This will be a blog for my writing, maybe with (too much) personal thrown in. I am hoping it will be a little more interactive, with me answering questions, helping out and whatnot. If it falls this year (2024), then I may stop the whole blogging thing, but that's all a "wait and see" scenario.
Apologies for my questions being anti-traditional publishing. I'm pretty sure that wasn't my intention.
I didn't realize that traditional publishers also did ARCs for book launches. Interesting! Yes, you might be missing out on sales, but I bet at least half of them wouldn't have actually bought the book anyway, but perhaps that's my disorganized self who believes too many people are like me -- meaning to do something, but never getting around to it. lol
Anyway, I totally believe reviews, and thus ARC reviews, are important. Just today I was looking for a couple of books to send a friend. "Oh, that looks like a good book! Never mind. No reviews. IDK if it's any good. Oh, here's one! Nah, only 1 review. It could have been their mom." lol Yep, even if the ARC reviews were hand-picked from their best folks, most likely to give favorable reviews, IDK that. It still makes me more likely to buy the book if there are at least 5 reviews (if it's in a hard-to-find niche like finger knitting, such as today's events) and it's rated at least 4.5 stars, though 10 reviews or more is better (especially in a bigger niche that's not so specialized).
You're right about Amazon being wishy-washy about ARC reviews lately. Some folks are having no issues, but others ARC reviewers are having to remove the detail of being an ARC reviewer from their review to get the review to go through. Yet, that's a requirement of the review -- to mention if you got the book for free. Whatever. lol
Is Bookgram Instagram for books, like BookTok is TikTok for books?
Funny that you mention that many people will do line and copy editing at the same time. I had them listed on my To-Do list as to do at the same time. lol I also had the order reversed -- copy edits, then line edits, but I can see where doing it in the reverse order makes more sense. Thank you for this!
I think what your writing goals are makes a difference in what you should write. If you love writing about shape shifting alien roaches who have left their galaxy and gone off to conquer Pluto, know that you will likely find it VERY hard to get that published through a traditional publisher. If you are okay with that, so be it. Enjoy writing. Self-publish. Post short stories on your blog. Write for your own enjoyment. Whatever.
But if your hopes and dreams are to be traditionally published, you should probably consider what publishers are looking for. Shape shifters are still popular among many readers, but perhaps not alien roach shape shifters. Can you write about shape shifting wolves or dragons? It may not be your deepest passion, but if you can write about them and not hate your life, you should probably choose to do that.
Otherwise, you'll need to work very, very hard to find those very, very few fans who are interested in your shape shifting alien roaches and you'll likely have a very, very hard time getting traditionally published because there's virtually no market for that book and traditional publishers know this and aren't likely to be willing to invest in it.
That's my 2 cents from someone who has no interest in becoming traditionally published. I prefer to keep the rights to my stuff -- even if it isn't worth having. lol
The other organization I've joined recently also doesn't push social media, though they encourage it if you are interested. They recommend an author website, of course, but otherwise, just email lists to market to. They said with an active email list and a decent back catalog (not sure if that's the term I think they use, but I'm blanking on it) of books to offer, you can make $1500-$2k without spending any money on marketing. Impressive! Of course, they have folks making $15k-$20K/month with advertising (people post their "wins" from last month at the beginning of each month so we get to see who the high performers are), but they're also spending a good bit on advertising, so there's that. They're still coming out ahead, though.
It does indeed answer the question - thank you. Lots to ponder on, including things that I've done in the past and allowed to fall away. Must really get into the habit of writing down ideas when they come and not trusting my memory.
I remain impressed with your sheer production. For instance, your recent series of stories using Beatle song titles was outrageously productive, a seemingly endless stream of creativity and invention. And here am I, tortured by my inability to think up one measly story per week.
So my question concerns this only: how does one open the faucet of ideas so that they become a steady source of new and interesting stories?
Good advice, I thought the whole "Garry Cooper with breasts and a pretty face" bit was hilarious. Though even in the South West, the US had gender roles in the mid to late 19th century that made the idea of a female caucasian protagonist unrealistic. I guess it's what readers expect though.
Also it boggles my brain that trains aren't allowed as transportation. They were—and still are in my childhood hometown—a big part of the West. Yes they were steam instead of diesel but they were very much a part of the West. The Jessie James Gang, notorious outlaws, robbed trains exclusively. Not to mention that trains were used to transport loads of things back and forth from the region.
Also, historically, most of the "Cowboys" either called themselves vaqueros and were in Mexico, were black or indigenous. Also at least a few individuals migrated from the Antebellum South to start over after the Civil War. There were also a good number of German immigrants.
Anyways, I've been rambling. I just am flabbergasted by what readers expect of their Westerns.
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