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Writing the book's the easy part, Vincent. It's relaxing, it's escapism, it's just a really enjoyable pastime. I love it. I loved working with the editor and publisher. I'm getting a handle on sales, reviews and marketing now, but that's been a learning curve.
Mod
Thank you for your feedback!
You mentioned that you now have a handle on sales, reviews, and marketing. Can you share how you have had success in those areas?
Thanks!
:)
-Vince
I did three things: 1. I worked my way through the Authors Help Page from my publisher Penmore Press, about social media, my website, Amazon and getting reviews.
2. I contacted bookshops by snail mail here in Australia with the first page on the flyer. They're busy people and you've got to make it easy for them. I contacted every submarine museum in the English speaking world by email. And a few other things of that nature.
3. I worked with BooksGoSocial for their Amazon and Twitter promotion. I was also written up by our local paper.
Biggest obstacle is finding agents and publishers - if you're truly trying to get trade pubbed.The biggest obstacle to self-pubbers is finding readers/sales. Promos, social media, begging pleading, getting scammed for ads/reviews, placing ads that suck up money and don't work, books collecting cobwebs from obscurity... that's the top of my list.
Getting sales and reviews. Especially the latter.
Getting reviews has been difficult for me.
Vincent wrote: "Dear authors,What is your biggest obstacle as a writer? Is it to write the book? Find reviews? Find sales?
Or is it some other obstacle?
I'm interested to know!
Thanks!
-Vince (Moderator)"
Procrastination.
Other tasks that must be done and are not optional.
I would not go so far as to say that writing is easy but it is fun and creative, making worlds and people out of thin air, and if I put my mind to it I can make positive progress.Sales and reviews are generally out of my control. You can run sales campaigns. You can be active on social media. You can do giveaways. If there is a magic sauce I haven't found it yet.
But that's okay. Did I mention that writing is fun and creative?
Well, the writing side of being an author I must agree is the fun part, where one can create whatever kind of story and world they want. That is the great joy in being an author. The marketing part I think is the more difficult, being that we must suddenly jump into and figure out the book landscape, and where to make the most sales.On the marketing aspect, I also agree that getting reviews is the most difficult part, especially for a new author. For an established author with several books under their belt, in all likelihood they will have some friends in the reading and publishing circle by then, thus getting reviews is likely easier. A new author, however, likely will not yet have nearly the same number of friends and connections, if any at all, making this task more difficult.
Another possible difficulty I would add is that a new author may have to work a day job until their writing career takes off. This means that they will work during the day, then when getting home work on writing and marketing, and there are of course only so many hours in a day and in a week.
Editing is painful! Marketing is painful! Writing is the fun part.
G.R. wrote: "I would not go so far as to say that writing is easy but it is fun and creative, making worlds and people out of thin air, and if I put my mind to it I can make positive progress.Sales and review..."
I HATE writing. It is hard work
I like having written.
I love taking the check to the bank.
Rita wrote: "Editing is painful! Marketing is painful! Writing is the fun part."Nobody can edit themselves well. Every writer needs a proper editor (or editorS) to help them.
I'm just in the process of trying to market for my book that's about to be published and I'm finding the self-promotion very difficult. I'm a shy introvert so jumping around saying "look at me and my wonderful book" is my idea of hell. I even feel awkward typing this!
I did a lot of email posts when I first got published. I'm a nurse and a midwife so I went on line and got email addresses of other nurses or midwives or doulas, in groups I belonged to. You can also offer to do guest blogs on websites about the subject of your books. I am extrovert so I also love book clubs and talks at libraries. It's not being a showoff, it's sharing something you love. www.patriciaharman.com Good Luck.
