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Post by jjmainor on Oct 25, 2018 22:16:32 GMT -8
Almost hijacked the thread about your new book, but didn't want to do that. Looking at your catalogue, you seem to have a diverse collection of genres. It got me wondering, are you worried there might be brand confusion? If you're publishing more grown-up books alongside the children's books, does that detract from each other? Or is there a cross-over appeal?
I'm working in a couple "adult" categories under a pen name, but by toning them down, I'm creating something appropriate for a younger audience. Still, I've put out two titles rated 18+ and plan my next one to be 18+ as well. I know for a fact by going for 13+, I'm disappointing people who want something more explicit, but at the same time, I wonder if the 18+ titles might be turning away people who might otherwise like the 13+ titles.
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Post by unclegarf on Oct 26, 2018 12:22:52 GMT -8
Ted must be on a siesta so I'll chip in my 10 cents worth. My one and only sex romp book " fifty shades of Gary" see what I did there? did spectacularly badly. Actually, it is called the tool shed. Think about it. That aside, I have covered every genre possible and I reckon I sell equally pathetically in all genres, unless it's a freebie. No doubt you are all on the edge of your seats waiting for a writer with annual sales roaring into three figures, yep, 3 books, for my sage like advice. Just write the damned thing and buy a lotto ticket. At least with the latter you could be onto a winner.
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Post by jjmainor on Oct 26, 2018 19:37:21 GMT -8
Sex is even tougher when you're doing graphic projects...You've got to be careful not to go too far and violate Amazon's TOS, but then you disappoint the readers who were hoping for porn...Sheesh, I'm trying to create a story, and thrown in the racy scenes as a sort of bonus, not the other way around.
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Post by unclegarf on Oct 26, 2018 23:47:27 GMT -8
Before I wrote (almost reluctantly) The Tool Shed, I did my research. No, behave. Not that sort of research. I read heaps of reviews on books like this and many were saying that they were fed up of being all sex and no story. Taking that on board I created back story and characters. It gets the occasional read and I've had no trouble from Amazon.
However...
One review on Zon which helped kill this book made me suspicious and here's a tip for everyone. I clicked on the name of the reviewer and guess what? about 20 almost identical reviews on similar books he supposedly read. Complaints to Zon about this did nothing of course. Some reviewers especially on goodreads, give ALL their books 5 star reviews.
I'll not write another erotica but will continue to dip into any genre that suits whatever story is buzzing around in my head.
Here's the review
1.0 out of 5 starsboring
26 March 2014
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I started reading this did not make it past the first paragraph got bored almost straight away I have never been so disintrested in all my life why these stories get published is beyond me or why anyone would think anyone would be entertained by this rubbish. I am simply amazed how someone could waste thier time writing this crap and I am rather amazed at myself for even downloading this manure, what I was thinking I can't for the life of me believe what I was doing
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Post by Ted on Oct 27, 2018 6:37:03 GMT -8
My new book "Men Are Just Tall Babies" isn't about sex. It isn't erotic. It's not in the Adult classification on Smashwords or Amazon. Title refers to her men preferring to be babied. Washed, taught, laugh with, behave like kids in a candy store, enjoying a life the man had lost or thought he had lost. Probably why she and I got along so well was we were both like kids in a candy store without her having to do anything. We both simply enjoyed being together and having fun together. With the other men in her life she had to work so hard to get them to be kids again. To be innocent again. To take what she taught them back to their wife or girlfriend or business and improve their relationships.
I write a variety of works from children's ebooks to romance to puzzle ebooks. I thought about using a made-up name for my romance novels, a female name. But decided that would be prostitution in a sense. If no one buys my works it doesn't matter to me. I had fun writing them and maybe someone who reads 'Tall Babies' can relate or simply enjoy reading it.
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Ria Stone
SWF Writers
Posts: 1,055 
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Post by Ria Stone on Oct 27, 2018 12:27:18 GMT -8
Before I wrote (almost reluctantly) The Tool Shed, I did my research. No, behave. Not that sort of research. I read heaps of reviews on books like this and many were saying that they were fed up of being all sex and no story. Taking that on board I created back story and characters. It gets the occasional read and I've had no trouble from Amazon. However... One review on Zon which helped kill this book made me suspicious and here's a tip for everyone. I clicked on the name of the reviewer and guess what? about 20 almost identical reviews on similar books he supposedly read. Complaints to Zon about this did nothing of course. Some reviewers especially on goodreads, give ALL their books 5 star reviews. I'll not write another erotica but will continue to dip into any genre that suits whatever story is buzzing around in my head. Here's the review 1.0 out of 5 starsboring 26 March 2014 Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase I started reading this did not make it past the first paragraph got bored almost straight away I have never been so disintrested in all my life why these stories get published is beyond me or why anyone would think anyone would be entertained by this rubbish. I am simply amazed how someone could waste thier time writing this crap and I am rather amazed at myself for even downloading this manure, what I was thinking I can't for the life of me believe what I was doing
So sorry to hear of your experience. Self-publishing is a minefield.
