When I jumped into the world of becoming and Indie author, I pretty much knew what to expect. Or, I suppose, more of what NOT to expect.
I was not going to become an overnight success.
I was not going to make millions on my one title.
I was not going to grab the attention of a major publisher.
I was not going to let any of this slow me down.
It is really quite amazing to see how many of my peers expect the opposite. I know of one author (and have read of many more like her) who published her book and expected it to sell in blockbuster numbers. One of the problems was that the extent of her energy ended when she published the book.
Several weeks passed and her sales were non-existent. She vented on her personal Facebook account about how people she thought were friends had obviously not supported her by purchasing her book. That vent was the first time many of her friends even knew she had written a book.
Never mind the quality of work. If you do not expend energy on marketing, you lose. Unfortunately, there are a million ways to lose on marketing.
Research, research, research, research. Before you publish and after you publish, research. One marketing path may work for one author and fail for another. A lot of it is a gamble, so you have to decide which avenue is worth the gamble for you.
I recently ran an advertisement on Goodreads.com because of the success stories I had seen about it. It is relatively inexpensive, and it reaches my target audience. I have sold books because of this campaign. Not a lot. I still have my day job, but through that campaign, I was able to reach more people. My audience has grown, and I only spent the money I felt I could afford to lose.
The Leaf Pendant was released as a freebie. Yes, it is another story, but it is also another marketing tool. And this one cost me nothing. That short story has garnered sales and increased the size of my audience. I have broadened my exposure.
I didn't expect the world to know C. Hollis Gunter when I published Blood of Two, I did expect to have to tell the world who I was. Nobody will open up their web browser and google your name if they don't know your name. So, tell me, why do you expect instant sales of millions and an invite to Oprah?
I hesitate to call marketing work, because I have seen work (from a distance) and that ain't it. Marketing takes time. Time that could be spent writing your next masterpiece. Your next masterpiece won't matter any more than your first if you don't spend some of that time to spread the word.
If you write, and that is all you want to expend your energy on, then know what to expect.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
Office Space
For the last year I have been doing my writing at a pub table in the den. Not the most productive area. The den is full of distractions, including my beautiful wife who wanders through, sometimes in nothing but a t-shirt.
I am the type of writer that needs an environment conducive to, well, writing. Although the den is definitely not that environment, I have surprised myself and finished up quite a bit of work. Come on, I published a book while working in that environment. Well, that is officially over. I have returned to my office; my writing environment.
The room has been painted and the old twin bed moved away. I bought a nice desk that will hold my computer, printer, and the various books I use when I am in full writing mode. This new office is for one thing, and one thing only; writing. If I want to take a break and surf the net a bit, I leave my office and go to the other computer. This way my mind remains in writing mode while I am in my office.
It's really amazing how well this works. I had some of my most productive days in that office, before it was occupied by another for a year. Tonight, I dive back into some very serious writing, and I can't wait. I have been productive as of late, but this change of environment is what I have been wanting for quite some time. No more barstool. I can sit at a desk and unload the voices in my head.
Now, where is my red stapler?
I am the type of writer that needs an environment conducive to, well, writing. Although the den is definitely not that environment, I have surprised myself and finished up quite a bit of work. Come on, I published a book while working in that environment. Well, that is officially over. I have returned to my office; my writing environment.
The room has been painted and the old twin bed moved away. I bought a nice desk that will hold my computer, printer, and the various books I use when I am in full writing mode. This new office is for one thing, and one thing only; writing. If I want to take a break and surf the net a bit, I leave my office and go to the other computer. This way my mind remains in writing mode while I am in my office.
It's really amazing how well this works. I had some of my most productive days in that office, before it was occupied by another for a year. Tonight, I dive back into some very serious writing, and I can't wait. I have been productive as of late, but this change of environment is what I have been wanting for quite some time. No more barstool. I can sit at a desk and unload the voices in my head.
Now, where is my red stapler?
