It’s interesting to hear this. If you think it’s tough to sell a novel, try selling a poetry chapbook. ha ha. I think I’ll get back to submitting poetry to various journals. Keep writing folks. I will.
That’s the real thing, right there: not only can we keep writing, but we can get our work out there in different ways! Thanks for your comments, JeanMarie!
PS: I think the shift to an online world has moved people away from reading books to watching videos. I’ve been guilty of that myself. Talk about escapism, there is absolutely no brain required to watch a 20 minute video of someone crafting something, turning wood, discussing the 10 most (fill in the blank). And I don’t have to remember the plot. Might be why I tend to read short CNF or short stories. 🙂
The online world has certainly shortened our attention spans. But the great news then is that you don’t necessarily have to write a 80,000 – 100,000 word novel to be read.
Hmm. That’s different from me. I’d rather read something than watch, especially if the video is longer than a few minutes. But there are certainly enough choices available when it comes to entertainment, amusement, and info!
Thanks for including my question, there was a wealth of information here for writers starting out
My first response was ‘Gee I’ve got the right outlook approach,’
I applaud the comments on the lack of value even use from those who are ‘offering paid’ services.
And I’ll be happy to be there ‘pushing up the daisies’ and seeing if my work will be discovered by other generations. 😀
There is something weird about it, all right. I’ve tried many times to allow reblogs, with no success even though I see a “Changes saved successfully” message. At least you can comment, and thanks for doing so!
I found your discussion of marketing refreshing. The constant barrage of push, push, push, sell, sell, sell pretty much makes me crazy. For me, I don’t do any paid advertising because I know so little about it, I’d just be throwing good money after bad. Plus that, I’ve been using an ad blocker on all my devices for several years, as well as a Facebook ad blocker. Surely, I can’t be the only person using ad blockers.
A fascinating discussion about promotion, ads, and selling books. I do a combination of a lot of things. I think they’re reasonably successful, but then I’ve also “adjusted my expectations” so it’s all relative. I use my blog to create relationships with other bloggers. They’re the ones who are likely to pick up my books and leave reviews, and I’m likely to do the same for them. It’s so time-consuming that I don’t bother with any other social media. I also joined two review groups. One is Reading Rounds on Goodreads, and the other is Bookroar. Both prohibit reciprocal reviews so they’re Amazon approved. I don’t run ads, but I do run promotions. Other than Bookbub, I never recoup my investment (as far as I know), but I do get books into hands that way and there is some word-of-mouth buzz as well as follow-up sales. What I’ve noticed is that selling efforts have to be ongoing and relentless. If I stop, the sales stop. I wish I had the silver bullet, but I don’t. It’s just sheer effort. 🙂
But at least you get to decide how hard to work at promotion, and when. There’s no one threatening to take your books out of print, or refusing to publish the next one. We indies do have control over our creative efforts!
Blogging and Twitter have been huge for creating relationships with other writers/bloggers. And through those relationships sharing our books and support. But, it’s such a small world I’ve been able to create. I may try Bookbub at some point. Others have said good things about that promo site, but other promo sits have fallen so flat, I’m reluctant to keep trying other sites.
That’s my reaction too. Create another account, deal with emails encouraging you to “upgrade,” but without much effect on book sales, because a million others have done exactly the same thing.
The problem with advertising is that the odds are that it will do nothing but lighten your wallet. And secondly, if it does so something, it probably won’t last. It is hard to spend money when you are most likely just flushing it down the toilet. But if you don’t…Classic rock and the hard place.
The worst thing about this is there are so many ways to fail, simply by not trying the next big thing. That’s why I turn to rethinking what constitutes success, or failure, for that matter.
Writers Supporting Writers 
I will link to this post from my blog.
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It’s interesting to hear this. If you think it’s tough to sell a novel, try selling a poetry chapbook. ha ha. I think I’ll get back to submitting poetry to various journals. Keep writing folks. I will.
LikeLiked by 4 people
That’s the real thing, right there: not only can we keep writing, but we can get our work out there in different ways! Thanks for your comments, JeanMarie!
