This is my first week promoting Lokte, my debut novel. It has been a very interesting process so far. Lowering the price to $0.99 was easy, but I never would have guessed how hard it'd be to find good, cheap promotional sites (I did mention cheap, right?). Here's what I have learned:
1. The only good promotions site for under $5 is Bknights on Fiverr. I've met authors who have had some fantastic results from him. I only got 5 sales, but then again, I only have one review so far, so that's probably why. And I got zero sales from my other free promotions. I'll try him again next time around.
2. $0.99 does NOT perform as well as free. My free short story, Unlocked, has been selling copies daily. Lokte, even at $0.99, not so much. If you put your story or book for free, people will buy. Problem is, you won't be making money off it, so at least put it in a series or something.
3. Don't expect friends and family to buy it, even at $0.99. Though I have had some people I know download it, the vast majority haven't, even people I consider myself close to. It stings at first. You question why they won't spend a measly dollar to help you achieve success. But don't worry. The feeling will pass, and they aren't your target audience anyways.
4. You've got to do everything yourself. Sadly, for authors either self-publishing or with small publishers, you can't really rely on anyone else to get your book out there. This means interacting on forums, messaging readers, and seeking out your target audience. All of this, writing novels, and keeping up with the day job you probably have. Yeesh. We don't catch a break, do we?
5. Finally, get reviews. Reviews, reviews, reviews. That's all the promotional sites that actually work care about (ENT, Bookbub, etc), and it's also a big deal to readers. If you have zero reviews, they're hesitant to buy. I'm still working on this. However, I will try to submit to reviewing bloggers, antagonize the family who has actually read it- whatever I can do, because reviews are everything.If you are a reader, I implore you, review the books you read! It has the power to help a lot of starving writers out there.
That's all for now, but I will keep you all updated. Here's the link to Lokte in case you want a dollar book. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NHY8K8A God bless!
Showing posts with label writing tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing tips. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
So Many Genres, So Little Time
I know I'm not the only author who feels inspired to write in multiple genres.
I suppose it's because I like to read so many genres that I'm this way. My favorites are fantasy, supernatural and horror, but I have also enjoyed sci-fi, romance, dystopian, inspirational, and even non-fiction. I've been trying to start out with the dual genre, different pen name thing, like J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith. But even that's hard! I have a fantasy romance that has been eating at me. Seriously, it won't shut up in my head.
I'm curious as to how many other authors have this problem, and how they handle it. Authors are often encouraged to stick to one genre, two at the most. You don't see Stephen King complaining that he wants to write children's adventure stories. But I wonder, does he ever get that non-horror story pop in his head? What does he do when it nags at him relentlessly? Just ignore it, I suppose. But as an artist, that just seems depressing to me. When a story wants to be told, it lets you know. Like, in flashing, neon colors.
I don't think there's any real answer to this question; only perspective. Sticking with one or two genres makes it easier to maintain a readership and bring in more money. But to ignore the other stories is to stifle one's creativity. Poverty, or restricting one's artistry. Depressing any way you slice it.
Granted, I'm being a little over dramatic here. I know of at least one person who makes a decent living off of writing multiple genres. Then again, they publish a book every month (seriously, they're a beast). I hope to publish every two to three months, but a book a month while working full time at a day job? I think my head would explode.
So, ignore the story and stick to two genres? Or release my creativity and explore multiple genres? An endless dilemma. I don't know. What do you guys think?
I suppose it's because I like to read so many genres that I'm this way. My favorites are fantasy, supernatural and horror, but I have also enjoyed sci-fi, romance, dystopian, inspirational, and even non-fiction. I've been trying to start out with the dual genre, different pen name thing, like J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith. But even that's hard! I have a fantasy romance that has been eating at me. Seriously, it won't shut up in my head.
I'm curious as to how many other authors have this problem, and how they handle it. Authors are often encouraged to stick to one genre, two at the most. You don't see Stephen King complaining that he wants to write children's adventure stories. But I wonder, does he ever get that non-horror story pop in his head? What does he do when it nags at him relentlessly? Just ignore it, I suppose. But as an artist, that just seems depressing to me. When a story wants to be told, it lets you know. Like, in flashing, neon colors.
I don't think there's any real answer to this question; only perspective. Sticking with one or two genres makes it easier to maintain a readership and bring in more money. But to ignore the other stories is to stifle one's creativity. Poverty, or restricting one's artistry. Depressing any way you slice it.