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
A Question of Money
A common misconception I have heard/read on several occasions is that epic storylines (longer than the traditional trilogy) are all about the money. You know, I could be a bit naive about this, but I will have to strongly disagree.
23 years and 14 books long, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series was wrapped up last week. For those who have read the books, we know the length of the story was in large part due to Jordan's penchant for foreshadowing. Chapters of non-consequential scenes littered the series, but those scenes were used to set up things that often didn't happen until two or three books later.
Millions of people enjoyed his writing style. Millions of people, not two or three friends at work, but millions of people around the world. I enjoyed his style, my wife doesn't care for it. His writing style and the breadth of the story contributed to the length of the series. Did I mention that millions of people liked it?
Money was not the bottom line.
Jordan had a story to tell, and if he was anything like myself, he wasn't going to cut it short just to meet some arbitrary number of acceptable books. Sure, there were ways to crop the story; cut down on the characters (which he had aplenty), don't tell the readers about the sub-plots that contribute to the final page, knock it off with the foreshadowing, etc. Jordan stuck to his guns and told the story HE wanted to tell and the story the READERS wanted to read.
My Drums of Rallinwar story is being told in the same manner. I am telling you the story that I want to tell, and I hope the you want to read. Granted, my story isn't fourteen volumes. My story may only last three books, or it may go four books, but there is no number that I am tied to. The story will end when it chooses to end. Money has absolutely no bearing on the length of the tale. I have other stories to tell.
While I'm rambling on, keep in mind that some author's tire of their stories and want to wrap them up. Some have wrapped them up despite the cries for more from their readers. Aren't they losing money by not continuing the story?
Just because your world revolves around the money that other people make, does not mean that their world revolves around your desires.
Here you go, shameless plug: BUY MY BOOK! Blood of Two: Book One in the Drums of Rallinwar series. Available where you buy your ebooks and you can even find it in paperback on Amazon (do a search for C. Hollis Gunter). Buy it, rate it, review it, and if nothing else, I hope you enjoy it. However long the series is.
23 years and 14 books long, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series was wrapped up last week. For those who have read the books, we know the length of the story was in large part due to Jordan's penchant for foreshadowing. Chapters of non-consequential scenes littered the series, but those scenes were used to set up things that often didn't happen until two or three books later.
Millions of people enjoyed his writing style. Millions of people, not two or three friends at work, but millions of people around the world. I enjoyed his style, my wife doesn't care for it. His writing style and the breadth of the story contributed to the length of the series. Did I mention that millions of people liked it?
Money was not the bottom line.
Jordan had a story to tell, and if he was anything like myself, he wasn't going to cut it short just to meet some arbitrary number of acceptable books. Sure, there were ways to crop the story; cut down on the characters (which he had aplenty), don't tell the readers about the sub-plots that contribute to the final page, knock it off with the foreshadowing, etc. Jordan stuck to his guns and told the story HE wanted to tell and the story the READERS wanted to read.
My Drums of Rallinwar story is being told in the same manner. I am telling you the story that I want to tell, and I hope the you want to read. Granted, my story isn't fourteen volumes. My story may only last three books, or it may go four books, but there is no number that I am tied to. The story will end when it chooses to end. Money has absolutely no bearing on the length of the tale. I have other stories to tell.
While I'm rambling on, keep in mind that some author's tire of their stories and want to wrap them up. Some have wrapped them up despite the cries for more from their readers. Aren't they losing money by not continuing the story?
Just because your world revolves around the money that other people make, does not mean that their world revolves around your desires.
Here you go, shameless plug: BUY MY BOOK! Blood of Two: Book One in the Drums of Rallinwar series. Available where you buy your ebooks and you can even find it in paperback on Amazon (do a search for C. Hollis Gunter). Buy it, rate it, review it, and if nothing else, I hope you enjoy it. However long the series is.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Characters v. Outline
One topic that makes its rounds a couple of times a year on workshop forums is the outline. Some writer's will create an outline for their story, a hiking trail if you will, while other's preach the evil's of such organization. Reader's would likely be surprised about the arguments that ensue among authors about this singular tool. I have even listened to lectures where the speaker claims that a novel sans outline is destined for failure.
