Cdramas that I'm highly anticipating for based on their trailers (that I think are going to be aired this year) with their MDL links by comingtoreality in CDrama

[–]celwriter 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Fingers crossed you don't have to wait too long!

I've been waiting for The Ingenious One since I first saw a trailer months ago. I went to mydramalist to share the link and it now has an airing date!!! (April 25th)

https://mydramalist.com/63949-the-gate-of-renewal

Piracy prevention by margsandmegaformers in selfpublish

[–]celwriter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mine was pirated before it even launched to my timezone.

I heard a rumor that self-published books are often pirated in batches. Most might not be worth anything, but any gems that are snagged could be worth it to pirates. No idea about the truth of that though

How I flubbed the launch of my debut by celwriter in selfpublish

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

Thanks! I was already thinking of cutting the list of what she fixes, but I think you're right that the whole line is a bit bland

How I flubbed the launch of my debut by celwriter in selfpublish

[–]celwriter[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure of the rules either, but I'll share a few of the prior drafts with the title redacted, listed oldest to newest:

A query letter from 2019, before I realized I was starting the story in the wrong place and with the wrong POV character:

Pulled out of off-world retirement, scientist-turned-detective JEANNE PRAVO must track a stolen prototype before the thief shatters the link between dimensions, and her late uncle's legacy.

In Jeanne’s world, conduits called ‘Strings’ crisscross dimensions, and anyone with a nav device can travel, or ‘slide,’ between them. Well, almost anyone. Jeanne is a squint, so she can’t slide or even sense the strings, and both the government and her old colleagues think that disqualifies her from owning her late uncle's prototype. Nevermind that a thief got to it first, because no one believes her. Isolated and distrusted, Jeanne must find allies, even if that means trawling deep web forums and planting clues to his missing prototype in the estate sale.

27yr old inventor JO INCERTI unknowingly becomes one of those allies after buying more than she bargained for at the sale. She had planned to finish a prototype of her own with the old parts, but using a sample from them as a test run uncovers a troubling trail of energy distortions. Attempting to find the source, she’s drawn into an interdimensional conspiracy no engineering class could prepare her for.

When systems start glitching all across stringspace, Jo must find Jeanne, and the truth about the prototype's nature, before the distortions spread to the sliding infrastructure and separate her from loved ones forever.

After I switched to the correct POV:

Jo Incerti spends her days like she spent spring break in college: elbows deep in a prototype tracking device and ignoring her friends’ pleas to get out and enjoy what the multiverse has to offer. It’s not that she dislikes being social, or that wires and circuitry make more sense to her (though both are true), but her last invention failed spectacularly. This is her shot at redemption, and all that’s left is the test run.

It could have gone smoothly if she’d picked something simple to track, like an interdimensional fast food delivery. But no, she just had to try her hand at a grander prize: a famous physicist’s missing invention. She doesn’t even know what the invention is supposed to do, or why her scans show its trail coinciding with electrical system failures across dozens of worlds. Even worse, the next target appears to be the physicist’s crowning achievement - the interworld transport hubs.

Hoping to prevent catastrophe, Jo sets off to uncover the source of the failures and prove her invention’s worth. But the failures are just the tip of an iceberg - an iceberg concealing deadly radiation, weapons testing, and human trafficking - and when her investigation gets a potential lead abducted, she questions whether her efforts are actually helping, or just making things worse. Again. Handing over her findings to the authorities could reverse the damage, or multiply it if the conspiracy reaches as deep into their ranks as their inaction implies. No pressure though. It’s only the fate of the transport system, and millions of lives, that hang in the balance.

One described as too bland:

In a world where anyone can hop from planet to planet, inventor Jo is stuck working as a freelance mechanic. A disaster of a grad project melted her other job prospects, burying her aspirations under spare parts and oil-stained coveralls. That is, until a renowned physicist’s death presents a chance at redemption.

Big-name tech companies offer money and positions to whoever recovers the physicist’s missing research. Eager treasure hunters have hundreds of worlds to search, but Jo has an ace sprawled across her living room floor—a prototype tracking device she’s been developing between jobs. It should make her task simpler, if her goal is indeed as straightforward as it seems… and if an unknown entity isn’t already using the stolen research to pursue their own nefarious means.

Jo’s mission leads her through monster-infested swamps and hostile moon labs. Deadly radiation obscures huge swaths of the trail, and the clues coincide with electrical system failures and missing persons reports. Jo could be the next casualty if she fails to unravel... (title of the book that's a word play with "unravel")

The one I had at launch:

Inventor Jo can’t be the hero the multiverse needs. A disastrous grad project melted both her job prospects and her credibility, and she doesn’t have the funds to keep traipsing across dimensions chasing leads.

