It's Not a Race!

So many times we get into the mind set that we need to get our work done as quickly as possible. For some reason we seem to think speed adds to the value of what we're doing; that's its better if we get it done fast.  I've noticed this trend in most jobs incuding writing. If you're not in journalism, is speed really of the essence?

There's been a trend amongst authors who are extremely successful to get a book out every year. Since I don't work with or through a traditional publishing house I don't know how much of this is due to contractual concerns and the publisher wanting to strike while the iron is hot. But at what cost?

One well known mystery/detective writer was highly criticized for his last novel, which critics complained read like it was written on a plane as he flew to his destination. Other authors seems as if they start using a template, just change a few names and situations around, and main characters begin to feel stale and uninteresting in popular series.

So my question is: at what cost is this rush to publish getting us? A high cost for the readers.

Isn't it more important to write a quality story rather than just getting a book out there? Of course it is. We all of us as readers want the next installment from a writer we particularly like. However, it isn't worth being disappointed in the results when there's a rush to produce.

So whether you're a file clerk, an accountant, a proposal manager, cleaning your apartment or writing a novel, take your time.

Remember how your grandmother always said, a job worth doing is worth doing well?

She was right!

Playing Tag

How important are tags on your books on websites that are selling them? Apparently they are extremely important. The more tags you have on your books the more opportunities readers have of finding you. If your book is set in New Orleans and someone is looking for books in that city, than a tag will allow them to find it. If you write a book about a homicide detective, the same thing applies. Every aspect of your book that might draw a reader to it deserves a tag to help them get there.

But how do you determine which tags to put out there for your books? My feeling is to go over your book and decide which parts of it you would use to describe your story. It is about a baker or a plumber. Well those tags would be obvious. But the setting, the subject, the genre, the sub-genre, the characters ... there are seemingly endless ways to tag your book.

Can you overdo it? I’m not sure. Being new to this myself I would say no, you probably can’t. You want readers to find you and who knows what they may search for? If you have it out there then if they do type in something the chances improve for you that they can find you if you have more tags for the search to discover you. But I don’t really know.

I would guess that the thing to do is to add the tags and see what the results are. After all, what have you got to lose?

Writers Helping Writers

What made you decide to be a writer? Was your head bursting with ideas for plots, characters, situations that you just had to put down? Did you have a message you wanted to put out there for others to read? Or was it something else? For instance, were there no books out that made you ache to read them; books that were in your heart? Did you read something and think “I would have said it this way” or “I would have described it thus”? Or maybe you just need to tell stories.

Whatever your reason for becoming a writer, my hat is off to you! I think writing, story telling, is a noble and wonderful calling. Most of us love to crawl inside a story and be lifted away from our cares into a world different from our own--even if it’s a book about people just like us, maybe especially then; to escape our own situation and delve into someone else’s.

As a writer it is important to remember that other authors are not in competition with you.  On average it takes eight months to write a novel, sometimes more, sometimes less.  And on average it takes three to seven days to read a book, sometimes more, sometimes less.  It would be ridiculous to think that if you write, say, detective mysteries, that another writer comes along who writes a detective mystery is trying to “steal” away your readers.

Not so! There is most assuredly room for all of us on the bookshelves out there. I would love to encourage other writers to come and let me interview them for this blog, or to give them the opportunity to guest here and would hope they’d do the same for me. Read my book and I’ll read yours and review it. I think competition/cooperation is good for us as writers as well as readers.

I have learned so much from writers who are further down this path than I am, and hope they will continue to share their knowledge and experience with me, and hopefully I will be able to do the same for others coming up behind me. If we work together, we can all succeed.

So to those authors on social networking sites who tell me not to bother them if I want to promote my own writing as they’re not interested, I ask, what are you afraid of? Open up! We can all help each other and benefit from the experience. It’s a big world out there and there’s room, more than enough room, for all of us.

Question: How Much is Too Much?

How much do you, should you charge for an e-book?  When I go online to see what others are asking I am surprised by the range being asked.  Some of the prices seem a bit outrageous to me.  $14.99 for an e-book feels a bit over the top to me, even if you're a well established, seasoned writer.  You are getting the story, true, and the author's hard work, talent and time should be compensated, but there is no actual "product" of paper, print, cover, etc. 

I've sort of held with the idea that if you are self-publishing your work as an e-book and are not paying the publisher their huge cut, or giving 10% to an agent than you ought to keep the cost of your book low enough so that readers can get the most for their money as well as their e-readers.

As a reader I find I balk at paying too much for an e-book.  Somewhere inside me I've set the limit at $5.99.  More than that and I either check out the price of the print book or hit the library.  Seem strange to hear from a writer?  Maybe.

But, while I want to be compensated for my work, it is not the motivation behind my being a writer.  I write because I love writing.  I love to tell stories, to make up characters and situations and put them down for others to read.  And that .... that is what motivates me.  I want others to read, to enjoy, to gain something from my writing.

So there's my question?  How much do you think is a fair price for an e-book?  As a reader, and as a writer?