Goodreads is an author’s dream. It’s chock-full of book addicts just hoping to get their next quick fix, to find their next favorite author. Those readers just might be looking for your book. But sadly, some authors do their best to shoot themselves in the proverbial foot on Goodreads, alienating potential fans with preventable acts of douchebaggery and literary asshattery. With that in mind, here are the top 5 violations of readers’ Goodreads trust that can drag your book sales down into the muck, along with your good name:
By guest author Bronwyn Green
You actually need an editor. No, really. You do. Oh, you have a degree in English? Sweet. Me, too. * high fives you * But you still need an editor. So do I, and I am an editor. The problem is our brains. Our beautifully creative, efficient brains. Our brains know what our books are supposed to say. So, they thoughtfully fill in the missing words as we proofread. They know that we always reverse exhibitionism and voyeurism and helpfully process the meaning we intended rather than the one we wrote.
Having written a novel, you’re well aware of all the complexities involved. Everything from developing a plot outline to character development to dialogue to pacing. Frankly, it’s not realistic to expect the same person to also be knowledgeable and skilled in proofing, editing, designing cover art, launching a website or blog and managing multiple social media platforms. But since few of us have the financial resources to pay someone else to handle all these tasks, we’ve put together a collection of some of the very best books with all the best insider tips and tricks to help make your book a success. Trust us, if it's not covered in at least one of these books, you probably don’t need to know it.
Our good friends at Reedsy have come out with another awesome and informative infographic. This one provides some great tips on the tricky task of how writing an effective query letter. Frankly, we thought it paired perfectly with our "Do's and Don'ts" post on the same topic. If you're at all interested in going the traditional publishing route, we strongly advise you to read both posts for maximum effectiveness. To see the full Reedsy post, just click on the infographic below. Good luck.
What are some writing tips for young aspiring authors? If this question sounds familiar, it’s because it’s been asked of every successful author ever interviewed. They get so accustomed to answering it that they say the words on autopilot. Answers usually vary from read more, to get into a critique group. That advice is all fine and good (and true), but what aren’t they telling you? What advice do you really need to succeed in the dog-eat-dog world of publishing?
We talked to best-selling authors in darn near every genre to get all the need-to-know info for you. You’re welcome. Here’s the list: Here at Romance Rehab, we love self-published authors. For starters, they release books faster than traditionally published authors. (More books + Less time waiting = happy book bloggers) They’re also able to express their creative visions without having to first filter them through the lens of the traditional publishing industry. (And let me tell you executives in the publishing industry something: you guys don’t always know what all readers want. So, when you say that paranormal romance is dead? Yeah...not so much. We can find you thousands upon thousands of romance readers looking for new vampires, shifters, and other supernatural characters to read about.) On a whole, self-published authors are fast, flexible, and fearless—and we respect the hell out of them.
But… (There’s always a but, isn’t there?) Science, that’s who
You’ve heard (probably more than you care to) that as a self-published author, you’ll need to hire a professional proofreader before releasing your novel. That’s easier said than done when you’re a debut author, or an author with only a small following, and you have no way of knowing if you’ll ever get any return on that investment. It’s conceivable that you’ll pay, per word, for professional proofreading and never sell more than fifty books. Why spend the money? Why not just proofread the darn thing yourself? How bad author behavior can cost you fans and sales
If you're reading this because of the title, you might be disappointed. No, we don’t have pics of JK Rowling flashing the crowd in NOLA for Mardi Gras beads. Sorry we disappointed you. But if you’re an author or aspiring author who is interested in building AND keeping a fanbase, this might be the article for you. With Facebook users totaling over a billion worldwide, most authors have made an effort to integrate it into their author platforms and online marketing plans. But even authors who’ve embraced Facebook can be guilty of behaviors that alienate their fans. Whether you're new to the complexities of the Zuckerberg empire or a seasoned pro, we highly suggest you become familiar with these common fumbles that are bound to ruin your author Facebook page:
Ever wonder why book bloggers have been turning down your review requests? It’s possible they’re just moody and mean and picking on you. It’s possible they’re grumpy and in a rejecting mood because of the price of the new Nora Roberts release. Or...and this might hurt to hear...it’s possible that you’re doing something (or multiple somethings) that’s causing reviewers to reject your book baby.
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