Authors & Reviewers discussion

I started typing a beautifully worded response, but one of my dogs decided between turning on the caps lock and hitting general buttons that hitting the backspace button would be a great idea and activated the back button in my browser erasing the reply. Evidently he didn't believe a word of what I was saying.

I have a friend that tends to act as my beta reader and even then I'm always nervous about what she'll say. I know that relying just on a friend isn't ideal, but she is good at pointing out where she gets lost in the story and helps me realize that not everyone knows the things my brain does about the story. I've tried a couple of other people and they've both given me feedback that was great, but it's hard to find people that work in my timetable.

Very true, but I have to say, the betas that completed my book are the reason my book is as good as it can be. They help me see things that my mind thought it was seeing, but it didn't. I'm thankful for all of them! I have to say, besides for having HB Heinzer take my money for a cover she never delivered, I've met only the nicest/most helpful people out there.

Amber wrote: "I'm glad it looks like it's working because I was starting to scratch my head. I haven't done anything that long so I guess it would probably take a little while to get going. I had heard tips from..."

Amber wrote: "I'm glad it looks like it's working because I was starting to scratch my head. I haven't done anything that long so I guess it would probably take a little while to get going. I had heard tips from..."

Lan LP wrote: "This might be a dumb question, but what font do you write in to get an accurate page count? 12?

Btw, I read all the helpful hints/suggestions.Thanks!

My book has ~ 146,500 words. What does this ..."

It's finally working! I discovered the problem was that when converting from Word to PDF I had no tags in my document. Which was SO easy to add. Now she's reading away! It is very heplful. Thank you! I'm hoping to edit my book this way and get it released before Christmas. You're awesome!

Amber wrote: "Definitely not a dumb question. I've seen a lot of different answers and I think it comes down to depending on the size of the printed page and the font settings you use. Generally for a paperback ..."

You're funny Amber. I am finding your witty sense of humor amusing in your posts! Keep it up. You put a smile on my stressed out face!

Lan...do you use Word to write your books? Like Amber said if you use the template CreateSpace gives you (which I'm having problems with BTW) it should give you the page count at the bottom. Also like Amber said, just write, don't worry about page count! If you have a good story who cares if it's long or short (I should take my own advice).

Amber wrote: "I like your attitude as it matches with mine exactly. Chances of making it big is next to impossible with the current market, unless of course you are a marketing wizard. I started out on Smashword..."

Amber,

Fantastic information!!! I have had a very similar experience to you, expect I did have a hard time formatting for Smashwords. It constantly gave me errors and my ebook looks like crap on my Nook.

I have used LuLu, in fact that is where I started. I am now switching over to CreateSpace simply for the cost of paperbacks. My readers (mostly friends/local to me) like paperbacks. My book The Falling of Grace, paperback, 382 pages, was $18.79 total (including shipping) OUCH!!! No one is going to (besides my friends) pay that price for a paperback novel from an unknown author. So, I make no profit off paperbacks from LuLu. Now, my last book, The Falling of Hope, which is over 400 pages, was only $8.47 total (including shipping). That is a big difference. I can now charge $12.99 for my novels at my local bookstore and I will actually make a profit. Not that I ever got into this for profit, like you I just wanted to tell a love story, but it helps. Now I will say this. LuLu is a bit more user friendly, especially their cover designer and I prefer the quality of their paper, but when it comes down to the #'s, CreateSpace will be my new resource for paperbacks.

Like Amber, I use Smashwords (but not happily, the formatting sucks for me - I need help), Amazon KDP, Createspace, and I also use LuLu.com for my ebooks. LuLu will also distribute to Appple and I didn't think that Smashwords did but Amber is way more knowledgeable about Smashwords so take her word for it. :)

Hope this helps!

Lan,

I "Liked" your FB page!

Amber wrote: "The hardest thing for me on any social network has been trying to gain followers. On Facebook without an actual account, it doesn't seem like I can like anyone else which makes it a little weird wh..."

We need to get your some more FB likes Amber! I'll share your page. I liked it with my personal page but I'll go back and like it with all my pages. I have a TON! LOL

Lan LP wrote: "Amber, we're so much alike!!! Since I passed my book on to several betas, I started feeling more insecure. Two of them dropped out around chapter 16, so I'm wondering what happened around there in ..."

Okay, I've been really behind in this post, so I'm just going to say. We are all three peas in a pod. I go through the same emotions, have the same issues. It's a writer thing. The most important thing to remember is that YOU love your work. :) And never give up on your dreams.

I agree so much with the time it takes to market your books. Word of mouth is your best tool. Once you get people to love your book, they will tell others, heck they will even buy your books for others. It's just getting there. I am no success by far, but I have my little loyal fan base and they pimp my stuff like crazy!

Editing is my hard part. I can't afford a professional editor, when I did she screwed up royally, and I am horrible at editing. That is the thing that will make some readers put your book down right away, bad editing. I've read/been told it's the first thing readers look at when they know you're an indie author. Ugh.

Anyway, I've enjoyed reading your posts and I totally agree with everything you've both said.

:)

Hehe. We went a little bit crazy and took over the thread this weekend. Totally agree on the editing thing and like you, I can't afford a pro, but readers want a really polished work so I spend more time reading through and trying to fix things than I do writing it seems.

Thanks for the likes. I really need to try to use FB more often, but it is so much easier to go on Twitter and type "look at me I'm a crazy person" and get a ton of people to look. At least that's my experience.

A note on Smashwords formatting - when I uploaded my most recent book in the way I was used to doing it looked like snot frozen to my nose on a cold winter's day, so I tried uploading it in the format I do for KDP after slapping the required Smashwords edition stuff at the beginning and it worked and made it past inspection. It's going to be so much easier to upload to the two different places for me if this remains true.

