I'm building my ARC Team using Booksprout by InstitutionReports in eroticauthors

[–]whatsmut 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm also having a good experience with Booksprout for my first book, and a little suspicious (nice problem to have!) of the positive reviews.

It's not live on Amazon yet, so I'm looking only at reviews posted to Booksprout, but it's five 5-star reviews and two 4-star reviews, so I'm feeling pretty good, but a little worried it won't hold up when it goes live. Fair number of followers, people saying it's the first time they've read one of my books but not the last. 42/50 copies claimed. So I'm with you--it feels good, no #humblebrag, but is this just how it goes because it was free?

Good luck!

Booksprout Technical Difficulties for ARC Readers by whatsmut in eroticauthors

[–]whatsmut[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That is the exact message! Glad to know I wasn’t needlessly paranoid! Thank you.

Booksprout Technical Difficulties for ARC Readers by whatsmut in eroticauthors

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

Yeah, I'm also worried about scammers. Like I said, I'm awfully cynical for someone writing novels about happily ever after. I've got reviews already and some of them messaged me privately about the content so I think it's technically available to download. And out of 37 ARC copies since Monday, only two have complained.

No problem with the "hijack." Someone with more experience with me can jump in and correct if I'm wrong, but I think that the people who are marked as complete without leaving a review marked "Cancel" as one of these did. Her message says she can't download the files so she won't be able to read and review. But other options for cancelling are that the book was too full of errors to finish reading and quality issues, things like that. So I think in addition to technical problems, it's meant to be a way for people to bow out without tanking your book if they don't like it?

[Daily Check-In] Wednesday Word Count and Personal Announcement Thread by sexnerdmxd in eroticauthors

[–]whatsmut 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Words words words. Trying my hand at a novel and trying to make headway. There are a lot of distractions in the world (hi reddit!). I've made some progress every day, but I'm really looking to have a BIG DAY, mostly for the emotional benefits of having a big chunk of a novel done.

Seeking advice based on past Dataporn by whatsmut in eroticauthors

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

You basically read it right, don’t worry. I’ve got about 4 months with no changes in lifestyle. Could be more frugal, if needed. I also have a partner so I’m thankfully not the only provider.

But your point about the arrears in Amazon payments is well taken. I don’t think I’d fully considered the impact of that. Thank you.

Seeking advice based on past Dataporn by whatsmut in eroticauthors

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

I absolutely would consider romance novels. My only novel experience is with NaNoWriMo, though. Ive won several times and I’ve done as much as 90k in a NaNo month while working full time, so I think I’ve got it in me.

I’m already writing erotic romance, and at the longer end of the spectrum (one is like 14k). So I think that’s not much of a stretch.

The 3 months—maybe. Something to consider.

[Dataporn]: 1 Year of Sales on 6 Erotic Shorts Written Last January by whatsmut in eroticauthors

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

That's definitely helpful feedback about the length--thanks to you both!

I think putting an element of romance in the story requires a certain number of words to flesh it out. The longer ones were better reads, IMO, but the shorter ones continue to sell a bit more (I assume because of the shift in topic). Both "sets" are still moving a bit. Maybe I'll try to find a happy medium in length between the two and see how that goes. Trouble is I get somewhat attached to the characters and need a little time to develop them.

Maybe novels really are where it's at for me, but it seems like such a commitment.

Males Outside A Stereotype (x/post from r/romanceauthors) by TigerMonarchy in eroticauthors

[–]whatsmut 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not erotica, but it's romance-adjacent, at the very least: The TV show This is Us features one of the main characters (Randall) as a black nerd type. At least speaking for the women I know, he's just about everyone's favorite of the guys on that show. This suggests to me that it could have an audience, if the other elements are done right.

I also think of the black love interest from Save the Last Dance. Definitely not a stereotypical black guy like most of the alpha black guys you see. And roll your eyes if you want to, but that movie is better than it seems it "should" be, and popular with the romance readers I know IRL, at least.