What makes an author an author?

                             
I have noticed an interesting trend on facebook and other topics of conversation. Some are of the mind that if we are an indie author, we aren't really an author. We are just striving to be one. We have written, edited, re-written, edited again and finally published a book. We then market, promote it, edit the story again, and advertise our book. A recognized author is one who has found an agent to do everything for them except write the book. The author writes and the agent markets the book.

 I have noticed that some indie authors who find themselves conversing with agented authors suddenly are above the rest of the indie people. Many more though, still work hard to hopefully some day be accepted as an author. We work on our craft, we strive to be better and do better. We look up how to format and how to space and indent. Which font to use, which format to save in. We do all this in hopes to someday be accepted as an author. The only thing I have to say to this is, "Wake up!" We are authors! We are Agents! We are Editor's and formaters and publishers! We do the work that a whole building of people normally do for one author! We work harder and longer for less money and a whole lot less respect.

What those of us as Indie authors need to realize is this, "We are Authors, We are Writers." We are also so much more because we have to do so much more. We have arrived. We are there. Our name is in print, our book can be bought online from a site. Our hopes and dreams are in those words that are bundled nicely in a book. The artwork that many have painstakingly worked on to get "just right". The cover, the introduction of the book, the brief outline that is needed to describe the book. All of our blood sweat and tears are in those pages.
Oh and just to set a record straight. One thing I have noticed about agented authors who have made it. (Not all) If you ask them how they made it and what steps they took to get there, its like a huge secret that can only be passed to another of their kind. While an Indie author will help each other out no matter who it is. So if someone wants to know who I would rather be? I would rather be an Indie author and help others out and give information freely about how to become a writer and help someone else acheive their dream then to become closed off and not help anyone but myself.
To sum it all up, If you have written a book and published it through Kindle Direct Publishing, Smashwords, Createspace, PubIt or the many other sites out there, then guess what? You are an AUTHOR! if you are working on a book, novella, novel, short story or even a book of poetry, then you are a WRITER! You are there you have arrived!

Diary of a Mad Woman (frustration at its finest!)

http://www.amazon.com/Kais-Journey-World-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0067RJZS8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341086647&sr=8-1&keywords=kai%27s+journey+by+charles+siefken

This is our book, this is the book that is causing a lot of strife and controversy amongst authors and indie authors a like. We have been trying to learn all the ways of marketing and promoting by following others and seeing if what they are doing will work for us. Some ideas I haven't taken to becuase it just didn't feel right. Now this latest venture I had done due to a book titled, "How to increase Sales without flooding networks!" Well, heck, I thought, why not try it! obviosly me being all over the facebook, twitter, blogspot and Wordpress amongst others hasn't done much of anything for us. I decided to give this a try. One plan in particular seemed promising. Some seemed far fetched and frankly not a very good idea. But I figured, "hey even a broken clock is right twice a day" So I gave it a shot. Now all this controversy of whether it was against the rules of Amazon or not. Whether its considered "tacky" or not. On and on and on!
I have sort of complained about this before, we are supposed to be indie authors and publish how works best for us. Well as of yet, I haven't figured out the secret to that golden ticket of author stardom. We are trying the best we can with what we have. This week has been especially trying in the book sales and trying to just keep up with everything and some of the hardships we are going through. I am getting stubborn and bull headed about this and will find a way to make all this work. I know I don't have a formal education in it or even much of a practical one yet. But I am working on it. I am learning what to do and what not to do. Some lessons are going to be hard, I accept that. But don't burn me due to an honest mistake.
I have helped a lot of people on my journey just as a lot of people have helped me too. Some don't understand why I help out so many for nothing in return. I have done author interviews and they couldn't understand why I did it for nothing. Because I am also trying to get our name out there too! silly! So anyway, that is our plan. Not much of one a this point. We keep getting told to put our books out where our customers will see it. well, yeah, but where is that exactly? what sites? Does it cost money? Can I do it for free? Am I going to get into trouble for posting our book on that site or that blog or that tweet? I have tried gorrilla marketing, nothing, I have tried getting us in the local paper, nothing, I have tried doing interviews with other authors, nothing, I have tried us doing interviews with bloggers and radio show hosts. again and still nothing. I have helped others with their marketing to other facebook sites and tweets. I have gone to Amazon and liked, shared, tweeted and downloaded books. I have written reviews. Mostly without a mention of our book, only the last few a mention of our book. still nothing. We are pretty steady at 4 to 6 a month. People say word of mouth, well, I am running my mouth about our book, and others. I have mentioned to friends of mine about people's books on facebook that I think they would like. V.A.M.P.S Atl, is one example. Raymond Frazee's book is another example. I have helped in ways I never thought I would be helping others out. But still, not there yet.
We were told by the brick and mortar places that our story wasn't to their type or fit. One agent told us it was due to having werewolves, zombies and dragons in the story, plus being unknowns on top of it. Is this blog a gripe? Yes, I am tired and I am weary of struggling and trying. There is so much, so much stuff, I'm just tired I guess. I will close this rant for now. But still not happy with being shoved at the brick and mortar ways when they rejected us flat out. I just want to do whats right and make my son proud of our accomplishments. Of what we did together. Is there a positive to this? I don't know yet, unless its keep moving, keep working at it. Don't give up.

