tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post7566627734061049184..comments2024-03-18T06:16:18.802-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Quitter QuitterJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-73692785164571009192013-11-13T08:37:07.571-06:002013-11-13T08:37:07.571-06:00I've been writing for over twenty years and st...I've been writing for over twenty years and started self-publishing a little over a year ago, slowly building a fanbase. I'm about to publish the third novel in my Amsterdam Assassin Series on November 15th, but I'm already working and researching book four.<br /><br />I don't see a reason to quit, even if my sales are lagging behind... I would be writing my stories anyway, and the lovely reviews and feedback I receive from readers are enough impetus to keep on writing.<br /><br />I consider myself already a success because I found a passion in my life that I can follow, and my books entertain and influence complete strangers, which is something magical.<br /><br />Thanks for your blog post, Joe. Although I'm hardly the type to quit because I don't find commercial mass appeal, I can still relate to some of the things you mentioned.<br /><br />Martyn V. Halm, author of the Amsterdam Assassin Series.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-45944466576313902512013-11-01T12:24:15.608-05:002013-11-01T12:24:15.608-05:00Thank you for saying what every writer needs to he...Thank you for saying what every writer needs to hear. The Authors' Assistanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08253923962913463051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-33695516285841827842013-10-28T12:12:37.516-05:002013-10-28T12:12:37.516-05:00Nice Post, Joe.
There is no such thing as failure...Nice Post, Joe.<br /><br />There is no such thing as failure until you give up.<br /><br />It took me two years and 4 novels to get to 40 books per month in sales...<br /><br />In five years I'll have written at least ten novels. By then who knows...<br /><br />To me, it's simple. If you like writing don't quit - but don't quit your day job either :)<br />W4$<br /><br /><br /><br />Wright Forbuckshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14042072734602478068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-8084188941832420262013-10-26T06:34:21.812-05:002013-10-26T06:34:21.812-05:00Someone on KB Boards said you had never done any p...Someone on KB Boards said you had never done any promotion during the trad years too. Been following you here since 08 and loved how you've "changed your tune" to flow with the times - and remember the flak you took for it. <br />You were the impetus that pushed me to publish and to realize work is not enough - annihilate procrastination, perfectionism and fear, and then keep going.<br />Tracy Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09301858191296695347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-90093952747318311502013-10-20T11:50:32.570-05:002013-10-20T11:50:32.570-05:00Great post, Joe! If someone can be discouraged fro...Great post, Joe! If someone can be discouraged from publishing, they should be because if they can be discouraged by something someone says, they sure as hell won't make it through the rest of the crap we go through. J. R. Tomlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01109874615059334200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-56221581771283051112013-10-20T09:53:19.586-05:002013-10-20T09:53:19.586-05:00Great post (as usual).
