Advice for a writer

[katana-409]

Hello Escapists,

So, I'm a writer, I got my first book self-published a while ago in Jan 30 (though the current edition was published Apr 16). And since it's online purchase only (though i can have it reach bookstores), I haven't been able to hit that magical sweet spot where enough people have read my book and have told their friends. Hell, my facebook page has only 66 likes -.-'

There are three major things that severely limit me:
1) I don't have the budget for a large propaganda, or even a few facebook ads. I still don't work (you can blame my hectic college schedule for that).
2) As much as I'd like to send it off to brick and mortar bookstores, I think that the only way i can achieve that is by making it a tad too pricey. Online, it's worth 16 dollars, but in B&M stores it would be worth at least 18. I feel that, as a new guy, I can't really make my product so expensive, it would turn off any potential buyers. It being a 520, 6' long 1' thick and 9' large doesn't help my case.
3) My biggest problem: I'm an English speaker (a very fluent one. try me someday) using a US company sell books in the US from home (the Dominican Republic). Very few people, if any, speak spanish here, and those that do don't normally read. So I've had a hard time reaching even a local audience? -.-'

So, given my situation, I was wondering if any of you would have some advice for me? I would really appreciate it.

(note: I'm not posting either excerpts, the title, links, or anything of the sort until i can confirm that the Escapist has no problem with it. I've been lurking for an 3 odd years, but I've only been a member for a few days, and I'd hate to get in trouble).

 

[Freechoice]

Hello Escapists,

So, I'm a writer, I got my first book self-published a while ago in Jan 30 (though the current edition was published Apr 16). And since it's online purchase only (though i can have it reach bookstores), I haven't been able to hit that magical sweet spot where enough people have read my book and have told their friends. Hell, my facebook page has only 66 likes -.-'

There are three major things that severely limit me:
1) I don't have the budget for a large propaganda, or even a few facebook ads. I still don't work (you can blame my hectic college schedule for that).
2) As much as I'd like to send it off to brick and mortar bookstores, I think that the only way i can achieve that is by making it a tad too pricey. Online, it's worth 16 dollars, but in B&M stores it would be worth at least 18. I feel that, as a new guy, I can't really make my product so expensive, it would turn off any potential buyers. It being a 520, 6' long 1' thick and 9' large doesn't help my case.
3) My biggest problem: I'm an English speaker (a very fluent one. try me someday) using a US company sell books in the US from home (the Dominican Republic). Very few people, if any, speak spanish here, and those that do don't normally read. So I've had a hard time reaching even a local audience? -.-'

So, given my situation, I was wondering if any of you would have some advice for me? I would really appreciate it.

(note: I'm not posting either excerpts, the title, links, or anything of the sort until i can confirm that the Escapist has no problem with it. I've been lurking for an 3 odd years, but I've only been a member for a few days, and I'd hate to get in trouble).

Does your book have a specific demographic you want to appeal to? Why is it 16 bucks and not $2.99? Why is it so long?

 

[katana-409]

Hello Escapists,

So, I'm a writer, I got my first book self-published a while ago in Jan 30 (though the current edition was published Apr 16). And since it's online purchase only (though i can have it reach bookstores), I haven't been able to hit that magical sweet spot where enough people have read my book and have told their friends. Hell, my facebook page has only 66 likes -.-'

There are three major things that severely limit me:
1) I don't have the budget for a large propaganda, or even a few facebook ads. I still don't work (you can blame my hectic college schedule for that).
2) As much as I'd like to send it off to brick and mortar bookstores, I think that the only way i can achieve that is by making it a tad too pricey. Online, it's worth 16 dollars, but in B&M stores it would be worth at least 18. I feel that, as a new guy, I can't really make my product so expensive, it would turn off any potential buyers. It being a 520, 6' long 1' thick and 9' large doesn't help my case.
3) My biggest problem: I'm an English speaker (a very fluent one. try me someday) using a US company sell books in the US from home (the Dominican Republic). Very few people, if any, speak spanish here, and those that do don't normally read. So I've had a hard time reaching even a local audience? -.-'

So, given my situation, I was wondering if any of you would have some advice for me? I would really appreciate it.

(note: I'm not posting either excerpts, the title, links, or anything of the sort until i can confirm that the Escapist has no problem with it. I've been lurking for an 3 odd years, but I've only been a member for a few days, and I'd hate to get in trouble).

