am addressing with my works, so it is not time wasted.If the odds are any indication, most indie authors will wait their entire lives and never see their work take off. So be it. Without some sort of major marketing effort, it would be a bit facile to think by simply putting a book out there, in the giant slurry of digital spam we call a book market, it will somehow be found, read, and then loved by all.
I don't trade book review, so I get an occasional morale boost whenever a new review shows up, but I know those reviews are the exception, not the rule. I might get my hopes up a bit more if/when the second and third are published, but even then, I know that unless I commit to a more full time effort to promote them, I am asking a lot to expect any sort of attention.
Finally, please disregard everything I wrote above if I suddenly sell thirty thousand copies. If/when that happens, it will be due entirely to my brilliant literary efforts ... no luck will be involved whatsoever. :-)
Delvin wrote: "This is a general question. I'd like to know how most writers, especially indie writers, deal with this special period of their career or hobby. I believe having your first book take off is a speci..."I think any writer firstly writes for the love (or sometimes need) of doing it, and unfortunately, a lot of the time whether a book is successful or not is largely luck of the draw. But I do think Indie writers have as much chance as being discovered as any other marketed book that doesn't fit into top hundred prize-winning ones. There are plenty of publishing house publications that don't make it either, but I take comfort in that fact!
Having said that, that's the nuts and bolts game of the industry (which Indie books are challenging- which is good), but I still believe that, to almost quote Field of Dreams, of all things, "If you write it, they will read.." So I don't worry so much about whether my books will take off and when, as much as I think they'll always be found by the right people at the right time, and have as good a chance as any other.
I remember David Bowie once commenting that any unsigned band that is actually THAT good, will always be signed. I think the same applies to writers. But reading is slower than a 3 minute pop tune, so it can sometimes take a while...!
Don't feel anxious Delvin. Enjoy what you're writing and do it for the love of it.
The truth is that most of the time the first book doesn't sell, even in traditional publishing these days. Right now, focus on working on your newest project, and do a bit of promotion for both via blogs and talking author and reader groups about what you do and what interests you. Having your name out there, not as a spammer, but as a genuine, interesting person does a great deal to help start people noticing you and being interested in checking out your books.
Michael wrote: "I worried a lot the first few months, but now I honestly don't care if it sells or not. Currently I am working on the next instalment, but it's going slowly, so I am keeping myself busy doing writi..."LOL. Cool, Michael. I know you said no luck will be involved but... Good luck to you.
Harry wrote: "Delvin wrote: "This is a general question. I'd like to know how most writers, especially indie writers, deal with this special period of their career or hobby. I believe having your first book take..."I'm absolutely writing for the love of it. Thank you, Harry! What you said just boosts my spirit up! :D
Amanda wrote: "The truth is that most of the time the first book doesn't sell, even in traditional publishing these days. Right now, focus on working on your newest project, and do a bit of promotion for both via..."I'll be actively looking for ways to promote my work. Thank you, Amanda.
After your first book comes out, it is time to turn the title of your 'hat' from writer to promoter/marketer. Search out all the possible places to post your cover, blurb or log line. Especially the free ones, but also look for places that cost, and determine if it is worth shelling out the cash. Get interviews on blogs, or do a blog tour.It might also be important for you to determine if your priority as a writer is to be picked up by a trad, or remain indy.
It's all in the promotion and marketing. My first book didn't do anything. It was pathetic and sad. With my second book, I tried a lot of different methods - I did a cover reveal, a release blitz, two different blog tours, sent out ARCs to bloggers, interacted more on social media. That book is still my best seller to date. After that, I went back, redid the cover of my 1st book, did a tour for it, etc., and reached out to bloggers who enjoyed my 2nd book to offer them my first one. Some of these methods no longer work, as there are more indie authors in the marketplace and tours/blitzes are overdone now, but it's definitely been in the marketing. Also, luck and trends play into it.
What are ARC's? Sorry, I'm new to the lingo.
Bobby wrote: "What are ARC's? Sorry, I'm new to the lingo."
Advance Review Copies.
I may be doing this wrong, but I figured I'd wait to do much in the way of marketing (other than offering to provide ARCs for review) until I had ten books available. Then, I'd re-release all of my books in one go with some kind of marketing strategy. I'm a little over half way there.I have noticed that attracting readers (let alone reviewers) as an indie writer is tougher than it was just a few years ago. By the time I'm ready with all ten books, I may have to consider hiring a professional to handle marketing. I have no idea if this is worth the expense.
D.L. wrote: "I may be doing this wrong, but I figured I'd wait to do much in the way of marketing (other than offering to provide ARCs for review) until I had ten books available. Then, I'd re-release all of my..."It's definitely harder now. In August 2013, I released a YA that I had pretty decent success with, and I had TONS of bloggers to help me with promotion. Now, just a little over a year later, a lot of those same bloggers have shut down promotion/review services to indie authors because "there are just too many indie books now." They can't keep up, so they dedicate their time to strictly traditional books. :\
Delvin, I would like to attempt to answer your question.I had told a friend after my first book came out that I was going to take a break and she said no you're not keep writing.
Well now I am working on my third book of poetry and two other books.
Do you have an amazon author account, a facebook like page, a website and blog and what about pinterest.
here are my links so you get an ideas of your own.
http://www.amazon.com/Lisa-C-Miller/e...
https://www.facebook.com/Inspirationb...
http://royalkees63.wix.com/inspiratio...
http://www.lisa-womanofthenorth.blogs...
http://www.pinterest.com/royalkees63/
Please let me know if this helps you.
Lisa
Lisa wrote: "she said no you're not keep writing."True. Few authors make a name for themselves with only one title...but you might still get lucky. Stephanie Meyers and E. L. James wrote novels about sweet girls falling in love with handsome jerks (a very heavily recycled theme) and became hits. I published my two-volume monster of a novel, and I'm already making outlines for my next one. I must write MOAR! (^o^)b
After the launch of my first book, I've been experiencing anxiety, uncertainty, and such. It's... distracting. I keep writing the next installment, but I also keep wondering, is there anything I can do to help the first book take off, because waiting is such a passive attitude.
Any input is welcome.