E-publishing has spawned a...Great post (as usual).<br /><br />E-publishing has spawned a new breed of writers who believe that the sum total of writing involves banging out a few hundred thousand words, tying everything together with a spiffy cover, then sitting back and waiting for the Amazon royalty checks to roll in every month. The same kind of writers related to people who equate being a writer with time ("I would write if I only had more time"......like time is the secret to success). Writing is a craft and it takes time, effort, hard work, studying the craft, and dedication.<br /><br />If you're thinking about quitting either do it, or stop whining and get back to work.Kevin Michaelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00703125974467675009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-42912850330914689892013-10-19T17:07:01.260-05:002013-10-19T17:07:01.260-05:00I've seen some truly awful books sell well on ...I've seen some truly awful books sell well on Amazon. I mean, atrociously writtenly, no editing whatsoever, the kind of stilted, unnatural dialogue that would choke a horse. And they SELL. It really does have a lot to do with timing and luck, and not always quality writing, though I imagine sustaining that success is another question when the writing is so subpar.McVickersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-28783356454351338022013-10-17T11:23:09.901-05:002013-10-17T11:23:09.901-05:00I really appreciate this post, and also all the co...I really appreciate this post, and also all the comments from people who have worked years to get to the beginning of their definition of success.<br /><br />I'm just starting out myself (finished the year of learning to complete a novel, and publishing it myself) and trying to ignore all the crazy one-in-a-million success stories that do me no good to compare myself to. As someone else said, there are many stories in my head, and they need to be told for my own sense of accomplishment.<br /><br />True, the industry is changing even more than it was two years ago, with being discovered by readers even tougher than before, but I can't quit. I've been writing since I could hold a pen and type on a typewriter (best gift my mother ever gave me)! For me, sales are not really about the money, but about the number of eyes that deem my work worthy of taking up their time.Franklin Kendrick Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18147945394632498177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-49151454206718434462013-10-17T10:53:21.773-05:002013-10-17T10:53:21.773-05:00I wrote my first (probably awful) poem at the age ...I wrote my first (probably awful) poem at the age of fourteen. I turn fifty next birthday, and have several titles which can be found at the usual online outlets. Does that sound like a quitter to you?<br />:)Adele Cosgrove-Brayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09259791252513698589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-9189314728262185552013-10-16T20:18:15.408-05:002013-10-16T20:18:15.408-05:00Loved this! Loved this! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-18170912896988732662013-10-16T16:32:05.461-05:002013-10-16T16:32:05.461-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-79139994166240319372013-10-15T20:25:09.266-05:002013-10-15T20:25:09.266-05:00This is one of my favorite quotes:
“Only amateurs...This is one of my favorite quotes:<br /><br />“Only amateurs say that they write for their own amusement. Writing is not an amusing occupation. It is a combination of ditch-digging, mountain-climbing, treadmill and childbirth. Writing may be interesting, absorbing, exhilarating, racking, relieving. But amusing? Never!”<br />- Edna FerberAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-70794907292421713742013-10-15T18:38:36.533-05:002013-10-15T18:38:36.533-05:00thanks for sharing, nice infothanks for sharing, nice infoperkofashionhttp://www.perkofashion.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-33497289579090981252013-10-15T18:32:59.181-05:002013-10-15T18:32:59.181-05:00This post reminds me of a funny story.
Last year,...This post reminds me of a funny story.<br /><br />Last year, I'd finally saved up enough money to take a year off and focus entirely on my fiction writing.<br /><br />I'd been writing since I was little, so I thought this would be me living my dream.<br /><br />Nine months and two shitty novels later, I'm ready to jump off a bridge. I drink to the point of disgust and stuff myself with so much food I'm sick.<br /><br />I try lots of things to numb the hell I've created for myself - Xanax, video games, Internet - but not much works.<br /><br />Except quitting.<br /><br />I quit writing and can finally say I'm starting to see the light through the cracks.<br /><br />Read and listen to this post. It could save you a lot of trouble.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-49394757655427748642013-10-15T14:25:28.137-05:002013-10-15T14:25:28.137-05:00Joe, I've been following your success story of...Joe, I've been following your success story off and on since I first read Whiskey Sour. It's about time I said "thank you"-- so thank you. I used to tell my students: If you want to be a writer, keep writing. I'm glad you did.md mcmanishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10832335020144957514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-55615453911057334892013-10-15T12:12:17.610-05:002013-10-15T12:12:17.610-05:00Thanks for the kick in the seat, Joe. Sometimes th...Thanks for the kick in the seat, Joe. Sometimes the virtue of patience is overcome by the worry of "I am doing all I can and see no results."<br /><br />Then, I see the words on the screen, the cover on my dashboard, and think, "There is the result staring right at me."Robert Michaelhttp://www.infinitewordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-86035526900538166412013-10-15T08:14:49.835-05:002013-10-15T08:14:49.835-05:00Well, Joe, I for one found your numbers depressing...Well, Joe, I for one found your numbers depressing, but only in the sense that I don't have that number of readers! I'm writing to entertain my readers, but I don't have many of them. However, I just keep writing...it's more fun than anything else, outside of going into space, something I can't do. I've followed your and others' advice of just writing the next book.<br />I'm more impressed by the number of years you took to reach that number of readers. That stat is more motivation to keep on writing.Steven M. Moorehttp://stevenmmoore.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-85824233961180913822013-10-15T08:00:04.844-05:002013-10-15T08:00:04.844-05:00Thanks for the post Joe.
