Krys Fenner's Blog

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Stars Books & Tea

Blurb:

When darkness creeps in, sometimes finding an anchor is the only way to survive.

Sixteen-year-old Bella Kynaston has been the victim of a brutal rape, by someone she can only describe as ‘the scar-faced man.’ With little recollection of what happened, she must somehow rebuild her life. Being the person she once was proves more difficult than she imagined.

To complicate matters, Bella has just met Jeremiah Detrone, the new guy in school. He’s attractive, funny, and smart. All things she’s ever wanted in a boyfriend. Too bad she’s conflicted over so many unexpected emotions. Without realizing it, she falls down a rabbit hole and begins walking a dangerous line between addiction and self-preservation.

As Bella works together with the police to bring her attackers to justice, will she be able to see it through to the end? And even if she does, will it only bring her more…

View original post 1,406 more words

Both social networking site, Orkut and Facebook, were launched in 2004. I find this interesting as I look at the two sites together and their obvious similarities, especially as Orkut shut down in September 2014 and Facebook is still going strong.

[image error] Courtesy of CNBC.com

Orkut was popular in Brazil. Its “original purpose was for users to find communities through keyword search, including titles, description, and browsing through other users’ memberships (Spertus et al., 2005)” (Mahoney, Tang, 2017, p.191). Orkut was a site that restricted membership, mostly “popular among technology workers and students (Recuero, 2011)” (Mahoney, Tang, 2017, p.191). This is one of the first differences that we really see between Orkut and Facebook. Although Facebook originally began as being used mostly by ivy league students, by 2006, it “was available to anyone claiming to be above the age of 13, regardless of whether or not they had an affiliation with a university” (Jones, 2015).

Despite the one difference, these two platforms actually have more in common than initially believed. Orkut and Facebook have the following similarities:

Clean interfacePrivacy concernsLimit the number of friendsOnline shopping

Now, I said Facebook had a clean interface. They’ve recently made changes to their interface, which allows users to choose between a white and black background. For a long time, users had the option to maintain the original interface. Recently, that changed and Facebook pushed users into choosing one or the other. This hasn’t been something that has gone over well with a few of my friends, although it hasn’t really bothered me. I don’t really notice a different.

Then there’s the privacy concerns. If you have a Facebook account, then I’m sure you’ve heard from multiple people stating they got hacked. Orkut on the other hand “put privacy concerns first and foremost (Recuero, 2011)” (Mahoney, Tang, 2017, p.191).

[image error] Courtesy of PCMag

Before I get into the last two similarities, let’s jump back to one of the differences. Orkut allowed its users to rate one another “based on how sexy, cool and trustworthy they found each other (Recuero, 2011)” (Mahoney, Tang, 2017, p.191). The only thing Facebook gives you the option to rate are pages. Otherwise you have the standard response of like, love, care, sad, angry, and laughing emoji.

Then you’ve got online shopping, which is something both sites offer. Honestly, this part shouldn’t come as a surprise since Orkut was created by a Google employee. Not to mention, “Brazil has emerged as one of the strongest markets for online retailers, ranking as the fifth largest online market in the world” (Mahoney, Tang, 2017, p.191).

That isn’t the part that shocks me. It’s the fact that part of what led to Orkut’s downfall is the fact that it limits the number of friends. This is where it gets really interesting because even though Facebook does this as well, it wasn’t the only thing that caused Orkut to die out.  In fact, there were also “blockages” on the website, “and difficulties in loading and sharing photos (Translate Media, 2015” (Mahoney, Tang, 2017, p.192). The fact that Orkut couldn’t continue giving its audience what it needed, it isn’t difficult to see how it fell short and eventually got replaced with other social media.

[image error] Courtesy of Medium.com

Though, it does make me wonder. As Facebook shares several similarities, are the differences enough to keep it going?

Works Cited

Jones, M. (2015, June 16). The Complete History of Social Media: A Timeline of the Invention of Online Networking, History Cooperative. Retrieved November 8, 2020 from https://historycooperative.org/the-history-of-social-media

Mahoney, L.M. & Tang, T. (2017). Strategic Social Media: From Marketing to Social Change. 191-192.

