Support for Indie Authors discussion

Hiya,
As authors, there are certain questions which people ask that drive you nuts, because they are either ridiculous or annoying so I thought to start this topic as an avenue for us to vent and perhaps share those questions/comments just for laughs.

For me, it is when I send my book link to someone or show them my book and they ask, "So what is your book about?" Read the bloody blurb!!!

Hahahaha...I feel better already.

Hey Chiky!

I hear your pain lol! Contented sigh!

Cheers,
Neven

I'd be here all day if I listed them all ;)

The biggest is 'So why haven't you tried to get a publisher yet?' to which I have begun to reply with, 'My books are published by the only publishing house that I know with 100% assurance has my best interest in mind."

Neven wrote: "Hey Chiky!

I hear your pain lol! Contented sign!

Cheers,
Neven"

Yes!!! I knew there was no way I was the only one annoyed by this question :-)

Christina wrote: "I'd be here all day if I listed them all ;)

The biggest is 'So why haven't you tried to get a publisher yet?' to which I have begun to reply with, 'My books are published by the only publishing ho..."

Awesome reply!!! I will keep that one in mind for the future.

Jacek wrote: ""So, can I get your book for free?"
And then necks snap like twigs."

Yes!!! That question is second only to:

"Why is your book so expensive? I should get it for free"

Honestly, "So where do you get your ideas" is probably one of the worst. How do you even answer that? Imagination is not something easily explained.

Aside from that, Christina's "so why haven't you found a publisher" takes the cake.

Christina wrote: "I'd be here all day if I listed them all ;)

The biggest is 'So why haven't you tried to get a publisher yet?' to which I have begun to reply with, 'My books are published by the only publishing ho..."

#boom #exactly

Chikamso wrote: "Jacek wrote: ""So, can I get your book for free?"
And then necks snap like twigs."

Yes!!! That question is second only to:

"Why is your book so expensive? I should get it for free""

Amazon has made it tougher to sell books by giving the option for free books! But you have to know your value and realize that those who even ask that question does not value your work or creativity, and thus is not your ideal client. And that is simply OK! Move on to the next lol...

On a positive note, there is that rare friend that you've offered a copy of your book as a gift, and they say--no, I know how much time and effort you have put into this...I want to buy it.

Christina wrote: "I'd be here all day if I listed them all ;)

The biggest is 'So why haven't you tried to get a publisher yet?' to which I have begun to reply with, 'My books are published by the only publishing ho..."

You da bomb Christina!

Jai wrote: "Amazon has made it tougher to sell books by giving the option for free books! But you have to know your value and realize that those who even ask that question does not value your work or creativity, and thus is not your ideal client. And that is simply OK! Move on to the next lol..."

If friends and family wanted free ebooks, I'd happily comply, but I think most of those asking for a free copy want the physical book. Not because they want to read it, but on the off chance you become a success, they need that claim to fame.

Christina wrote: "If friends and family wanted free ebooks, I'd happily comply, but I think most of those asking for a free copy want the physical book. Not because they want to read it, but on the off chance you become a success, they need that claim to fame...."

I know I keep fighting for you NOt to give me your book. :P I still need to buy the last one. Just waiting caus I may end up getting it on paperback though... so we'll see. :)

When they hear I'm an independent small publisher (for my own books) and they say "So I can get an ISBN off you for free?"

lol now I am happy I don't get many questions. The ones I get are mostly about reviewing or beta read their books. I answer privately, not on my author question thingy.

Christina wrote: "If friends and family wanted free ebooks, I'd happily comply, but I think most of those asking for a free copy want the physical book. Not because they want to read it, but on the off chance you become a success, they need that claim to fame....."

I have no problem with close friends and family wanting my book but what irks me is when acquaintances ask for paperback copies. I'm like "Really... like really?" This has happened to me only once though and it was the same person who asked why my book was so expensive. Hahaha.

The interesting thing is that my close friends and family have never asked for a free copy. Most of them have already bought through the crowdfunding campaign I launched before publishing and some have been pressurizing me to do a proper book launch so they can invite people to attend and buy more copies at the event.

