Sunday, August 30, 2015
Saturday, August 29, 2015
KDP Select, Amazon Kindle Unlimited (beginning writer)
Is KDP Select good? Is KDP Select worth it? In my opinion, yes it is but know that I have only been using it for two weeks and haven't been paid yet. So, if you came here wondering about money, this blog isn't for you.
Short summary: The main reason why I enjoy KDP Select is because you can see the amount of pages read every day and so you know that people are picking up your book and reading it within two or three days. Money is important, but knowing that someone loved your book is very important as well.
Longer Summary: Before I put my book on KDP Select, I had it availiable on kindle for four months, I had planned three before putting it on KDP Select, but waited an extra month. Sales were good after I recieved a good honest review, but then they dropped when I recieved a bad honest review. Even so they remained consistently above zero. I was fine with this because I hadn't done much advertising and thus not many know about my book.
Once my teaching job went on vacation, I tried to get some websites to review my book, so I could get word out. I guess my book is a little different from your typically fantasy book and the sites have many books to review, which might be the reasons I didn't get replies.
So, I tried a site where I offered my book free in exchange for honest reviews. I got some nice reviews from the site, but I also started recieving intimidating emails trying to get me to pay for a service. When I chose not to respond, a negative review followed.
Still, sales remained above zero, but the intimidation was a motivational killer and I was in the middle of writing my second book, so motivation was important. Thus, I decided to put my book on KDP Select. I had planned to do this after three months, but had held off an extra one while I tried to advertise.
When my book went on KDP Select, I was happy to find that I could see the amount of pages people read. It started off with 0 then 112 then 352 then 905. 905! That's my whole book and then some. That means that someone picked up my book and liked it so much that they finished it in a couple of days (or 905 people read one page). I've read many books in my time but I only read a few in one or two days. The fact that someone could pick up my book and read it so quickly was highly motivational. And they wrote a review afterwords!
The pages read kept going up (trend of dropping on thu., wed. and fri.) but I didn't recieve anymore reviews. Even so, the fact that someone enjoyed my book and read it so fast was motivation enough. Yes, every writer wants to earn money so they can make it a full time career, but the fact that people enjoy the book enough to read it in one or two days is something a writer loves to know. Now I'm almost done with book two, maybe twenty pages left. So, if you're waiting, expect it to come out in the early days of winter.
Short summary: The main reason why I enjoy KDP Select is because you can see the amount of pages read every day and so you know that people are picking up your book and reading it within two or three days. Money is important, but knowing that someone loved your book is very important as well.
Longer Summary: Before I put my book on KDP Select, I had it availiable on kindle for four months, I had planned three before putting it on KDP Select, but waited an extra month. Sales were good after I recieved a good honest review, but then they dropped when I recieved a bad honest review. Even so they remained consistently above zero. I was fine with this because I hadn't done much advertising and thus not many know about my book.
Once my teaching job went on vacation, I tried to get some websites to review my book, so I could get word out. I guess my book is a little different from your typically fantasy book and the sites have many books to review, which might be the reasons I didn't get replies.
So, I tried a site where I offered my book free in exchange for honest reviews. I got some nice reviews from the site, but I also started recieving intimidating emails trying to get me to pay for a service. When I chose not to respond, a negative review followed.
Still, sales remained above zero, but the intimidation was a motivational killer and I was in the middle of writing my second book, so motivation was important. Thus, I decided to put my book on KDP Select. I had planned to do this after three months, but had held off an extra one while I tried to advertise.
When my book went on KDP Select, I was happy to find that I could see the amount of pages people read. It started off with 0 then 112 then 352 then 905. 905! That's my whole book and then some. That means that someone picked up my book and liked it so much that they finished it in a couple of days (or 905 people read one page). I've read many books in my time but I only read a few in one or two days. The fact that someone could pick up my book and read it so quickly was highly motivational. And they wrote a review afterwords!
The pages read kept going up (trend of dropping on thu., wed. and fri.) but I didn't recieve anymore reviews. Even so, the fact that someone enjoyed my book and read it so fast was motivation enough. Yes, every writer wants to earn money so they can make it a full time career, but the fact that people enjoy the book enough to read it in one or two days is something a writer loves to know. Now I'm almost done with book two, maybe twenty pages left. So, if you're waiting, expect it to come out in the early days of winter.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Walking and Writing (Beginning Writer)
During the summer, my main job is on vacation and I am only teaching on Friday. This has worked out great for me because it has given me a lot of time to write my second book without having to worry about making lessons and what not.