It has been said that you have to know your audience before you choose the social media sites to be active on. Not only that, but you also have to know what your audience needs and how that applies to your product. That doesn’t mean you just want to pick one, but it means find one to focus on that works for your audience and then build on that. In fact, “the best social media practitioners use a cross-platform approach” (Mahoney, Tang, 2017, p.92).

[image error] Courtesy of allthingsd.com

This is kind of the beauty of “Weixin (pronounced ‘way-shin’), a popular Chinese social networking app” (Mahoney, Tang, 2017, p.92). Users could do all of the following and more:

Send messagesShare newsSend pictures

Although it shares similarities with Facebook, its target audience is “young, urban smartphone owners” (Mahoney, Tang, 2017, p.92). Facebook is geared more toward a mass market with its primary user 65-years-old and then some. Two social media apps (Twitter and Instagram) in the United States have an audience like Weixin, but they can’t do half of the same things.

Weixin is a one-stop-shop.

[image error] Courtesy of journal.media-culture.org.au

Here’s the thing, Weixin offers many more functions to its users than these apps combined. This is one of the many ways it considered what its audience needed. The creators of the app wanted to make Weixin a one-stop shop for its users. Not only did this include making the app easy-to-use, but it made it so that users never really had to leave the app. Users can quickly record and send messages, read news, send money, open a Weixin shop, and more. How did the app’s creators determine what their target audience needed? One, they decided what they wanted to accomplish with their app. They didn’t want Weixin to be an app that didn’t provide everything a user required. That leads to two. Simply put, the app’s creators thought about their “audience’s everyday routine and habit” (Mahoney, Tang, 2017, p.93). These two steps together helped them continuously improve the app and add more features. Now, users can also order a taxi too.

[image error] Courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

That same year, Weixin “introduced a ‘Qiang Hongbao’ campaign (i.e., Red Envelope campaign), which allowed its users to link their bank account to Weixin account, send or receive red envelopes virtually” (Mahoney, Tang, 2017, p.93). This was further enhanced by giving users the option to have funds distributed to their friends randomly. By offering this, the creators took into consideration that it could be stressful trying to determine what amount to give to whom. It took the decision out of the hands of the user by creating a fun way for people to celebrate the Chinese New Year. This also links back to the cab reservation as both functions allow its users to pay through Weixin. With all of these different features, it is a social media app that has truly become a one-stop-shop.

It was made to fit your personality.

Here’s what’s great about all of these various functions, users can decide for themselves what they do and don’t need. Maybe one user links their bank account so they can easily send money to friends or family, while another does it for the cab reservation. Another user may pull up the news and read it right there while waiting on their food. Yet another may use it to exchange messages with friends and family or as a way to stay in touch. This app can be used however each individual person needs to use it, regardless of their background.

Social media is used for a number of different reasons. It isn’t just about connecting or staying in touch with family. Individuals have begun to use it as a way to call for activism or “to promote a particular cause or charity” (Mahoney, 2017, p. 71). Even Facebook has come to encourage this by offering the option for individuals to share a charity of their choice to raise funds on their behalf as a birthday present. Facebook has become a hub for individuals to draw attention to non-profit organizations or causes.

[image error] Courtesy of Kappit (funnycaptions.com)

As we are in the month of October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, popular memes are shared across Facebook to raise awareness of breast cancer. One in particular, which trended back in 2010, was a “message [that] asked females to choose a color that was the same as the bra that they were wearing” (Mahoney, 2017, p. 71). Although it was a fun activity, the problem is when the message got passed along, somehow, for some, it ended up failing to mention it was for breast cancer awareness. That doesn’t mean it didn’t help or follow through with its intentions. According to Stein, the “Susan G. Komen Foundation reported an increase in interest and contributions following the popular memes” (Mahoney, 2017, p. 72).