My sincere hope is that ...Thanks for the post Joe.<br /><br />My sincere hope is that it really will make authors (a lot) give it up and seek out success and prosperity in other fields than writing. I write but I also read a lot and am dismayed at the quality of a lot that is getting out there these days.<br /><br />While I do not forsake them the joy of seeing their work available to the public, I fear that many will waste a lot of time and energy going after a futile dream.<br /><br />To those that know they have it - do continue and work hard to become always better.<br /><br />P.S Is it easy to tell that I've just seen a edition of The White Queen? :)oakmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-37040500816773275242013-10-15T05:44:35.411-05:002013-10-15T05:44:35.411-05:00I'm another twenty year overnighter. Not sensa...I'm another twenty year overnighter. Not sensational - yet. but I'm not bothered. I'm enjoying life.Geraldine Evanshttp://www.geraldineevans.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-30665272982705149702013-10-15T03:16:38.838-05:002013-10-15T03:16:38.838-05:00Love that!Love that!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-79586800119301362522013-10-14T20:35:23.991-05:002013-10-14T20:35:23.991-05:00Thanks for this post. It was just what I needed. ...Thanks for this post. It was just what I needed. While I'm producing regularly (by the year's end I'll have released 3 novels, 2 novellas, and a dozen short stories this year), my sales are somewhat anemic. I've given away over a 1,000 ebook and sold barely 100. But I have stories to tell. I figure I'll give it 10 years and if I'm in the same spot I'm in now, I'll take up gambling.<br />--<br />R.J. SpearsRandomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00367486019583620421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-86659418036902266582013-10-14T20:31:37.341-05:002013-10-14T20:31:37.341-05:00Hi, Joe. I haven't commented here in years, b...Hi, Joe. I haven't commented here in years, but I couldn't pass this one by. I started reading this blog in 2005 and I learned a lot from your experience back then. I also remember that post.<br /><br />I wasn't published, but I was determined. Now I've written 20 books for a traditional publisher and just branched into self-pub. I'm not quitting. I work damn hard at this and I intend to keep working. <br /><br />When I first came to your blog, my writing income was zero. It's a whole lot more than that now. :) Thanks for the reminder that hard work pays off. If you're new here and new at writing, don't quit. The only way to get there is keep moving forward.Lynn Raye Harrishttp://www.lynnrayeharris.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-32629473954246308682013-10-14T19:53:12.783-05:002013-10-14T19:53:12.783-05:00The creator of the comic strip Dilbert echoed this...The creator of the comic strip Dilbert echoed this exact idea in an op-ed in today's Wall Street Journal: <br /><br />"Scott Adams' Secret of Success: Failure."<br /><br />Personally I collected 500+ rejections from agents/publishers before selling E-Book One. Now I have sold 250k in 32 months. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-68508855377619720992013-10-14T19:42:14.789-05:002013-10-14T19:42:14.789-05:00I can't quit writing until writing quits me.I can't quit writing until writing quits me.Sarah Stegallhttp://www.munchkyn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-53558151176561252222013-10-14T18:57:32.816-05:002013-10-14T18:57:32.816-05:00Brandon B. has it right. You should write only bec...Brandon B. has it right. You should write only because it's something you love to do — and because you keep getting story ideas. Everything else flows from that. As Joe notes in his post, it also helps to have a better half who believes deeply in you even through the toughest times.Joe Flynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17862186143599173970noreply@blogger.com