Connecting Readers and Writers discussion

I started this group because I saw a major flaw with a lot of the groups on Goodreads. There are a lot af terrific groups for writers and there are a lot of equally wonderful groups for readers, but no one is putting them together.

FOR READERS:
I know there are a lot of adventurous readers out there. I know this because I am one of them. I love finding a new author to introduce to my book club. I love feeling like I have actually discovered someone. It's so fun to be the one to introduce my friends and family to a new book or author. I also am a writer and know the joy I get every time a reader tells me they love my book or give me a positive review. You can be that for some of these writers. If you are a reader who likes to try new authors and loves getting a book at a bargain, then this group is for you.

FOR WRITERS:
As a self-published writer myself, I am constantly trying to find ways to reach my target market, my readers. There are a lot of writers groups out there who allow you to advertise. That's great, but the problem is, your advertising your book to other writers. Most of them probably don't have the time to read your book because they are busy promoting their own. So here is a group where you can actually advertise and interact with real readers.

I greatly appreciate this group. I think as a reader, I'd love to talk to authors, to hear about what they've just written, why it mattered to them & how passionate they are about their creation. I love finding new authors, and I love reading :)

Hi Elle (and Dyane),

I'd like to echo Dyane's comments: thanks for starting this group.

The modern era of ePublishing is in its infancy but the ability to bring readers and writers together is such an exciting byproduct for me as a writer. I actually did a little experiment over at another Goodreads group (the Apocalypse Whenever group), polling the members to find out specifically what they wanted and enjoyed from the post-apoc genre; the feedback was fantastic and incredibly useful in helping me shape my next book. It's great that you've come up with a group aimed at specifically putting the two groups together; it offers so much potential for both readers and writers.

I wish you all the success in the world with it.

PAUL

Thank you so much for creating such a group, Elle dear!

C. wrote: "Thank you so much for creating such a group, Elle dear!"

Thanks you guys. I am so happy that other people see my vision.

I think it is a great idea for a group - as an indie author I've met a ton of other indie authors and I'm constantly amazed by the quality and professionalism of those I run across. These peole deserve to find an audience and it is groups like this that will help in that regard.

Thank you for the invite, Elle!

Being a writer and a reader, i think I can find my niche here somewhere lol.

groups like this are great because writers and readers need each other. There is a "you complete me" line in there somewhere....

Splitter

Thanks for the invite! This is a great idea!

Whether we write books or just read them, we are all readers! Lately, I've read so many indie books, and have discovered so much talent that deserves to be shared with the world!

And what better way to unite them by bringing them all together in a Goodreads group!

:)

Angel

Perhaps groups like this are the next developmental stage for ePublishing. It will allow readers to help other readers find the gems in the slush, as well as allow indie authors to help one another promote their books. Thanks for taking the initiative, Elle.

Thank you guys! It feels really good to know that others think the way I do. I think your on to something K.M.

Thanks for the invite, Elle. I am glad I joined this group.

Agree with all - what a good idea! :)

This is a good idea. I do hope it takes off in a big way. I didn't self-publish, as a small press publisher took on my novel, but I still need all the help I can get.

Thank you Elle. This is a great idea!

I'm glad I found this group!

Yay! As both a writer and a reader, I'm so excited about this - sounds like so much fun.

I think this group is great. As an author, who wouldn't love readers? They are how we get our books read, right? Thank you for coming up with the group.
Joyce Shaughnessy

Thank you, Elle! This is shaping up to be a great group. I have wanted for some time to involve readers in a couple of projects I have in mind. One is inspired by the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but features some of my beloved literary characters, from Dickens, Alcott, Austen, Kipling and Stevenson. But I am struggling with adding a little more diversity, looking for a strong African American character, or possibly native African, male or female (female would be GREAT) and hoping some avid readers could help. Obviously writers as well as readers are welcome to help.

I think this is a great idea, Elle. My only concern, in looking through the first pages of comments, is that most people are writers who, like myself, are actively seeking ways to expand their audience. Readers aren't as actively pursuing new books.

But I see there are a few readers here. Hopefully with time things will all sort themselves out.

Thanks. I look forward to seeing what happens here.

Thanks for inviting me to this group, Elle! It looks very interesting, and I love the opportunity to connect with readers. I'll keep exploring it.

Scott Bury

Ellie, delighted to be a member of this group. Thanks for the invitation. I appreciate the unique goal here of bringing authors and readers together.

For the opportunity of bringing my work to the attention of readers, permit me to simply give my blog. http://geraldggriffin.blogspot.com

Gerald G. Griffin

I'm like many other people here. I want to connect with other writers and readers. By doing such I hope to learn more about my craft. I love to read (I need to do more) and I love to write. It excites me to have someone read my works and in turn I enjoy finding unknown writers that, twelve years ago, I might not have met.

I've just posted on my blog today (see my message 22 above for link) an unusual New Year's resolution for women who love to read. Fascinating! Ladies, well worth the visit.