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PS: I think the shift to an online world has moved people away from reading books to watching videos. I’ve been guilty of that myself. Talk about escapism, there is absolutely no brain required to watch a 20 minute video of someone crafting something, turning wood, discussing the 10 most (fill in the blank). And I don’t have to remember the plot. Might be why I tend to read short CNF or short stories. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The online world has certainly shortened our attention spans. But the great news then is that you don’t necessarily have to write a 80,000 – 100,000 word novel to be read.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hmm. That’s different from me. I’d rather read something than watch, especially if the video is longer than a few minutes. But there are certainly enough choices available when it comes to entertainment, amusement, and info!
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It’s a great chat!
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Thanks, Priscilla! Good to know these chats are being noticed!
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Thanks for including my question, there was a wealth of information here for writers starting out
My first response was ‘Gee I’ve got the right outlook approach,’
I applaud the comments on the lack of value even use from those who are ‘offering paid’ services.
And I’ll be happy to be there ‘pushing up the daisies’ and seeing if my work will be discovered by other generations. 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re welcome, Roger. Maybe we’ll all be known in the future as the “Early 21st Century Indie Author-Bloggers,” or something of the sort. 😃
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Still think your blog setup is funky. We can comment, but not like (not and have it stick). And I’ve followed a dozen times, never sticks.
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Thank you for the reminder. We’ve tried to figure this out, but … ??? Will try again.
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There is something weird about it, all right. I’ve tried many times to allow reblogs, with no success even though I see a “Changes saved successfully” message. At least you can comment, and thanks for doing so!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can you try again. We’re trying different things, I want to see if any of it has worked.
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I found your discussion of marketing refreshing. The constant barrage of push, push, push, sell, sell, sell pretty much makes me crazy. For me, I don’t do any paid advertising because I know so little about it, I’d just be throwing good money after bad. Plus that, I’ve been using an ad blocker on all my devices for several years, as well as a Facebook ad blocker. Surely, I can’t be the only person using ad blockers.
LikeLiked by 3 people
A fascinating discussion about promotion, ads, and selling books. I do a combination of a lot of things. I think they’re reasonably successful, but then I’ve also “adjusted my expectations” so it’s all relative. I use my blog to create relationships with other bloggers. They’re the ones who are likely to pick up my books and leave reviews, and I’m likely to do the same for them. It’s so time-consuming that I don’t bother with any other social media. I also joined two review groups. One is Reading Rounds on Goodreads, and the other is Bookroar. Both prohibit reciprocal reviews so they’re Amazon approved. I don’t run ads, but I do run promotions. Other than Bookbub, I never recoup my investment (as far as I know), but I do get books into hands that way and there is some word-of-mouth buzz as well as follow-up sales. What I’ve noticed is that selling efforts have to be ongoing and relentless. If I stop, the sales stop. I wish I had the silver bullet, but I don’t. It’s just sheer effort. 🙂
LikeLiked by 4 people
But at least you get to decide how hard to work at promotion, and when. There’s no one threatening to take your books out of print, or refusing to publish the next one. We indies do have control over our creative efforts!
LikeLike
Blogging and Twitter have been huge for creating relationships with other writers/bloggers. And through those relationships sharing our books and support. But, it’s such a small world I’ve been able to create. I may try Bookbub at some point. Others have said good things about that promo site, but other promo sits have fallen so flat, I’m reluctant to keep trying other sites.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s my reaction too. Create another account, deal with emails encouraging you to “upgrade,” but without much effect on book sales, because a million others have done exactly the same thing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The problem with advertising is that the odds are that it will do nothing but lighten your wallet. And secondly, if it does so something, it probably won’t last. It is hard to spend money when you are most likely just flushing it down the toilet. But if you don’t…Classic rock and the hard place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The worst thing about this is there are so many ways to fail, simply by not trying the next big thing. That’s why I turn to rethinking what constitutes success, or failure, for that matter.
LikeLike