Granted, I'm being a little over dramatic here. I know of at least one person who makes a decent living off of writing multiple genres. Then again, they publish a book every month (seriously, they're a beast). I hope to publish every two to three months, but a book a month while working full time at a day job? I think my head would explode.
So, ignore the story and stick to two genres? Or release my creativity and explore multiple genres? An endless dilemma. I don't know. What do you guys think?
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Fashioning Your Ideal Character
So far, I've written two books, and I'm in the process of writing my third. In just these works, I have fashioned over thirty-five characters.
And that doesn't include the characters that will be introduced in the sequels.
It sounds like a lot, but if you go back and think about the books you've read, you'll probably find that they had a similar number (this is, of course, including minor characters). With so many characters in one story, there is always the question of how to properly create these characters. How do you make them unique and well-rounded, especially the ones with only a brief role in the story?
I look back on my books, and I can honestly say that I'm happy with all the characters I've created. I believe that's because I try to answer certain questions before I create them:
Who are they?
What do they look like, and how does their look/style reflect who they are?
What is their goal and how are they going to achieve it?
What purpose will they serve in my story?
Then of course I factor in age, gender, applicable background information,etc.
Here's an example of how I would answer these, using one of my characters in my upcoming novel "Lokte."
Who is she?
Her name is Patricia Garcia, although her name is never mentioned in the book. She is an elementary teacher who has cancer. She is also the main character's mother.
What does she look like, and how does her look/style reflect who she is?
Though she is not seen much in the novel, she is Hispanic with dark, narrow eyes. She has light lines across her face, indicating she is in her early fifties. She has lost her hair from chemotherapy, and she generally wears clothes that are comfortable. This is to reflect that she lives in the country and teaches children, so she has little need for fancy attire.
What is her goal, and how is she going to achieve it?
Her goal is to ensure that her only daughter is alright. She tries to achieve this by calling Marianne daily to stay updated on her life.
What purpose will she serve in my story?
Her condition drives Marianne to wish for a better life. That's where Logan Lokte comes in.
So in just four, easy steps, I have created a solid minor character.
One of the other things to remember is this: none of your characters should act like their just a part of your story. Everything should feel as real as possible for the reader. So when considering the words and actions of your minor characters, remember this: in their eyes, they are the main character. If you can do convey this in your writing, your characters will be diverse and colorful.
I know this is a little short, but I thought I'd share my ideas on writing characters :) . Have a great day everyone!
And that doesn't include the characters that will be introduced in the sequels.
It sounds like a lot, but if you go back and think about the books you've read, you'll probably find that they had a similar number (this is, of course, including minor characters). With so many characters in one story, there is always the question of how to properly create these characters. How do you make them unique and well-rounded, especially the ones with only a brief role in the story?
I look back on my books, and I can honestly say that I'm happy with all the characters I've created. I believe that's because I try to answer certain questions before I create them:
Who are they?
What do they look like, and how does their look/style reflect who they are?
What is their goal and how are they going to achieve it?
What purpose will they serve in my story?
Then of course I factor in age, gender, applicable background information,etc.
Here's an example of how I would answer these, using one of my characters in my upcoming novel "Lokte."
Who is she?
Her name is Patricia Garcia, although her name is never mentioned in the book. She is an elementary teacher who has cancer. She is also the main character's mother.
What does she look like, and how does her look/style reflect who she is?
Though she is not seen much in the novel, she is Hispanic with dark, narrow eyes. She has light lines across her face, indicating she is in her early fifties. She has lost her hair from chemotherapy, and she generally wears clothes that are comfortable. This is to reflect that she lives in the country and teaches children, so she has little need for fancy attire.
What is her goal, and how is she going to achieve it?
Her goal is to ensure that her only daughter is alright. She tries to achieve this by calling Marianne daily to stay updated on her life.
What purpose will she serve in my story?
Her condition drives Marianne to wish for a better life. That's where Logan Lokte comes in.
So in just four, easy steps, I have created a solid minor character.
One of the other things to remember is this: none of your characters should act like their just a part of your story. Everything should feel as real as possible for the reader. So when considering the words and actions of your minor characters, remember this: in their eyes, they are the main character. If you can do convey this in your writing, your characters will be diverse and colorful.
I know this is a little short, but I thought I'd share my ideas on writing characters :) . Have a great day everyone!
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