Last month I talked about trying to fight off the impending blahs. It's not so much with the writing, but more so on the selling. I'm still having a struggle with marketing and trying to find *my* core readers.
Getting more words out into the world is great and all, but if no one is buying those words it starts to weigh you down. Being indie isn't cheap. All costs are up front and after a while you realize you're digging a bigger hole and it makes you question things.
I've been doing a test run of Kindle Unlimited. I'm currently on round two and will do a write up on it soon. But the overall mood I have on going forward will be a post for another day when I've had a chance to get my thoughts together more and aren't quiet so cynical like I am now.
Like last month, this post will be answering the optional question posed on the IWSG website.
August 7 question - Has your writing ever taken you by surprise? For example, a positive and belated response to a submission you'd forgotten about or an ending you never saw coming?
I haven't done much in the way of doing submissions, so other than the fact I had two publishers actually say yes to me, I don't have any other surprises there.
As for my actual writing, I'll have to say everything is typically a surprise.
I'm a pantser!
When I start a story, I only begin with the most basic idea. Everything that comes next is dictated by the characters and events that come up and take place.
Example: In Not Broken, there's a scene that moves from a very light going, they'd taken a giant step forward in their relationship, to a fight. Seriously, as I was writing the events I kept asking "what the hell is happening" because I didn't even realize how they got to that point. But it worked. There were still some unresolved issues between the two that came to surface during that scene.
For Anything Once, that story was supposed to be light and fluffy. Just a hot and sexy erotic romance and it's still that, but it totally morphed into more. Ian and Quinn were dealing with communication issues in their marriage, plus the infertility subplot sort of materialized which brought another layer.
Each of my books have taken surprise turns, some bigger than others, but that's part of the fun. I do get ideas for plot points and sometimes they make it into the story, other times my characters laugh at me daring to attempt to give them direction.
Sometimes it can be frustrating trying to figure out what comes next, but I can't plan. I never liked outlining, even way, way, back in high school. It doesn't work for me. My process is a roller coaster and I'm always looking for the thrill of what comes next.
That's it for me.
Until next time
~Meka
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group is a home for writers in all stages; from unpublished to bestsellers. Our goal is to offer assistance and guidance. We want to help writers overcome their insecurities, and by offering encouragement we are creating a community of support.
The awesome co-hosts for the July 3 posting of the IWSG are Renee Scattergood, Sadira Stone, Jacqui Murray, Tamara Narayan, and LG Keltner!
I'm very interested in hearing what you think about KU. I struggled with deciding whether to go exclusive with Amazon or wide and always wonder if I made the right decision (I went wide). And you sure are right about the expense of indie publishing. It's a bit frightening to shell out the money and hope for a return one day.
ReplyDeleteCheers - Ellen
I did posts with my first round in KU. I gave monthly wrap ups and such. I didn't do monthly posts on the second round, but I do need to get myself together and write a final thoughts type of post on it. I went wide initially and only recently decided to try KU. My overall thought is it works for 2 main types of writers.
Delete1-the fast out-putter. Authors that can crank out books rather quickly benefit because the readers can devour more.
2-the series writer. Even if they are standalones that are connected by a common theme/family it's seeming like having a series is another big drawn in KU. I'm a standalone gal. Like nothing is connected standalone and that's not working out so well for me. It could also be that I do standalones AND I'm slow. LOL So many factors to consider.
thanks for stopping by
I hope you figure out the marketing thing. Let us know how KU worked.
ReplyDeleteI'm an outliner so I think all those surprises would freak me out.
hahaha marketing is an ongoing mystery for me. Things that others say worked tried and true have been a flop for me. I need to seriously figure out where I'm going wrong.
DeleteYou aren't alone in needing to know where things are going. I have a friend like that and she questions my sanity often. LOL
thanks for stopping by
I haven't tried Kindle Unlimited so I'll be eager to read your thoughts on it, should you go there. I tried to push books through multiple outlets, failed abysmally, and returned to the Kindle only plan. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI have posts up on my experience during the first 90 days. I've not written up on the final round. I need to get on that. Marketing is a struggle, but one we must keep at sadly.
Deletethanks for stopping by
I'm a pantser, too, so surprises pop up in my story all the time.
ReplyDeleteWoot! Team Pantser! The surprises can be fun. But also frustrating at times.
Deletethanks for stopping by