What a great idea. I will be active later. I'm up to my ears launching my Indi publishing enterprise. I will be re-launching all my work as eBooks and paperback.
I'll be back.
Davidrory

Thanks for the invite, Elle. I think this group was a great idea. Writers don't want to bug or infringe on a readers space, but we still want to interact with readers, and talk about books (we're readers, too) This group gives everyone the freedom to say what they want and be who they are. Awesome.

Thanks for creating this group. I look forward to reading other posts and sharing if I think I can add something.

I love the idea of this group. Brilliant idea Elle! And thanks for sending me the invite. I'm very happy that I've got some time to stop lurking and join some of the conversations.

Elle wrote: "I started this group because I saw a major flaw with a lot of the groups on Goodreads. There are a lot af terrific groups for writers and there are a lot of equally wonderful groups for readers, bu..."

I'm like you self-published and trying to get the word out- not easy.Thanks for a place to come and find out what other writers are doing or writing. reading other writer's books and being able to "talk" with them, so to speak, is a big help.

Jo wrote: "Elle wrote: "I started this group because I saw a major flaw with a lot of the groups on Goodreads. There are a lot af terrific groups for writers and there are a lot of equally wonderful groups fo..."
Great Jo! I hope all the writers here can help answer your questions.

because i write, and because i read. because i know others write, and i want others to read me. to do that, i should also read what others have written. so i'm hoping there'll be a give and take of reciprocal feedback, reviews, commments, but not false praise. i prefer to give real critiques, the good and the not-so-good. it's been my experience that most others don't appreciate that. i'm hoping it'll be different here.

Richard, you have great spirit! To become acquainted with what I have written, please visit my blog, http://geraldggriffin.blogspot.com .

Thanks for wanting to read what others have written!

thanks gerald.

to return the favor - http://spilledtheinc.wordpress.com

I returned the favor, Richard. Appealing site! I liked the discussion on Room 317, and loved the cover to your novel "Lizzie's Journal."

Elle, I didn't know where to ask this, but is there a topic for us to talk about why we went indie? I'm eager to hear people's stories on that. As for me, I'd never heard of indie before December (yes, I was shut away) and was a quick convert once I did.

Bryn wrote: "Elle, I didn't know where to ask this, but is there a topic for us to talk about why we went indie? I'm eager to hear people's stories on that. As for me, I'd never heard of indie before December (..."

Great question! I will make a topic for that in the writer section.

A self-published author, I would greatly appreciate being a participant.

Harold, I heartily welcome you as a participant. This ia a fabulous group for meeting authors and readers, and receiving thir valuable feedback.

This is a great idea. My debut novel is coming in November from a small press, and I'm trying to figure out how and WHERE to connect with readers. Would love to be a part of this group!

Welcome aboard, Stacy. This is where you can connect with readers. Just tell them about your work.

This truly is a great group Elle. As I was looking for my first group to join, I chose this one because of the reasons you gave. I don't just want to connect with readers or writers, but both. The way I see it, writers should be readers anyhow. Thank you so much for this group!

Kevin wrote: "This truly is a great group Elle. As I was looking for my first group to join, I chose this one because of the reasons you gave. I don't just want to connect with readers or writers, but both. The ..."

Thank you Kevin, I am so glad you see this group the way I do! How did you hear about the group if I might ask? I'm always wondering where people find out about it.

Elle wrote: "Kevin wrote: "This truly is a great group Elle. As I was looking for my first group to join, I chose this one because of the reasons you gave. I don't just want to connect with readers or writers, ..."

I just searched the groups for "indie" and this was the second one on the list. I chose it over the first because this was catered to both readers and writers. The other was only for writers.

Good idea, i am hopeful that it will work out this way.

Douglas wrote: "Good idea, i am hopeful that it will work out this way."

Amen!

Elle,

I think your original premise is spot-on, but all writers are first and foremost readers -- or at least ought to be.

If we hadn't started out reading books decades ago (and if we weren't still continuing that funny little habit), we would never have come to the happy conclusion that this was a club we, too, wanted to belong to!

Question is, will that club have us? I, for one, don't believe that writing and publishing (and finding an audience) are a zero sum game. Unfortunately, however, I suspect that many writers do.

Readers will ultimately decide...with their time and pocketbooks.

Russell

Russell wrote: "Elle,

I think your original premise is spot-on, but all writers are first and foremost readers -- or at least ought to be.

If we hadn't started out reading books decades ago (and if we weren't st..."


I agree.

I can see where you guys are coming from. The good news is that we love what we do and we first and foremost must write for ourselves.

I wish more writers would write for themselves rather than what they think is in vogue.

What a wonderful group. I happen to have a few friends in my targeted readership range and they just do word of mouth. :)

Sadly, a lot of writers don't write for themselves. Instead they try to write what they think will sell best. I write the type of novels I'd want to read.

I am passionate about both writing and reading. Bringing writers and readers together in one place is a brillant idea. Well done Elle.