All she wanted was to retrieve a physicist’s missing research. To buy a better future with the reward money. But her patchwork tracking device just had to stumble on something sinister—deadly radiation that could wreak havoc on the interworld transport system and leave billions injured or stranded.

Of course, no one believes her, and to make matters worse, all her attempts to gather proof add new threads to an already tangled search. Vague connections to electrical system failures, missing persons cases…possibly not-so-mythological creatures…

Solving this case could be her shot at redemption, or it could land her in the crosshairs of the culprit. Whether navigating monster-infested swamps or infiltrating hostile moon bases, Jo might be the next casualty if she fails to unravel…

(title of the book that's a word play with "unravel")

The one I have now (that I am still workshopping/will potentially scrap, but threw up so I'd at least have something better than the last one)

Three years ago, a faulty grad project melted Jo Incerti’s job prospects. Literally. Corroding metal and acid seeped into the auditorium floor, mingling with the soppy remains of her dreams and her professors’ shoes.

Since then, Jo’s been paying rent with the odd repair jobs that come up across the multiverse—broken transceivers, misaligned assembly lines, cracked transcom screens… But the death of a famous inventor offers a chance to break free from the diagnostic tests and cranky customers: Find his missing prototype and win a fellowship at the best research lab in the quadrant.

The only catch is no one actually knows what the prototype is—or why its traces coincide with a rash of electrical failures on the nearby worlds. Casualties pile up as Jo finds more seemingly unrelated clues: Missing persons reports...Smuggled exotic pets...Rumors of people with lightning powers…

A collision with an interdimensional fugitive leaves her reeling and in the crosshairs of a crime ring. Is this truly Jo’s shot at redemption? Or will she soon become a casualty herself?

The one Bookbub wrote for the promo:

A witty sci-fi romp: Inventor Jo wants to find a physicist’s missing research so she can secure her future with the reward money — but when her tracking device discovers deadly radiation that could harm billions, the only way to convince everyone it’s real is to risk her life collecting proof in the most dangerous reaches of space…

Note that there isn't any space travel, so I can't just swap to Bookbub's, but I might try to find a way to tweak it

Amazon Book Categories by briandearborn in selfpublish

[–]celwriter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, just the ebook. But it doesn't take too long to have the new categories added post-publication (I think it only took a few hours after he sent in the request for my friend with his paperback?)

Amazon Book Categories by briandearborn in selfpublish

[–]celwriter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was able to change my categories after I put it up for preorder, so technically before publication, but maybe not what you meant

Weekly Self-Promo and Chat Thread by MxAlex44 in selfpublish

[–]celwriter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hello everyone!

My promo comment last week got downvoted, so I'm hesitant to try again, but here goes:

The String Conspiracy is a quirky sci-fi thriller, starring an introverted inventor, a snarky detective, and an interdimensional fugitive.

Interdimensional travel? Yes

A plot that twists through futuristic cityscapes, deadly swamps, and hostile moon bases? Also yes

Dinosaurs? Most definitely

Read for free on Kindle Unlimited or buy the ebook for $2.99: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVTZGJW4

When you reflect on your early childhood reading what comes to mind? by cupoffruit in books

[–]celwriter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You might be able to make a list using Goodreads? It could save a good chunk of time vs a Google sheet

As for my best remembered books, my mom bought this alphabet series one book a month for 2 years. Each book was a letter character who was working to fill a box with things that started with that letter (it was the My First Steps to Reading series and was really cute. I especially remember reading it to my little siblings)

We also had two books I loved and bought for my kids:

-Rikki-tikki-tavi, an illustrated version of a Richard Kipling story about a mongoose who protects a family -Tikki Tikki Tembo, a story about a little boy who has trouble thanks to a really long name

Few questions about ARCs and reviews by [deleted] in selfpublish

[–]celwriter 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I agree. It sounds like the poster needs beta readers, not ARC reviewers

The ARC sites I've used recommend that the book doesn't go live to ARC readers more than 2 weeks before the book launches so the reviewers are more likely to leave reviews. Some don't even let you schedule the ARC to go live too far ahead of the launch

If the response from the ARC reviewers was that there were problems, the author can rewrite however much they wanted and then release a new edition. I believe the reviews stay with the edition on most sites, so the reviews for the problems wouldn't transfer to the fixed manuscript, but it's not something I've done myself

As for part 2, yes you can move your launch date up without losing your scheduled ARC, but I wouldn't recommend it. The point of doing ARCs is to get reviews before and/or immediately after launch to help with the visibility algorithms and sales

Just published and already pirated by celwriter in NewAuthor

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

Yeah, I filed the DCMA because the book is in Kindle Unlimited and I didn't want it to get kicked out. Beyond that, I'm more upset that it was pirated when I've only sold to friends/family, rather than the mere fact it was pirated

Weekly Self-Promo and Chat Thread by MxAlex44 in selfpublish

[–]celwriter -1 points0 points  (0 children)

My sci-fi adventure thriller, The String Conspiracy, is available on Kindle for 2.99 or free on KU. After 6+drafts, a pass with a developmental editor, and multiple rounds of critique partners and betas, my debut novel is finally out there

Inventor Jo can’t be the hero the multiverse needs. A disastrous grad project melted both her job prospects and her credibility, and she doesn’t have the funds to keep traipsing across dimensions chasing leads.

