Hello all!
So a friend of mine, Author Edie Ramer has had an amazing year of publishing and sales since she released her first novel, Cattitude. I recently read an interview she did and something she said really jumped out at me.
Edie's advice to new authors who e-publish is to worry less about about promoting the book you've published and worry more about writing the next book.
As a person who recently e-published Lies in Chance last month, I have to say that I am OBSESSED about sales. And I'm more obsessed about what I can do to boost sales. (Let's just say I'm not quitting my job just yet.) So every day I check sales on all three sites.
Amazon: Buy Lies in Chance HERE
Barnes and Noble: Nook readers buy Lies in Chance HERE!
Smashwords: Sony users, and those who do not have electronic readers, buy Lies in Chance HERE!
And I worry that not I'm not doing enough to get the word out there. I blog, I keep up to date on Facebook, Twitter, myspace, and email. I'm doing a book signing for Dream in Color this coming weekend. What else can a new author do?
Well, according to my friend Edie...the best thing I can do is WRITE THE NEXT BOOK!
Like most people, I'm very limited in the amount of time I have to spend writing, and all things writing. And that time will be even more limited next week when I begin yet another new job. (3rd shift...not a good fit. I'm back to the 8-5 grind and I'm looking forward to it!) What this means is that when I do sit down for author time, I can't be going from site to site worrying about sales that are or are not there. I need to focus on the next book.
I think Edie's advice is good for us all. I look at her success in the last year and the woman has done nothing but publish. And she is rocking! (And she now gets to do it full time I believe.) So she is walking the walk and it's working for her.
It takes discipline because once you publish a book you want to know that everyone out there is reading it, loving it, leaving positive reviews on the sites so others will read it. You almost have to put blinders on. Publishing one thing doesn't mean you're done writing, does it?
So I'm struggling to ignore the websites. I try to check no more than twice a week. And I try not to be frustrated. Meanwhile, I'm working on the next big thing, hoping that by getting a new title out there, my name and writing will be more readily recognized.
One more thing that helps all new authors: Reader reviews. If you read a book, and you liked it, ESPECIALLY if you liked Dream in Color or Lies in Chance, PLEASE leave a reader review. It's the only way a new author survives! (Got a book out there...let me know. I love reading, and I'm happy to read and leave reviews!)
Meanwhile....go forth and WRITE!
NOW AVAILABLE!
A HERO'S SPARK: the final book in the Wicked Women series!
Showing posts with label Edie Ramer has a new book on Amazon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Edie Ramer has a new book on Amazon. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Friday, September 17, 2010
Being seen reading is almost as important as being seen writing.
Good morning!
When I was younger I read books like a starved convict. I was a regular at the tiny public library in my hometown. When I worked my way through the books that were age appropriate, I jumped over to the adult section. Then I had to hide the books from my mom, but that's another story for another day.
Reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's books (And I read them probably 6 or 7 times completely) inspired me. I knew, after reading her tales of growing up, that I could be a writer. Of course, first I knew I wanted to work around books. For the longest time I wanted to be a librarian. (Okay, I wanted to be a librarian who was also a paramedic who raised horses, but I digress.) Books have been a cornerstone in my life.
So many writers I know don't do a lot of reading. Too much else going on. Kids, job, writing, there's just no time to sit down and read.
Well, if you're serious about writing, you need to keep reading. You need to keep the printed word in front of your face. Read what you love, read what's current, read something you wouldn't normally read.
Do I have a stack of books as high as my hip in my room? Yes. Between the books my kids insist I read ("Youth in Revolt" is brilliant, BTW.) books my dear critique partner, Linda, suggests (Loved "The Help" but could not get into "The Tudors") and books I get from conferences, just to keep me in the romantic groove ("Hundreds of years to Reform a Rake." Terrible title, awesome book.) I have a ton to read. And that's not counting the books I pick up for myself. I've been promising myself to read "Brava Valentina" by Adriana Trigiani for almost a year.
Market insiders will tell writers to read what's current. That's the best way you're going to know the trends in publishing. And there's a lot of truth to that. Personally, I love Daphne du Maurier, and the Brontes, but writing in their styles is not going to get me anyplace here in 2010. So I have to read books published this decade, this year, this month. It's vital.
That said, reading is important as an exercise. If you don't read, why bother writing? If you're not a reader, why would you do anything that would depend on people reading? Musicians listen to music. Painters go to museums to look at paintings. Writers need to read.
There, now, get yourself to a bookstore or library, pick up a book that was written in 2010, and read it! Better yet, you kindle kiddies, check out Dream in Color(click on the book cover above), or my friend Edie's book, Cattitude, which just hit Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cattitude-ebook/dp/B0040ZN224/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1284731070&sr=8-1
Oh, and go forth and write!
When I was younger I read books like a starved convict. I was a regular at the tiny public library in my hometown. When I worked my way through the books that were age appropriate, I jumped over to the adult section. Then I had to hide the books from my mom, but that's another story for another day.
Reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's books (And I read them probably 6 or 7 times completely) inspired me. I knew, after reading her tales of growing up, that I could be a writer. Of course, first I knew I wanted to work around books. For the longest time I wanted to be a librarian. (Okay, I wanted to be a librarian who was also a paramedic who raised horses, but I digress.) Books have been a cornerstone in my life.