Does your book have a specific demographic you want to appeal to? Why is it 16 bucks and not $2.99? Why is it so long?

It's a fantasy novel. by online, i mean you can purchase it on amazon. The ebook is 5 dollars.
It just turned out to be long.
Demographic is mostly young adults to full adults.

 

[Freechoice]

Hello Escapists,

So, I'm a writer, I got my first book self-published a while ago in Jan 30 (though the current edition was published Apr 16). And since it's online purchase only (though i can have it reach bookstores), I haven't been able to hit that magical sweet spot where enough people have read my book and have told their friends. Hell, my facebook page has only 66 likes -.-'

There are three major things that severely limit me:
1) I don't have the budget for a large propaganda, or even a few facebook ads. I still don't work (you can blame my hectic college schedule for that).
2) As much as I'd like to send it off to brick and mortar bookstores, I think that the only way i can achieve that is by making it a tad too pricey. Online, it's worth 16 dollars, but in B&M stores it would be worth at least 18. I feel that, as a new guy, I can't really make my product so expensive, it would turn off any potential buyers. It being a 520, 6' long 1' thick and 9' large doesn't help my case.
3) My biggest problem: I'm an English speaker (a very fluent one. try me someday) using a US company sell books in the US from home (the Dominican Republic). Very few people, if any, speak spanish here, and those that do don't normally read. So I've had a hard time reaching even a local audience? -.-'

So, given my situation, I was wondering if any of you would have some advice for me? I would really appreciate it.

(note: I'm not posting either excerpts, the title, links, or anything of the sort until i can confirm that the Escapist has no problem with it. I've been lurking for an 3 odd years, but I've only been a member for a few days, and I'd hate to get in trouble).

Does your book have a specific demographic you want to appeal to? Why is it 16 bucks and not $2.99? Why is it so long?

It's a fantasy novel. by online, i mean you can purchase it on amazon. The ebook is 5 dollars.
It just turned out to be long.
Demographic is mostly young adults to full adults.

It's all advertising. You could have the absolute best written work in human history and without proper marketing, you're not going anywhere. Quality is never the topic of discussion if you're not on 4chan. I've seen absolute tripe get glowing praise while I was doing my best not to vomit.

Do whatever it takes to get recognition. Go onto other forums, tell people you game with. Be absolutely relentless in your effort.

You can post excerpts, but links need to stay in your profile. Giving a title might be enough for a google search.

 

[katana-409]

It's all advertising. You could have the absolute best written work in human history and without proper marketing, you're not going anywhere. Quality is never the topic of discussion if you're not on 4chan. I've seen absolute tripe get glowing praise while I was doing my best not to vomit.

Do whatever it takes to get recognition. Go onto other forums, tell people you game with. Be absolutely relentless in your effort.

You can post excerpts, but links need to stay in your profile. Giving a title might be enough for a google search.

Do you think the Escapist would mind if i posted an excerpt here?

 

[Freechoice]

It's all advertising. You could have the absolute best written work in human history and without proper marketing, you're not going anywhere. Quality is never the topic of discussion if you're not on 4chan. I've seen absolute tripe get glowing praise while I was doing my best not to vomit.

Do whatever it takes to get recognition. Go onto other forums, tell people you game with. Be absolutely relentless in your effort.

You can post excerpts, but links need to stay in your profile. Giving a title might be enough for a google search.

Do you think the Escapist would mind if i posted an excerpt here?

You can post excerpts here. Just don't link to the sale page.

 

[Amarok]

To be honest, self-published works have a noted history of being published and then... nothing.
Honest to god I don't mean this snarkily: the best advice I could give is to never self-publish again. Get an agent, find a publishing house, get yourself in with a team who are passionate about your work and who will put their weight behind marketing it. It's a one-in-a-billion occurance that a self-published (non-academic) piece of work makes any waves at all.

 

[katana-409]

To be honest, self-published works have a noted history of being published and then... nothing.
Honest to god I don't mean this snarkily: the best advice I could give is to never self-publish again. Get an agent, find a publishing house, get yourself in with a team who are passionate about your work and who will put their weight behind marketing it. It's a one-in-a-billion occurance that a self-published (non-academic) piece of work makes any waves at all.

no, i completely understand. It's just that I have no other choice here; there's no english publishing houses here, or even a market for Fantasy. Self-publishing is my only shot.