[image error] Courtesy of knowyourmeme.com

What would make someone participate in a meme like this? They’re fun. I mean, you post the word “black” with nothing else and people are desperately trying to understand why. Or another “private message [that] asked females to change their Facebook status to the location where they like to put their purse” and you get some hilarious status updates (Mahoney, 2017, p. 72). It took a simple task and sexualized it to draw attention to breast cancer. There really should be no wonder as to why thousands of women got involved and the meme went viral.

After all, sex sells. Don’t believe me? Think about the pornography industry. According to Jeff Logue, Ph.D., the number of “US adults who regularly visit internet pornography websites” is “40 million” (2015). That isn’t just men, it’s women too. Even in the publishing world, romance fiction is huge; “it’s the second largest category of fiction, outselling science fiction, fantasy and the classics” (Rodale, 2017). Again, it isn’t just one gender over the other. Per Romance Writers of America, “84 percent of romance readers are women and 16 percent are men” (Rodale, 2017).

[image error] Courtesy of knowyourmeme.com

Despite the fact that both men and women access sexual content in some way, shape or form regularly, these memes only targeted women. The messages were only sent to women to be posted by women. The entire idea behind the prompt was that it would confuse men, yet it was to draw attention to breast cancer, a disease that also assaults men. It makes it seem sexist, yet it isn’t. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, as of 2020:

[image error] Courtesy of National Breast Cancer Foundation



“only one in a thousand men will ever be diagnosed with breast cancer”Awareness in men is less, therefore they carry a higher mortality rate“1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime”Estimated new cases for 2020:  325,010 (invasive and non-invasive)

Although this disease primarily targets women, does that mean men should be excluded? I say no. The memes may have gone viral, but they still lacked something. One, as previously stated, some women participated without knowing the purpose, which fails the call to activism in the first place. Two, the disease may primarily impact women, but men shouldn’t be left out of the equation. And some of these memes are easily adjustable between women and men.

[image error] Courtesy of godsgotthisweb.wordpress.com

For example, the meme that referred to women and their purses—how easy would it be to add in ‘and/or wallets’? Aside from the fact, not all women carry purses. Is the meme excluding more than just men in that instance? Plus, as it does sexualize the message, how does this impact those not seeking sexual content?

Bearing all of this in mind, there are a few places these memes could be addressed and the message could be better conveyed. While this definitely applies to breast cancer awareness memes, it may not be applicable to all memes calling to activism.

Works Cited

Logue, J. Ph.D. (2015, October 22). Pornography Statistics: Who uses porn? Southern Assemblies of God University. https://www.sagu.edu/thoughthub/pornography-statistics-who-uses-pornography

Rodale, M. (2017, December 6). Who is the Romance Novel Reader? Huff Post. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/who-is-the-the-romance-novel-reader_b_7192588

Mahoney, L.M., Tang, T. 2017. Strategic Social Media: From marketing to social change. Wiley Blackwell.

National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (n.d.). Breast Cancer Facts. National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-facts

National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (n.d.). Male Breast Cancer. National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/male-breast-cancer

I wear contacts and on occasion, glasses. I’ve worn some form of corrective lenses since I was a child. Of all the things I remember most about those yearly visits, it isn’t the eye drops that make it so you can’t see anything, the blinding light in your eyes as the doctor checks your pupils, or the funny-looking paper sunglasses you get to wear after. What sticks out to me is the hunt for the perfect frame. What looks best? Big square? Sleek rectangle? Retro Round? Wire rim? There are so many choices. And it doesn’t stop there. Picking the frame is just the first step, as you have to ensure the frame can hold the lenses. If not, you go back to the drawing board.

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Warby Parker changed all that. Instead of focusing on showrooms to sell frames, they utilized online distribution directly to the consumer. If we have learned anything over the years, it is to question everything we purchase online. What kind of quality item will be received as they can’t be tried on beforehand? Are eyeglasses too important to buy online? Warby Parker didn’t allow these obstacles to deter them.

They “developed a ‘Home Try-On Campaign’ where consumers are able to order five pairs of glasses online, which are shipped to the customer’s home to try on at no charge” (Mahoney & Tang, 2017). To aid with this alternative business model, they turned to social media. They connect to consumers with regular communication and participation, the best kind of advertising available. Whenever I go to the doctor’s office to pick out glasses, I always look at myself in the mirror and often take a picture. Sometimes, I’m just unsure so I send the picture to a friend or two and get their opinion.

