So I wrote a book
I know I haven't posted much -- Well, that's an understatement. After the last time I posted, way back in July, about five days after, my aunt passed away. At some point, I might want to vent about the way it's changed my life for the worse, but I've been holing up with this grief for so long now that I just want to focus on what's good in my life right now.
I feel like I spent all summer doing the bare minimum as far as singing. I made my gigs and I also finally recorded a new CD because it was about time (let me know if you're interested and I can send), but I barely went busking in Laguna at all. That would have been a great way to drum up more parties and weddings and, obviously, tips. But I just couldn't face the world. So I just kept working on various aspects of this book because it seemed easier to face a computer screen than my fellow humans.
Besides that, I'll post that process here in case any of you want to jump in
I did everything myself because I wanted to invest time and as little money as possible. I went through one failed cover and one (I hope) successful cover. Besides friends help looking it over and giving me edit notes (thanks to bkwurm1, legendarytobes, and lilbreck as well as my sister), I used 3 beta readers on fiverr, which was really handy because you pay based on words and can pay extra to get notes back sooner. Each was super helpful. And I revised after everyone's feedback, ending up with my final draft being draft 6 with most of the changes to chapter 1-2.
Then I got a 40-day free trial of scrivener (it's a non-consecutive trial, so it only counts days you use it) and did my own formatting. It was a bit of a headache, but I now have a template I can use for future books if I write more. I do plan to draft one more during NaNoWriMo while I see how this does. But I don't want to invest too much time if this doesn't pan out.
Between all that, I went through stock images, which is very tedious, trying to find one that matched my tone. I ended up buying from Canstockphoto. Shutterstock had a better search engine, but they want you to buy packages and Canstock let's you purchase one-time. I went for the standard license because, if I sell more than anticipated, I'll be happy to go buy more rights.
I wanted to convey this would be sexy, but not too porny, and fun. This is the image I ended up with:
As you seem I toned down her makeup and changed her hair color, made his jaw and eyebrows more manly, added some cartoon and lighting effects, then the text with effects to make it either glowy or shadowy. I learned a lot and I feel like the next will be easier.
All in all, between stock images and beta, I spent $48.00 on this process and it took about five months from first draft to publishing. Here it is:
Maybe It's Magic
If you'd like to read it and review it on Goodreads or Amazon, I can send you a free ARC. Not looking for blind praise, obviously, I trust all of you to give honest critiques and ratings if you feel so moved. Let me know and I can send you a pdf or epub file.
I went back and forth on pricing, knowing .99 would seell better, but I have bought lots of dollar kindles that were absolute shit and didn't want to be associated with that. And if I was going to price it at 1.99, I'd only get 35%. I finally decided 2.99 was fair for a novella and that I can always do sales and promos and freebies. It's also on Kindle Unlimited, so people that subscribe can read it free.
I removed the fic from all the places it was and left a note in place for people to email me if they originally read the fic and want a copy. I can just send them a pdf of it or something on the down-low. But this wasn't a super popular fic, so I doubt that many people will even come across it.
Now for the hard part - promotion and marketing. I started a gmail, mailing list, Twitter, blogger, and facebook under my new name, Abby Wheeler. If any of you get friended or followed by this girl, it's me. Feel free to follow back, but no pressure. I'm also on goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36444576-maybe-it-s-magic
My plan is to make hopefully funny, self-deprecating blogger posts on this process and share each on twitter and facebook, boosting them on facebook for a dollar each. In the meantime, also send out to people/vlogs offering ARCs for honest reviews. When I've finished the blogger posts, I'll make a facebook ad for my book and spend a little, maybe 5 bucks a week, on it. There are also some resonable promo people on fiverr and I'll look into them as I go.
I don't want to spend more than 100 on this until it has made some back, so I will be frugal and choosy.
So I hope, if any of you are thinking of getting into writing for realz, this is helpful.
Anyway, that's where I am and what I've been doing with myself. I hope you all are well. :)