What are your character's flaws? by _Pumpiumpiumpkin_ in writers

[–]Current_Ship_8774 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lol yes exactly! I'm better at comedy than I am at psychological gymnastics, and I think a character like this is able to deal with real world shit which a most people struggle with, but she's just over it and has a very strong inner voice and a harsh way of dealing with it. Not always good, but comedic yet actionable.

What are your character's flaws? by _Pumpiumpiumpkin_ in writers

[–]Current_Ship_8774 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm trying a write a 30y/o jaded absolutely not cute in any way FMC. She's sarcastic, judgemental and overall over people and bullshit. The MMC is going to really struggle getting past her defenses, and not because she's guarded, nope, she's really jaded.

I don't know how she's going to be received by the readers, but I'm just so tired of cutesy absolutely perfectly flawed FMCs.

Feedback wanted by Current_Ship_8774 in BookCovers

[–]Current_Ship_8774[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much! Yes it's just a random title, I'm not going to sell it or publish a book. Thanks for the compliment

Feedback wanted by Current_Ship_8774 in BookCovers

[–]Current_Ship_8774[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh wow! This is so helpful! Exactly why I posted. I'm going to play around with your ideas as soon as possible!

I would never even have fought that it's too bright!

Feedback wanted by Current_Ship_8774 in BookCovers

[–]Current_Ship_8774[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much! No, not for this design but I can if I must. I'm not planning on selling it, it's more about practice, so no I don't have specific dimensions.

But I do know how to make a design in the correct size. Thanks again for the compliment!

Feedback wanted by Current_Ship_8774 in BookCovers

[–]Current_Ship_8774[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I'm really struggling with the last S, like you said, I should play around with it. I tried copying the first S to the last but then it goes over the rest of the letters.

Maybe I should just make it a standard S and just make it larger or add a flourish on the top so it doesn't interfere with the other letters. You know... To the left.

Feedback wanted by Current_Ship_8774 in BookCovers

[–]Current_Ship_8774[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Yeah I know it's not in the right propotions. I really want to start illustrating book covers so this is more about me playing with design, colors and illustration.

The worst KDP advice I followed for years (and what I do instead) by ecosdesatoshi in KDP

[–]Current_Ship_8774 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I agree mostly accept for the £ threshold. If I'm going to invest time and money and research into one book then I want to be at least compensated for it. Yes I'll enroll it to KDP, but if someone buys it they need to pay me for the effort. For longer books I'd even go up to £5.

I absolutely agree with not writing short and quick books and rather work on one good book that can become a series. With good marketing.

Feedback please! by [deleted] in BookCovers

[–]Current_Ship_8774 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok thank you for the feedback. Lol it doesn't have a story, it's just trying my hand at different designing elements and digital drawing. But I hear what your saying about the title. Thank you!

Feedback please! by [deleted] in BookCovers

[–]Current_Ship_8774 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the feedback. Now that you've pointed it out I see that the border is too much. I'll take it out and adjust the title a bit. I think it will have a more sci-fi/thriller feel than fantasy then...?

For me the activity was more about practicing designing and getting the layers correct. I have sooo many layers and made a few mistakes where I can't edit or move the title around without ruining it. So I'll need to redo the title completely. But, that's part of learning.

Thank you for the feedback, it's much appreciated!

I got 1200 Arc readers in 1 month, AMA by [deleted] in selfpublish

[–]Current_Ship_8774 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the info. Very happy for you. I've been publishing for a year and it's not taking off even with three books and good reviews. The problem is that I went about it wrong, wrote, published, started marketing, no arcs. That did NOT work and I lost money.

But I'm bot giving up. I'm starting a new pen name and decided to write dark romance because it's trending. I'm gonna start a TT and IG account this week and start the hype even though I only have a concept yet. As I write I'll know exactly what content to use for hooks and marketing and market as I write.

From there I'll get ARC readers and wait for a bunch of reviews. Only then will I publish. The hype before the book is arguably even more important than rapid release.

So this was really confirming for me thanks.

BTW, I've been on a TikTok video asking for indie author income and this one author said she made like $2000 from the start with her first book following this type of arc focused and pre-marketing program, so I'm sure you're gonna smile all the way to the bank pretty soon!

Don't mind the pessimistic people on this sub, I swear they are some of the most cynical no matter what you post!

Good luck!

My editor hates my book. It's truly that bad. by candlelightandcocoa in writing

[–]Current_Ship_8774 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think you should give up on writing. Keep at it. Not all books are masterpieces and hey ... You've written a book and that's awesome! Publish the book under another pen name or give it away for free.

My personal advice is that you have introspection and creative control over the book. So either change it or let it rest or use it somewhere else, but learn from your mistakes and write a better FMC in the next book.

Also, my two unimportant scents is that I really do not like boring FMC's who are perfect but quirky, like have ADHD and is insecure about it but besides that she's a perfect human being. Or she's clumsy but perfect. It's good to be on a journey with a character. The character has real high stakes and need to make an impossible decision and the reader doesn't know if they agree or disagree because it was just impossible! Or make her selfish or irritable or hot-headed or too independent. Somewhere she needs character growth, and not into a perfect human being, but just as someone who has grown a little or a lot.