Katherine wrote: "I'm just in the process of trying to market for my book that's about to be published and I'm finding the self-promotion very difficult. I'm a shy introvert so jumping around saying "look at me and ..."Have a blog or website? Then advertise book there and post some small portions of your book related to a topic. (I call them 'snippets'). For free advertising, find websites that relate to the topics of your book (genre or otherwise) and post links to your book page or site or blog. It does not guarantee folks will buy your book but at least you'll get notice (it works for me). Don't need a Facebook page (or Twitter/Instagram/whatever but it helps. There are lots of author forum sites also to consider. I too am an introvert, big time, but as long as the size of the group is not too big I can handle being around others. If there is a writer's group in your area, join that as well. If you need a web host, I recommend WordPress, free blog or Premium (where you can sell your books yourself and post free downloads or for-pay ones) And they have seller forums as well. Woochimp or something.
Patricia wrote: "I did a lot of email posts when I first got published. I'm a nurse and a midwife so I went on line and got email addresses of other nurses or midwives or doulas, in groups I belonged to. You can al..."Thank you, that's most kind. :)
Deborah wrote: "Katherine wrote: "I'm just in the process of trying to market for my book that's about to be published and I'm finding the self-promotion very difficult. I'm a shy introvert so jumping around sayin..."I do have a blog and a Facebook site up and running ( https://www.facebook.com/LadyKatherin... and https://realmofkatherinevick.blogspot... if anyone wants to see - though if I shouldn't be posting these links here, let me know, I'll take them down) - I've been leaping around as best I can but I'm constantly worried I'm going to annoy people! Thank you very much for your advice, I shall have a poke around. :)
Hello everyone,1. It's taken me five years to learn to write fiction and I have a lot to learn.
2. I searched the internet found some great teachers and studied.
3. I sent my novel to a great editor who helped me learn to write, $1,800.00. The best money I ever spent.
4. I had a line edit $900.00.
5. An artist did my book cover $450.00
6. Now developing an author website. $200.00
7. Started my own publishing company $39.00
8. Next I will buy ten ISBN's and barcodes. $290.00
9. Joined International Thriller Writers, Inc. $90.00
10. Joined the independent indie authors association $90.00
11. Developing relationships with targeted readers for my genre now.
12. Organizing lists of veteran groups and organizing ad campaign to target readers.
13. Looking at amazon books sold, their reviews and blurbs that sell.
14. After many hours of research deciding who will publish...create space Ingram, Digital2Draft. Ebooks first, POD second and audiobooks third.
So what is harder? All of it. But mostly concept and premise of my novel. Larry Brooks helped me with that. It as difficult learning the story engineering concept. It was difficult to understand it takes money to ready a novel to the general public. You have to have the chops to grow and realize this is a slow moving train. So much to learn and so much to do. I'm treating my writing as a franchise, a business. I have spent money on my BA, my MS, and seven years of military schooling and it was of no consequence. My five years in the trenches writing and the few thousand I have spent, for my writing is worth more than all my education and career as a Marine officer and a teacher. I know I have several years of hard work, learning and yes spending money. Groups like Good reads is where it begins and continues. Good luck to all of you. We were made to achieve and overcome.
I know I should start a newsletter, but I don' know how to build mailing list so I do nothing. Not good.
I see a lot of people noting the biggest obstacle is to get others to buy-in to the book. Most people don't want to believe in somebody else's vision. Agents and publishers only buy-in if they think they can get some money from it.Of course, none of that matters if the author's own family and community don't buy-in first. If writer's groups don't want to give feedback, where can the author go to polish their work before submitting to an agent or publisher (or hiring an editor and undergoing major revisions)?
And if family does not want to give the author time--or if family has stopped believing in the author because the writing is not bringing home any money from sales--even the writing process can become a daily battle of interruptions and arguments.
Katherine wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Katherine wrote: "I'm just in the process of trying to market for my book that's about to be published and I'm finding the self-promotion very difficult. I'm a shy introvert so jump..."You can post links to your website or book sales (Amazon. etc) here in the Author/Reader Forum, but NOT in the Indie Author forum! the moderators will give you a warning on the first time, and maybe delete the comment the next time.
