First of all, thanks to everyone who shared their life outside of writing last week! What a fabulously varied group we are.
After a year and a half of writing a weekly column here on all things digital (and some not), I have to admit that sometimes, the well runs a little dry.
So I’m wondering; what would you like to see more of? Technical information , writing techniques, more community-based posts like last week? A focus on international markets, news on industry advances?
While I don’t claim to be an expert on any of the above, I’m more than happy to open to dialogue here to get your input on any or all of these topics.
So… what would you like to see here?
I missed the post last week
because I have gone back to work. I like every post you write but do understand that isn’t a lot of help to you in terms of planning. I suppose if I had to choose then I would like community ones where we share marketing tips and can also find each other so that we can support each other in terms of showing appreciation for other indie publisher’s books in the genres we enjoy reading.
Another thing I would be particularly interested in is why you decided to write TPP because, although it is my favourite of all your books so far, it is written in a completely different genre to your others and as I have said before I think it is actually in a brand new genre. So, what made you want to write it, and were you scared to take such a big step in terms of genre breaking writing?
Finally, is there any way I can sign up to receive notification of your posts here by email? I don;t want to miss any more.
Congrats. on going back to work, D.J. I hope to get back to my day job soon. I have been off since November and in December things went from bad to worse. Best of luck to you!
Hi DJ! Hope work is treating you nicely… I believe there’s a box to the right where you can sign up for emails?
One of my favorite things about this blog is all of the unique tips D.D. and everyone else has given on what has worked for them to make their books a success, and what hasn’t worked. A great post might be one that compiles the “best of the best” of what has worked across the board for the most people (maybe a poll?), and “worst of the worst” experiments that have failed. That would be a very interesting read!
Ooh, that’s a great idea, Riley! Thank you.
Hi!
I’m not at the point where I would be in the position to offer my readers a box set, but when the time comes, I would like to know how you do this.
Thanks.
Janice
Hi Janice, I know DD has had great success with her boxed set and I’m sure she can talk about how she did it.
I would like to read more about: (1) The how to of building e-books with free software packages like GIMP, Inkscape, Mobipocket Creator, Sigil, and Calibre. (2) The ins and outs of forming Limited Liability Companies. (3) Using social media to build a readership.
Don’t forget Jutoh, Alan. It’s not free ($39) but it will allow you to EDIT your ebook and see the results before publishing.
Great idea – I’m only familiar with GIMP and Mobipocket and Calibre, but I’m sure we can find some who’s knowledgeable.
With so many new indie authors joining ranks, I think a “Back to Basics” series of posts would be ideal (and a great refresher for those already in the trenches). Ooh! “Back to Basics Bootcamp” would be a fun way to phrase it!
For instance:
Facebook Author Page Basics
Twitter Basics
LinkedIn Basics (we can add publications to our profiles – did you know that?)
Author Website/Blog Basics (the set-up of and the actual blogging being independent of each other)
Amazon Author Central Basics
Smashwords Basics
Kobo Writing Life Basics
PubIt! Basics
Those are just off the top of my head. There are so many more facets to be covered. I would love to write a post or two for this series. The author website/blog basics and the blogging piece, in particular.
Thanks for all you do!
I like that idea, Ellen!
There are so many facets to cover, but you’ve got us off to a great start here with this list. Thank you.
There have been so many wonderful and informative posts over the years, it would be helpful to have the archives arranged and accessible by topic ( if that’s possible). Or perhaps a list of the key topics (writing, marketing, technical layout, etc.) and where to find key postings on that topic them in the archives by date.
If the archives can’t be re-formatted, then a once a week article listing the best posts on a specific topic with links to the posts as quick reminders would be great. (“Throw-back Thursdays” or “Best Of” sounds good to me!) We could look for that resource info on the same day each week.
Thanks to all who contribute to this great site!
I think it would be great to have a search function where we could put in key words and find the older articles. I haven’t tried this yet, so it might be possible already. I don’t know. However, I save lots of the articles in a special file so I can find them again. I don’t want to lose this great info!
We do have a Search feature for the site, Gail, and it works great! Head on up to the very top of the site and look on the right side, and you’ll find it!
Thanks, D.D.! I’ll check it out.
That’s a wonderful idea. There’s so much great information here, it tends to sometimes get buried. I’ll check in with DD and see if that’s possible.
I’ll definitely look into reconfiguring our Archives, Monica! What a great improvement that would be! I’d like to have them organized by each post’s tags. I’ll have to see if I can figure that out!
And I luuuvvv the Throw-Back Thursday idea!!!
Thanks Bunches!!!
I like your variety of technical, promotional/marketing, industry, and craft. My real need is on the promo side of things – promoting on a budget, what is working right now, etc. I don’t really enjoy the community stuff – get enough of that on the social media treadmill.
Thanks for your hard work!
