Thoughts

[k_a_webb]

Once again I’m thinking about ways to get more people interested in what I write. I know people visit this site, because I can view the stats, but barely any of them ever comment or even make use of the buttons I set up in an attempt to make things easier. Knowing that people do visit is a comfort. It means that I have readers even if they don’t want to get involved more than that. I just know that I started writing this way so people could be more involved if they wanted to be and I would really love to have more people collecting credits, as having people ask me for stories makes me want to write more. I also have my prompts page which hasn’t been used yet.

I don’t know what more I can do, really. I am still waiting for a reply from the Web Fiction Guide, so if the World Walkers collection is accepted I’ll get the rest ready to be added. I plan on sending out some submissions. I just feel like I’m missing something. Part of that may be not having any ebooks ready for sale, because I’m hoping they’ll gain me some interest, even though I’m not selling via any of the known places. If things were easier for International authors I would, but the IRS make things difficult. (Anyone who thinks of some way around this problem will be smothered with more stories than they could possibly read.) Other than that… I just can’t think of anything else.

I’m more than grateful for everyone who is reading and getting involved, because I never thought I’d get one reader. Until I started posting my writing nothing was ever good enough, so I ended up with hundreds of drafts of one chapter and nothing more. Now I’m writing and sending out the first drafts, because I know people like what I write, even if there are occasionally typos. Doing that is making me happier than keeping everything hidden away, thinking that I could never be published.

However I would love to know what more people think when they read my stories. I can add more buttons, although I’m not going to put anything critical on them, and I’d really like having more people click the write more buttons. That does make me want to write more. Is there some way I can make it easy for people to comment, even if it is just to say a couple of words? Can I make it easier for people to ask for the stories they want to read? Let me know your ideas and I’ll do my best to implement them.

Mirrored from K. A. Jones Writing.

Comments

Try this...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

>>Part of that may be not having any ebooks ready for sale<<

Amazon and some other ebook stores have the option of posting free ebooks. Those tend to get attention from readers because people will search the freebie list when they're stuck waiting or otherwise bored and looking for new material. So you might make a sampler that contains good introductory stories to several of your settings, and post it for free on all the venues where you want to sell. At the same time, put up a for-sale ebook, like a theme anthology or bundled collection. There's usually a way to put ads or links or something into the ebook file, so you can basically make the free ebook point to the for-sale one as well as your website. Then if people like your writing, they know where to find more of it.

[wyld-dandelyon.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean.

A highlight of a recent convention was getting to chat briefly with a British songwriter I greatly respect, who said, "Yes, I know you--you're the one who posts all the lovely stories in live journal!"

She had never once commented on any of them, so this was the first I learned she was reading them!

[kajones-writing.livejournal.com]

It must have been wonderful to hear that she had read your stories, but comments are, to me, an important part of posting writing online. Without comments it feels like you're just writing for yourself.

[wyld-dandelyon.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree. I tell people busking online is kind of spooky, because you never know who's there.

On the other hand, you do hear from people you'd never meet otherwise.

It's just hard to get comments! That may be part of why haikujaguar invites people to talk with her characters.

Have you tried cliffhangers?

Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Feedback is candy. It really helps to know who's reading your stuff, and especially, which pieces they like best.

[natalief.livejournal.com]

Can the buttons appear on LJ? Because I only read here. Maybe I need to learn to click through more often.

[kajones-writing.livejournal.com]

Sorry, they're a website only thing. It's a wordpress plug in that gives me the buttons and not transferable to LJ, unless LJ decides to implement them.

Well...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Clicking through would help. But you could just comment with "More, please." At least that would indicate your interest.

[wyld-dandelyon.livejournal.com]

Besides, longer replies are WONDERFUL!