RL thing

[kriadydragon]

That's right, an RL thing. I normally don't post real life stuff as my life is rather dull and I'd prefer not to talk about it. Lately, however, I've been feeling a little anxious.

My book, the one I'm self-publishing, is almost complete in the editing department. I wrote this story several years ago and it was the first story I was truly happy enough with to publish it. Now, years later as I go over it, I fluctuate between doubt and hope.

Being the author, I can't really say if it's going to be great or meh. There's a lot I like about it and a lot that, though not really needing to be changed, I'm tempted to change.

My biggest worry, however, is how the book will reflect on me as the author. I feel strongly that you should never judge an author by their book, as one author can do a myriad of books both good and not so good. I would hate it if people who read my book and didn't really care for it refused to read anythying else I wrote based on that one book. The thing is, I'm a multi-faceted writer. Not only do I write different kinds of books I also try to vary my writing style to fit the personality of the story. So the style of my first book is not the set style that will be seen in all my books.

My book is also geared more toward the young adult crowd - teens and such. But will they like it? I know some adults don't care who the story is aimed at. Will they like it?

Typical first-time published worries, I suppose. Whether or not people like the book doesn't bother me so much as whether or not they will judge future works by that book. Some stories will hit, some will miss, and I'm okay with that. I'm not okay with it if one miss turns the reader off to anything else I have to write. That's not really being fair.

As for the book itself, I'm pretty sure some will like it. I like the storyline and I enjoyed writing it. But, being the author, I'm going to worry.

Comments

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can see worrying. It's just natural, but hope it all goes okay. AH, been a long day so not too chatty today.

[flightsilver.livejournal.com]

At the end of the day you have no control over what people think or how they will react, so worrying won't help matters much. However, as we are all human, I can understand *why* you do worry and it's a normal gut reaction to have. Whether people like the book or not comes down very much to writing talent, a good healthy dose of luck and the proper marketing to get the right audience.

A question that you might also want to consider is the cover design – the first impression it gives of your book! If you are self-publishing, I take it you'll be able to have a say on design of the cover? Are you designing it yourself, or getting someone to do it for you? If you're going through a publishing house, it's possible that the publisher will decide this for you, as they'll be spending the big bucks (I know of a case where an author really hated the cover design, but the publisher just went ahead anyway). But if you're self publishing, also consider how you intend for it to look. I know for me, the cover a big part whether I'll pick up a book or not! (Yes, we're not meant to judge a book by its cover, but people still do it as it's an aesthetic thing that influences people). I myself have been guilty of it especially when I'm browsing a bookstore with authors I do not know. The trouble is, not everyone has the same taste so the idea is to market that taste for the majority.

As for judging you as an author based on that one book, in the cold hard truth of things, it's very likely that's going to occur (even though it's *not* fair!). Generally, not all authors can be as versatile in their style as you. What you can do (and it sounds as if you've already done it) is write according to the style that you like best, because if your book becomes a hit, that's what your reading audience is going to *expect* from you. For me, personally, writing style is the *most* important. I buy a book because I'm expecting a similar style from that particular author. I know about an author who originally wrote a fantasy book of one particular style (it was her first venture) and I just *hated* her style it was hard to read and sooo boring! But then, a several years later, another book came out from her, and boy, she had been brushing up in her writing and you would NEVER guessed the book to be written by the same author! But what her publicist suggested is for her to change her name, take up a new pen name. This allowed her to get a fresh start from her new fantasy books, and nothing was mentioned of her older book.It was the best advice possible. Her books came out to be a hit and is still doing well now! If it was under her old name, I *know* that I won't have been interested to pick read it and so would many people. People do judge your style based on your books, which is why you *have* to give what you think is your best in that book.

But of course that's the great thing about pen names, and published authors use that all the time! I know of another author who wrote a different set of books using different pen names. Funnily enough his style was a little similar but still quite different. I used to like reading his books on the later style better (because you could always count on good whumps there, hee!) rather than the earlier ones.

