tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post8839618987724590641..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Guest Post by Carlos CooperJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-49393594312899801632013-06-25T11:34:45.261-05:002013-06-25T11:34:45.261-05:00@Elizabeth, the dialogue in the first novel was an...@Elizabeth, the dialogue in the first novel was an experiment. More of a meld with a screenplay feel. Some love it and some don't. The rest of my books have normal dialogue. Thanks for reading!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00343487263835202568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-50216305855237636922013-06-25T10:10:08.917-05:002013-06-25T10:10:08.917-05:00I immediately downloaded Back to War (it cost $3.7...I immediately downloaded Back to War (it cost $3.79 but I live abroad, and happy to purchase it). Am reading it now and the story is engrossing but the script version of dialogue doesn't work at all. for me at least. yanks me right out of the story and wouldn't read another book where the dialogue is so separate from the text. sorry. But if that's what you like, it's always good to experiment.<br /><br />Love the covers. Thank you for your service.Elizabethnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-87233178878971872822013-06-25T09:28:19.896-05:002013-06-25T09:28:19.896-05:00@ColinM, Thanks for the note! I use http://99Desig...@ColinM, Thanks for the note! I use http://99Designs.com for my covers. It's like a gladiator battle to win your business. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00343487263835202568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-26125861127142559562013-06-24T17:32:21.068-05:002013-06-24T17:32:21.068-05:00Hi Carlos,
Great covers. Can you tell us who you ...Hi Carlos,<br /><br />Great covers. Can you tell us who you use? Also, very good description on Amazon. I downloaded Back to War and am looking forward to it, but your others look quite good as well. Best of luck and I hope you do well from Joe's Blog.Colin Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02511279879308565952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-23392457572493328152013-06-24T09:17:11.708-05:002013-06-24T09:17:11.708-05:00Carlos, thanks so much for the information. I brie...Carlos, thanks so much for the information. I briefly checked out the site and it actually blew my mind. I haven't seen anything like this before (actually get multiple designers to compete on your cover design) - this seems like a really great service for indie authors - and obviously you have had great results with their service. I will definitely be giving them a try.Daniel O'Halloranhttp://danielohalloran.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-20247059331433147382013-06-24T09:02:37.594-05:002013-06-24T09:02:37.594-05:00@danielh, had most of my covers done on 99Designs....@danielh, had most of my covers done on 99Designs.com. I love to see talented designers compete and make the final product better and better. Not the cheapest (lowest package is $299, I think), but awesome if you're serious about getting a hot cover. Again, I'm a business guy first, so I'm all about paying to make my brand's image look good. A step a lot of authors miss. Thanks again!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00343487263835202568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-86403259665214317592013-06-24T08:56:55.075-05:002013-06-24T08:56:55.075-05:00@anonymous
Actually my first two novels are avail...@anonymous<br /><br />Actually my first two novels are available in paperback. Also keep I mind that you can always download the Free Kindle reading app to your computer, iPhone, etc... :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00343487263835202568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61678917895330916872013-06-24T08:53:49.919-05:002013-06-24T08:53:49.919-05:00Carlos, those covers are gorgeous. Did you make th...Carlos, those covers are gorgeous. Did you make them yourself or get a third party to help you with them. If it is a third party would you mind sharing the name with the rest of us?Daniel O'Halloranhttp://danielohalloran.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-71761900405078742372013-06-24T08:50:10.258-05:002013-06-24T08:50:10.258-05:00Carlos -- First, my deep and grateful thanks for y...Carlos -- First, my deep and grateful thanks for your service to our country.<br /><br />Second, your books sound like something I'd love to read -- HOWEVER, I do not have an e-reader, nor is reading online an option. Like many people, I still read hard copy books.<br /><br />This is the big reason I don't buy most of the enticing-sounding books mentioned in this blog. I do not have an e-reader, and only offering the books in e-format cuts out a lot of potential readers -- and any possibility of persuading libraries to stock your book.<br /><br />If you're publishing using Amazon's platform, I ask you to consider also publishing your book<br />s as trade paperbacks.<br /><br />Please!<br /><br />Many thanks to you and to Joe Konrath. This blog is a gem!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-26917285144235122862013-06-24T07:10:51.451-05:002013-06-24T07:10:51.451-05:00@Wayne McDonald, Thanks!
