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Question for (self)published authors


rondo has three heads

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This can get merged with the boarders writing novel thread if that's more appropriate, but I have a pretty specific question.
I've been publishing poetry the last few years, have had only one fiction piece published, and currently get paid to write sports.

So, I'm currently plotting out how to go about writing my first (publishable) novel, which I plan to put out on my own. A short book about the music industry over the last decade, following a band for a few years from high school origins to semi-success.

With the way I'm planning to stagger the editing, marketing, and publishing processes, I could write anywhere from 60-90K new words before the abovementioned novel is put out. Meaning I could put out something new, potentially a full novel, 2-4 months after book 1 is published.

My question: would it be advisable to try and write 1) A similarly toned short novel, basically another "literary" story, 2) A very different story, such as a sci-fi or fantasy book, or 3) Write a few short stories or a novella or two.

Maybe it boils down to whatever I feel like writing at that point, but I'm wondering if there are any industry standards I might be ignorant of, such as never publishing two standalone sci fi novels just a few months apart, or simply to never release two novels in close proximity at all.

Any information would be much appreciated.

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Sam Delaney wrote 9 novels in 6 years, starting at age 19, with the last two still being regarded as classics. There is no best way to market books. Write what you need to get out of your brain, not what you think people want to read. When you follow the herd all you get is trampled grass and bullshit.


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Sam Delaney wrote 9 novels in 6 years, starting at age 19, with the last two still being regarded as classics. There is no best way to market books. Write what you need to get out of your brain, not what you think people want to read. When you follow the herd all you get is trampled grass and bullshit.

Thanks for the response, and I understand what you mean. Like I said, I might have a book in me a year from now that just has to come out and that's that.

But I could be clearer about my writing process; the band story, for example, already exists as a 400 page manuscript that's mostly edited. I am an obsessive writer though and need at least another 9 months to trim it down to the ~275 I want, then begin to market, etc.

I wasn't planning on just throwing a sci fi book together, either. I have two completed and a number of 100 page works in progress that I really want to finish. Also have a number of fantasy stories that occur in the same world and could be modified to form a novel, if not a story cycle.

I was just curious if there are any tips any self published authors here have encountered. Marketing is far from an exact science when it comes to fiction, but thought I'd reach out to those who've done it. I know fiction isn't something you get into for the $$. But I already get paid to write, so

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I was just curious if there are any tips any self published authors here have encountered. Marketing is far from an exact science when it comes to fiction, but thought I'd reach out to those who've done it. I know fiction isn't something you get into for the $$. But I already get paid to write, so

Promoting the book is in my view far, far more difficult than writing it. I wish I knew of some magical marketing methods, but the cold, hard truth is that self-publishers are operating in an environment that is extremely hostile to their works. No professional reviewer will give you the time of day, nor will most of the indie reviewers. You can buy advertising, for what it's worth, but be aware that some web sites won't even agree to *sell* ad space to indies. (That was an eye-opener for me.) I don't mean to come across as bitter or discouraging, but if you're going to self-publish I advise you to be prepared for a good deal of snubs -- and worse.

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What seems to be most successful at the moment is series of 3 or more books with the same characters. Readers seem to get attached to characters they like. Then release them, if you can, thirty days apart. Amazon's algorithms help for the first 30 days by keeping you on a Hot New Releases list. After that, visibility wanes. So, you release a new book at the 30 day point, which feeds sales back to the earlier one. That's the theory, anyway. And sticking to the same genre for everything helps, too.



It depends what you hope to achieve. If it's just writing the books and getting them out into the world, that's one thing. But if you want them to be successful (for some value of successful - cover costs? pay a few bills? give up the day job? buy your own island?), developing a marketing plan is important. There are ways to make it more likely to happen (well, maybe not the island!).



The best place for the most current advice about what works and what doesn't is the Writers' Cafe on Kboards. If you lurk there, and ask for help and advice with everything (cover, blurb, launch strategies, promotions, reviews... you name it), it will give you a good shot at making it happen. You can find them here:



http://www.kboards.com/index.php/board,60.0.html


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