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Post by jjmainor on Oct 27, 2018 19:25:58 GMT -8
Before I wrote (almost reluctantly) The Tool Shed, I did my research. No, behave. Not that sort of research. I read heaps of reviews on books like this and many were saying that they were fed up of being all sex and no story. Taking that on board I created back story and characters. It gets the occasional read and I've had no trouble from Amazon. However... One review on Zon which helped kill this book made me suspicious and here's a tip for everyone. I clicked on the name of the reviewer and guess what? about 20 almost identical reviews on similar books he supposedly read. Complaints to Zon about this did nothing of course. Some reviewers especially on goodreads, give ALL their books 5 star reviews. I'll not write another erotica but will continue to dip into any genre that suits whatever story is buzzing around in my head. Here's the review 1.0 out of 5 starsboring 26 March 2014 Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase I started reading this did not make it past the first paragraph got bored almost straight away I have never been so disintrested in all my life why these stories get published is beyond me or why anyone would think anyone would be entertained by this rubbish. I am simply amazed how someone could waste thier time writing this crap and I am rather amazed at myself for even downloading this manure, what I was thinking I can't for the life of me believe what I was doing That sucks...what's worse, it's a verified purchase. |
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Post by jjmainor on Oct 27, 2018 19:29:15 GMT -8
My new book "Men Are Just Tall Babies" isn't about sex. It isn't erotic. It's not in the Adult classification on Smashwords or Amazon. Title refers to her men preferring to be babied. Washed, taught, laugh with, behave like kids in a candy store, enjoying a life the man had lost or thought he had lost. Probably why she and I got along so well was we were both like kids in a candy store without her having to do anything. We both simply enjoyed being together and having fun together. With the other men in her life she had to work so hard to get them to be kids again. To be innocent again. To take what she taught them back to their wife or girlfriend or business and improve their relationships. I write a variety of works from children's ebooks to romance to puzzle ebooks. I thought about using a made-up name for my romance novels, a female name. But decided that would be prostitution in a sense. If no one buys my works it doesn't matter to me. I had fun writing them and maybe someone who reads 'Tall Babies' can relate or simply enjoy reading it. Sorry, I wasn't trying to say it was a naughty book. I got the impression it was for an older audience and was wondering if publishing for different audiences under one "brand" created any unintended issues. Think I mistakenly set up the "adult" connection by relating it to something I'm seeing with another pen name...
...As long as you're having fun doing it, that's all that matters in the end, though.
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Oct 29, 2018 9:21:34 GMT -8
1.0 out of 5 stars boring... 26 March 2014 Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase I started reading this did not make it past the first paragraph got bored almost straight away I have never been so disintrested in all my life why these stories get published is beyond me or why anyone would think anyone would be entertained by this rubbish. I am simply amazed how someone could waste thier time writing this crap and I am rather amazed at myself for even downloading this manure, what I was thinking I can't for the life of me believe what I was doing I hate that. I got a single-star rating on Smashwords for a spoof story. I think the guy actually had no idea I was lampooning and left me this:
*****Review by: Andre' Mwansa on June 9, 2018 :
I don't know what to say.
This was on a 600+word Conan story where he's a kid and they prank an old man with a classic trick. I swear, I think ole Mwansa thought I was being serious! It is pretty obvious it's not to be taken seriously, especially if you read the desc where it says:  Whatevs. |
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Post by unclegarf on Oct 29, 2018 23:57:21 GMT -8
I actually appreciate the odd one / two star review as long as they are genuine and constructive. I've had plenty of five and fours over the years which is nice to give me the warm and fuzzies, but the ones and twos point out areas to improve on. The review I have posted here made me angry because it was from a malicious individual who made a sport of trashing almost anything he 'read'. I'm just a humble story teller and will never see my stuff winning prizes, but I still put the effort in and do the hard yards. To amuse and entertain is my aim and knowing many people have enjoyed my stories is reward enough. Heck. Yesterday I had the glimmering of a completely new story and I'll be exploring that next year. Too write less but better will be my new years resolution.
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Oct 30, 2018 4:51:55 GMT -8
I actually appreciate the odd one / two star review as long as they are genuine and constructive... I couldn't agree more with that comment. I received a two-star review on my more-serious Conan tale, Atlas of the Serpent Men on Goodreads. The review was well-worded, explicit in its criticism (and praise), and galvanized me to rewrite portions of the tale to address the concerns. The story is definitely much stronger for the changes, and I learned something from the exercise. I messaged him ( Gilbert M. Stack, who is also an author) through Goodreads, thanked him for his time to write such a pinpointed review, revealing, as it did, the story's strong and weak points, and let him know I took his comments to heart, agreed with the critical points, thought about it, and had decided to revisit it and see what I could do to make it better. He actually took the time to reread the story, and revised his review, which can be read here. So, yes, those low ranks can really benefit us as writers if we learn to take it constructively, instead of getting mad and blowing the reviewer's comments off. Also, it doesn't hurt to reach out to a reviewer if there is a medium available to do so. Gilbert kept in contact, and we've since become pen pals. He's the author I went on to paint a fantasy map for, for his Roman-based high-fantasy series. He went on to review several of my stories and we converse regularly about our projects. But the single-star rating the guy left for my spoof-story? Total bosh. Not a single word of real critique. As I said, I seriously doubt he realized what he was reading. It would be like sitting down to watch Halloween thinking it was a comedy, and then reviewing as the 'most un-comical film ever '. Really? I wonder why. |
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