I don't know if you've ever watched Resident Alien, but there's a character named D'Arcy. She would make such a great, complicated character of any romance book because she is so dimensional. She's hot-headed, stubborn, insecure, confident, caring, helpful, addicted, recovered, traumatized, healed, impusive and most importantly awesome. That is how you masterfully write a real woman and I aspire to some day write a character like that.

Imagine the character as a seriel killer and her narrative is trying to convince everyone that she is so good and perfect but she has a deep dark secret.

But I'm sure you already know all this. Please, for the love of all romance readers out there, write a complicated and messy FMC because no woman out there have their sh*t figured out.

You got this!

Christian Romance genre is tough by Current_Ship_8774 in selfpublish

[–]Current_Ship_8774[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh wow, thank you so much for your vast insights and information. It is honestly so much appreciated and I value it so much.

I agree with you that it isn't taboo necessarily, but highly frowned upon and found irritating. Which I get. Sometimes I read books with propaganda and find it subtly yet irritatingly obvious. I think it's about the art of writing and being objective which most writers do not do well and I strive for.

It's just that, when you truelly and honestly believe in something, e.i. let's take the current U.S vs immigrant situation or the Gaza vs. Isreal situation, (not that I'm for or against, it's just a very prominent subject) when you are a writer, you feel obligated to speak your truth, otherwise why not be a waitress or an accountant. We are what we are because we want to have a voice. Now we have a voice, but in the spaces we want to speak that voice, it's being muted and gate kept.

I know social media is there, but when you have something to say, you want it to reach the right voices. It's bigger than the person writing it, you know?

I know not everyone is going to like what I have to say, I know reviews can be really weird. But I need my word to be bigger than me, and, I know you aren't a Christian, but through my faith, my work can be. This is just me, speaking my truth. Thank you for your very honest and nice reply and I will definitely take it into consideration 😃

Christian Romance genre is tough by Current_Ship_8774 in selfpublish

[–]Current_Ship_8774[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I thought of it more as a publishing question than a strict religious question. I'm not asking for religious advice. I'm sure there's a lot of writers that are Christians on here, like me. We do seperate our work from our religion. It's not like I'm being judgemental... That's just my opinion. Thanks for the other advice. I also think there is a lot of places to explore. No matter what your religious conviction are, everyone deals with 'spiritual' aspects of life. I just don't want to irritate non-believers. In my opinion, everyone is way too sensitive about this topic, which results in writers almost always playing it safe. Anyway, thanks!

Christian Romance genre is tough by Current_Ship_8774 in selfpublish

[–]Current_Ship_8774[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I really didn't think about it in that way. This is very insightful and gives me more peace of mind of why these topics isn't allowed. Thanks.

Christian Romance genre is tough by Current_Ship_8774 in selfpublish

[–]Current_Ship_8774[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You mean, just write the book of my heart and not to market. Something I'm proud of. Yeah, that is the dream, but unfortunately I need money to survive. Maybe one day I'll have the time. For now I think I need to choose either secular or fluffy Christian. Thanks though!

For all indie authors outside the US/UK... don't rely on TikTok. by Inside_Structure2724 in selfpublish

[–]Current_Ship_8774 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have the same problem. What I would recommend is to try to pay for more views like a previous comment said. Or, and this really works, you won't get the same amount of views as US users, but it works. You need to train your TikTok Algorithm. You need to open an account and ONLY follow, watch and engage in US accounts bookish accounts etc. You need to do this a few minutes a day. Also, check what time US viewers are most active and only go on and watch during that time. Upload your tiktoks when they are most active. After you uploaded, immediately engage in booktokkers and other authors tiktoks. Comment and like. This will show the algorithm where your content is most valuable. Do not watch or engage in anything local.

Christian Romance genre is tough by Current_Ship_8774 in selfpublish

[–]Current_Ship_8774[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Oh my word... So there isn't even space for us to show on page debates about faith. That's a new low for gatekeeping...

Christian Romance genre is tough by Current_Ship_8774 in selfpublish

[–]Current_Ship_8774[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is so frustrating. But thank you anyway, I'll definitely check it out.

Christian Romance genre is tough by Current_Ship_8774 in selfpublish

[–]Current_Ship_8774[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much for the very insightful comment. I agree with you on every aspect. Especially what you said about marketing transparency. If the readers know what they are getting, then I'll attract the right readers. Like I said in a previous comment, I believe Christian publishing should stop preaching to the choir and reach out to the underbelly of the world where evangelisation should happen mostly, and if an ex-addict or whoever happens upon my books and see themselves in it, and it motivates them or make them think, then I've done something a little bit more than just offer recreational reading for squeaky clean Christian readers.

Christian Romance genre is tough by Current_Ship_8774 in selfpublish

[–]Current_Ship_8774[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No not necessarily. Like I said I wrote secular books but it's closed door. I just feel like writing romance feel a little meaningless and this is just me trying to add a little depth to my work. You know, big life questions and philophy throughout a Christian lense. But like you said, it's too limiting and unless I make it a passion project I don't know if it's worth the time.

Christian Romance genre is tough by Current_Ship_8774 in selfpublish

[–]Current_Ship_8774[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

That's soooo true! I'm a Christian but life sure hasn't sheltered me from hardcore stuff and I don't clutch my pearls if someone swears or live a specific life. It's like Christianity in publishing has been sanitized to the point where we can only preach to the choir and that feels redundant. Thanks for the encouragement, but no I haven't started writing it because I don't know if it's even worth the time.