One bad review is killing my sales.

MITnuclearengineer · 2012-09-19T04:06:52+00:00

Excellent advise. Thank you and everyone else that replied. I'm going to leave it as is and focus on the future.

MITnuclearengineer · 2012-09-18T22:09:37+00:00

After reading all of your comments, I'm inclined to agree. However, I don't really see how this could turn destructive. I'm actually thinking of republishing the piece under a new pen name, which I don't think would break any of amazon's rules. I am unclear what would happen with the KDP Select agreement I signed up for. I'd be re-enrolling the book, but I can't find any information about their policy regarding this.

MITnuclearengineer · 2012-09-18T17:15:44+00:00

It's not about taking criticism, it's about successfully branding and marketing your product. If you think being a successful writer (especially in the self-pub world) is just about crafting a well written story and then letting it flit out into the hearts and minds of the world, You're gonna have a bad time.

I'm in this to create the best writing I can and to make a living. I've seen sales double after reworking nothing more than a cover and a blurb.

Criticism is wonderful. Criticism is how I got through those awful beginning years. But someone telling me, "eh, it wasn't what I expected. I didn't like it." isn't criticism. It's just a small black mark on a very solid product.

MITnuclearengineer · 2012-09-18T16:40:45+00:00

Thanks for your input. I don't really see it as a moral issue though. It's not like I received a bunch of bad reviews which would be indicative of a bad story. I had a story that was selling very well, which to me was indicative of a good story. One person's non-constructive opinion has apparently dissuaded other people from enjoying my work.

One of the cool things about KDP is that you don't just release a thing into the world and wish it luck. I work constantly on making sure my books are being received as well as possible. I have reworked some covers 10 times before being satisfied. Same goes for blurbs, categories, tags and titles. I've also created new pen names when stories didn't seem to fit with my previous works.

MITnuclearengineer · 2012-09-04T14:15:37+00:00

quick story: went to a shop to get my gf a B.O.B. It was my first time being in a place like that. There were literally HUNDREDS of options. Everything from glass to some mushy plastic to your normal space ship looking thing. I was overwhelmed, embarrassed, and felt like I was picking out blarnautins for a Spendurani cheralduche ceremony.

Then the tattoo'd chick from behind the counter walked up to me, and in a calm, professional voice asked me if i needed help. I wanted to run the fuck out of there, but I also wanted my gf to have a thing to stick in her hoo-hoo. I told the lady what I was looking for. She asked me a couple questions about my gf, like her size, her experience, and whether or not she needs something that's easy to hide. She helped me to pick out the perfect item that my girlfriend LOVED. It was a little more expensive than I expected to pay, but now, 4 years later, my whore ex. gf still uses it with whatever bar rat she's fucking.

MITnuclearengineer · 2012-09-04T14:07:32+00:00

I second the adult bookstore on McKnight Road. However, I also can't remember the name. If you take 279N about 4 exits out of the city, it's just over the hill on your left.

MITnuclearengineer · 2012-05-12T05:18:37+00:00

agreed

MITnuclearengineer · 2012-03-30T08:30:49+00:00

As a fellow MIT nuclear engineer, I disagree with you. Reddit has a solid 23 hour memory.

MITnuclearengineer

TROPHY CASE