V.M. wrote: "The ones I get are ...

"Why don't you write about nice things people want to read?"

"Oh, you published a book? I always wanted to write a book, can you write it for me if I tell you what to write?""

Hahahahahaha... #brilliant

"Oh! You wrote a book? That's awesome. Who's your publisher?"
-"I self-published. You can get it on Amazon, BN..."
"Oh. Well, I don't read ebooks. I need to hold the paperback in my hands."
-"It's in paperback on both Amazon and BN."
"Oh." *Changes subject*

I told an old friend of mine from high school about it, and she said how awesome it was and that she definitely wanted to buy the paperback. I offered to do it, and she was gung ho. In a later message, I asked for her address. She said I really didn't have to do it. I told her I wanted to carry through with my word. When she received the book, suddenly she had no time to read. I never heard back from her!

I had an old friend I hadn't seen in years contact me after he saw my website. He used to be skeptical about my prospects as a writer, but now he has his own short story, and he wanted me to read it. Of course, he never offered to buy, or even read, any of my books. I read his story, gave him a quick critique, and, somewhat formally, wished him well. I haven't heard from him since.

Ken wrote: "I had an old friend I hadn't seen in years contact me after he saw my website. He used to be skeptical about my prospects as a writer, but now he has his own short story, and he wanted me to read i..."

Imagine that!

Jai wrote: "Chikamso wrote: "Jacek wrote: ""So, can I get your book for free?"
And then necks snap like twigs."

Yes!!! That question is second only to:

"Why is your book so expensive? I should get it for fr..."

Those are the best friends! So many of mine did that and I was incredibly grateful!

And then there are all those, numbering in the hundreds, who have included your book on their "want to read" list, by not one of them ever buys it...hard to read it if ya don't--lol

Chikamso wrote: "For me, it is when I send my book link to someone or show them my book and they ask, "So what is your book about?" Read the bloody blurb!!! "

I feel your pain, but my response is a bit different. You can't really tell by the blurb what my books are about. So, I'd be more inclined to say, "read the bloody book and tell me what you think it's about".

Jacek wrote: ""So, can I get your book for free?"
And then necks snap like twigs."

Opposite for me. I have two friends who refuse to get my books for free and will pay for them. And, yes, that annoys me.

V.M. wrote: "Oh, you published a book? I always wanted to write a book, can you write it for me if I tell you what to write?"

I'm glad I haven't heard that one. Just reading that it was said to you gave me a facial tic. I'd probably say, "as soon as you learn how to sh*t for me, I will write for you."

Quoleena wrote: "Oh. Well, I don't read ebooks. I need to hold the paperback in my hands."

This sounds... oddly familiar. But, I won't mention G.G. by name.

Dwayne wrote: "Quoleena wrote: "Oh. Well, I don't read ebooks. I need to hold the paperback in my hands."

This sounds... oddly familiar. But, I won't mention G.G. by name."

LOL Hey now, don't start rumors. ;) yes I like print because you can hold them, they usually smell good. I say usually because I won a duo once from one author and the books stank of cigarettes. But when it comes to read them, I need loads of sunlight or light and it's not handy. I prefer eBooks you can read anywhere.

Why I buy prints? Because you can display them, people can see them. Hard to do with digital. So hurry up and have one in print like everyone else. :p

My favorite of all time: "You write?" says one of my best friends. "I can give you a quote if you want me to proof it for you. How many pages?" Other than that, she doesn't want to discuss my writing.

Another favorite:
"So, what do you do?"
"I'm an author."
"No, I mean, what is your real job?"
-_-

I've always hated the "I always wanted to write a book" comment... often to segue into them talking about the book they want to write, but most likely never will...

I had one talked to me about a book I should read just to come back later surprise I was an author... she was nice about it though, she bought both my book and read and review it. Still... the things says ASK THE AUTHOR, and none writer don't have that.

When are you going to get a proper job?

Tears head off and feeds it to cat - writes about it ...

G.G. wrote: "I had one talked to me about a book I should read just to come back later surprise I was an author... she was nice about it though, she bought both my book and read and review it. Still... the thin..."