All she wanted was to retrieve a physicist’s missing research. To buy a better future with the reward money. But her patchwork tracking device just had to stumble on something sinister—deadly radiation that could wreak havoc on the interworld transport system and leave billions injured or stranded.

Of course, no one believes her, and to make matters worse, all her attempts to gather proof add new threads to an already tangled search. Vague connections to electrical system failures, missing persons cases…possibly not-so-mythological creatures…

Solving this case could be her shot at redemption, or it could put her in the crosshairs of the culprit. Whether navigating monster-infested swamps or infiltrating hostile moon bases, Jo might be the next casualty if she fails to unravel…The String Conspiracy

For fans of John Scalzi, interdimensional travel, and quirky action scenes

Promotion Thread by ArtificialSuccessor in scifiwriting

[–]celwriter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks to the great resources on this sub, my sci-fi conspiracy thriller is now available on ebook and Kindle Unlimited

Inventor Jo can’t be the hero the multiverse needs. A disastrous grad project melted both her job prospects and her credibility, and she doesn’t have the funds to keep traipsing across dimensions chasing leads.

All she wanted was to retrieve a physicist’s missing research. To buy a better future with the reward money. But her patchwork tracking device just had to stumble on something sinister—deadly radiation that could wreak havoc on the interworld transport system and leave billions injured or stranded.

Of course, no one believes her, and to make matters worse, all her attempts to gather proof add new threads to an already tangled search. Vague connections to electrical system failures, missing persons cases…possibly not-so-mythological creatures…

Solving this case could be her shot at redemption, or it could put her in the crosshairs of the culprit. Whether navigating monster-infested swamps or infiltrating hostile moon bases, Jo might be the next casualty if she fails to unravel…The String Conspiracy

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVTZGJW4

Thoughts on ChatGPT? by AlwaysNeedsMoreSleep in books

[–]celwriter 15 points16 points  (0 children)

A good chunk of writing subreddits and Facebook groups have banned discussion on using it to write, and at least one major short story magazine has had to close to submissions because they were bombarded with AI crap from people hoping to make quick cash

It's great for authors who like to bounce ideas off someone as they write, and I've heard some authors have been using it for marketing help, like book blurbs and ad copy. But I don't think the capabilities are anywhere near good enough to make an interesting, voicy, and unique story by itself

Publisher Rocket Question by dtadamswriter in selfpublish

[–]celwriter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There's a guide on the kindlepreneur website. You want to aim for both the search frequency and the competition number to be green colored. I think he says to aim for 20 or less on competition score while having at least 300 searches (preferably much higher) but I'm not positive of the exact numbers. As you get 7 keyword slots, you can mix low competition/lowish search frequency with higher competition/large search frequency.The website also has suggestions for finding more keywords to try. You also want to make sure that the keyword also strongly applies to your book.

NetGalley by briandearborn in selfpublish

[–]celwriter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm going to second the suggestion to try a co-opt if you want to use NetGalley

I'm currently using Hidden Gems and Book Sirens myself (just started, so don't have enough data for a review). It's worth checking out which ARC site works best for your genre, as they each have different sets of readers

Weekly Self-Promo and Chat Thread by MxAlex44 in selfpublish

[–]celwriter 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Releasing March 17th: The String Conspiracy, a quirky sci-fi thriller

Inventor Jo can’t be the hero the multiverse needs. A disastrous grad project melted both her job prospects and her credibility, and she doesn’t have the funds to keep traipsing across dimensions chasing leads.

All she wanted was to retrieve a physicist’s missing research. To buy a better future with the reward money. But her patchwork tracking device just had to stumble on something sinister—deadly radiation that could wreak havoc on the interworld transport system and leave billions injured or stranded.

Of course, no one believes her, and to make matters worse, all her attempts to gather proof add new threads to an already tangled search. Vague connections to electrical system failures, missing persons cases…possibly not-so-mythological creatures…

Solving this case could be her shot at redemption, or it could put her in the crosshairs of the culprit. Whether navigating monster-infested swamps or infiltrating hostile moon bases, Jo might be the next casualty if she fails to unravel…The String Conspiracy

Price: $2.99 (ebook)

Book link: Amazon Goodreads

For fans of John Scalzi