I wrote a book. I published it. I’ve accomplished something!
Except not really. It’s wonderful that you can publish a book on your own, but so can everyone else. Frankly, ever since Gutenberg started cranking out Bibles, the competition for people’s literary attention has just gotten worse.
Now, the work continues.
When I finished writing a book, I thought I had accomplished something. The joke among authors, I’ve found, is that writing the book is the easy part. Okay, some authors may actually cry a little while they say it. The line between comedy and tragedy cuts through the heart of every joke. (Apologies to Solzhenitsyn.) The real work to books lies in getting someone to read them. In a buffet of books, where the table grows in size every day, someone has to select your entree.
Thanks to the fabulously talented author M Pepper Langlinais, I got my start this week. She interviewed me on her website, www.pepperwords.com. If you haven’t read it yet, please go check it out!
I don’t know where the journey of book publication will take me. I’ve done my first interview. I’ve told people I barely know that I’ve published a book. I’ve pestered all my friends about leaving Amazon reviews. There is more work to be done. I’ll discover it as I go.
Oh, and one of the lessons I’ve learned so far: if you feel moved to leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads – and I hope you do! – please let me know how it goes. I heard the first story today of a friend who tried to leave a review. Autocorrect changed a word in it to something she didn’t intend, so that it came out suggestive and/or offensive (she still doesn’t know exactly how). Amazon now refuses to accept reviews from her. Maryann is a combination of your grandmother and that nice library lady who kept you company when no one would talk to you at your new elementary school. I can only hope she settles this blood feud. Clearly, it does not matter who you are. Autocorrect will cut you.
Of course, another reader posted what seemed to me a perfectly lovely review, and it was taken down a week later. I’ve asked Amazon to give it another look, but it could be I just don’t understand the reviewing process.
The most important thing I’ve learned is not to take any of this too seriously. My book will find its way through the world. Everything that happens along the way just makes another good story I can tell at dinner with friends.
I can’t wait to share this journey with you. Let’s have some fun!
Kimberly is arranging counseling sessions for Maryann and Autocorrect, so they can work through their issues.
God bless you and CONGRATULATIONS! I am THRILLED for you! And I intend to throttle Amazon for you when I leave a review. Which I intend to do. What the heck is wrong with Amazon, anyway? Rhetorical question. Carry on.
Autocorrect is the bane of Humanity. It does not even know how to spell itself. I had to add it to my dictionary.
Good luck on the marketing. Marketing is another curse on Humanity.
Arrange signings at libraries, bookstores, writers’ groups and bring wrapped chocolate. Smile all the time.
Congratulations! 🙂 I’m so happy for you! And yes, that struggle is real.
I saw a video explaining what was going on with Amazon reviews recently; I wish I could find it again! I’d posted it to my FB author page but now don’t see it. There are new rules for leaving reviews that help genuine and honest ones get through their needle-eye gateway rather than spammy or dishonest or fake ones. (Theoretically.) But I do keep hearing about how people’s reviews keep disappearing; it’s so disappointing. Goodreads is another place to leave them, but of course that’s also owned by Amazon.
Some takeaways which were really important: Amazon will nix reviews if they get posted within 2 or 3 days after the book launches because they’re assumed to be fake. (Apparently they don’t take ARCs into account!) They also will nix reviews from accounts associated with your household or name (sorry, family). Those were the big ones I remembered. Also, sometimes a 4-star review gets more credence than a 5-star. I guess people have really been abusing the system? Bad eggs spoiling it for everyone as usual.
Feel free to email me if you want to talk marketing strategy some time. 🙂 I can’t say I’m an expert by any stretch, but I have been doing some research and am willing to share my notes.
I found the video! Yay!
Hey Kim!
I feel this in my soul. Two quick thoughts… one, make sure that everyone who leaves a review has actually purchased your book. Giveaways and loaning copies to Aunt Sophie are great, but if it doesn’t say “Verified Purchase,” there’s a (very good) chance that review will get taken down. And two, please don’t let the Marketing Journey take away from your joy at your MASSIVE accomplishment! They feel like one thing. You didn’t write your book to lose it in the vacuum of Amazon “shelf” space. I totally get it. But the marketing part is a separate venture from the huge thing you’ve done which is write, edit, re-write, re-edit, re-write, re-edit, re-write, re-edit, format, re-format, and PUBLISH A BOOK! Live in that joy. That is a real thing.
My kids call my compulsion Write Right Rite. It started while sitting under hairdryers in beauty shops when I had hosted TV shows. Now I’m 92 and I write a column for the Eureka Senior News.
I’ve written countless novels and published two. I can proof and edit them every two or three years, and I love the process so much that publishing has become less important than exploring my imagination..
Sharing hard copies is a joy and I may yet release Ebooks.
I don’t have a website but I write a blog as advised by my son, Michael (Solo) Goodspeed, or Schizobrainiac
My proudest achievement is escaping from an assisted living facility to buy a home to save my sanity.
I view killing time as a crime.
You are an inspiration, Betsy!