For Createspace, I've fought their templates a few times, but I tend to win even if I haven't officially published anything on there yet. I have an army of books just waiting for me to approve them. One day soon my minions will be unleashed on the world.

Okay obviously having the week off is going to my head and I'm getting loopy. I need to get out and breathe in a little fresh air before it gets really bad.

Amber wrote: "Hehe. We went a little bit crazy and took over the thread this weekend. Totally agree on the editing thing and like you, I can't afford a pro, but readers want a really polished work so I spend mor..."

Amber...
No worries about taking over the thread. It's great to have activity in our little group.

I, once again, agree with you, I spend way more time editing than I do writing. It would be so much easier to have an editor worry about it for me.

CreateSpace - What I'm fighting with at the moment is how to change certain things. If I try to make a change then my typing goes in the middle of the next page and stuff like that. I would like to scream now.

Hahaha you and me both but it's too cold out there to go out!

But the cold air is what really clears the head.

Createspace is nice because they give you templates so you don't have to start from stcratch, but it is extremely annoying because once you mess it up - even if your actions shouldn't have caused its malfunction - it seems you're screwed.

It's hard to help without seeing what exactly your actions where and the results. Are you changing whole chunks of text - like copy and pasting things - or just single words and the Word gremlins decide to have a snack?

Amber,

When I go to my laptop I'll check it out. It's on the novel I'm currently writing. For all my other books I just wrote them unformatted then copied and pasted them into the template. I thought I was saving myself some time. LOL

Marisa- thank you for the FB like- I'm still new to this GR and kinda slow with the update thing..you two had an entire conversation and I never even knew;)

I was thinking about creating a group on FB and invite you two and a few other indie writers who are just like us to join and openly discuss any insecurities, success or advices and whatever else we want to post to help each other out:) sometimes I just need that one word to complete my sentence and can't figure it out...this new group would be the place to go to for even that. What do you ladies think? I need your fakebook names to invite. My author page doesn't allow me to like or do much of anything besides posting my stuff:(

Hi Maria...

Sounds great to me. I'm on FB more than GR.
Here is a link to my FB page. Let me know if that doesn't work.
https://www.facebook.com/marisaoldham...

Marisa- are you referring to the FB idea?

Lan LP wrote: "Amber, we're so much alike!!! Since I passed my book on to several betas, I started feeling more insecure. Two of them dropped out around chapter 16, so I'm wondering what happened around there in ..."

Lan LP wrote: "Amber, we're so much alike!!! Since I passed my book on to several betas, I started feeling more insecure. Two of them dropped out around chapter 16, so I'm wondering what happened around there in ..."

You are going to face the same hurdle with reviewers (ARCs, etc), if you haven't already. I have lost count of how many people told me they hit the wall halfway through my ebook. But they've been usually polite, so far! :D

I have no delusions of grandeur regarding being a fiction author. 90% chance is that I won't make it big, but that is okay because this is just a hobby for me and not something I have to do in order to make a living. I will continue to write whether anybody reads or not. ;)

Marlowe, this is exactly how I feel:) I'm writing because I've read lots of book and I just wanted to have my own ending or plot:)

Lan LP wrote: "Marlowe, this is exactly how I feel:) I'm writing because I've read lots of book and I just wanted to have my own ending or plot:)"

Yeah well I don't write on mainstream stuff which is exactly why it is all the more difficult to get people to read my ebook at all, much less like it. My book is, say, er, unconventional in form, plot, even punctuations! ;)

Well, then it should stand apart from all the others:)

Lan LP wrote: "Marisa- are you referring to the FB idea?"

yes. :)

Marisa, I tried creating a group, but it was giving me error messages. I'll try again when I'm on my laptop instead of phone or iPad...I'll let you know when it's setup:)

How do you upload your book to goodreads?

Fill out this form. https://www.goodreads.com/book/new?bo...

Thanks Jackie:)

Lan,

Okay. I go to FB way more than I do Goodreads. I'll try to keep my eye out for it.

M

Marisa- I sent you several FB messages. Did you get them? I didn't get any responses from you:(

Lan,
No I didn't. Let me check that weird place where messages go on FB. Ugh...

Okay when I try to email you back (found a message from you in the OTHERS inbox, stupid FB) it won't let me.

Marisa, do have a regular account or is it a page? Not that I know what I'm talking about;) my author page limits me. I wanted to share a new group to you. An indie author started an online bookstore for indie authors. I'll get the info and use twitter to send it:)

It's my personal account. Try to send me a friend request and we'll see what happens.
https://www.facebook.com/marisaoldham...
I'll check Twitter too. :)

Marisa- I know why i didn't send u a friend's request- your account is secured! It doesn't even give me the option. Can you send me one instead?

I tried with you also but there is no ADD FRIEND button for me to click on.

What's going on???? Can you give me your twitter one? I can't find you u:(

Send her the direct link to your profile Marisa

This is how it should look when she clicks on the link.https://m.facebook.com/jackie.senior....

Marisa- my twitter follow for you is pending that's why I can't find you. I'm not sure about FB!

Okay I fixed it. :) (Twitter)

Jackie (Fire And Ice Book Reviews.blogspot.com) wrote: "This is how it should look when she clicks on the link.https://m.facebook.com/jackie.senior...."

Jackie,
Your link is not working. I sent her mine above. Not sure what is going on.

M

Oops sorry

Jackie (Fire And Ice Book Reviews.blogspot.com) wrote: "Oops sorry"

It's okay. It happens. I just posted a bunch of links and they're not working. I don't get GoodReads sometimes.

I am into paid editing and writing. But I am choosy, meticulous, and forthright. And to anyone inclined to engage me, I suggest - please check out my GR profile, as well as my blog:
http://www.teega.com/2013/10/the-othe...
Thanks