Do this, don't do that!

We have been working on getting published since 2009. We didn't know squat about doing it or how to go about it. So we hit the libraries, asked people, read magazines and anything else we could think of. We were told, 'Get an agent to represent you then all your problems will be solved!" o.k..  so we start looking into it. Write this way, not that way, put this in but not that, 3 lines, 5 lines, 3 pages or 5 pages. Submit in this font or as an attachment. No put it in the body. Everyone wants it differently. Jump through all the magical rings and maybe if you are really lucky you can get published! Well, that didn't pan out for us so we decided to go the indie route. Everyone said, you can do what you want, post what you want and be your own boss! Finally the golden ticket!
"ahem, excuse me but you can't post that on this blog, site, facebook page or myspace! Post this here, not there, like this place but don't be a drive by. visit often and post often, but don't promote on this site. O.k you can post on this thread but not on that one.

Why are you promoting here? you need to find your audience!

How do I find my audience?

We don't know, we just know it isn't here! Go to other sites, where they visit, but its not here. 
Don't spam anyone, help others out, but don't help yourself very much,
Make sure your book is polished to the best it can be! Make sure you have the right cover art! Make sure all your i's are dotted and your t's are crossed.

Does any of this sound like the old school way of getting an agent?

Wait a minute! I thought we were supposed to be independent! I thought we could post where we wanted! Be free of restricting confines of the same old routine of the old school ways?! I thought thats why we decided to go the indie route. This way we didn't have to jump through hoops and train trick ponies and do all the circus rigamarole! Wrong! It might be the "new and improved way" but it still has an aweful lot of feel of the old school ways. We still crave an agent to represent us and help us get into the big leagues. the brick and mortar buildings may not be there any more the confines of the walls haven't come down yet. 
No I don't know if there is a point to this blog other than an observation. We want the new and improved and yet we still use some of the same old fashioned rules. Maybe Amanda Hocking had it right in doing it the way she did. She wrote how she wanted to and published how she wanted to. She didn't conform to any rules. She just did it. typo's and all. Did people get on her about it? heck yes! but you know what? she sold an aweful lot of books and made an even bigger amount of money doing it her way. Yes she did get an agent in the end. Like I said, we are all aiming for that golden ticket. Right? 

Amanda Hocking did it, Other's have done it. Millions of us strive to do it. We try to do it the way Amanda did it and the way others did it. We follow and use anything we can to try and crack the code for that golden ticket. I'm not saying crank out the garbage of stories. But if you have a good story, people will see that, mistakes and all. They will know you have written a good story. O.k enough of my griping, I just wanted to make an observation and ask if anyone else has noticed how we seem to be still following the old ways even though we are supposed to be doing it a new way. It feels like we just went from the old time manual printing press, to the modern printing press to online print. Another way of making a book, still the same old hoops to jump through. Just something to think about as Independence day approaches. We fought for our freedom just to confine ourselves some more. Just a thought.

Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: SUMMER of INDIE AHEAD

Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: SUMMER of INDIE AHEAD: Summer of Indie is ahead. I will promote it all summer long and the authors in it -- if everyone in turn promotes Summer of Indie. I've tent...

What does it mean to you to sell?

  


Today I was faced with a real dilemma. A post showed up on facebook today telling us we should “Annoy the Pope and read our book.” Our book has werewolves, zombies and dragons in it. A couple of people have told us they won’t read it due to having un natural beings in it. They weren’t God made. I was told I should use that to my advantage. But at what price am I using it to my advantage by poking fun at Christians or more importantly God? This isn’t about whether you do or don’t believe in God, it’s about what I believe and what I feel is right. Maybe its because I am from the mid-west. Maybe it’s because I have been made fun of due to being from a single parent growing up in the 70’s in a small town. If I went to church I was made to feel different by others. I never wanted to do that to others.

A good friend told me I don’t have to jump on every band wagon that is a selling idea or marketing idea. I won’t hurt anyone or use anyone or cheat anyone. I guess I am what some might call an honest salesperson? Some would call a really bad salesperson. But I have to go with what I feel is right, whether it’s popular or not. I don’t claim to be self-righteous or a bible thumper, but then again, like Kim said, if it doesn’t feel right in your gut or heart. You don’t have to do it just to make a sale! Thumbing your nose at “the Man” or thumbing your nose at people in general, I have no problem with thumbing my nose at people in general but I do where religion is involved. Like the old saying goes, don’t discuss politics, religion or,, can’t remember the last one. I guess what I am trying to say, if I don’t think its the right thing to do as far as marketing goes, then I will not be doing it. Is there a possibility that I could miss the boat on potential hundreds of sales? Yeah, but at what cost?

My son and I made promises to each other when we began this journey back in 2009. He promised we would get it written and I promised we would get it published and get it out there. I had no idea how to do either at the time. I have worked continually since then on getting it published and now marketing it. But today when I came across that post, it made me think. “Am I doing the right thing?” Do I have what it takes to market no matter what?” I had to face the truth of, no. I don’t have what it takes to market no matter what. But I can market in ways that won’t leave me feeling bad or like I took advantage or hurt someone else in the process too. I am sure there are marketing guru’s everywhere laughing at people like me right now because I am not like a shark in chummed waters going for that sale. But I have to look at myself at the end of the day and I have to look at my son at the end of the day. Will he be proud of who I am and who we present ourselves to be? To sum it all up in this rambling of a post, Will I be the next Donald Trump or the next Mark Zuckerburg? I seriously doubt it. But will I be able to be proud of who we are and what we represent in a time and age of instant gratification and the all mighty dollar? The answer is, “Yes.” Does this mean we could potentially be sacrificing sales? Again, probably yes. But I am keeping the promise to my son and leaving a legacy for him to follow. One he can be proud of.

Advertising with each other!

On MasterKoda this morning Alivia Anders had a wonderful and compeling idea. I will post the thread and let you all read it and decide for yourselves. I think its a very doable project that we would just have to iron the details out. Let me know what you all think!

 I'd like to open the floor to a curious little debate amongst all of us, as I'm trying to garner some information.
A little idea hit me on the head this last week, and I wonder why I haven't seen this sooner. Easily half of the traditionally published books (paperbacks mostly...) on the market have a small cranny of ads in the back of the book, past everything else as to not interrupt reading and usually showcasing new upcoming authors and classic bestsellers under the same house as the book was published under. Out of all the books I've bought with ads in the back, over half of them got me to buy another book from those ads, and I've almost always been glad I had.
My thought was- why do indie/self-published authors not do this? We're all aiming for exposure and offering to help each other, and this is a huge way. I can't believe I haven't seen or met an indie/self pub author who was looking for authors in a similar category for ads in the back of the book, either free or for a small charge like $1.00-$5.00. Am I the only one who's pondered this?

 

Here have been the replies thus far!

 

Bruce Blake I agree, Alivia. I have excerpts in the back of my novel from my upcoming novels, and used to include a free short story. When I originally published, I posted on FB (in my pre-MK days) looking for authorswith whom to do exactly this kind of cross-promo but didn't get any response. Rather than ads, I was looking to swap excerpts -- no cost, just a trade. The nice thing with digital self-publishing is that you can change your content at any time, so if anyone is reading this and wants to get together...

