Tag: U.N. Owen

For a book to be successful, you need reviews.

Here’s the thing. Avid readers, those that build relationships with authors and with other readers, who become voices to be heard, are suddenly prevented by Amazon to leave reviews. The same is true of blogs, just about the only promo opportunity left open to writers that don’t have the backing of their big-buck publishers. Why? Because Amazon seeks to avoid bias.

Well, Amazon. You’ve gone cuckoo.

The fact that I’ve become a fan of a particular author now makes me unqualified to review the book? If I like an author, I will write to them to let them know how much I enjoyed their book, perhaps to ask for an autographed copy. Does that communication make me biased?

Well, duh, Amazon. In books, music, TV and movies, you bet your ass I’m biased. I tend to enjoy music by the same bands, movies by the same director or featuring the same actor. And yes, once I’ve found an author I like, I become–by definition–biased.

And you know what? I like shopping and selling at Amazon. I am biased toward you. But by your standards, my biased opinion is irrelevant.

Seriously, none of this makes sense. You would think a large company would appreciate loyal customers. Loyal customers like shopping at Amazon and reliably buy their favorite authors’ books, then recommend both to friends.

And you frown on this why, exactly?

You’re a business, sometimes you even pay your taxes, looking after the bottom line. Hmm. Why would you punish customers for their loyalty?

Well, allow me some (moderately) wild speculation.

Loyalty is good for business, but loyal readers are an authors’ army. If you want to exert your dominance over authors, life would be easier if you could do this without that army. Your new policy encourages writers to keep their readers at a distance, and encourages readers not to engage with authors if they want their opinions to be heard.

I can’t see any immediate benefit, but I assume you have a plan. You’ve already flexed your muscle in front of big publishers and come to an arrangement; you are currently pushing the smaller presses out of business. I suspect putting pressure on authors who self-publish is next.

The last thing you want is an army of loyal fans signing petitions and causing a stink.

That said, I will continue shopping at Amazon. Once you control all supply, from those who publish to those who make music, and set your own prices, no doubt we, the customers, will pay dearly. Until then, I’ll enjoy a bargain just like the next person.

U.N. Owen

(This is U.N. Owen’s second guest post. Hope you enjoyed.)

Dear New Author,

You published your book about three, four weeks ago. Right about now you should be getting frustrated. Why isn’t my book selling, like, at all? Why aren’t the reviews coming in? Why aren’t my readers telling their friends? Did they hate my book?

No, they did not hate your book. It simply takes the right occasion for readers to talk about their latest read. How many books that you’ve read over the past year did you make a fuss about? A book may be wonderful, but as soon as you reach the last page, you’re ready for the next adventure.

Now that you’re a writer, you’re more aware of your fellow authors’ plights. So you share their promo posts on Facebook, but did any of the books, even the ones you loved, make you urge your friends to buy it? Or to leave reviews? Did you do any more than hit ‘share’?

Even if Anne Reader totally and absolutely loved your book, your success as an author is not her priority. Her friends are into cats and updates on her family. Not your book. Sure, posting about your book would help YOU, but to be blunt, she’s not getting anything out of it. Besides, what if her friends hate the book and think she’s weird? Or what if they think she’s weird to post about a book in the first place? No, it’s safer not to.

In other words, there are just too many reasons not to recommend your book.

Even if Anne says to her besties, “hey, I just read this book and loved it, you should read it too,” how many of her friends are going to scramble to buy it?

If you find twenty readers in the first week, and around eight loved it and six liked it, maybe two will tell their friends ONCE about your wonderful novel. How many of these friends will remember the title the next time they’re browsing Amazon?

I’m not saying good things won’t happen, but they happen a) slowly and b) not in a way that you’d ever hear about it. This business is unpredictable, and reality is stacked against you.

One thing is certain: Anne probably won’t share the news for you. That’s not her job.

It’s yours.

Ads don’t work for new authors. They are a tool for selling, not for promoting. In other words, you have to get your name out there (promoting) before you can use it as a sales tool. Only hard, relentless work will make a dent. Maybe you’re skilled at promoting yourself. One of my friends is hopping from blog to blog, giving interviews… She works like a maniac at it. And that’s how she gathers sales. What’s more, she’s become damn good at it.

Find whatever promo activities work for you.

My point is this: Keep it up. It might take a long time, but the recognition and the recommendations will add up. Two recommendations will become eight after a year. Release another book, and now you have fifteen fans eager to tell their friends. After five years, you’ll have an army.

Now you’re getting somewhere.

Don’t forget building your platform as an author in the meantime. No, not a platform. Think of it as a resumé. Work on getting experience, on using new skills, and you’ll be climbing that ladder in no time. Don’t believe the naysayers who claim you’ll never make it as a writer. Because you might. Work hard, seize opportunities, and be patient. That’s how all overnight successes happen: slowly. Do that, and you stand a pretty good chance of being able to support your hobby, make enough money to attend conferences, to pay for blog tours and promo material from your writing kitty. And to build something that’ll help you in your retirement.

And maybe, much, much more. Just have fun doing it.

Good luck and keep writing.

U.N. Owen

PS from Carmen: Ms. Owen is right. But if you enjoy writing, you don’t need the lure of instant success to keep going. Enjoy the small triumphs. Learn from the failures.