So, at the end of the day, you have this option available to you, so you shouldn't worry too much about it. If your first book bombs, no big deal, cos you still can write another, but this time, change your writing style and change the name and you'll have a fresh start again. If it becomes a hit, then well, the skies the limit. Anyway, hope it helps and lessens your worries.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Everything you've said I've considered, planned, mulled over, etc. I know there's a chance the book might not do well and that's okay. Marketing and what not has been dealt with and the cover I designed myself (lots of pretty colors and dragons, because my dad says that nothing helps sell a book better than having dragons on the cover, and he's right) I am even considering taking a pen name for this book to play it safe.

Worrying happens and it can't be helped. What's really bugging me, though, is the see-sawing between letting the book be published or setting it aside and publishing something else first instead. But I can't do that. Another part of publishing is taking a chance and I need to if I'm going to get my foot in the door.

Which is mostly what this is, getting my foot in the door as many publishing companies won't take you if you haven't already been published.

[parisindy.livejournal.com]

will you advertise where we can check out your book

((hugs)) i have read your stories you have nothing
to worry about you are brilliant!

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Except that I wrote this story a long time ago so the style is different. Gernally, though, I am happy with it. It's mostly little stuff I'm worrying over, stuff that doesn't need to be changed but sometimes gets me to wonder if I could have done better or something. But I know if I tweak things too much I'll just end up ruining it.

And I have a link to my advertisement on my LJ. "My Book" When the book is ready to be released for sale, that's where the link can be found taking you to where you can buy it. I'm only selling it online for now.

[carwright-m.livejournal.com]

Hey it's great to hear that you're getting out there and publishing something!
I have one suggestion and it's something me and my best bud discussed in great length after we'd realized it. The thing about a cover that draws me forwards the most is strangely enough, the mood or tone. This is going to be hard to explain but if you imagine any book or movie you can usually think of it in colors or a color. For example there's this awesome horror fantasy novel by Tamara Siler Jones called Ghosts in the Snow and if you can find a picture of the cover art on the net you'll see that the overall tone/mood is a dark reddy brown. The cover let me imagine what I was getting into by picking it off the shelf and it drew me forwards like an emotional preview. After reading it I found that the color theme on the cover matched the impression of the story and it was very satisfying. And after thinking about it for a while my friend and I came to the conclusion that we were both more inclined to pick up a book that had a cover that focused on a one or two colored theme. The only explanation that I can come up with for this is that a book has to be a *whole*, the style, the mood, the theme, the tone, the cover, the title, it all has to be one with the story. They have to compliment each other(which is a damned hard thing to do) and the closer you can come to making all those pieces fit together, the better it will be.
I guess I'm basically trying to say; choose the colors of your cover to reflect the mood/tone of the story(wow look at how simple that was - my longwindedness astonishes me sometimes).
Lol, don't know if that helps(or even makes sense for that matter) but at any rate you shouldn't worry to much because everyone has to start somewhere and even if it fails miserably(which it won't because you write damn good stuff) it'll still be accomplishing that.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Actually cover design had been just as big an issue as getting the story prepped and edited. Since the company I'm going with basically has you doing everything yourself (in order for the majority of royalties to go to the author) I've had to design the cover myself. So my art skills have a use after all.

For fantasies, it not so much color as image. My dad, who's big into books and has been helping me a lot in researching what I need to know, says that a lot of the best-selling fantasies are usually those with dragons on the covers. And he's right, there's just something about dragons that screams fantasy more than knights or princesses.

My cover isn't fancy but it has dragons. There's only so much I can do since it's up to me to make the cover. But I've had a lot of help and what I've done I feel helps to reflect the story.

[flightsilver.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree with your dad, dragons is the way to go. Look at Eragon, young adults still have a thing for dragons. Well, sounds as if you've got your basis covered. If I were go, I'll go for it esp if it's ready, with no risk there is no gain. Best to do what you can today rather than procrastinate.

How are you going to do your marketing? I'm really interested with how it works from a self publishing standpoint. Do you have to get a marketing agency to do it for you or do you have to contact book shops yourself, etc?

Your cover sounds very cool though! I'm sure you'll do fine cos your writing is good and you have good concepts of character development and story telling techniques.It's good that you have family support in this & that you dad is helping you. It makes a big difference.

[lauriel01.livejournal.com]

You are a talented writer, and I'm sure your book will be fine. However, I can understand being anxious over it's reception. I think flightsilver made a great response, and said pretty much everything I could contribute. While it's natural to wonder about others opinions, in the end, there isn't a great deal you can do about them. Have faith in yourself (which you appear to have anyway) and best of luck with it!

