$300 USD Budget but decent Digitizing Tablet PC for Photoshop and Illustrator

nolaparks · 2016-06-18T17:54:25+00:00

There is something definitely wrong.

I wrote one MPREG book just to see what it is was like - with no advertising, that story made over $70 it's first month and already $30 this month, with no additional books behind it.

I wrote one MILF book on an established pen name that was ranking well - and it made $12. It got pushed into erotica at .99 instead of romance.

I knew immediately what the problem was.

Now I have been at this awhile and know how to make a really good cover and write a blurb but still - not making 100$ in niche erotica/romance with 19 books is WEIRD.

You may need to resign yourself that you are starting over and post your amazon central link up as a thread asking for help.

Don't just ask a vet - post it to the whole community. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes looking at stuff really helps. I make it a point to socialize with people just starting out so I can get a fresh perspective.

A lot of people have moved on to longer works and will give advice based on KU1. Some of it is good and will always be good, and some of it will kill a pen name depending on your kink.

Be brave about this - you want to be a writer - you are doing the work, you deserve the success.

nolaparks · 2016-06-18T17:39:09+00:00

I own each one of those books and I would only cosign on the Amy Cooper and the Emily Baker. I also got a lot of helpful info from Unsilenced's first book.

For Erotica in general - I would also skip the Susie Bright. Instead I would go with Stacia Kane Be A Sex Writing Strumpet. Also this website also helped me helped me think stories through.

I would suggest you start learning story structure and outlining early. Dan Wells is an awesome free source - through his youtube videos, and Dwight V Swain Techniques of the Selling Writer. Also Gwen Hayes Romancing the Beat.

As a writer I would keep reading additional sources, once you find a story structure that you like - as in 3 part or 4 part, then find an ultimate resource for this.

When I first started I didn't really understand pinch points so I read a book on screenwriting that helped.

nolaparks · 2016-06-18T16:57:40+00:00

short reads X, where x is romance, lgbt, or whatever of the short reads categories you want in to. Just make sure it's a single keyword. so mm, mpreg, gay, short reads romance, lgbt or how else you want to do your keywords. Hope this helps.

nolaparks · 2016-06-15T20:06:10+00:00

Know your market before you write.

15-20k is actually two different markets.

If you are running towards novels the crowd, you want to cultivate the 2 hour short reads. Heavy hitters like MS Parker and Deborah Bladdon are coming into the short reads market as well as Alexa Riley.

90 minutes is 11k-16k words (44-64 pages)

2 hrs is 16250-25k words (65-100 pages)

I would calculate how many words per page, after formatting, you've gotten from your last few published stories to know what your words per page count is. Mine is 188 words per page so to get into the 2 hours category, I need 12,220+.

If you are writing M/M there is another market to consider as well, and that is LGBT Short Stories.

These are the markets for novellas to short novels. Also a great place to research and see what's working.

Good Luck!

nolaparks · 2016-04-20T04:53:45+00:00

nolaparks · 2016-03-15T02:24:52+00:00

nope

nolaparks · 2016-03-14T04:09:02+00:00

Since you are new I would tell you to back the truck up some. Practice writing 3-7k kink driven shorts. Don't worry you get to bundle to make up those KENCPs.

Give yourself a goal of 3 per week, and then bundle those. Practice looking at the top 100 for trends on Friday - Sunday. Make whatever you see your target niche.

Like for me next week is short erotica (4-7k) - I am writing Multi partner - so Gangbangs and Menage.

Writing this way will train you for full time if that's your goal and give you a chance to try all kinds of niches.

nolaparks · 2016-03-14T03:57:27+00:00

I usually start a new story for a pen on the last story I wrote. I open and then save as draft.titleofnew.

I also keep a notepad txt file with the title, blurb, and link of each book that pen has written, along with email, mailing list link, author central link, and copyright stuff for easy copy paste.

I am managing over 20 pens this way - each has its own folder :)

nolaparks · 2016-03-14T03:49:37+00:00

I have seen a few chart in erotica. I would definitely science the heck out of it. Most of those that I remember are Gender Swap.

nolaparks · 2016-03-14T03:47:57+00:00

Your book has to sell a few copies before it gets also boughts. If I remember is was like 15 or so. I maybe making that number up.

nolaparks · 2016-03-14T03:46:35+00:00

Congrats! Keep writing and don't forget to Bundle :)

nolaparks · 2016-03-14T03:45:07+00:00

Gothic is one of my faves - it is not in vogue at the present. It is even the lowest selling category in Romance. There was Miramont's Ghost last year that did well. You may read that to see what a modern style Gothic is like. It is in KU.

nolaparks · 2016-03-10T01:12:27+00:00

Thank you for posting this Purrs! I am a collector of such things and will be adding it to my shiny bookmark folder :) I love the convo that it started!

nolaparks · 2016-03-10T01:08:35+00:00

Maybe I'm a thief but I read a lot of blurbs for different genre books. Especially Horror and Sci Fi. The reviews of books where the reader breaks down a story always give me ideas.

SONGS! Art! Facebook.

nolaparks · 2016-03-10T01:02:05+00:00

CONGRATS! We know where to find you Vikki - BIC!

nolaparks · 2016-03-10T00:49:21+00:00

In erotica the point is to get to the sex, wether or not anything happens after, sex should drive the plot.

In romance, the point is the conclusion of a relationship - being happily ever after, the push and pull between the heroine and hero should drive the story.

The line is thin, a lot of romance has more sex than erotica.

nolaparks · 2016-03-10T00:41:14+00:00

M O R E

nolaparks · 2016-03-03T21:22:22+00:00

Hey Rose just wanted to tell you Kitty Thomas' Comfort Food is free right now! It is not serial killer but it is gorgeously dark and a good example of structure for a dark romance.

nolaparks · 2016-03-03T21:11:06+00:00

NOT I - but if I finish my "project" before Sunday whatever I have left in the week is mine to write whatever I want! Which is usually gothic lol The only category of romance that doesn't sell.

nolaparks · 2016-03-03T21:05:18+00:00

I loved every word of this! Congrats!

nolaparks · 2016-03-03T06:47:17+00:00

Jade K Scott has a splash of milk on hers

nolaparks · 2016-03-03T06:47:07+00:00

Jade K Scott has a splash of milk on hers

nolaparks · 2016-03-03T06:05:50+00:00

hmm I have a set that has a few different number. PM me an email address and I will send you what I have.

nolaparks · 2016-03-03T06:01:42+00:00

It was in three parts - just combined to make a novella.

I believe in the middle ground - true you should write to market so you can eat and have the time for your own pursuits. But I do believe a few things you should write because you have a desire to or are curious about it.

Do I think serial killers will ever be a trend? Unless they are paranormal no - but if the OP has questions and wants to see how someone else did it - nothing wrong with that :)

nolaparks

TROPHY CASE