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Re: C_C_T
Until you gain the success level that someone like Stephen King has, you have to 'work a book' like a job. Radio and magazine interviews if and when you can. Interacting with readers is what sells books.
Which reminds me, I need to update my Amazon author page. Annicita, if you are reading this... do you have an Amazon author page set up? It's one of the few really free yet really valuable things Amazon really gives away. When I stopped writing due to the sudden onset of Parkinson's, I stopped updating my Amazon page. That was a mistake I need to correct today.
Even if you are not a Stephen King fan, the one book or Audible I would highly recommend is "On Writing." I have it in all three formats. As egotistical as I was in writing this section, King makes me look like a virtuous church boy... BUT after he gets to the genuine part about writing, you can learn a lot from a guy who has written over one hundred books and short stories.
Long story short, you are right. In his book about writing, King says that if you have not hooked your reader in the first five pages, you will lose more than half of them, and they will never buy another story by you.
posted by
BigV
on January 19, 2022 at 8:12 AM
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adnohr re: beta readers
Yes, I do! I try to keep lists of people who like murder stories, who likes romance, and who likes two or three other genres. I look for readers who will give me honest feedback. A response that says, 'HEY! That was GREAT!' to everything I send them is not what I want. I want someone who will tell me, 'On page 31, second paragraph down, there was a passage that doesn't make sense. I think you meant today blah, blah, blah, blah.'
Someone like that is a great beta reader.
posted by
BigV
on January 19, 2022 at 7:51 AM
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Pat
Thank you!
posted by
BigV
on January 19, 2022 at 7:43 AM
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Thanks, V. You have earned your success, and luck may be a small part
of it, but hard work and good thinking are the main thing. Thanks!
posted by
Pat_B
on January 19, 2022 at 4:35 AM
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Do you have beta readers?
posted by
adnohr
on January 19, 2022 at 3:11 AM
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Interesting I guess so many write a book and that is the end. It is like putting a minnow in a stream. I am sure the first three or four pages are very important.
posted by
C_C_T
on January 19, 2022 at 2:32 AM
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