Ask the Author: C.M. Okonkwo
Answered Questions (9)
C.M. Okonkwo
Not yet, but I will look into it.
C.M. Okonkwo
Hello Olufunmi,
Seems like your Sundays are always fun!
Mine can go in two directions, depending on what I do on Saturdays :).
I usually have a busy week, so I write most evenings and weekends. If I'm doing a 'writathon' on a Saturday night, I'd probably write into Sunday morning, then sleep in the morning — meaning no church for me. When I get up in the noon, I either do more writing, read a book (a lot on my to-read list), edit or watch an old movie.
If I don't write on Saturday night, I'd go to church on Sunday morning, then get home to either write, edit or create something new (book trailer, book cover or anything fun).
Seems like your Sundays are always fun!
Mine can go in two directions, depending on what I do on Saturdays :).
I usually have a busy week, so I write most evenings and weekends. If I'm doing a 'writathon' on a Saturday night, I'd probably write into Sunday morning, then sleep in the morning — meaning no church for me. When I get up in the noon, I either do more writing, read a book (a lot on my to-read list), edit or watch an old movie.
If I don't write on Saturday night, I'd go to church on Sunday morning, then get home to either write, edit or create something new (book trailer, book cover or anything fun).
C.M. Okonkwo
Hello Ugochukwu,
Thanks for the Q, and apologies the A is coming late.
I'm a self-published author, so fortunately for me, I haven't faced any hurdles with getting my books published. The process might be a LONG one, but I enjoy the control I've gotten so far on the journey.
Are you looking to self-publish? Are you unsure of what option to pick? You can read my other response on my experience with self-publishing (rewards and challenges) here: https://www.goodreads.com/questions/5...
Thanks for the Q, and apologies the A is coming late.
I'm a self-published author, so fortunately for me, I haven't faced any hurdles with getting my books published. The process might be a LONG one, but I enjoy the control I've gotten so far on the journey.
Are you looking to self-publish? Are you unsure of what option to pick? You can read my other response on my experience with self-publishing (rewards and challenges) here: https://www.goodreads.com/questions/5...
C.M. Okonkwo
Hi Isis,
I think the biggest reward is the control you have over the whole process... no doubt there are a lot of steps in it, which begin after the first draft is ready - first edit, second edit, proofread, more edit, book cover image / cover art for ebook/print, formatting for ebook/print, etc.
There's nothing like having total control over the process, knowing that you can get exactly what you want, especially if you want to keep the right to decide what the whole package should eventually look like; when, how and where it should be released, and how much it should cost.
The major challenge for me initially was waiting... waiting for the editor, waiting for the book cover artist, especially when you have a strict timeline. If you work with dates, like say, "I want this book out in time for the biggest book fair ever," then you have to write/work around the clock... but when it comes to the editors, cover artists, formatters, it's another story. They also have their own timetable, and sometimes can't be rushed.
However, the challenge can be managed by learning how to do most of what's needed, and then multitasking. Along the line, I learnt that. I learnt easily how to format for ebook/print interior, so I don't have a problem with that. For the book covers, I learnt how to do them for ebook/print as well, and it's such a relief.
So while I'm formatting, designing and creating, the editors, too, are working, so the book will be ready in time. Also, learning how to handle a couple of things helps to save some costs... If you are like me, then you will adjust/modify your book cover more than thirty times, and you don't want to pay someone each time you do.
With a cover artist, and depending on how much you pay, you can make adjustments between 3 to 7 times, sometimes no adjustments are allowed. Then you get billed, and have to wait, when you want to add or remove anything on the cover like author bio, description, even if it's a comma or a full stop, lol.
I'll keep creating my own covers for now, and I know that with time, I'll get better and better, because practice makes perfect.
I don't really like to depend on people a lot, so I learn how to do everything needed, just in case. If I had five sets of eyes, I surely would be doing all my editing myself :D.
Another challenge is "selling" the book after it's ready, but I learnt that selling the book has nothing to do with if it's self-published or traditionally published (although established traditional publishing houses already have the following and audience to sell whatever they release), it has all to do with MARKETING... content marketing, strategy, timing, price, place, promotion... the whole package.
It also has to do with personal investment. So it's not just online marketing and ads, but also physical presence at book fairs, festivals, readings, etc. If you are in a city or community without events, then be the first to start one and you will always be remembered for it.
