Just Publish It / Happenings In The Outhouse 25-Feb-2022

I was listening to a podcast a few weeks ago and something was said that resonated very well.  The person on the podcast said that he attributed his level of success to this axiom: "just hit send."

Now, he was talking about sending an email about the services his business can provide, but under it all he was talking how we can edit our works over and over again, right to the point of death.  At some point, you just need to be done with it and move on.

The same goes for writers in general.  If you feel the need to edit your "Great American Novel" to death, it will not sound original.  It will not stand out.

And standing out is what you want.

Now, I'm not talking raw works that have no flavor or substances, full of typos and punctuation errors.  There are a variety of editing methods, so use the one that works best for you.  Some of the best authors edit as they go.

But don't "fix" your piece of work too much or else it won't sound original, unique.  Your voice will be missing, and it will sound like everything else.

How much should you edit is up to you, but I caution you to not overdo it.

This Book Is NOT For You / Happenings In The Outhouse 18-Feb-2022

It's okay for your book not to be for someone.  Even though you may want the entire world to read your book, it will not happen.  No, it will NEVER happen.

So it's best not to even try.

Your best route to success is to find out who your book is for, so they can enjoy it.

And here's the thing: just because it's different doesn't mean no one will like it.  Many readers that I know get bored from the same old stuff.  They want something new.

A close friend of mine can't stand anything NR puts out (I'm putting this author's name in initials, but this author is uber-famous, has put out tons of books, and is quite successful).  I have read a few of NR's books and at first I liked it.  Then, the more books I read, the more I noticed that the ones that I have read all had similar plot lines.

But who cares?

Legal thrillers weren't truly a thing until John Grisham put them on the map.  Horror didn't go mainstream until King put them on the map.

And even then, there are readers who do not like JG or King.

Create the best product you can.  Publish it.  Then move on to the next one.

Marketing Wall Drug / Happenings In The Outhouse 11-Feb-2022

The dreaded M word: marketing.

Nearly all writers that I know HATE to self-promote their own books--yours truly included.  They want nothing more than to sit in front of their computer and plunk words down onto the page.  Going on book tours or lining up interviews makes them uncomfortable and are seemingly a complete waste of time because it doesn't seem to coincide with a sudden spike in book sales.

If you go anywhere within a few hundred (or more) miles of the Badlands in South Dakota, you will see billboards galore about a place called Wall Drug.  I have been through the Badlands and the Black Hills area a handful of times in my life, and truth be told I have never visited the store Wall Drug.

But I remember the signs.

Even still to this day.

When it comes to writers, the axiom of keep publishing, keep putting more and more stuff out there in the world, seems to be the most valuable advice when it comes to marketing.  Are there other pieces of advice to market your works?  Of course.  But the best overall is to keep writing.

The more inventory you have, the better your chances of gaining someone's attention.  When I finish reading a book and crave something different, I go through my list of ebooks to discover an author I had bought their book long ago or something in my mind reminds me to check out their books.

Remember, slow and steady wins the race.  Look at the most recent theatrical or television or streaming adaptations of books to come out in the last handful of years.  The majority are from books written a few decades ago.

With that being said, if you like serial killer thrillers, be sure to check out the first in my Central Division series: Beholder's Eye.  It is free.

Here again is the link to all ebook retailers for this book.

Lastly, on my current work-in-progress, I have finished with the third part (out of four) and my current word count is around 89,000 words.  Hoping to be done with this and move on to the next project by early summer.

Finding Support / Happenings In The Outhouse 04-Feb-2022

Who has your back?

You have been working on something for a long time--or there is something you have been putting off and now is the time to get it started.

It doesn't matter what it is.  A project for the home.  A side business.  Getting in shape.  Furthering your education.  Moving forward in your grief.  And the list goes on . . .

Whatever it is, you may find yourself asking who has your back?  Who is supporting you?

First, let me tell you that you should be supporting you.  You should be the one to put the full weight of your decision into whatever it is that is driving you.  Letting others in, especially at an early stage, may be disastrous.

But this depends on who it is that you are letting in.

Find one who will be both honest and positive.  They should be an encouragement to you.  If something is completely unrealistic--like, if I wanted to be the next great NFL quarterback, when I've never played football and I could care less about the sport--the feedback should be something you should take to heart.  But if you have been in the business world for a few decades and want to advance your career by going for an MBA, that is more realistic.

It may be difficult to find the right one to support you.  But, if you trust in God, the support will be found for you.

But as a first step, give yourself grace, be positive, and be your number one supporter first.