To both arguments, I say whatever.
After my novels have been written in my head, an outline is created. By no stretch of the imagination is the outline a concrete entity. It can't be, at least for my writing style. It's begins as a basic outline; a beginning, the outhouse orcs, and an end. As developement progresses, the outline maps out each chapter in a general sense. But, like any map, there are places along the road that just aren't shown and you discover them along the way. And don't forget the occasional flat tire and blown fuel pump that can cause a delay in your journey.
Then there are those lousy, good-for-nothing, disobeying, free-will, hateful, outline trashing characters.
With my writing style, no outline is impervious to character intervention. Aeldon, a character from the Drums of Rallinwar series, begins as a not-so-bad prince. His qualities bring you to hate him and love him. You want this guy to grow out of his hatred and become the good man that he is quite capable of becoming. The outline for the follow-up to Blood of Two has Aeldon growing closer to the man we all want him to be. The dirtbag just doesn't want to do it.
As much as I prod and pull him toward his good side, he resists. He'll launch an inkpot across the room, punch someone in the face, and preach the virtues of keeping the elves and dwarves in their place. There are times when I look up from the keyboard, I expect to see an inkstain on the wall, or on my outlline.
With almost every scene a character will bring cause to alter the outline. An encounter in a city is scrubbed because somebody decides it's too dangerous to venture into it. Another chapter has to be added because a character decides that someone needs to be thrown into the dungeon.
My outlines are organic. They change as the manuscript is written and all of the changes are due to character's decisions. In the war between characters and outlines, it is a stalemate. Neither wins, they both adjust.
Shameless plug: Blood of Two: Book One in the Drums of Rallinwar series by C. Hollis Gunter is available at most e-book outlets such as: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, smashwords, Sony ebook store, Kobo books, and Diesel ebooks. You can find the book by searching on their sites for Blood of Two, or C. Hollis Gunter. Buy it, read it, rate it, review it.
To both arguments, I say whatever.
After my novels have been written in my head, an outline is created. By no stretch of the imagination is the outline a concrete entity. It can't be, at least for my writing style. It's begins as a basic outline; a beginning, the outhouse orcs, and an end. As developement progresses, the outline maps out each chapter in a general sense. But, like any map, there are places along the road that just aren't shown and you discover them along the way. And don't forget the occasional flat tire and blown fuel pump that can cause a delay in your journey.
Then there are those lousy, good-for-nothing, disobeying, free-will, hateful, outline trashing characters.
With my writing style, no outline is impervious to character intervention. Aeldon, a character from the Drums of Rallinwar series, begins as a not-so-bad prince. His qualities bring you to hate him and love him. You want this guy to grow out of his hatred and become the good man that he is quite capable of becoming. The outline for the follow-up to Blood of Two has Aeldon growing closer to the man we all want him to be. The dirtbag just doesn't want to do it.
As much as I prod and pull him toward his good side, he resists. He'll launch an inkpot across the room, punch someone in the face, and preach the virtues of keeping the elves and dwarves in their place. There are times when I look up from the keyboard, I expect to see an inkstain on the wall, or on my outlline.
With almost every scene a character will bring cause to alter the outline. An encounter in a city is scrubbed because somebody decides it's too dangerous to venture into it. Another chapter has to be added because a character decides that someone needs to be thrown into the dungeon.
My outlines are organic. They change as the manuscript is written and all of the changes are due to character's decisions. In the war between characters and outlines, it is a stalemate. Neither wins, they both adjust.
Shameless plug: Blood of Two: Book One in the Drums of Rallinwar series by C. Hollis Gunter is available at most e-book outlets such as: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, smashwords, Sony ebook store, Kobo books, and Diesel ebooks. You can find the book by searching on their sites for Blood of Two, or C. Hollis Gunter. Buy it, read it, rate it, review it.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Looking Back
2012 is winding down and instead of waiting around for its grand exit, I figured I would take a look back at the year now. And what a year it was.
