Note: if you’d like to listen to this newsletter, it’s available in audio here.
Dear Diary,
It’s been a busy time.
I’ve been to an event at the Baltimore County Public Library with other wonderful authors last weekend - look at me speaking with my hands at the panel… It was raining and while there wasn’t a large audience, the people who came seemed really invested in the discussion. And it was really fun…
Kindle Vella has gone through major changes:
First ten episodes free,
Ten tokens per episode (no matter how short or long the episodes are)!,
Change in token prices.
No idea what that is going to mean in terms of the bonus or in terms of readership. There was a discussion on the KDP Community Forum about episode lengths. Personally I have decided from the get go to leave my episodes as they are. And just keep doing what works for the story. My latest episode is 1700 words since I couldn’t find a good spot to stop at 1000 words. Most of my episodes are between 900 and 1400 words.
When it comes to my ups and downs? In terms of downs, my Vella stories don’t seem to take off as much as I would have liked in KU and I cannot advertise them on Amazon. My latest French translation doesn’t have as many pre-orders as the one before that. (It currently sits at 25 - despite the previous one being free). In terms of ups? Well, I have one Ream member and I’m so grateful! I had more than 2000 downloads of # Sweets For Love as it was featured in B&N Free Nook Friday (!!!) and my latest Vella Bonus was still four figure (and twice as much as November). And I get comments on one of my Vella stories. :-)
What are your ups and downs this month when it comes to self-publishing (or publishing or writing)?
Oh and before sharing my writing and self-publishing love list, I wanted to make sure I shared this Kickstarter by Claire Taylor with you:
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Hoping to build an author career that withstands the ups and downs of the industry?
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Okay, now for my self-publishing, writing love list…
Self-publishing isn’t always easy. And like many authors have said before me, it’s not always predictable. At least, for me, it’s not.
Maybe a release doesn’t go the way you expected. Maybe that pre-order campaign you started tanked. Maybe you don’t get the engagement, royalties, reviews… Or maybe you get the reviews but the book of your heart doesn’t find its audience. Or maybe, or maybe… It’s a lot about expectations not being fulfilled but sometimes, even if you love writing and self-publishing, there can be ups and downs. It’s part of business. It’s part of life. And for many, it’s part of the artistic process, too.
Writing isn’t always easy either—even though I did find my footing (most of the times) and what works for me: I write more than one book at once. Maybe I’m a mood writer, like I am a mood reader. Or maybe I need to give one of my books some time to simmer while I work on another one. It doesn’t mean that sometimes it may take me a bit longer to get back into the rhythm or that I have to rearrange my schedule or … or … or…
Once Upon A Time - back in 2012 - I wrote a Love List for one of my manuscripts. It was part of a YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday posts (Do you remember those?)
This week’s topic: Inspired by Stephanie Perkins’ post on Natalie Whipple’s blog, what is your novel’s “Love List”?
Whenever I begin a new project, I also begin a list called “What I Love About This Story.” I start by writing down those first ideas that sparked the fires of my mind, and then I add more ideas as I discover them during my push through early drafts. I use this list as a touchstone to remind myself during the hard times why my story is worthwhile. It’s easy to forget the GOOD STUFF when I’m wading through the muck, and the end is still months away, and it feels pointless and hopeless to continue. This list becomes a crucial reminder: Yes! This is a story worth telling!
Here’s my post for 2012 for One, Two, Three and my post for # The Leftover Bride in October 2020.
Back in February 2014, I announced on my blog that I had decided to self-publish my first book in June 2014, that I was choosing my own magic (so this isn’t my official “ten years” newsletter, but still…)
And so I thought, maybe I could write a love list to writing and self-publishing - this doesn’t deny that some days both writing and self-publishing can be challenging. And yet, that love list still holds.
Writing is my job. Let me type this again: Writing. Is. My. Job. This is wild. I’ve been writing since I was a little girl. I wrote poetry (love poetry, social engagement poetry when I was a teenager). I wrote a few short scenes (really similar to Mary Higgins Clark who I was reading at the time). I wrote a short story I entered in a contest in high school (and lost). I started writing a romance novel in high school (which I never finished) And then fanfiction and then finally a whole book and then one more…and then, and then, and then…Self-publishing has definitely helped me made this my job (that and the support of my husband);
I get to decide on my covers, my publication dates, the books I’m publishing, the pricing;
I get to decide what I write - I write in multiple subgenres of romance;
I can edit my books, change things if I want to;
I get to beta read for my critique partners and I’m so lucky to call them my friends;
I learn so much. And there’s always so much to learn. And for me, learning is fun - and I’m not only talking about the self-publishing process, ins and outs and writing craft, I’m also talking about researching different topics for my books. For Miss Me, Miss Me Not for example, I’ve searched whether horses remember people. For my current steamy romcom the prequel of # Dear Santa, With Love, I’ve researched perfumes and scents and their effects;
Writing helps me in so many ways. Before my autologous transplant, I finished writing Trust Me, Trust Me Not which yes was about a cult survivor and a volunteer firefighter and danger lurking, but it was also about not knowing how to move forward, how everyone has scars…and after my transplant, I pivoted to steamy romcoms because I needed to write something to make me laugh;
Both writing and self-publishing offer me a certain flexibility in my schedule…
I get to participate in fun events: panels, signings and interact with other authors and readers.
I was able to continue my career as I adapted my schedule, my projects, my goals;
I get to decide and work on my marketing, my ads, see my dashboards, adapt, learn new strategies and apply them and see if they work;
I do create my own magic;
People read my books. Read them and many love them. I’ve received emails from readers telling me that my YA books got them to love reading, that my romcom made them laugh and that my thrillers distracted them from hard moments in their lives. I do that. With my words and my stories, I do have an impact (and whoooo that paragraph hit me right in the feels). Without self-publishing, I’m not sure that would have happened.
I’m sure there’s more. But I’d love to know:
What is on your writing / self-publishing love list?
Let me know in the comments or don’t hesitate to reply with a note. Looking forward to your answers!
As always, thank you so much for reading.
Oh and if you love steamy romcoms or romantic thrillers, make sure to check out my Ream Page for early access.
Until next time, Dear Diary and Dear Readers.
<3
Elodie
I love the enthusiasm of this post. I used to be trad published and publication day was so stressful because of sales expectations from your publisher and agent. Yesterday was a pub day for my first self-published book and it was so chill. I know that if something isn't working, I can re-brand and there's no hurry for sales.