Category: Writing life

Can you relate?

Where do all these new writers find the time, the energy and the readers to boost their self published books so quickly??

Paying out the nose for people’s interest just doesn’t seem to be right in my mind. Is it just me? Is paying for constant ads and/or banking on family and friends to actually read and review your work really your only option when doing this alone?

A good friend of mine, one who writes and edits as a fairly profitable profession, told me your worst readers are the people closest to you. Basically, everyone who talks so highly of your “ambitious idea” will praise you to your face and then expect everything for free and will give you nothing.

I saw that first hand when my first book was published.

Some bought it and read it just to find any and every little flaw. Some purchased just to say they did and still haven’t read a word. And others are still talking about buying my work and go this day this I’ve still not seen the sales. 😂

Who else can relate?

Ebook or No Ebook?

Let’s get down to it

Honestly. I dislike Ebooks…

I know, I know! Why do you publish Ebooks if you hate them so much?

  • Because everyone likes Ebooks (well most people do)
  • Ebooks sell better than paperbacks
  • They’re cheaper- better for budgeters
  • Social media connect – makes its so much simpler to share your favourite titles with friends and family
  • Super ideal to pack and travel with
  • Access to thousands of titles at your fingertips
  • …. and that’s all I got. 😄

The truth is, publishing via Ebook prior to releasing a paperback is a great way to start stirring up reviews and attention for the book on a minimal budget. Many editors, publishers and writers have said this (and proved it) over and over again. Especially those of us that are publishing independently.

But I hate them!

  • I don’t like staring at a screen that long. Special screen, special glasses or not, my eyes tire out.
  • I lose interest in reading!
    The book may be great but I can never sit down and read on a kindle as long as I can sit with a physical book.
  • Forgetting to charge the darn thing!! 🤦🏻‍♀️
  • Losing the cords!
  • Your kindle crashes! (I’ve been a victim … I posted about it too)
  • I like having signed copies of my favourite authors (heck I like being able to sign my own books for others to have)
  • You lose out on that new book (or old book) smell
  • You don’t get to walk the isles of a bookshop and sift through titles weighing the book, the price and the catchy ness of the first paragraph as you decide what to buy or pass on.

So what are your thoughts?

Ebook or real book?

What are some of your “convincing” points when telling someone why you like one vs the other?

Why?…

Wow this year has already been crazy as hell 😬

Seriously.

If you’re unhappy with your life, your job, your relationship, your living situation… why are you staying put? Why are you putting up with it? Why are you accepting defeat?

Why?

I feel like I’ve been the complaint department over the last month. I’ve had people coming to me from all aspects of my life to vent and inform me of situations that have been bothering them. Some of them aren’t really even a part of my life, they just happen to be working around me or near my crews and decided I have a good ear. Most of the time I don’t mind listening to people’s problems, I have no issue with helping someone figure something out or simply being someone who can help them with the load they feel they have on their shoulders.

What irritates me is when I know there is a simple solution to it and try to explain that, and am completely ignored by the people that could help…

It’s like being lost at sea.

And I feel twice as bad because someone has come to me and expressed a concerned or discomfort and I can’t do a thing to help because no one wants to have our backs or listen to my opinion. Might as well be a backstabber and pot stirrer, they get more help and are listened to more clearly than anyone else 🤷🏻‍♀️

And more to that.

If you’re unhappy with how things are, why are you ruining the moral of the ones who are happy? Are you that miserable that you need everyone else to be too? I think my biggest “I need to talk to you” topic lately has been in regards to someone feeling depressed and upset because someone else has been consistently bringing them down with their mumbles and complaints about things as small as “why the hell does so-and-so keep sneezing?” 😂

I mean really. I’ve heard someone complaining about how a guy sneezed 6 times and it annoyed him 😅🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s sad when the spark leaves someone. It’s heartbreaking to watch as someone shrivels up and loses their passion… What can you do to fix that? What can you do when it seems like there is nothing you can do?

-Jen