In January I was sitting on a completed rough draft of Blood of Two feeling a bit discouraged. I had shelved the manuscript because it was the first of many in that story line, which is not an easy sell for a first time author. Don't take that wrong; I don't walk away from difficulty, but from what I understood it was such a hard sell that it would be counter-productive. So, Blood was shelved and work was underway on a stand alone novel .
Progress on Condr (the stand-alone novel) was labored, which is why I felt discouraged. It is, without a doubt, a story that will get written, but it now sits on the shelf where Blood of Two once resided.
In May I purchased a cheap book for my Kindle. The story was engaging, though the prose was littered with errors. Even some of the phrases used had no business in a fantasy setting. I was quite surprised to find that the author was an Indie. No publisher had gotten their hands on the manuscript (and it showed), but it was selling. Thus began my travels down a road that has really changed my life.
I began in earnest to edit Blood of Two, with a little help from my friends. A breath of life had permeated my writing and the obsession has yet to subside. In August I published Blood of Two and in September I began its follow-up.
Sales have been as expected, which is honestly unimpressive to the outsider looking in. For those in the industry, which I am now a part of, my sales are considered average. Again, sales of Blood of Two are going as expected. I have sold more books than I have friends, and have gotten positive feedback from people that I have never met. All things considered, life is good.
Since Blood of Two went on sale my writing life has been divided between actual writing, marketing research, and marketing. Busy is the word. I work, then I come home and write. Life is good and life is different.
As 2012 winds down I find that I am now a writer. I am a published author. Strangers have seen what bounces around in my head and they approve. On one hand this is surreal, on the other I can't help but think 'It's about damn time'.
As I move into 2013 my goals circulate through the veins of writing. I have a short story about Celeste that I intend on releasing as a freebie. I have two others about Princess Elanya, one of them a bit more light-hearted than most of my writing, and another story about Jaron Senith's nephew, Alik, who is shaping up to become a player in the Drums of Rallinwar storyline. And, of course, the follow-up to Blood of Two is in the works.
Looking back, 2012 wasn't busy at all. At least not compared to 2013.
In January I was sitting on a completed rough draft of Blood of Two feeling a bit discouraged. I had shelved the manuscript because it was the first of many in that story line, which is not an easy sell for a first time author. Don't take that wrong; I don't walk away from difficulty, but from what I understood it was such a hard sell that it would be counter-productive. So, Blood was shelved and work was underway on a stand alone novel .
Progress on Condr (the stand-alone novel) was labored, which is why I felt discouraged. It is, without a doubt, a story that will get written, but it now sits on the shelf where Blood of Two once resided.
In May I purchased a cheap book for my Kindle. The story was engaging, though the prose was littered with errors. Even some of the phrases used had no business in a fantasy setting. I was quite surprised to find that the author was an Indie. No publisher had gotten their hands on the manuscript (and it showed), but it was selling. Thus began my travels down a road that has really changed my life.
I began in earnest to edit Blood of Two, with a little help from my friends. A breath of life had permeated my writing and the obsession has yet to subside. In August I published Blood of Two and in September I began its follow-up.
Sales have been as expected, which is honestly unimpressive to the outsider looking in. For those in the industry, which I am now a part of, my sales are considered average. Again, sales of Blood of Two are going as expected. I have sold more books than I have friends, and have gotten positive feedback from people that I have never met. All things considered, life is good.
Since Blood of Two went on sale my writing life has been divided between actual writing, marketing research, and marketing. Busy is the word. I work, then I come home and write. Life is good and life is different.
As 2012 winds down I find that I am now a writer. I am a published author. Strangers have seen what bounces around in my head and they approve. On one hand this is surreal, on the other I can't help but think 'It's about damn time'.