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Warby Parker took something that we already do and expanded on it. They encouraged customers to share photographs of themselves in frames. This allows new consumers to see not only what is being offered, but satisfied customers. A good review like this will spread easily as these customers aren’t just sharing their photo with Warby Parker, but on their own social media platforms as well. So, it isn’t the company spreading the word, but a reliable source—you, your friends, their friends, and so on.

Now, Warby Parker still uses traditional advertising methods, like T.V. commercials. In fact, earlier today I saw their commercial where the customer can virtually try-on glasses. There are a few problems I’ve noticed with this. One, it is a wide audience reach. Two, it does not reference its limitations. Three, this virtual-app only works on iPhone. While number three doesn’t apply in all traditional methods, the first two reasons do.

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This commercial is a one-way exchange. No response is being received by the customer and Warby Parker isn’t commenting in return as they do on social media. On their social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), when photographs are posted, they comment and initiate conversations with their consumers gaining further insight into their wants and needs. Plus, they share useful information and “offer expert advice on eyeglasses” (Mahoney & Tang, 2017). Not only that, but for every pair of Warby Parker glasses purchased, they give a pair away for free to a person in need.

They haven’t just reduced the risk associated with an online purchase, validated their brand, prompted the sharing of positive experiences, but they also show they are socially conscience too. By sharing all of this across their social media platforms, they constantly draw new consumers in and maintain repeat customers. Simply put, they reach the customer where they are and speak to what the customer needs.

Mahoney, L.M & Tang, T. (2017). Strategic Social Media: From marketing to social change. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

[image error]If you’ve read any of my post over the last few months or get my newsletter, then you know that this past weekend I had a book signing in The Villages. And I’ve got to tell you, I have never felt more like a failure than I did Saturday afternoon as I sat there patiently counting the minutes until the signing was over. (Something else I’ve never done.)

 

I love book signings. It isn’t the potential of sales, it’s the connections and the opportunity to meet new people that I love. Plus, I get to talk about my favorite subject—writing! (You’d be surprised how much people get annoyed by that.) But this event … I believe I told my boyfriend I was in hell, which was exactly how it felt.[image error]

The worse part is it didn’t have anything to do with low sales. Yes, that happened, but it was the look of abject horror I kept seeing on people’s faces as they came across my covers. The ones that claimed the covers were too scary. Or those who said they were beautiful, but frightening. I wanted to scream at them, “Life is frightening!”

It was the number of times I had to tell people, “It’s not horror.” I truly began to wonder if these people even understood the term “horror.”

And for those who actually stopped and either picked up one or each book and read the back of it or heard me out on the story, it was the fake smile that crossed their faces that practically screamed, “Who would write a book about such a dark topic?” That doesn’t include the ones who said, “I can respect that stories like these are necessary, but I wouldn’t pick it up for myself or even someone I know.”

The more I heard, the more people that came by, the more I felt like I was drowning. It took everything I had not to break down and cry. Honestly, if I had been by myself, I probably would have. [image error]But I had my best friend there with me and my boyfriend supporting me by phone. I have a great support team and with a little coddling, they helped me see the takeaways of this event.

Research the event and it’s likely audience before signing on. (If I had done this ahead of time, I don’t believe I would’ve attended.)
Book signings aren’t just about sales, it’s also an opportunity to network and make connections. (Which I did. I met a young woman who does podcasts and I will absolutely be e-mailing her later this week to set something up.)
Each and every event is a learning experience. (An experience that I thought I would share with all of you.)
Even if you don’t make sales, remember to support other authors. (You may just make their day and gain a new friend/follower in the process.)
Walk into and out of every event with your head held high. (Some people never even make it that far, but YOU. DID.)
Finally, remember not everyone will like your book. (I’ve told this multiple times to my author friends and I forgot this myself at this event.)

