If you have followed my recent post, I’ve been discussing the release of the second edition of One Month, 20 Days, and a Wake Up. Each week I get closer to the release date, but the final steps include the process of formatting the manuscript for an e-book and paperback. For those like me that self-publish, we know that this is time-consuming and often a frustrating process.
In my last post, we discussed the importance of a book blurb. WRITING THE BOOK BLURB. I offered three examples of blurbs I wrote and asked for your opinion. I appreciate the advice of those that responded, and I agree with the majority. I’ve decided to use it with a minor modification.
This post, I’m using a pre-release marketing technique by revealing a section of the manuscript. Please click on the continue link and enjoy an area from the book. When done, leave me comments. Does it entice you to read more?
If we have or we are considering self-publishing a book, we know there’s more than writing the manuscript. With self-publishing, we do everything that a publishing company would do to market our book. With thousands of titles just on Amazon alone, it’s all about catching the reader’s attention.
If we are lucky to have our book placed in a prominent page within its genre, we still need that something special to shout at the reader, Read Me! A book cover can be synonymous with the retailer’s signs or logos. It is the first and perhaps the only thing a reader sees when they are selecting their next read. If our cover doesn’t grab them, the reader moves on. Experts tell us we have less than five seconds to gain the initial recognition.
If our covers catch their attention, the next essential criterion is our book blurb. We have a few more seconds or our first sentence of the blurb to tell the reader again, Read Me! If we have their interest raised, we need to hold it and continue to convince them they should read our book.
There are many do’s, and don’ts and I’ve found many blogs explaining the successful blurb. I’m not an expert, and I’m not writing this post to advise or instruct. I’m sharing my experience that a book blurb can make or break the marketability of our book. We spend our sweat, blood, and tears, getting the manuscript written. Potentially we can lose all those efforts if we write a weak blurb.
Those that follow me have heard me state I’m a novice writer but strive to improve my work. Recently, my editor returned the second edition of One Month, 20 Days, and a Wake Upmanuscript. Along with his actual editing markups on the document, he also provides a separate report devoted to comments. Along with giving compliments to those areas he feels are strong, he provides statements of those areas that need strengthening.
I’m a storyteller and all three of my memoirs I wrote in first person POV. I write as if I was telling a friend my life story. In my efforts to have the reader experience the episode, often the detail not the story becomes central. Chris, my editor, pointed out I often overuse “Travel Verbs.” As he points out, excessive travel verbs weaken the writing and fatigues the reader.
“… Example 1: Bob pulled into his driveway, shut off his car, and opened the car door. He walked up to his front door, checked the mailbox mounted next to the door, and then unlocked the door and walked in. He trudged up the stairs to the second floor. He entered his bedroom, dropped his briefcase on the floor and fell into bed….”
This is an excessive example, but it gives you the idea. Since this post is about sharing a writing weakness, it is also about promoting the release of my second edition book. What better way than to show you some examples Chris found and the corrections I made. When it’s released, perhaps you might even want to read it.
I want to continue the discussion on the importance of having your manuscript edited by a professional. Reviewers of your work, especially those who have no invested friendship, can and will be brutally honest. You should value their input even when you don’t agree with their opinion.
In my case, some of the reviewers took issue with the accuracy of the events I depicted. Even when the book was classified as fiction based on actual events, the individuals felt it should be factual.
Example:
“A lot of inaccuracies aside from what … pointed out. There are many Special Forces guys who would take issue with classifying PJ’s as Special Forces. SF is technically reserved for counter insurgents known as Green Berets. A more apt term for PJ’s would be Special Operations where they were assigned specifically to in Vietnam…”
I agree with this reviewer the Air Force classified PJs as “Special Operations” Combat Controllers were part of the Air Force’s Special Operations. They trained at some of the same Special Forces training schools as Pararescue. During Vietnam, Combat Controllers were identified by the blue beret they wore. The 37th ARRS depicted was a squadron assigned under Air Combat Command 23rd Air Force Headquarters.
Ever since I released One Month, 20 Days, and a Wake Up, it has baffled me why this book outsells my other two. The subject matter must be the reason because it’s not that it is a better-written manuscript. You’ve heard me admit several times, that I made the big mistake by not professionally editing the book before publishing.