Hi Jill! Promo is such a black hole, isn’t it? Thanks for your input.
I would love to know more about using social media. I have read that Google+ is the coming thing, while Facebook’s ship is sinking. I know nothing about the nuts and bolts of Google+. I’d love to know how to get the best use out of Goodreads. What innovative measures have authors taken to promote their work?
Thanks for asking!
Great points, CM, and definitely some worthy topics to cover.
I would enjoy more of marketing on a budget, pricing, and people you recommend for editing, book covers, formatting.
Noted, Suzanne! Thanks for your feedback.
I like the community stuff like in last week’s blog. I’d also like to see more about how to do things “on the cheap” such as cover art, formatting and editing. I am on a tight (really tight) budget since I am laid off right now so that would be of interest to me. I like the “best of the best” and “worst of the worst” that have worked for other writers.
I’m thinking of the old “I Love Lucy” episode where Lucy writes a book and they reject it, but say they want to use parts of it for the chapter called “Don’t Let This Happen to You.” If you need a blog called “Don’t Let This Happen to You,” I am just the person to write it — LOL.
Nancy, we may be coming your way any day now! Love the idea of that post – great title.
Thanks, Talli!
We’ve all learned the perils of the old “traditional publishing deals”. Sites like this one have introduced us to all the wonderful tools available to the new self published “indies”. I’m looking for something in between. A new hybrid type book publishing partnership with someone who is really good at promoting and me, the guy who just wants to write. Maybe an editor who is good at marketing. Wouldn’t we all love to have DD Scott or someone like her, turned loose promoting our books with all their energy and skills? Do such business arrangements exist? The new ebook deal? thanks, Bill
Hm, interesting, Bill. Perhaps it’s something along the lines of street teams? But this is definitely an great topic to explore.
I would suggest you structure new posting topics into ‘days’ and then recruit different members to write topics related to those days? (It would make it easier for you to schedule out work). One day should of course be the ‘Book Building Basics’ somebody mentioned above where you basically repost earlier material ‘how to’ with perhaps a 2013 update? A second day should be when authors post their marketing ideas/sales stats (both low-cost and paid) since we are ALL trying to figure out how to stay ahead of the algorithms and sell books. Then a member-highlight day where each week a different WG2E member tells their story so we get to know one another better? An editing day (some recycled, some new) where people give practical how-to advice. And a Writing Skills day where different members pass along their advice about practical stuff such as plotting out that new novel, character development, genre, yadayadayada. And then a free day, where we talk about whatever the founders of this site feel inspired to talk about. I know I don’t have 7 days here, but you get the general idea. Structure + some recycling of basics + assign some of the work to the newbies to take the load off the same ingenious people.
That’s a fab idea, Anne! I love that thought. I’ll pass it along to DD. Thank you!
Hmmm…I’m liking this idea a bunch, Anna!
Marketing tips are useful. I find this website so informative, and helpful. Thank you.
Thanks, lovely G!
I’m with Janice, it would be great to know more about how to create a boxed set of novels with great covers, like DD has here. I’m hoping to be able to do this myself in a month or two.
More promotional tips would be great, i.e. the best ways to get books reviewed / marketing / social media – and the million other things writers have to do to get their books out there and selling.
Apart from that, Tali, just keep on keeping on. I think you and all the other contributors (commentators included) on this wonderful blog are just brilliant. x
Aw, thanks, Rena! And thanks for your suggestions, too.
WG2E has been a valuable learning tool for me. I appreciate all the technical and marketing tips from the experienced authors. Thank you!
Thank you for dropping by, Jim.
Have learned a lot from your posts but would like to see more:
1. POD info. Use of CreateSpace v. other online or local POD. I know there are war stories out there and I’d like to hear them.
2. Selling overseas such as through Amazon.
Thanks for all your help.
Ah yes, CreateSpace. Great suggestion – and a good one for overseas sales tactics, too.
I am most interested in marketing ideas and which advertising opportunities have met with the most success in your experiences.
Same! And as much as I enjoy connecting with other authors, I’d like to know which sites and marketing strategies have put you in touch with readers. I’m getting more facebook and twitter followers all the time, but they tend to be other authors.
Thank you, ladies!
Since I’m coming in late on this post I want to note that all the suggestions are great. I do enjoy the marketing suggestions. My eBook will be coming out soon and I need all the help I can get.
BTW: Thanks for this great website/blog/group.
Mitzi
Good luck on your coming ebook, Mitzi! And thanks for your lovely feedback.
One thing I love is the up-to-info on how e-publishing is changing. It’s great to read about a promotional strategy which is working; then, six months later, read why it no longer works and what is working now. Such great advice.
Thank you, Gail! So pleased you find the site useful.
“up-to-info”? How about “up-to-date info”? Something is going too fast. Is it my brain or my fingers?
I’m always grateful for publishing-related posts. I need to store up that info!