Mary wrote: "I know I should start a newsletter, but I don' know how to build mailing list so I do nothing. Not good."It takes time to build a mailing list as it takes time to build a following. If you have a WordPress site (free or Premium or Business) you acquire a following little by little thus you acquire a "mailing list" (made up of the followers) little by little, and can use MailChimp to create an email mailing list, but you have to have the newsletter ready to send out. My "newsletter" so to speak are posts I put up on my site (https://omegabooksnet.com) that followers get in emails after I post the article. Of you can just ask followers to sign up for your newsletter. Not an expert on this, though.
Steve wrote: "Hello everyone,1. It's taken me five years to learn to write fiction and I have a lot to learn.
2. I searched the internet found some great teachers and studied.
3. I sent my novel to a great edit..."
I believe that's the secret Steve. Believe in yourself and your artistry enough to Brand you. You are the CEO and you need to give let your customers know you have something they need (to read) that will enhance or provide wisdom to their life. (Of course you are also the inventor, the board, the financier, the pr department, etc. I give each of those duties a day of the week ... or sometimes I make one day of the week the day I do, for instance, "Marketing Mondays", Tuesday To-Do Emails, Wednesday-Writing for Fun, Thursday To-Do Phone calls/appts., Fridays-Financial, Saturday visits with groups (Goodreads, etc.), and Sunday-Spiritual Refreshment. Up to you but I know I'm happier knowing what I have to do and doing it. I'm the best CEO I ever had!
Wmba wrote: "Rita wrote: "Editing is painful! Marketing is painful! Writing is the fun part."Nobody can edit themselves well. Every writer needs a proper editor (or editorS) to help them."
Right!
Sales. Getting sales.Editing is a pain, but marketing and sales are the biggest hardship. Just getting noticed and getting books sold.
Christopher wrote: "Sales. Getting sales.Editing is a pain, but marketing and sales are the biggest hardship. Just getting noticed and getting books sold."
Absolutely, it's tough because there are so many writers out there and so many stories.
1. The biggest obstacle to writing well, IMHO, is getting sucked into creative writing groups or creative writing classes. I respect anyone's right to think differently, but if we're talking about fiction, I am completely in Truman Capote's camp; i.e., while you can teach craft or journalism, you can't teach creativity. IMHO, the master class for learning to write well, is reading. There is more to be learned about how to structure a novel by reading "Pride and Prejudice" than in a degree in creative writing.2. The biggest obstacle to completing a work is finding time and making the best use of it.
3. The biggest obstacle to traditional publishing is finding a good, industry savvy agent. If a publisher takes unagented submissions, the biggest obstacle may be writing the unputdownable query.
4. The biggest post-acquisition obstacle is the degree to which you're expected to self-promote, and finding the balance between time devoted to promotion of the first book and time devoted to writing the next one.
J. wrote: "1. The biggest obstacle to writing well, IMHO, is getting sucked into creative writing groups or creative writing classes. I respect anyone's right to think differently, but if we're talking about ..."
I would agree that imagination is something one has to a various degree but that can't be taught. If you write fiction, especially, then an imaginative mind is a prime asset in a writer, an asset that cannot be acquired if you don't have it from the start.
I would agree that imagination is something one has to a various degree but that can't be taught. If you write fiction, especially, then an imaginative mind is a prime asset in a writer, an asset that cannot be acquired if you don't have it from the start.
I chose self publishing because I didn't like the process of approaching agents and publishers, but I still wanted to do it to the highest standard. To be honest, I've loved every part of the self publishing process. The hard part now is gaining visibility.
1. I agree with those who have stated obtaining customers' reviews is one of the hardest parts about marketing as a self-published author. When I sell my books at festivals or other events:a. I have placed little notes in my career & college readiness books for the readers, asking them to post a review on sites such as Amazon and Goodreads.
b. I have explained the importance of reviews to the buyers and appealed to them to post reviews at the time of purchase.
c. I have had previous customers come by and say that they liked the book. I gently request feedback as written reviews.