Last year, I joined a writer’s critique group. I told the group, if they helped me rewrite my first book, I would join. Not only did the group agree, but they challenged me to finish the rewrite using their input. We began the process, but because of the virus, the library where we met shut down. We were only able to complete eight chapters. Utilizing the group’s guidance, I have now completed the manuscript.
I learned my lesson on the first edition; the second is now at my editors. I anticipate self-publishing it with Amazon with the release coming sometime in June. If the first one has continually sold, perhaps the second edition will sell better.
Below are a few reviews that illustrate why I took on the project of rewriting the manuscript. I can have the worse of the negative reviews removed, but I leave them up to remind myself of my errant ways.
I complained that my second book (What Did I Do?) was selling while my first (One Month, 20 Days, and a Wake UP) was. I revealed that with the first, I hadn’t used an editor. I had received negative reviews. Rather than send the book to an editor, I tried using editing software, specifically ProWritingAid.
Fast forward to 2019, where I joined a writer’s critique group. I was hesitant to join, but told the group, if they helped me rewrite my first book, I would join. Not only did the group agree, but they challenged me to finish the rewrite using their input.
When I joined the group, we would average four or five attendees. We could go over a chapter in two meetings. As months passed, the group expanded to where we had over ten individuals come. To allow everyone to present their material, we had to shorten our pages we shared to four or five. Now it was taking me two or more months to complete a chapter.
As writers, when we post something, we hope someone takes the time to read it. Good bloggers draw attention to their work, and they have hundreds of followers. Those prominent individuals didn’t get there overnight. It took months, if not years, to gain their notoriety and followings.
Some professionals market their services, helping us compete with setting up our website, and enhancing our Click Through Rate (CTR). It’s a numbers game on the internet, and to be competitive, we need to pay attention to the algorithms that drive it. The average CTR for search networks (engines) is 1.91%, while for display ads, it’s 0.35%. The individuals that track blog CTR say if we can obtain 1.0%, we are doing great and above average.
Writing for me is a hobby, and I’m not interested in competing with successful bloggers. I am interested in improving my writing and having peers comment on my posts. To get individuals to come and read my work, I need to gain their attention.
In the last 25 years of my career, I was the Budget Manager for a division of my county in SE, Florida. Every year I produced a budget document that explained to the public our mission and showed how we used the taxpayers’ money. Financial documents aren’t something the average person wants to read. But I learned tricks of the trade to make my material more attractive and I won awards from government financial associations
It’s now been fifteen months since I lost my husband. There were so many times I didn’t know how I would overcome my grief. What I learned was I have an instinct to survive and more inner strength than I realized. What I quickly learned was to use my friends when things got tough.
I’ve said it, you might have too, “If you need anything, let me know.” Or, “Call me if I can help.” When people said these things to me, I didn’t take them seriously. Oh yeah, they’re saying this to be polite. When after having a series of dark days, I picked up the phone and called one of my friends. I learned they were serious and gladly came to my rescue.
Sometimes all I needed was to have a conversation with someone other than my cat. Other times I needed companionship to get out of the house. I learned friends delight in helping. They didn’t know what to say or how to help. All they needed was for me to ask.
I got through that period of helplessness and indecisiveness. I learned grief wasn’t something I got over; I learned to live with it. I learned that grief brought meaning to my life and the ability to smile at the memories.
If when that someday comes you lose that special person in your life, remember me. Remember when everything seems out-of-balance, your emotional strength will put the world back into perspective. Life as you knew it changes, but you can accept it. Rely on your inner instinct and don’t forget your friends. This is a life journey we all make, but you will learn things about yourself you didn’t know before.
During the last few months, Sally Cronin has selected previously featured writer, bloggers and authors’ and featured something from their archives. This is week three of four where Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord Blog Magazine is featuring a blog post from my past.
Even when we have never met, Sally has become a friend and a supporter of my writing. Over the last few months I havn’t been active with my blogging and writing, yet Sally continued her caring support. Thank you,Sally, and HUGS.
During the last few months, Sally Cronin has selected previously featured writer, bloggers and authors’ and featured something from their archives. This is week two of four where Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord Blog Magazine is featuring a blog post from my past.
Even when we have never met, Sally has become a friend and a supporter of my writing. Over the last few months I havn’t been active with my blogging and writing, yet Sally continued her caring support. Thank you,Sally, and HUGS.