The online and physical options complement each other because we must assume that part of our audience is online and the other part isn't. We might not be able to do both options equally, but no matter how little still works.
The marketing might cost a lot for an upcoming author, but on the long run, the return on investment will be worth it. This new year, I'm opting for continuos marketing. This simply means that I'll be doing marketing campaigns every month as opposed to doing it whenever I feel like.
What happens to your new target audience the month you do no marketing at all? That's what I asked myself before I decided to go with "every month."
I just came up with this line as I approached the end of my response:
"Doing nothing will get you nothing; doing something will get you something, but doing a lot will get you a lot."
I hope this helps,
CMO.
I think the biggest reward is the control you have over the whole process... no doubt there are a lot of steps in it, which begin after the first draft is ready - first edit, second edit, proofread, more edit, book cover image / cover art for ebook/print, formatting for ebook/print, etc.
There's nothing like having total control over the process, knowing that you can get exactly what you want, especially if you want to keep the right to decide what the whole package should eventually look like; when, how and where it should be released, and how much it should cost.
The major challenge for me initially was waiting... waiting for the editor, waiting for the book cover artist, especially when you have a strict timeline. If you work with dates, like say, "I want this book out in time for the biggest book fair ever," then you have to write/work around the clock... but when it comes to the editors, cover artists, formatters, it's another story. They also have their own timetable, and sometimes can't be rushed.
However, the challenge can be managed by learning how to do most of what's needed, and then multitasking. Along the line, I learnt that. I learnt easily how to format for ebook/print interior, so I don't have a problem with that. For the book covers, I learnt how to do them for ebook/print as well, and it's such a relief.
So while I'm formatting, designing and creating, the editors, too, are working, so the book will be ready in time. Also, learning how to handle a couple of things helps to save some costs... If you are like me, then you will adjust/modify your book cover more than thirty times, and you don't want to pay someone each time you do.
With a cover artist, and depending on how much you pay, you can make adjustments between 3 to 7 times, sometimes no adjustments are allowed. Then you get billed, and have to wait, when you want to add or remove anything on the cover like author bio, description, even if it's a comma or a full stop, lol.
I'll keep creating my own covers for now, and I know that with time, I'll get better and better, because practice makes perfect.
I don't really like to depend on people a lot, so I learn how to do everything needed, just in case. If I had five sets of eyes, I surely would be doing all my editing myself :D.
Another challenge is "selling" the book after it's ready, but I learnt that selling the book has nothing to do with if it's self-published or traditionally published (although established traditional publishing houses already have the following and audience to sell whatever they release), it has all to do with MARKETING... content marketing, strategy, timing, price, place, promotion... the whole package.
It also has to do with personal investment. So it's not just online marketing and ads, but also physical presence at book fairs, festivals, readings, etc. If you are in a city or community without events, then be the first to start one and you will always be remembered for it.
The online and physical options complement each other because we must assume that part of our audience is online and the other part isn't. We might not be able to do both options equally, but no matter how little still works.
The marketing might cost a lot for an upcoming author, but on the long run, the return on investment will be worth it. This new year, I'm opting for continuos marketing. This simply means that I'll be doing marketing campaigns every month as opposed to doing it whenever I feel like.
What happens to your new target audience the month you do no marketing at all? That's what I asked myself before I decided to go with "every month."
I just came up with this line as I approached the end of my response:
"Doing nothing will get you nothing; doing something will get you something, but doing a lot will get you a lot."
I hope this helps,
CMO.
C.M. Okonkwo
Of course, you can.
C.M. Okonkwo
I'm currently working on the fourth part of the Angela Hunter series titled "Blocked Door," and a Psychological Thriller novel titled "The Perfect Finish." In between, I've been constantly writing short stories.
C.M. Okonkwo
What's writer's block? :)
C.M. Okonkwo
My most recent work is a novella titled "Jammed Door." I couldn't get enough of the main character "Angela Hunter," so I decided to add some more activities to her already busy life. While talking about the first book in the series "Closed Door," with someone, she asked a question that I hadn't thought of yet, so I gave her an answer, and developed both the question and answer into Jammed Door.
C.M. Okonkwo
You can bring anything to life... Imagination is limitless!
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