35 minutes ago ·

Jane Carroll Cowart Very interesting...I've never thought about it...sounds like a good technique....

31 minutes ago ·

Linda J Alexander Solid idea, Alivia. Many small press/traditional publishers (mine included) do this. If an indy author chose this--I see no legit reason why not--I'd suggest a chg would be based on # of ads which could logically be added in that book, & how many takers. I think an even lower scale might bring in more ads.

29 minutes ago · · 1

Alivia Anders The reason I say ads more than excerpts, Bruce, is because a single page visual is much more memorable when trying to grab a potential first new reader than an excerpt that requires them to read. But, at the same time one can argue that the excerpt will be more memorable than the picture ad due to the words and cliffhanger that author has offered for the piece to entice with.
This is one of those things that has had me scratching my head. Per example, using my end of the book market, I wonder why I don't have authors like Willow Cross, or even Natalie Star in the back of my books, both digital and print. Big 6 do it all the time- and the know it works, because they're literally advertising directly to their source of income- people who read! (Plus, they usually stick YA in the back of YA, crime in the back of crime, romance in romance, you get the idea)
As an indie author, this would be something highly feasible for us financially if we did it on the low end of things. And not only do we lift ourselves, but we lift each other in the process.

21 minutes ago via mobile ·

Richard Thomas Banegas As usual late to the party again. I usually list my novels at the front pages of my book. Not sure how a swap or ad would work, because release dates of ones book may not correspond with another unless there is a central place to go to get that done.But I am game if anyone has a workable idea.

19 minutes ago ·

Wendy Siefken You know Alivia Anders, you may possibly be the only one who has thought of this, I can't think of anyone else who has mentioned this. Its a wonderful idea though! how can we get this started? I am in and I know others who would gladly join in just to get exposure. I will help spread the word

15 minutes ago ·

Wendy Siefken I would love to do an add in the back of YA books, just to help get exposure! and would love to showcase others to help them get exposure too,

15 minutes ago ·

Wendy Siefken in the ebook we could put links to other books, like we do with the createspace e-book store, I know we can put hyperlinks to chapters, why not hyperlink adds to showcase other books? a picture with a two line sentence to grab the reader? nothing big, just a small blurb.

10 minutes ago ·

Wendy Siefken I think the reason no indie's have done it is because we aren't organized and the whole indie thing is still relatively new. I think its a wonderful idea and I am going to keep this on top so that others see it too. Thank you Alivia Anders!

What would I do if we became rediculously rich!

 
I saw a post on facebook in regards to what you would do if you became as rich as J.K. Rowling. What would you do with the money? I saw someone else say they were inspired to write about it too. I began to think, like most would I suppose, what would I do? I think the first thing would be is obviously, pay off all the bills. second thing would be the normal, house, not too big and not too small, I still have to clean it.
I would do what I have always wanted to do,  would be able to afford to do. I would start my own publishing company and help new and indie authors who are in far flung places get published. Help with editing and book covers and everything. I know of quite a few people I would employ to help with it too. Create a company that employed people and helped others get there too. I would use Kim Mutch Emerson's motto of helping each other and promoting each other. Not just helping with the book aspects but with life in general. I have seen authors who went from unknowns to stars over night and didn't know how to handle it. No one was there to show them the way. The took her, used her for the book and then cast her aside. I would make sure that didn't happen. I would be sure to coach every person on the pitfalls and some of the things to watch out for. There is room for all writers, There are so many good stories out there that the general population just doesn't get exposed to. I guess it would be like walking into the worlds largest library and trying to find one book in particular but you don't know the title or the author.
I see so many good writers, marketers, editors and people trying to get a break in the publishing world. I would put myself and my son through college to get the education we would need to be able to say, yes we have an education we aren't just wanna be's. We have a degree to back us. I don't know if this is what the other authors would have done, because I couldn't find the link back again! This is what I would do though. I would help others realize their dreams. One person at a time.