News and Notices from the Writing Trenches #117…
Readers can be formulaic too. Many writers become formulaic over time. This is partly due to the same reason a K-6 teacher, instead of teaching each grade in succession to keep her or his teaching skills fresh, prefers to keep on doing the same thing, grade 2, say, year after year, over and over again—it’s the easy way out, and, if s/he’s successful at it (that becomes a less appropriate adjective with time, of course), why not continue? In the writing world, a perceived market preference for a book series might contribute pressure to becoming formulaic too. (That doesn’t mean series are bad. It only means the author has to be careful with them.)
But readers can also become formulaic. How? We can all fall into a rut. We love Baldacci and look for his books, for example, and resist looking for new authors who might write just as well…or better! It’s only human to prefer the known and familiar over the unknown and unfamiliar. In the process, a vicious circle is created, readers feeding off writers who produce more of the same, and writers feeding off readers who want more of the same: Baldacci à readers à Baldacci à readers…you get the idea.
But we have to consider all the good reading we might be missing! In a perfect world, that’s what reviews are good for—they would allow us, the readers, to discover a new writer and allow authors to reach out to new readers. It’s not a perfect world, though, so we have to deal with zero-content reviews that are little more than votes on American idol. A smart reader will take responsibility of her or his reading and look for those new voices, using all info available on the book’s Amazon page at least. In the process, s/he might be amazed at what’s out there!
Social networking. Readers can meet other readers and authors, and PR and marketing gurus recommend it for authors because it contributes to name recognition, not just for indies but traditionally published authors too. Readers, do you like to mix with nerdy authors? Do you hate it when they self-promote? Maybe yes to both questions, right? Authors should also be readers, and, in that capacity, also get a bang out of just discussing different books and genres, whatever the marketing gurus say. However, when a discussion thread says “no self-promoting,” follow the wishes of the group and moderator, please. If you want to use one of your own books to make a point, say something like “not intended as self-promo comments.” Readers, be generous and accept that—that reader/writer’s point might be valid.
So, what are the best social media sites for readers and writers? Surprise! They’re not Facebook or Twitter. If you want to discuss books and writing, stay away from them as if they had internet ebola! Both of those are so dominated by people getting on their soapboxes that anything you post about books or the book business will be buried in a lot of online shouting. Use Goodreads and LinkedIn. Reserve Funny Bunch and Twitland for family, friends, trying to get a hot date (or any date?), and listening to rants, including Trump’s.
Goodreads has many groups dedicated to readers and reading. They also have a few dedicated to writers and writing (authors, beware, other authors aren’t particularly interested in buying your books!—they only want to sell theirs). LinkedIn groups, as you might expect, deal more with the business side of writing—editing, publishing, promoting, technical issues (are CSIs’ booties really Teflon?), whatever. On both sites, I see authors promoting their books. Most respect the rules and do it only where it’s allowed. Many don’t. The latter do no one any good. And I don’t understand why they bother on LinkedIn—it’s not that kind of site.
Rogue Planet. OK, I’m being repetitive and you’re probably tired of my self-promo activity, but this new novel mixing hard sci-fi with fantasy, is now available in all ebook formats (Amazon + Smashwords) and print (Create Space). It’s set in the same universe as the “Chaos Chronicles Trilogy” and the Dr. Carlos stories, but you don’t have to read these to take part in the swashbuckling adventures of Prince Kaushal as he goes after an evil theocracy on his home planet. It’s my version of Star Wars, but maybe you’ll compare it to Game of Thrones. I just call it a lot of futuristic fun.
May Day, May Day, May Day Sale. Mary Jo Melendez invites you to a Kindle Countdown Sale. Before she adds her stories to Smashwords, making them available in all ebook formats, she’s giving you a chance to read Muddlin’ Through and Silicon Slummin’…and Just Gettin’ By at $0.99, reduced from $2.99. That’s $2 off, folks! Or, two exciting books for $2! The sale will take place from April 29 through May 5. This is absolutely the last time these prices will be reduced. It’s the perfect time to begin stocking up on good summer reading. (OK, it’s a wee bit ahead of time to announce this, but you wouldn’t believe the acrobatics I have to perform in order to schedule a countdown sale for an entire series, thanks to those Amazon KDP restrictions.)
In libris libertas…