No author likes hearing the word “no” over and over again, but it isn’t the end of our careers and it doesn’t mean we aren’t successful. It just means we didn’t find the right kind of people, our kind of people.

The ones who are out there, right now, looking for a book JUST. LIKE. OURS.

 

[image error]I promised you another excerpt. As we move away from Halloween and leave all of the costumes, candy, and trick or treating behind … I figured what better way to end than with clowns. 

No, not the Ronald McDonald or Bozo kind, but more like the IT kind. On a side note, who can’t wait for the second chapter? This girl!

Back to business. Now, this is going to be short, but it’ll be anything but sweet. Who’s ready to jump in?

Here’s a sneak peek at Send in the Clowns.

“He’s not responding.”

Kay’s hand trembled. “Claire, what’s wrong with Mike?”

“Are you family?”

“I am his fiancee.” Exasperation made her words sharper than she intended them to be.

“I see. All I can tell you at this moment is that they are taking him to Mercy Hospital. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more.” Claire’s voice started to fade.

“Wait! Who is taking him to Mercy?”

[image error]Purchase Here

Claire laughed. Cold fingers walked up Kay’s spine. “The clowns. They sent in the clowns.”

“The clowns? Why would they send clowns?” Kay’s free hand clutched her heart. She looked at the jewelry box, the dancer still turning, the music still flowing.

“Clowns? Who said clowns? I said the EMTs. Someone called an ambulance. I only picked up the phone because it was ringing and thought whoever was on the line should know.”

Kay’s chest heaved in relief. She paused long enough to catch her breath. “Thank you. Please let them know I’ll meet them there.” She didn’t wait for a response before she hung up again. She snatched her keys from the hook by her door and ran to her car, the jewelry box in her hand. She tossed the box onto the passenger seat, swallowed the lump in her throat, and swiped at her eyes. Oh Mike! What happened to you?

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It has been nearly a month since my last post. I’ve been super, super busy, but I promise I’ve got some nice treats for you this week. I’ll even be sharing some exciting previews in my upcoming newsletter.

This week I’ve got a couple of excerpts from promising tales of horror. We’re going to take a peek at a few of “The 13: Tales of Macabre” by Stephanie Ayers.

Are you ready to get your scare on?

From Off to Never Neverland.

I eye the child again, suspended in the air. She’s waiting. She has not crossed the threshold yet. The Sandman has yet to claim her. There’s still time.

“Take me instead!”

Laughter answers my plea. “You cannot take her place. No one can. She was mine long before she existed.”

Care for her intrudes a silent plea from the black depths. “I care for her. I will take her place. I am ready.” I tremble, but my voice holds firm. I am not ready, but how do you prepare for Death in the first place? “You’ve had me longer.”

“I’ll have you both. This you do not understand. You cannot take her place. Your place here is already determined as is hers.”

[image error]Purchase Here

“Then take me first. Let her live.” Pressure against my windpipe chokes me. I swallow my words. The pressure eases, and I breathe once more.

“It’s not your time. You must finish your journey. You’ve yet to reach Never Neverland.” This comes softly, remorsefully.

“My journey? Is it not enough I am always here?”

“No.”

The stench fades. The child disappears. I am alone in the darkness. A light appears in the far distance, an invitation I refuse to accept. I turn my back to the light and walk in the opposite direction. Something squishes beneath my feet, but I cannot see. I step aside only to smash something else.

“Please stop.”

No one stands before me.

“Look down.”

Nothing. I close my eyes and wait for them to adjust.

“Please don’t step on me.”

[image error]I’ve discussed this in the past, but you know how much I love revisiting things I’ve talked about before. Here’s the thing, we work in an ever-changing industry, one where you can never stop learning. Sounds like a doctor’s office. Yet it’s true. It doesn’t mean that what was discovered yesterday is less important, it’s just not as current.

And things that you think might remain static, guess what? They can change too. Just like that. Take point of view for example. When I was in high school and even my early years in college, there were only three: first, second, and third person.

Sounds simple, right?

Wrong.

Yes, I said that’s wrong. Now, if you’re a fiction writer, no need to fret over second person point of view. It isn’t really used for fiction. More for essays and writing along those lines. So for our purposes, I’m only going to discuss the other two.

