Indie Book Club discussion

I was just wondering if anyone would be interested in a Writer's Corner section of the group. I imagine it as a place to ask your fellow self pubbers questions on good formatting programs, affordable editors, beta readers, reviewers, etc...

I was just looking for some group feedback before getting it started. Anyone interested?

Seeing how I'm working on book 3, by all means!

I've encountered all kinds of issues. Formatting problems, computer issues, ereader probs, etc.

For those that don't know, I'm a Microsoft Certified computer tech with over 16+ years of experience. If you have a computer problem, formatting concerns, etc, ask away!

Sounds like a great idea, Scott.

I agree, it's a great idea.

I've encountered issues with editing myself. Turns out I'm not as good as I think I am - missed quite a few typos when I published Liberator's Ruin! This after going through it with a fine-tooth comb. Sigh.

Next time I'm hiring an editor with a nanoscale comb (aka a professional).

It's a great idea. In Fact I have a question right now about doing events that I've not had a good place to post about. I'd love to get other authors' feedback.

Jeff

I have added the folder so let the questions begin!

Bring 'em on!

I've personally hit quite a few problems while editing, formatting, etc., and I'm sure others are the same, so between all of us, we're probably pretty covered. :)

I would certainly be interested in a writer's corner. It doesn't hurt to get additional opinions on your work or simply have people to ask if you have a little technical issue etc.

Hope everyone had a great weekend,
Elixa

Sounds like a good idea. With 5 books out already, I'm happy to (try to) answer any question about publishing stuff. As well as any questions about farming, California land use regs, interactive media questions and/or Veggietales. Oh, and the Amazon. Not the company, the region.

Honestly I don't even know questions to ask about those subjects lol.

Are Veggietales as scary as I think they are from the pictures? I dread Zoey being old enough to look for them specifically.

Heh. I'd only administer them in small doses. Most of 'em are pretty fun cartoons, particularly the pre-2001 episodes. I worked for them for a couple years in their interactive division.

Fixed a client's computer yesterday that had a typical printer problem. As soon as the stubborn piece of machinery started working she told me that she was working on her book.

Naturally I started chatting with her about writing stories, and she invited me to sit in on Havasu's creative writing club.

First off, I didn't even know Havasu had a creative writing club. And second, I know damn well that if I went, I'd be the youngest person there by about 20 years, easy.

Hmmmmmm......

Sounds like a good idea to me too.

Could be fun! It always catches them off guard when a young person actually has something of value to contribute. Plus your input is going to challenge them as well as them challenging you! Seminars are fun, and the tougher the crowd, the better feed back you get from a demographic that you normally would not gather info from.

I used to hate writing seminars, not clubs since I have only experienced someone reading my stuff at the seminars I had to take as an undergrad and the two as a grad student. I take criticism badly, especially when it comes to poetry, because it seemed to me that they wanted to change my message, not give me good feedback on the style and content. But as I worked with the group, and we got used to eachother's style I learned to value even the harshest of critiques!

I say take a chance, what do you have to lose!!

Kriss (in a wise mood this late morn' .. It came from the Pumpkin Spiced Latte laden with a hint of bribery and bum kissing!)

Feedback on an idea, please. The WIP is unusual for me. It's set in the near future and all too possible. The dilemma: if I do 'the usual' prep for publication, read and tweak every few months for about a decade, it will be today, not tomorrow and I really feel it shouldn't wait until then. I'm considering serializing it on my Goodreads blog with a note it's free because it doesn't have those ten years of work. It's 'clean,' but the depth of knowledge of the characters that makes my dialog so good isn't there yet. I can't remember who, to attribute the quote, but it's "Sometime in a long career, every science fiction author writes something they hope isn't prophetic." I didn't expect to prove it.

Sharon, are you saying you're considering serializing your work now because, if you wait X amount of years to finish it, the future you're writing about will no longer be the future? I just want to make sure I understand what you're getting at...

Yes. It's current research and regulation, just a bit in the future.

To clarify a bit....

I write, primarily, the rarest of the three story forms, man against society. The 'worlds' I build are part of the story, not the setting. This one is, basically, apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic. It's not kaboom. The disaster is... attrition and much of the story is the construction of the society that will, hopefully, assure humans survive.

P.J. wrote: "I agree, it's a great idea.

I've encountered issues with editing myself. Turns out I'm not as good as I think I am - missed quite a few typos when I published Liberator's Ruin! This after going th..."

I have a theory typos breed in manuscripts.

I don't believe I'm saying this, but I'm strongly considering sittingn in on that creative writing class. I'm gonna hate it if I walk in there and it's just a bunch of little old ladies. *sigh*

But I figure why not. I might get a kick out of it.