I understand myself and know that I get distracted easily, games, tv shows...the list goes on. Therefore I have developed a daily schedule that has worked great.
First: I wake up and check the internet while eating breakfast. About an hour.
Then, I sit down and start writing. Sometimes the words flow onto the paper, sometimes they don't, but I keep at it until lunch time.
Around 1:00 or so, I have a quick lunch and then go for my midday walk. Before I walk, I try to clear my mind of everything other than my story. Sometimes this is difficult, but most of the time I'm pretty successful at doing so. Another thing I do is check over my story outline and reaffirm what I plan for the next part of my book to be.
Then, with nothing but my charcaters in my head to keep me company, I walk around a nearby lake called Seokchon Lake. It's a very peaceful walk and the path is supposed to be one way, which allows me to think without worrying about running into people (though some do break the rules). During my walk, I think about my book and how the story will go. The words of my charcaters play through my head over and over, as do the many different things that might happen to them.
By the time I have finished my walk, I have found my second wind and immediately get out my laptop and jot down ideas when I get home. Sometimes I do this even before taking a shower, thus getting whatever I'm sitting on a bit sweaty (don't tell my wife).
Walks are wonderful for me and my writing. I highly suggest every writer try and do this. Maybe it's not for you, but maybe you'll find it to be as helpful as I do. My advice is to find a relaxing place to walk, think of nothing other than your book and then just enjoy yourself. It also has the benefit of being healthy.
Here's some pics of Seokchon Lake.
I understand myself and know that I get distracted easily, games, tv shows...the list goes on. Therefore I have developed a daily schedule that has worked great.
First: I wake up and check the internet while eating breakfast. About an hour.
Then, I sit down and start writing. Sometimes the words flow onto the paper, sometimes they don't, but I keep at it until lunch time.
Around 1:00 or so, I have a quick lunch and then go for my midday walk. Before I walk, I try to clear my mind of everything other than my story. Sometimes this is difficult, but most of the time I'm pretty successful at doing so. Another thing I do is check over my story outline and reaffirm what I plan for the next part of my book to be.
Then, with nothing but my charcaters in my head to keep me company, I walk around a nearby lake called Seokchon Lake. It's a very peaceful walk and the path is supposed to be one way, which allows me to think without worrying about running into people (though some do break the rules). During my walk, I think about my book and how the story will go. The words of my charcaters play through my head over and over, as do the many different things that might happen to them.
By the time I have finished my walk, I have found my second wind and immediately get out my laptop and jot down ideas when I get home. Sometimes I do this even before taking a shower, thus getting whatever I'm sitting on a bit sweaty (don't tell my wife).
Walks are wonderful for me and my writing. I highly suggest every writer try and do this. Maybe it's not for you, but maybe you'll find it to be as helpful as I do. My advice is to find a relaxing place to walk, think of nothing other than your book and then just enjoy yourself. It also has the benefit of being healthy.
Here's some pics of Seokchon Lake.
It has a nice array of plants. I particularly like these purple flowers.
The path is large, so it's easy to avoid people. (usually)
Right in the city.
Trees line the path, offering shade from the sun.
Many Geese, a family of ducks, turtles, cats and more animals live on or nearby the lake.
It's pretty big.
Lotte World Amusement Park is in the middle of one.
The lake is full of these guys and other kinds of fish. They congregate close to places where people throw bread for them to eat.
Algae grows all over the man-made they do a good job of keeping it under control.
I like this guy. He's here everyday. (the black bird to the left of the fountain).
He showed off for me today. I guess he knew he was in a photo shoot.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
I want to give a special thanks to everyone that has taken the time to review my book so far, old reviews and new. The support means a lot to me!
Regrettably, the book is no longer availiable on storycartel but,
If you want to purchase Spirits of the Plains from amazon, here is the link.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WCM5680
Thansk and enjoy!
Regrettably, the book is no longer availiable on storycartel but,
If you want to purchase Spirits of the Plains from amazon, here is the link.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WCM5680
Thansk and enjoy!
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