As I move into 2013 my goals circulate through the veins of writing. I have a short story about Celeste that I intend on releasing as a freebie. I have two others about Princess Elanya, one of them a bit more light-hearted than most of my writing, and another story about Jaron Senith's nephew, Alik, who is shaping up to become a player in the Drums of Rallinwar storyline. And, of course, the follow-up to Blood of Two is in the works.
Looking back, 2012 wasn't busy at all. At least not compared to 2013.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
The Word Count Trap
I took years to write Blood of Two. What was the hurry? I have a well paying job that I enjoy; writing was a hobby. Now, I have a deadline for the follow-up (self-imposed as it is), and writing has transformed from hobby to second job (that I love).
In order to meet my deadline I should probably have a goal of where I should be at certain time; rough draft done by a certain date, first edit done by another date, etc. Well, I don't. Kinda. Sorta. Okay, I have a rough idea of where I need to be. For example, by May I need to be working with editors on the almost finished manuscript. By the end of July I need to be wrapping it all up in a pretty bow, and by August I should be publishing it. Really, really, loose goals that some writer's would cringe at, while others would be like "That's about right."
In the writing world there is a lot of discussion about word count production. Two thousand words a day! You have to write at least two thousand words a day. I stick my tongue out in your general direction.
I work a sixty hour week. According to some studys, I should be getting about 56 hours of sleep a week. Which leaves behind 52 waking hours I am not at work. Take those hours and subtract a little thing called life. Unclogging a drain, paying that guy named Bill, fetching groceries, eating said groceries, actually speaking with that other person who has tolerated you and your fantasy world for 25 years, and finally just a few hours of kicking back and enjoying what you have worked for. Not much left over for a second career in writing.
I spend anywhere from seven to fifteen hours a week on writing. Don't make the mistake in thinking that all of those hours are spent typing the next book. I have to sell what I have already written, so a significant amount of time is spent in the marketing arena. Then there is research, which just baffles me; I write fantasy because I'm too lazy to do research, yet I find myself looking up things like the anatomy of a sword... And of course, there is other prep work involved with the new novel. Maps to be drawn up, new characters to be fleshed out, etc. All told, I probably spend around seven hours a week actually writing the book.
So word production should be a primary goal, right? Wrong. Granted, my initial brain purge is crap when compared to the finished product, but if I focus on that word count on the bottom left of the screen, then my focus is not where it should be. My focus is creating an engaging story. If you are focused on word count, then the story could very well suffer.
This is not to say that I don't track my progress by word count. Every night, just before I close the laptop, I will write down the word count of the novel. Sometimes I look at that notebook page and think "Damn, did pretty good last week." I like to see that number get larger on a daily basis; it means I am moving ahead. The number of words I write each night fluctuates between 900 and 3000. I am happy with either number (though admittedly ecstatic with 3000).
Of course, I work in the Quality department at my regular job, so quality before quantity is embedded in my being. Just don't get caught up in that word count trap. If you have a smile on your face when you finish up for the evening, then I think that alone is worth 2000 words.
Shameless plug: Blood of Two, Book One in the Drums of Rallinwar series by C. Hollis Gunter is available where e-books are sold. Check it out at outlets such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Deisel, and Smashwords. Read it, rate it, review it.
In order to meet my deadline I should probably have a goal of where I should be at certain time; rough draft done by a certain date, first edit done by another date, etc. Well, I don't. Kinda. Sorta. Okay, I have a rough idea of where I need to be. For example, by May I need to be working with editors on the almost finished manuscript. By the end of July I need to be wrapping it all up in a pretty bow, and by August I should be publishing it. Really, really, loose goals that some writer's would cringe at, while others would be like "That's about right."
In the writing world there is a lot of discussion about word count production. Two thousand words a day! You have to write at least two thousand words a day. I stick my tongue out in your general direction.
I work a sixty hour week. According to some studys, I should be getting about 56 hours of sleep a week. Which leaves behind 52 waking hours I am not at work. Take those hours and subtract a little thing called life. Unclogging a drain, paying that guy named Bill, fetching groceries, eating said groceries, actually speaking with that other person who has tolerated you and your fantasy world for 25 years, and finally just a few hours of kicking back and enjoying what you have worked for. Not much left over for a second career in writing.