I think some folks think we're Goodreads employees. :)

oh when I see questions Ann and you get, yes, I think you're right!

lolz my family hate when I roll up because I will chuck books at them. they be like do you hate us and I'm like yup *chucks a doorstopper*. don't ask me for free ish because I will drown you. lolz ヽ(´▽｀)/

"You know they say that self published books aren't really that great, no offense. But think about it, if publishers and agents think it isn't good, why would anyone else buy it?"

"And yet Twilight won awards for 'writing' and 50 Shades of Grey knocked Harry Potter off the best seller lists. Go figure"

Alp wrote: "When are you going to get a proper job?

Tears head off and feeds it to cat - writes about it ..."

Wow, my cat is way to picky an eater for this. Maybe I can borrow yours sometime? :-)

I'm too new to get too many annoying questions, but it is irritating that people don't understand how many steps there are after typing "the end." People are like, "Oh, you've finished writing your book so you can relax now." I wish!

Ken wrote: "I had an old friend I hadn't seen in years contact me after he saw my website. He used to be skeptical about my prospects as a writer, but now he has his own short story, and he wanted me to read i..."

Yeah funny that hey!

My fav to date: "Oh, you write sci-fi? Is there hot alien sex?"

... absolutely. on every page. Sigh. :)

my friends -"When is your next book coming out? You need to get on it! I need to know what happens!"

me-"Hey, my new book is out!"

(crickets)

I admit I tend to ask cliche questions though I try to be as original as possible it's just sometimes you can't stay away from asking a few.

Or, the one who reads a glowing review of your book and asks you to send him the section with the alien sex scene in it.

Lots of people ask, "how many copies have you sold?" and it drives me nuts.

I feel like saying, "none of your $%#@&%$ business," but usually reply, "more than I'd hoped, but less than I want."

Aaron wrote: ""You know they say that self published books aren't really that great, no offense. But think about it, if publishers and agents think it isn't good, why would anyone else buy it?"

I actually asked a local newspaper's arts & entertainment dept if they were interested in doing a review, since I'm a local author. That's the basic response I got: if it wasn't good enough to get published traditionally, then our assumption is that it's not worth reading.

Wow.

Wow...ok...well now I have no remorse not reading newspapers.

I was helping to train a new guy at work the other day.

He asked, "so, do you do anything else besides this [work]?"

"I'm a writer."

"A rider? Like you ride... what?"

"A writer. I write books."

"Oh." He nodded, eyes glazed over, looking around a while. "So, do you have another job?"

"I write books."

"I didn't know you could make money at that."

*sigh* I hate talking about how much or how little I'm making. "Well, you can and I do. Not a lot some months..."

He nodded again. "Do you have a publisher?"

"I'm self-published."

"Okay, but did you go through a publisher?"

"I am self published."

"Oh." He nodded and stared off a while. "So, you had to get a copyright."

"Yes."

"My daughter writes stories. I don't know what they're about, but she likes to write stories. And then she puts them on a web site so people can review them." He stared at me a while. "Is that what you do?"

"No, I publish them and sell them."

He nodded. "Well, my son makes YouTube videos."

Dwayne wrote: "I was helping to train a new guy at work the other day.

He asked, "so, do you do anything else besides this [work]?"

"I'm a writer."

"A rider? Like you ride... what?"

"A writer. I write books."..."

Oh dear... hahahaha

Questions asked of me as an author ...

Honestly, no one talks to me much. [insert "forever alone" pic]

No one ever talks to me about writing, either. The only place where I do get support is at a nursing home I visit. My 97-year-old friend, Mary, constantly tells me how proud she is that I started writing, even though she has macular degeneration and can't read anything I wrote. Still, I made sure she had signed paperback copies of all my books. Another friend, Pam, who's in her 50s and has Crohn's Disease, said she didn't like Science Fiction, but she read one of my books and said she enjoyed it. And she always tells anyone who doesn't know, "Hey, Ken's an author, and he's written books."

So anytime I want to get my ego massaged, which is quite often, I visit the nursing home. It's even better when I take candy.