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Since I'm selling the book online only just to start off with, I did a website for it. It's in my Links as "My Book" if you want to check it out. I have that same link posted elsewhere, such as my FF.net bio page and my DeviantArt page.

I do plan on getting the book into bookstores. A friend told me that places like Barnes and Nobles and Borders will sell the books of independant writers that don't publish through a company. You just need to set up something with them. However, before I can do that I need to get myself in ISBN number (a bar code) that I'm going to have to purchase (and some can cost up to around $200! It's crazy.)

thus, I'm sticking with selling it through the self-publishing company I went with.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

In the long run I refuse to listen to any doubts since I need to start somewhere. I just tell myself "there's bound to be a few people who will like it", which is true enough. Honestly, if only a few people like it, that's cool because at least it was liked.

My family liked it. Yeah, I know, they're my family, but we also tend to be blatantly honest with eachother, especially my nieces and nephews. I had a niece who liked it (even before its final edited) and a nephew who didn't. I had a friend who read it and liked it (again before the final edit) and she's a fantasy buff. My brother, who's one of those I would call a "scholarly reader" liked what I accomplished with the plot - especially the bad guy (he was also the one who convinced me to do a final edit, which the story really needed). My dad, also a fantasy and book buff, was impressed with it.

I didn't jump up and down for joy screaming "they liked it, that means it'll do great!" I'm more realistic than that. But that kind of support helps, especially the honesty.

[drufan.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to say good luck. Can't offer up any advice that hasn't already been given, just lots of good vibes!

Close your eyes, hold your breath and take that first step!

[parisindy.livejournal.com]

you know think about Jim Butcher's books

each one just gets better and better, i found he's first books okay but each book improves on the last

i look at stuff i wrote a year ago... and think oi!

but every time you write you get better. I totally get why you are worried... i mean you must have grown and learned so much since you wrote it. But thats the nature of writing. I am sure it is a great story but i get why you are nervous...

if there is something you don't like you can always improve on it in the next one...

you create you nurture you let go and move on...

it ain't easy but there is always a new adventure waiting

[flightsilver.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link, it looks very cool! :)

As for the ISBN number (yep I know what it is :D), while pretty expensive, at least it doesn't cost several thousand dollars - which would be even crazier!

Just wanted to say good luck! I'm fairly certain your book will be liked by many who give it a try, especially if you have already tested it out on others!

[sholio]

I've been self-publishing since 2002, so if you have any specific questions about nitty-gritty stuff (bar codes, distributors, setting your cover price and such) just feel free to ask! If I don't know the answer, I know people who can probably find out. Most of what I know is geared towards graphic novels, since that's what I do, but the fundamentals are not any different between those and regular books.

I certainly sympathize with the "first book syndrome" feeling, though. And I can tell you, for sure, that people WILL judge you by your first book and there's just nothing you can do about it. My first graphic novel was very, very weak compared to what I can do now, but that's still what most people associate me with -- and I'm sure there have been people who were turned off my work because it was the first thing they ever saw by me.

But everybody starts somewhere. For every author whose first novel was quite good, I can think of a half-dozen others whose first books were *terrible* -- including some who are now best-selling writers that I really respect.

The only thing you can do is to do the best job you possibly can with what you've got -- have as many people as possible look over it for you, and fix all the mistakes that they find; rewrite anything that sounds rough to you (because if it sounds bad now, it'll sound HORRIBLE once it's too late to fix it -- I speak from experience!) and remember that the most important thing about selling your book to people is that YOU have to believe that it's worth buying in order to convince THEM to buy it.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Thanks. The company I went with is kind of like a do-it-yourself kit. They give you what you need and you can sell it through them. You can even buy bar-codes from them (but I'd rather get my own code as that would ensure absolute rights to the book, or so I've been told).

I know good and well people will judge you by your first, I just find it wrong considering how writers only progress with each book they right, so I was venting that particular frustration.

I'm not as worried as I was. I do think it's a good book, especially for the age group it's geared toward (teens, mostly). But, being the writer, I kept wanting to nit-pick, change things that didn't necessarily needed to be changed. The final edit really cleaned it up making me glad we held off on releasing it for sale.

But my next book I am totally sending to a publishing company.