@Hollis Shiloh, I'll...@Wayne McDonald, Thanks!<br /><br />@Hollis Shiloh, I'll piggy back on what Wayne said. For me the freebie promotions are mostly for visibility. I want the 'chance' of new readers finding me. Then it's up to me to convince them to stick around with my writing. Negative reviews are inevitable. I've tried to ignore the snarky trollish ones. Sometimes the negatives actually help attract your true readership. When my dialogue in my first book was compared to The Sand of Iwo Jima in a One-Star review, that helped me. People who love that movie are exactly who I want. It took me a while to figure that out.<br /><br />@Eric Daugherty, thanks for the kind words<br /><br />@Merrill Heath, thanks!<br /><br />@Chris Everheart, thanks! That's a great book if you're struggling with saying "I'm a writer." Enjoy!<br /><br />@Anonymous- regarding endings of installments<br /><br />I try to write like I'm writing for a TV show. Each episode can stand alone, but there's always a teaser for the next installment. I want my readers to buy everything, but that won't always happen. Even readers who don't like your books as much should get closure at the end of a novel. I guess it just takes practice to produce a proper cliffhanger at the end.<br /><br />@Mike Dennis, Thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00343487263835202568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1008819011420279292013-06-24T06:00:34.473-05:002013-06-24T06:00:34.473-05:00@Anonymous 1:24 : I've just finished the third...@Anonymous 1:24 : I've just finished the third volume of my science-fantasy trilogy, Ardalia. <br /><br />Of course, your story has to be long enough. Mine is 440 000 words long for the three books. <br /><br />It was clear from the beginning my protagonists would explore different countries : the country of the people of the wind, the people of the water and from the earth and fire. <br /><br />So, even it didn't turn out so divided as that, I had from the beginning an idea of three or four books, each centered on one element (the intelligent species in this world are each linked to one element).<br /><br />You have to know where to divide your story, though. My advice would be to have each book with at least one quest fulfilled.<br /><br />Robert Jordan, he finished practically each book of The Wheel of Time with a big fight against one of the Chosen.<br /><br />It's a good way to bring a satisfaction to a reader, although it reminded me a little too much the "end level bosses" in videogames. <br /><br />For myself, I tried to end each book with some striking or memorable scene, at the exception of the last one.<br />Alan Spadehttp://emmanuelguillot.over-blog.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-45197860623289707342013-06-24T01:24:22.635-05:002013-06-24T01:24:22.635-05:00Anyone got any tips on the mechanics of writing a ...Anyone got any tips on the mechanics of writing a trilogy, or know of a good website?<br /><br />I know how to write a stand alone novel with a beginning, middle, and end, but stretching it out into a trilogy is a little iffy. I don't want to make it seem like I only stretched out the story just to make extra money. I myself, hate the feeling I get when I read a book in a series that doesn't have proper closure, it makes the series seem like one long never ending soap opera that's designed to suck up your money. :(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-77213717182697915392013-06-23T23:41:10.205-05:002013-06-23T23:41:10.205-05:00Great post, Carlos. Your Rule of Three is concise ...Great post, Carlos. Your Rule of Three is concise and on the money. You have obviously adhered to that credo. Your covers are killer.<br /><br />And above all, thank you for your service to our country.Mike Dennishttp://mikedennisnoir.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-688278240711894032013-06-23T21:28:19.565-05:002013-06-23T21:28:19.565-05:00Great post! Thanks for sharing your experience, Ca...Great post! Thanks for sharing your experience, Carlos. It will be a big help as I go forward. Will read "You're a Writer" (and will probably start acting like one). Thanks for the ebook, too. I'm looking forward to reading it. Chris Everhearthttp://chriseverheart.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-82058263929903145152013-06-23T19:54:21.041-05:002013-06-23T19:54:21.041-05:00Bob said: Carlos-- thanks for your service to our ...<i>Bob said: Carlos-- thanks for your service to our country and all the best with your books.</i><br /><br />Ditto.Merrill Heathhttp://merrillheath.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-72209995771736750582013-06-23T19:15:06.711-05:002013-06-23T19:15:06.711-05:00Joe is the most open and giving guy talking about ...Joe is the most open and giving guy talking about self-publishing. Let's do the same and pay it forward :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00343487263835202568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-55326334328361508172013-06-23T19:13:34.552-05:002013-06-23T19:13:34.552-05:00Thanks, Bob. Love your work.