2. Despite my efforts, no large influx of reviews. I think it will just take time, more "word of mouth" and exposure to gain an audience who will consistently take the time to write book reviews.
Personally, I'd love to just sit down and write books without considering marketing. More quality reviews yield more opportunities to be featured with bigger promoters like Bookbub. Better promotion opportunities yield better sales and word of mouth. That makes better profit. Better profit covers publishing costs and could cover the cost of the next book. So reviews. Right now it's reviews. If anyone has a good way to get a paper like the washington post or times to look at a debut indy work lay it on me.
Writing a book is hard work - that's the first hump to get over. Thus the old saying:Most people who want to write a book will never start. Most who start will never finish. Most who finish will never publish.
Thankfully, if you can actually finish the writing part (and get it edited, as well as snag an appropriate cover), publishing is fairly easy these days. The real trick is going to be promotion and sales, and it's a lot harder these days. I sold almost 25,000 books during the first year of self-publishing my fiction and with practically no advertising. That would be almost impossible today without a lot of luck. Thus, the big challenge is probably going to be marketing/visibility and sales.
I painted my own cover...Wrote 3 novels....
and did performance poetry on stage....
but never sold one book....
So what.....
Why one writes a book? Money, ego, fun... there are so many reasons. And I believe the biggest obstacle of any author is the wrong reason for writing a book. If writing is something that you feel you absolutely must do, then do it. And finish it. And then do the best job you are capable of in terms of editing, cover, publishing and marketing.
Because even if you don't sell a single copy, you will sleep well at night. You tried as hard as you could.
Don't believe for a second that you will feel like a failure. I guarantee that if you give it everything, you may still don't sell a single book but wouldn't care as life already took you to some other path that you enjoy even better than writing.
Believe in life and in yourself, and give it everything you have :)
what sammie johnson saidonly a fool writes except for money
Wmba wrote: "what sammie johnson said
only a fool writes except for money"
Your Sammie Johnson was full of it. Writing for the plain enjoyment of it does not make you a fool. It makes you happy.
only a fool writes except for money"
Your Sammie Johnson was full of it. Writing for the plain enjoyment of it does not make you a fool. It makes you happy.
Michel, I agree. I published my first novel in October. Yes, any income which results is, of course, welcome; but I discovered a talent which I did not know I had within me, which was most rewarding in itself.
Michel wrote: "Wmba wrote: "what sammie johnson saidonly a fool writes except for money"
Your Sammie Johnson was full of it. Writing for the plain enjoyment of it does not make you a fool. It makes you happy."
You can't buy happiness:)
Thomas wrote: "Why one writes a book? Money, ego, fun... there are so many reasons. And I believe the biggest obstacle of any author is the wrong reason for writing a book. If writing is something that you feel..."
Only thing that made me "feel like a failure" was getting too many printed books printed in 1996 for my first novel in The Prodigal Band Trilogy. So for the second novel printing I ordered pretty much the right amount of books. In 2018 I finally broke even cost-wise, so I put up my third trilogy novel for FREE on my site https://omegabooksnet.com for PDF download and at this point I've lost count of downloads (esp. during corona virus 'lockdown').
Other than that, it was never "about the money." It was about inspiration, and more. Somewhere in the Bible it says, paraphrasing a parable...God gives you a talent. Use it and do not bury it!
I started writing because I loved it. In the beginning it was all feature and TV pilot scripts that got sent to contests, producers etc.Many stories in the scriptwriting circuit never get introduced to the world. This is what moved me to write fiction novels. Not to say it was any easier, but the outlines were already completed with the script, it just needed to be expanded on for book format.
Sales have been steady through advertising, social media, and word of mouth. I working on campaigns to get sales up to a higher level.
What is your biggest obstacle as a writer? Is it to write the book? Find reviews? Find sales?
Or is it some other obstacle?
I'm interested to know!
Thanks!
-Vince (Moderator)