Lesson 14

 Authors worst Enemy; Lesson 14 (this is a rant)
 Everyone has a story to tell, but who will read it is the question. Just on Amazon alone in the United States, there are over 7 million books and growing, or rotating with 15,000 new books per year, or is it per month. Even some name-brand, New York bestsellers, famous authors are ranked at 65,000 in a pile of millions. How do we, English dropouts, even think that we can compete or be seen?

With the Internet nowadays, everyone has a chance. The stories are written, maybe edited, maybe not, but it is up and for sale. Grammar and context may be atrocious, but giving the story a chance, it might be something worth seeing on TV. But again, who will ever see it?
Authors want to share their work with the world, but they want to be paid so they can quit their 9-to-5 dead end jobs and relax to write more books. The problem is other authors want the same thing, and to get themselves noticed, they give their books away for free, or for ninety-nine cents. At that rate, they will have to work a real job and a part-time job just to pay for advertising and buying their own books to do book signings with bookstores. You need to buy a table, banners, your own books, a phone that can take credit cards, and if you don’t sell but ten books, you’re stuck with the other ninety or so to again, giveaway someplace else. Also it is polite to give the store owner a thank you gift.
I don’t only blame authors. People say you should get a literary agent who in turn say they will help to submit your book to a publisher. They will only take 15 to 25 percent commission for said sales, and that is from your ten percent commission if they do find you a publishing house. NEVER PAY AN AGENT MONEY! COMMISSION ONLY BASED ON SALES. But they too are bombarded with over 7000 authors a month, so, many agents will not look past the cover letter that needs a lawyer format of strict complexity setup to their liking, and they all want something different. All of this just so they can take that fifteen percent of your ten percent that you might receive from a publisher.
There are also horror stories out there from authors who gave up a job, moved to be closer to the publisher only to be dropped nine months later, because the pub had a celebrity book, or political book run across their desk. The author fights to get their book rights back, or get sued for publishing their own book by themselves without a release.
Still, we continue to write, and write we shall, if not just to relieve our soul, and in hopes of finding someone who will enjoy our writings and want more. I started for the love of children, and writing down my dreams that ran like movies out of nowhere. I want to help children to learn self-esteem, confidence, and also giving them the encouragement in reading. For my adult readers, I love to fill them with emotion, excitement, and intrigue with heart-pounding drama, so they can escape for that hour or two into a different world, or falling in love with a character.
It’s not that I have received that many rejections out of the hundreds of literary agents or publishers. Many of them didn’t even respond with a no thank you email. So being that I live in Las Vegas, I thought I would gamble on myself. I cashed in my life insurance policy and published four books out of sixty with vanity pay publishers in hopes of sales.
But as I said about my competition, marketing all boils down on who has a bigger expense account, and how cheap can they sell for, if not for free. Every random person or reader that have read my books, published or not, have all said five-star comments, but these are not permitted on Amazon, and just because they said them it’s easier to pull my own tooth than to get another person to post that comment for you. You can pay $100 for a book site for people to read and post a review, but that doesn’t mean they will stay on your page either. I have had two radio interviews heard by over 10 million listeners, simulcast in fifteen different states, or so I was told. I’ve paid for email ads and Google ads for over 1 million clicks, expanded over six months during different seasons. Before holidays, summer, and back to school, getting thousands of likes, engagements, and first chapter reads.
I have increased my Facebook and posts reaching over 800 friends just to get 7 to 20 likes, one share, and maybe a comment or two with Facebook only sending it to maybe thirty of my friends.
My website gets 300 visits per week, which is a thirty-six percent rating instead of a seventy percent which is what they say you should strive for, and still, I continue to write, hoping for the one JK Rowlings, or Stephen King winner. Hoping for the right person to see my work and to see the potential.
They always say, “It takes money to make money.” Or, “It’s who you know, and who you__, or what’s in it for me.” This is the attitude that is out there. I have politely ask to just push a button and share with your friends, but all I see is an adorable face of a child with a funny caption, or an animal winking with political smears shared over a 1,000 times.
To this I say, enjoy your day, while I continue on my latest book, hopefully, soon loved by millions. Just a friendly reminder, Easter is next Sunday. Even if it is not your thing, take time to enjoy your family and friends, and give thanks in your own way by spreading love, compassion, and joy to those around you. Isn’t that what we all want? Until next week,
 
Happy Writing from rickkurtisbooks.com