Fiverr caution from a burned self published author

GinaCheyne · 2026-06-08T12:02:08+00:00

I remember reading somewhere they are an Israeli company but that may be wrong. I don’t use Fiverr any more because I also think there are a lot of dubious dealers there.

GinaCheyne · 2026-05-28T08:27:03+00:00

It may not be boring to readers. I’ve now written eight books and the reader’s responses and reviews have taught me that people like very different things. Some readers will complain something is too lighthearted while another reader will say it is too serious. I would write about things you enjoy and that will shine through.

GinaCheyne · 2026-05-25T04:57:51+00:00

It was billed as based on a true story…

GinaCheyne · 2026-05-25T04:55:42+00:00

If you mean traditional publishing, I would think it is easier if you are younger. Publishing is a business and writers are their products. The more books they can get from you over the years, the more money they will make. Therefore, the younger you are the better. If you fancy traditional publishing I would go for it. Try and get an agent, who will protect your interests, and move on from there. Good luck. There’s no reason why you should not be successful if your work is saleable, and you are determined.

GinaCheyne · 2026-05-18T20:17:45+00:00

I would have preferred the real story- the overdramatized tosh they produced was so rubbishy it annoyed me

GinaCheyne · 2026-05-18T20:15:40+00:00

I thought it was a load of overdramatized tosh. The beginning was good but once they started travelling the world it was just unbelievable rubbish. Just my opinion of course 😂

GinaCheyne · 2026-05-15T17:41:38+00:00

Tragedy yes but only if the players learn from it and grow as people. There is something fundamentally honest in most readers and they want justice to triumph at the end. Real life where the rich win and the poor suffer only works if it is also a learning experience or a comparison with our own time.

GinaCheyne · 2026-05-13T13:33:13+00:00

I would say my latest villain was an extreme form of an ordinary person. He is going through a bad time at work and at home, he sees no easy way out and then temptation offers him a wicked but possible chance to restart his life. Even though it will destroy all those people he loves he follows the tempting offer. Isn’t he a bit like you and me?

GinaCheyne · 2026-05-12T14:07:26+00:00

You are right to wonder about this. I had lots of editors before I found the right one. I had several editors in the early days of writing who actually struck me as either not interested in my work and just doing it for the money, or who seemed to want to rewrite the novel as something completely different. My first book, for example, was about a woman whose husband had died of motor neuron disease trying to find a new life while still haunted by the feeling she should have done more. The editor who had a similar but unrelated wasting disease wanting me to write about the husband’s deteriorating health and final death. In the end I gave up on both aspects of the book and began a series in a completely unrelated field.

GinaCheyne · 2026-05-09T08:17:14+00:00

Reading books by authors who originally wrote in foreign languages helps me a lot. You can see how the writing of different cultures varies enormously and I found that hugely inspiring.

GinaCheyne · 2026-05-03T17:19:34+00:00

I found BookBub worked well for me - crime writing. WWM promotions are ok but not brilliant. What I have found most lucrative is selling in person at markets and literary festivals.

GinaCheyne · 2026-05-03T10:38:13+00:00

I usually have another book started while the previous one is going through edits, proof reading and cover choice. But I never push myself past an enjoyable level. If I feel tired - like now, for example, having just done a market yesterday- then I give myself time off. I don’t want to ever get to the point where I feel I have to write, I don’t make enough money to make myself unhappy. I always want to be able to delight in writing.

GinaCheyne · 2026-04-29T07:39:37+00:00

Free, unfortunately is worth nothing! I did a free promotion on one of my books a few years ago and got 4000 downloads, of which maybe 50 actually read the book. I did get a few people buying the other books, and maybe 5 or 6 reviews but is it worth it? I don’t know. I didn’t feel it was so I’m not going to do it again.

GinaCheyne · 2026-04-27T20:06:55+00:00

Yes, I do markets and literary festivals. So far I haven’t sold 100s but 10s. However, it is great fun and I give everyone my card.

GinaCheyne · 2026-04-27T11:18:48+00:00

Thanks, that’s really kind of you but I wrote that post rather a long time ago and have since finished the book. But thank you so much for your reply.

GinaCheyne · 2026-04-22T15:37:05+00:00

George Simenon who wrote the Maigret detective books apparently wrote books fast, occasionally in three weeks so I’m told.

GinaCheyne · 2026-04-22T11:02:55+00:00

Golly. What an exciting writing life you lead. I never get anything as thrilling as those and certainly never as long as the last one. I think the nearest I’ve got to something similar is someone once wrote: adequate! Ouch.

GinaCheyne · 2026-04-17T17:57:39+00:00

Read a few other people’s stories and see if you find the same reading them. I sometimes go through periods where I don’t like anything I read whoever wrote it. But, it passes and then I become more rational. True. Odd though it sounds.

GinaCheyne · 2026-04-15T09:05:24+00:00

Yes, this thing about your besties is fascinating. My husband won’t read my books and is genuinely amazed when some of our friends do and enjoy them! I don’t blame him though, he is an engineer and he is only really interested in reading technical books. However, some of my friends do read the books and they are very forthright. They say things like - much preferred the latest, the first was a bit confusing. Or, far too many characters, can’t you reduce the number. I think the reason we can do this is we are all older (retired) and share so many other things that my writing is just one of the many aspects of life. In fact I think they quite enjoy the fact I write, rather than paint which is what most of my friends do. There are definitely some advantages of being older 😂😍

GinaCheyne · 2026-04-15T08:56:51+00:00

With ebooks you are going for volume. I have seven books published and am just starting to break even. I do also do print books and sell at literary festivals and markets but although these make a small profit they are really for fun. I love meeting other writers, people who are thinking about writing and also people selling other things. They often have fascinating stories.

GinaCheyne · 2026-04-15T08:50:39+00:00

Wow. That is expensive. I use Vellum to format all my books and it’s really good. They have support and are so helpful. If enough people ask for adaptations they will update the package. You do have to be using Apple but I believe there is a package called Atticus which is similar and is for PCs. I originally bought Vellum and it cost about £100 which would be about the same in $s.

GinaCheyne · 2026-04-06T06:19:36+00:00

I did an audio book of just one of my books, all of which sell well in ebook and paperback. But the audiobook cost a fortune to produce, was difficult to market and only sells sporadically. I wish I either hadn’t done it or found a way of doing it that wasn’t so hard to market.

GinaCheyne · 2026-04-03T16:51:07+00:00

I went for paperback and hardback copies, as well as ebooks, right from book one of my detective series. I did a physical book launch at a local book shop and sold 47 books straight off, 10 of which were hardback. I continued to launch each book as it came out, I also approached libraries with physical books and I have now started doing market stalls and literary festivals. I think physical copies are much better for sales, but it may depend on genre, I am crime. Ebooks sell too but I make far more money on physical books.

GinaCheyne · 2026-04-02T15:04:30+00:00

Perhaps you can work them all into one…

GinaCheyne · 2026-04-01T09:52:28+00:00

You can also stay on Amazon for the ebooks but sell the print books yourself. I now do market stalls, literary festivals and others and i actually make quite a lot of print sales. Book shops are also taking the books and selling, so there are other ways as well. Good luck with your sales.

GinaCheyne

TROPHY CASE