Except it really isn’t just two points of view. In fact, first and third are really four points of view.

Let me explain.[image error]

First person is pretty straight forward. Everything in the story is told from one person’s point of view at a time. If I have a story with Emily and Jack and the story is told in first person from Emily’s perspective that means that everything the reader knows is only what Emily knows. Not only that, but it also means the reader only knows what Emily can see, feel, hear, or smell. All knowledge that is gleaned is from what Emily has already experienced, can identify for herself, or has been told by someone else.

Simple, right?

While it might be easy to understand first person, third gets a little more complicated. There’s third person limited, third person omniscient, and a most recent addition of third person deep.

Third person limited is just as easy as first person. They are almost the exact same. The only difference is that the perspective isn’t “I,” it’s all “he” or “she.” All of the information that the reader gains is the same, but there is the unspoken presence of a narrator. Most often the narrator is viewed as the author, but not always. [image error]While that would be a great discussion, it is something I’ll save for a later date. Back to third person limited. Everything the reader learns is told from one person’s perspective by this unspoken narrator. And typically the entire story is from the same person’s perspective or the main character.

Here’s an example of the difference.

First person: “Swallowing my nervousness, I walked up to the door and knocked.”

Third person limited: “Stroking up some courage, Emily walked over to the door and knocked.”

See the difference? Okay. Moving on.

Next, we have third person omniscient. The basic principle is that the narrator is God. Again, the story is told in “he” and “she,” but every character’s thoughts are known by the reader. If done correctly, the story will still move smoothly and flow well together, especially since this omniscient presence can go from one paragraph to another with two characters and reveal each character’s thoughts.

Here’s two examples:

From The Cost of Fame by Shay Stone

“Richard called after her, ‘Do me a favor, Alexandra? Remember this moment. My guess is you’ll be thinking a lot about it in the weeks to come.” Without turning around Alex held up her middle finger and continued on her way.

‘God, I love that fire in her,’ Richard remarked to Chase who looked a bit like a deer in headlights after witnessing their exchange. Steed pointed to a drink. ‘This one’s hers?’”

In the first example, you get a bit of Alex and Richard. Even though Alex walked away, the action didn’t stop. The reader sees, knows, hears, and smells it all.[image error]

Here’s another one.

From Light in August by William Faulkner

“‘They?’ the man said. ‘Oh,’ he said. ‘Well, if Jefferson aint too long about it.’ He shifted his grip on the old man’s arm. ‘Where do you want us to put him?’ The woman moved then. She descended the steps and approached. ‘We’ll tote him into the house for you,’ the man said.

‘I can tote him,’ she said. She and Hines were about the same height, though she was the heavier. She grasped him beneath the arms. ‘Eupheus,’ she said, not loud; ‘Eupheus.’ She said to the two men, quietly: ‘Let go. I got him.’ They released him. He walked a little now. They watched her help him up the steps and into the door. She did not look back.”

There is a rather obvious omniscient narrator here directing our attention to what the narrator feels is important.

Both are third person omniscient and yet both are different. Again, not something I’m going to discuss further here.

With all of that said, only one remains: third person deep. If you’re saying, “I’ve never heard of that before,” then my response would be, “I’m not surprised.” I only learned of its existence in the last few years. And if you’ve read my previous discussion, then you’d know I describe it as first and third omniscient got drunk one night and had a baby, which leads us to third person deep.

Third person deep is told from one person’s perspective at a time. This may be limited to one chapter and/or one scene. Whether it is one or the other, it is all from that one character. We get their internal thoughts like we do in first person, but it’s all told in third person. At the same time, we will get someone else’s thoughts in the next scene or chapter, kind of like we do in omniscient. Oh, and that pesky narrator … they are practically non-existent.

[image error]The concept behind third person deep is that you get more show and less tell in third person. Makes perfect sense, right?

If not, let me give you some examples and show you what I mean.