Jeffrey, as with many things in life, you will probably get something out of the writing group if you put something into it. My only fear would be that the people might be so out of touch with the fantasy genre that they won't be able to relate...

Lololol!

That's what I'm worried about!

Jeffrey wrote: "Lololol!

That's what I'm worried about!"

In my experience, those little old ladies will kick your butt! At least, they've kicked mine many, many times :)

LOL!

That's the other scenario that scares me!!

Some self publishers have distribution problems. I am an online bookstore. Let me know if I can help. I'm also a published author of some several titles with more coming. I do like the notion of writer's corners in many of the groups where I participate.

Whitebeard wrote: "Some self publishers have distribution problems. I am an online bookstore. Let me know if I can help. I'm also a published author of some several titles with more coming. I do like the notion o..."

Yeah, that is the big disadvantage to self publishing. I'm up for hearing any suggestion you have as an online bookstore that you think would help get our books out. =)

Hear, hear!

My book is now in the local bookstore, as well as the local library. Consequently, it's currently checked out!

Whitebeard, what's the feasibility of carrying new titles in your bookstore? Just curious. :)

Super excited for a writer's corner. I'm operating more as an editor than a writer, at the moment, but once Book II from Brandeis of Aura is out, and I'm done editing Book II of Bakkian Chronicles, I'll be working on my own writing project for a while before starting the editing work on Book III for Brandeis of Aura.

It'll be the first thing I ever look to publish, and in the Brandeis of Aura universe, so a little support from fellow writers might be needed. =)

So it'll be a story set in the same world as Brandeis of Aura?

Cool! You can count on me to pick up a copy when you release it!

I'm hoping that it becomes a useful tool for everyone. I look forward to learning more about self publishing from varied perspectives.

Is anyone here a member of a writer's group that meets in person? I'm trying to carve some time to see what kind of fit the Lk Havasu City Writers Group might be for me. So far, there's only little old ladies there. I'm told there are some guys from time to time. Will have to wait and see.

Jeffrey wrote: "Is anyone here a member of a writer's group that meets in person? I'm trying to carve some time to see what kind of fit the Lk Havasu City Writers Group might be for me. So far, there's only litt..."

I've never been one to like the Writer's groups but it can be good motivation if that's an issue. I find that I like my whole book to be worked through before I give it to others to read and then I like people I trust to have first go around at it.

Why did you want to join a group?

Patricia wrote: "Whitebeard wrote: "Some self publishers have distribution problems. I am an online bookstore. Let me know if I can help. I'm also a published author of some several titles with more coming. I d..."

I'd like to know more about your online bookstore because seriously, I have had more problems with the Independent bookstores. You'd think they would be chomping at the bit to help us Indie Authors...but instead I have to chase them around for payment, and they don't really want to promote. One wanted to put ONE copy of my book on a shelf for six months. Really...what if someone bought it.

So I am constantly looking for ways to reach the reading audience.

Lorena

Lorena wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "Is anyone here a member of a writer's group that meets in person? I'm trying to carve some time to see what kind of fit the Lk Havasu City Writers Group might be for me. So far, t..."

Hi Lorena -

I originally wasn't planning on it, but a client of mine (once she found out I had written a couple of books) invited me to join. I mentioned to her that I was considering it when she told me who else was in the group. Namely a whole bunch of little old ladies. They'd easily have 30 years on me. So I became hesitant. Wasn't too sure what to elect so I asked if anyone else is a member of an actual club that meets in person and if they bought they benefited from it.

Just a thought...it may be a good idea to match up with each other via genre to do beta reads for feedback :)

I thought about suggesting that as well Carly, but as I'm not an author and have no idea the logistics of finding beta readers I thought I would keep mum on the subject. I think there could be some benefit to a beta reader post that way people could volunteer if they have a genre they enjoy or if an author would like some early opinions they have a place to ask.

A beta reader post sounds like a good idea. I'd use it.

I think the best way to do it is to start a new topic in the Writer's Corner section. It seems that if we just had a single thread for all the beta reading activity (if there is enough) it would get confusing and people requests could get lost. I think a topic like beta readers needed - fantasy could work. If it doesn't work I can make a whole new section for beta reading threads and transfer ones that have already been made there.

Jeffrey wrote: "Lorena wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "Is anyone here a member of a writer's group that meets in person? I'm trying to carve some time to see what kind of fit the Lk Havasu City Writers Group might be for..."

Although you never know Jeffery...those little old ladies have probably read a lot of books and my guess, knowing little old ladies myself, they'll probably be honest!