Being a bit green and wet behind the ears when it comes to this Twittering business, I'm discovering things as I go along, and I write this for those of you reading it in the future (hello, I'm Jon Lymon, and I'm probably a bit dead now) so you don't make the same mistakes.
One thing I've discovered is that the people most keen to follow me are fellow self-published authors.
I've been happy to follow back and have even initiated a few follows myself.
But I'm using Twitter to try and raise my profile and sell a few ebooks. And for my money, fellow authors aren't going to be up for buying my stuff (just as I'm not really up for buying their stuff). So why am I bothering?
I don't have an answer to that question right now. I suppose it's a case of wanting as many followers as poss. But recently, I've tried a change of tack and have started to follow avid readers, book bloggers, people into thrillers and horrors.
Problem is not many of these are following back.
Even bigger problem: since upping my Twitter usage, I've sold precisely zero books.
The 'Write About What You Know' Myth
There's been a mini backlash against the old adage about writing about what you know recently. And I'm right behind it.
The only thing I like about rules is breaking them. When it comes to writing, anyway.
(I'm a law abiding citizen of course, allegedly.)
But writing about what you know is so limiting, not to mention potentially dull, unless you've got SAS, KGB or FBI on your CV.
I know shit about travelling into space to hunt down an asteroid made of diamond. So is that what I've written in The Money Star? (Yes, some might think it's shit.)
Surely we should be writing about WHO we know. Combining traits from people we're close to, have met or have seen on a train to form recognisable characters (not too recognisable though - like I said, I abide by that thing called the law.)
Then we should be putting these characters into places and situations that are created or enriched by our imaginations. Shouldn't we?
Next in this almost certain to be shortlived series of rule breaking posts: The 'Never Start A Book With Dialogue' Myth or something more interesting.
The only thing I like about rules is breaking them. When it comes to writing, anyway.
(I'm a law abiding citizen of course, allegedly.)
But writing about what you know is so limiting, not to mention potentially dull, unless you've got SAS, KGB or FBI on your CV.
I know shit about travelling into space to hunt down an asteroid made of diamond. So is that what I've written in The Money Star? (Yes, some might think it's shit.)
Surely we should be writing about WHO we know. Combining traits from people we're close to, have met or have seen on a train to form recognisable characters (not too recognisable though - like I said, I abide by that thing called the law.)
Then we should be putting these characters into places and situations that are created or enriched by our imaginations. Shouldn't we?
Next in this almost certain to be shortlived series of rule breaking posts: The 'Never Start A Book With Dialogue' Myth or something more interesting.
Publishing Deal For Book Written On A Blackberry
I've just got rid of my Blackberry, as well! Never mind. Here's the article.
Self-Publishing And Twitter - Early Days
About a month ago, I made a decision to up my Twitter usage, to see
what happened. (Yeah, bit late, get with it, blah, blah, I know).
I wanted to see if Twitter could get my name out there and maybe boost sales of my books on Kindle or Smashwords.
I had a whole three followers before I started this, and was following
about 10 people, mainly famous folk – Stephen Fry of course, Simon Pegg, some other amusing folk.
So, without further ado, even though there hasn't been a single ado in this post yet, here’s
what’s happened since:
I’m now hovering around the 100 followers mark. Mostly fellow
self-published authors. But also the occasional Russian lady.
I’m already conscious that repetitive promotional tweets of my books may
be putting off some followers and tempting them to click that dreaded unfollow
button. So I keep them to a minimum and make sure they’re bloody interesting.
I’ve clicked on plenty of links suggested by tweets from some of the
130 odd people I’m now following. Usually useful tips and advice about
self-publishing.
I haven’t bought any of the books some of the people I’m following have
tweeted about. But I have clicked on a fair few links. (With all this writing
and working to be done, I don’t get to read much.)
Some authors constantly retweet the same tweets selling their books. At
the moment, that’s fine with me. Probably because I’m doing the same sort of
thing.
The number of followers I’ve had fluctuates. I expect some people get
pissed off with any kind of book promotion and just, well piss off and unfollow
me. Fair enough.
I've turned into a Follower Hunter. I started off with a Tweet and Wait policy. Put something witty out there and wait for the followers to flood in. They trickled. So I had to get all proactive.
Of the 100 odd Tweets I’ve twittered on about over the past month, 1
has been retweeted.
But here’s the bottom line, which is why I’ve put it at the bottom and
made it look like a line:
I haven’t sold any extra books.
Is Writing Killing You?
According to this article on BBC News, it could be.
I don't know many (if any) people who write while standing up or doing anything other than sitting down.
And we all know how engrossing this business can be. You can really get into what you're writing and before you know it, it's dark outside, the dogs are whimpering for water and you've completely forgotten to do that other thing you were meant to be doing (whatever it was).
The article offers no solutions other than don't sit down so much, which surely translates to don't write so much. And let's face it, that's not an option.
So are we all prepared to die for our art?
I don't know many (if any) people who write while standing up or doing anything other than sitting down.
And we all know how engrossing this business can be. You can really get into what you're writing and before you know it, it's dark outside, the dogs are whimpering for water and you've completely forgotten to do that other thing you were meant to be doing (whatever it was).
The article offers no solutions other than don't sit down so much, which surely translates to don't write so much. And let's face it, that's not an option.
So are we all prepared to die for our art?
One In A Million, Yeah, That's What You Are
Ahhh, it's great being referred to as 'one in a million' isn't it? Proves you're a rare gem. Someone who stands out by being different.
However, take the phrase at face value and things take a nasty turn. Because being just one among a million makes standing out nigh on impossible. You're just part of the crowd.
But, my fellow self-pubbers, that's the situation each of us faces. Our name is but one among a million wannabe authors. Our latest book but one among a million wannabe bestsellers. Our blog just one among a million wannabe favourites.
Would you back a million to one shot? That'd be the equivalent of putting your money on a one-legged elderly mare in a horse race brimming with shiny Grand National or Kentucky Derby winning specimens.
You'd have to be seriously deluded to think you could win.
Just as us unknown writers have to be suffering serious delusions to think we can overcome those odds and make our name and our work stand out from the rest.
However, take the phrase at face value and things take a nasty turn. Because being just one among a million makes standing out nigh on impossible. You're just part of the crowd.
But, my fellow self-pubbers, that's the situation each of us faces. Our name is but one among a million wannabe authors. Our latest book but one among a million wannabe bestsellers. Our blog just one among a million wannabe favourites.
Would you back a million to one shot? That'd be the equivalent of putting your money on a one-legged elderly mare in a horse race brimming with shiny Grand National or Kentucky Derby winning specimens.
You'd have to be seriously deluded to think you could win.
Just as us unknown writers have to be suffering serious delusions to think we can overcome those odds and make our name and our work stand out from the rest.
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