CGCThanks, Bob. Love your work.<br /><br />CGCAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00343487263835202568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-31711487679307403252013-06-23T18:46:51.338-05:002013-06-23T18:46:51.338-05:00@Eric Daughtery
Thank you for helping Eric. I'...@Eric Daughtery<br />Thank you for helping Eric. I've annoyed him a few times about his covers. He has 2 novels he wrote a while back and I'm hoping he gets decent covers made when he uploads them.<br /><br />@Hollis Shiloh<br />Even if they don't read them there's more chances of getting in the top 100 lists for a sub category where people who are interested will be able to see them. There's also the chance that they will mention it to a friend who does read that type of story.<br /><br />I think freebies overall depend on what your writing and how much other books you have. I write niche short stories that my readers will find from search keys. My friend linked above writes literary fiction and I can't imaging his 'Uranus Unbound' or 'The Need for Shame' titles for example will appeal to people looking for books on Uranus or bullying. So freebies are possibly going to be very useful for him to connect to people who like eccentric fiction.<br /><br />Negative reviews are also inevitable since I think people vacuum up freebies, read them weeks later and don't take responsibility for downloading something they wouldn't normally read.Wayne McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13444890562154236226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-74231166249890665302013-06-23T17:15:36.835-05:002013-06-23T17:15:36.835-05:00@Wayne McDonald, I downloaded your friend’s short ...@Wayne McDonald, I downloaded your friend’s short story but I have to say my first reaction upon seeing the page was that is a really bad cover. This is just my opinion of course, but it looks like a drunken ghost is having a hard time shopping. You need to drag your friend to this blog. Joe is always hammering the importance of a good cover and it's easy to see why when you look at Mr. Cooper's.Eric Daughertynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-62196488575112722742013-06-23T17:02:17.880-05:002013-06-23T17:02:17.880-05:00Over 200 guest blogs is amazing. Can't wait to...Over 200 guest blogs is amazing. Can't wait to read them all. When they are all up someone should think about compiling them into an ebook.Eric Daughertynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61537667429971196442013-06-23T14:50:00.057-05:002013-06-23T14:50:00.057-05:00You have great cover art!
Oh, I loved You Are a W...You have great cover art!<br /><br />Oh, I loved You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) by Jeff Goins! Excellent book.<br /><br />I really look forward to these more frequent posts of authors sharing their experiences, so, yay for that! :)<br /><br />I don't quite understand, though, how giving away more books to people who don't read them will help an author. Is it because it gives him or her a higher free ranking? <br /><br />Also, it seems like when I give away my books on Amazon, they sometimes get more negative reviews. Does the benefit of publicity, etc., offset this? I'm wondering about that a lot lately, and sort of on the fence about whether to continue experimenting with free giveaways or stopping them altogether. <br />Hollis Shilohhttp://www.amazon.com/Hollis-Shiloh/e/B00BPXIMWOnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-71091717019202029742013-06-23T14:49:08.695-05:002013-06-23T14:49:08.695-05:00Thanks Joe.
I didn't know that if you didn...Thanks Joe.<br /><br />I didn't know that if you didn't reply, it meant you had no problems. I was assuming that you weren't replying because you couldn't find any free dates.<br /><br />Thanks for clearing that up! Cheersshantnunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-72962527598775535632013-06-23T13:24:28.383-05:002013-06-23T13:24:28.383-05:00I love your covers also, they are beautiful. I pic...I love your covers also, they are beautiful. I picked up a copy. Also put You Are a Writer in my wish list, thanks for the advice. I'm also a big fan of Joe's. I read his entire blog in about a couple weeks last year and it helped me start publishing.<br /><br />I know this is crass but if anyone could help my friend could you download a freebie of his to bump him? He's struggling like many, he's a bit strange but helped me through my seperation in his own way.<br />http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DD0555EWayne McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13444890562154236226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-12480410440900609792013-06-23T12:32:59.657-05:002013-06-23T12:32:59.657-05:00I've got over 250 emails for guest posts, so I...I've got over 250 emails for guest posts, so I can't reply to them individually.<br /><br />You need to:<br /><br />1. Email me with the heading TESS GUEST BLOG 7/15 (or any date you want)<br />2. Attach the blog post in MS Word with all hyperlinks already embedded.<br />3. Attach the cover art to your book as a jpg.<br />4. Remind me the day before you want the post to go live by sending all of the above to me a second time.<br /><br />And I'll post it. If I don't, remind me. And if I have conflicting dates, I'll let you know.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-21129317212927500202013-06-23T12:28:48.781-05:002013-06-23T12:28:48.781-05:00Joe, I've been trying to contact you to arrang...Joe, I've been trying to contact you to arrange my guest blog (at joekonrath at comcast dot net), but can't seem to get through. Are my emails lying in your spam folder?shantnunoreply@blogger.com