So many writers I know don't do a lot of reading. Too much else going on. Kids, job, writing, there's just no time to sit down and read.
Well, if you're serious about writing, you need to keep reading. You need to keep the printed word in front of your face. Read what you love, read what's current, read something you wouldn't normally read.
Do I have a stack of books as high as my hip in my room? Yes. Between the books my kids insist I read ("Youth in Revolt" is brilliant, BTW.) books my dear critique partner, Linda, suggests (Loved "The Help" but could not get into "The Tudors") and books I get from conferences, just to keep me in the romantic groove ("Hundreds of years to Reform a Rake." Terrible title, awesome book.) I have a ton to read. And that's not counting the books I pick up for myself. I've been promising myself to read "Brava Valentina" by Adriana Trigiani for almost a year.
Market insiders will tell writers to read what's current. That's the best way you're going to know the trends in publishing. And there's a lot of truth to that. Personally, I love Daphne du Maurier, and the Brontes, but writing in their styles is not going to get me anyplace here in 2010. So I have to read books published this decade, this year, this month. It's vital.
That said, reading is important as an exercise. If you don't read, why bother writing? If you're not a reader, why would you do anything that would depend on people reading? Musicians listen to music. Painters go to museums to look at paintings. Writers need to read.
There, now, get yourself to a bookstore or library, pick up a book that was written in 2010, and read it! Better yet, you kindle kiddies, check out Dream in Color(click on the book cover above), or my friend Edie's book, Cattitude, which just hit Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cattitude-ebook/dp/B0040ZN224/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1284731070&sr=8-1
Oh, and go forth and write!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Catching up on stuff and a tiny little rant.
Good afternoon friends!
In an effort to improve my overall health, I've joined a health club. The results have been hilarious. (You can read about them over at http://itcanonlyhappentosarah.blogspot.com ) However, now that I'm on a regular schedule at the gym, that means that even less of my already slim amounts of free time is gone.
What's a writer to do?
Well, I've decided I'm not going to bore you all with endless ravings that go nowhere. Instead, this blog is now my official Tuesday/Friday writing blog. My humor blog, as listed above, will be the Monday/Wednesday/Thursday. (Give or take, of course!) What I'm hoping is that I'll actually have some substance to put here instead of the usual grog that makes up most of my blog. (Hey, that rhymes!)
Meanwhile, when last we checked in with Sarah, she was impatiently waiting for news of her submission of "Lies in Chance". Yes, Sunday, she got an email from the editor who requested three chapters.
Apparently the editor lost the three chapters she'd requested. Better yet, said editor waited a couple of weeks before contacting Sarah. GRRRR.
Oh I know, it happens all the time. We are all busy and that delete button is woefully close to the "enter" button on the keyboard. Still, now I'm back to the early weeks of "I can't do anything, I'm too nervous about my submission" whereas by Sunday morning I had already moved on to "It'll get rejected, whatever, I'm just going to start writing something else."
GRRRRRRRRR
And here endeth my rant.
The ups and downs of writing are really more downs than anything. Seriously, if you need to do something to boost your self esteem, writing isn't it. At least not if you're tyring to break into print. Meanwhile, a friend of mine just e-published her very first novel, and I could not be more proud of her! If you are of the Kindle persuasion, check out Edie's book: http://www.amazon.com/Cattitude-ebook/dp/B0040ZN224/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1284491293&sr=8-1
Meanwhile, go forth and WRITE!
In an effort to improve my overall health, I've joined a health club. The results have been hilarious. (You can read about them over at http://itcanonlyhappentosarah.blogspot.com ) However, now that I'm on a regular schedule at the gym, that means that even less of my already slim amounts of free time is gone.
What's a writer to do?
Well, I've decided I'm not going to bore you all with endless ravings that go nowhere. Instead, this blog is now my official Tuesday/Friday writing blog. My humor blog, as listed above, will be the Monday/Wednesday/Thursday. (Give or take, of course!) What I'm hoping is that I'll actually have some substance to put here instead of the usual grog that makes up most of my blog. (Hey, that rhymes!)
Meanwhile, when last we checked in with Sarah, she was impatiently waiting for news of her submission of "Lies in Chance". Yes, Sunday, she got an email from the editor who requested three chapters.
Apparently the editor lost the three chapters she'd requested. Better yet, said editor waited a couple of weeks before contacting Sarah. GRRRR.
Oh I know, it happens all the time. We are all busy and that delete button is woefully close to the "enter" button on the keyboard. Still, now I'm back to the early weeks of "I can't do anything, I'm too nervous about my submission" whereas by Sunday morning I had already moved on to "It'll get rejected, whatever, I'm just going to start writing something else."
GRRRRRRRRR
And here endeth my rant.
The ups and downs of writing are really more downs than anything. Seriously, if you need to do something to boost your self esteem, writing isn't it. At least not if you're tyring to break into print. Meanwhile, a friend of mine just e-published her very first novel, and I could not be more proud of her! If you are of the Kindle persuasion, check out Edie's book: http://www.amazon.com/Cattitude-ebook/dp/B0040ZN224/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1284491293&sr=8-1
Meanwhile, go forth and WRITE!
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