I spend anywhere from seven to fifteen hours a week on writing. Don't make the mistake in thinking that all of those hours are spent typing the next book. I have to sell what I have already written, so a significant amount of time is spent in the marketing arena. Then there is research, which just baffles me; I write fantasy because I'm too lazy to do research, yet I find myself looking up things like the anatomy of a sword... And of course, there is other prep work involved with the new novel. Maps to be drawn up, new characters to be fleshed out, etc. All told, I probably spend around seven hours a week actually writing the book.
So word production should be a primary goal, right? Wrong. Granted, my initial brain purge is crap when compared to the finished product, but if I focus on that word count on the bottom left of the screen, then my focus is not where it should be. My focus is creating an engaging story. If you are focused on word count, then the story could very well suffer.
This is not to say that I don't track my progress by word count. Every night, just before I close the laptop, I will write down the word count of the novel. Sometimes I look at that notebook page and think "Damn, did pretty good last week." I like to see that number get larger on a daily basis; it means I am moving ahead. The number of words I write each night fluctuates between 900 and 3000. I am happy with either number (though admittedly ecstatic with 3000).
Of course, I work in the Quality department at my regular job, so quality before quantity is embedded in my being. Just don't get caught up in that word count trap. If you have a smile on your face when you finish up for the evening, then I think that alone is worth 2000 words.
Shameless plug: Blood of Two, Book One in the Drums of Rallinwar series by C. Hollis Gunter is available where e-books are sold. Check it out at outlets such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Deisel, and Smashwords. Read it, rate it, review it.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
25 Words
When I sit back and look at my latest predicament, I just have to laugh.
I have written a book, several short stories, and have been plugging away at another book, so one would assume that words are not difficult for me to string together. One would be wrong. The most difficult part of writing, for myself, is coming up with the synopsis, the blurbs, and the tag lines. Somewhere in this pile of blog posts, I fretted over the synopsis. Now, I have spent weeks trying to come up with 25 simple words.
After quite a bit of research, I have come across an inexpensive, yet productive, method to market my book. All I have to do is come up with 25 words to put on the ad. Simple enough. It will come to me in due time, I am sure, but what a mess this is. I have a document open on my laptop where I have typed random lines of text in reference to Blood of Two. I leave whatever I type and read over the lines from time to time to see if anything strikes a chord. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. %$@#
It's funny; it really is. I know the book and what it is about; hell, I wrote the dang thing. But for some redonkulous reason, I just can't come up with a good tagline. It's like the guy who can build a hot rod from the ground up, but can't figure out how to put gas in it.
Shameless plug:
Blood of Two by C. Hollis Gunter. Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Deisel, Kobo, Smashwords, or other e-book outlets. Simple instructions: Buy it, rate it, review it.
I have written a book, several short stories, and have been plugging away at another book, so one would assume that words are not difficult for me to string together. One would be wrong. The most difficult part of writing, for myself, is coming up with the synopsis, the blurbs, and the tag lines. Somewhere in this pile of blog posts, I fretted over the synopsis. Now, I have spent weeks trying to come up with 25 simple words.
After quite a bit of research, I have come across an inexpensive, yet productive, method to market my book. All I have to do is come up with 25 words to put on the ad. Simple enough. It will come to me in due time, I am sure, but what a mess this is. I have a document open on my laptop where I have typed random lines of text in reference to Blood of Two. I leave whatever I type and read over the lines from time to time to see if anything strikes a chord. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. %$@#
It's funny; it really is. I know the book and what it is about; hell, I wrote the dang thing. But for some redonkulous reason, I just can't come up with a good tagline. It's like the guy who can build a hot rod from the ground up, but can't figure out how to put gas in it.
Shameless plug:
Blood of Two by C. Hollis Gunter. Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Deisel, Kobo, Smashwords, or other e-book outlets. Simple instructions: Buy it, rate it, review it.
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