From Avenged by Krys Fenner 

“‘Not trying to keep me away, are you?’ Miah grabbed Bella by the waist and pulled her close. Caressing her cheek, he pressed his lips to hers, kissing her like he hadn’t seen her in months.

The kiss stole her breath away. She hated lying to him.  Part of her wanted to drop the bullshit and tell him  the truth right then and there. If only she had a better idea of what exactly she was getting into. Keeping him safe required she proceed with caution. Hopefully, she wouldn’t irrevocably damage their relationship in the process.”

From Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

“‘We need to get out an APB.’ Was that his voice? It sounded hoarse, like he’d been to a football game and screamed for two hours. ‘White male, six-six, two seventy. Dressed in black leather, wearing sunglasses, shoulder-length dark hair.’ Butch threw out a hand, steadying himself against the building. ‘Suspect not armed. Only because I stripped him. He’ll be restocked within the hour, no doubt.’

When he stepped forward, he swayed.

‘Jesus.’ José grabbed his arm, holding him up.”

[image error]Courtesy of BrainyQuote.com

Between these two examples, I hope you get the picture. If not, think about it like this, the reader is entirely inside the character’s head as if the character is the narrator, except everything is told in third person as if the narrator is an outside person. That probably sounds way more complicated than it is. Hmm, let’s try this. God is the one telling the story, but he is limited to one person at a time. Make sense?

Good. Now, you have a better understanding of the difference between these four perspectives. As for choosing one to write in, well, I can’t do that for you. I can only tell you I’m bias toward Third Deep. Go figure. To find what works for you, you’ll have to find what you’re comfortable writing in and then practice until the sun goes down and it gets as close to perfect as possible.

Because no one is perfect.

[image error]I’ve spoken about this before, but I think it’s a topic that can never get enough attention. In the world of independent authors, when we think about success we generally think about being in the NY Times Top Ten, winning an award or money. Now, I’m not talking about Tom Clancy, Stephen King, or J.R. Ward kind of money. I’m talking about the kind of money that pays for writing. Maybe even pays for a bill or two.

Let me give you an example.

A couple of weeks ago I had a Mary Kay representative here for a facial party. One of the things she said, “When I joined Mary Kay, I just wanted to earn enough to pay my car note. Nothing else, just my car note.”

She was able to do that and more, but it didn’t happen overnight. It took time for her to build her business and make it profitable. [image error]Authors have to set out to do the same thing, except we want to take it a step further. We don’t just want to earn the money, we want to be known or recognized authors.

Some new authors do everything right and they become what seems like instant overnight success stories. Look at E.L. James. We all know the writing is horrendous, yet this author has sold millions of books and all three have been turned into movies (which in my opinion were ten times better than the books.) Seeing something like that happen makes an independent author wonder, how do I compete? How can I be successful in this business with authors like that?

Then you have the new authors who do everything right AND still cannot find “success.”

[image error]What if I told you “success” is NOT SIMPLE?

It’s a convoluted and complex idea that differs from author to author. Some authors want the fame and fortune, some just want the fame, some just want the fortune, and some don’t care for any of it. They write because they enjoy writing.

Overnight sensations are the one-offs and we cannot compare ourselves to them. As independent authors who do it all (writing, editing, marketing, socializing, building teams, reaching out to fans) it is impossible to become an overnight sensation. That doesn’t mean it is impossible to succeed.

First, start by defining what success means to you. Here are some questions to answer to figure that out.

What is it that you get out of writing? Is it joy from great reviews? Is it satisfaction from completing a project?
Why are you writing? Are you writing because you have a story to share that is just bursting to get out? Or are you writing because you want to make some money?
What are your goals? Do you want to be well-renowned? Financially dependent on your writing? 
How much time are you willing to put into it? Are you aware that it can be a thankless and time-consuming job? 
Do you always plan to independently publish?
How much money do you want to put into it?

Some of these questions may not make any sense, but I promise they are accurate. [image error]

Think about it like this. There are thousands of people who come up with what they call “get-rich-quick” schemes. And most people know there is no real way to “get-rich-quick.” However, there are those who would argue that you can “get-rich-quick” by winning the lottery or going onto a television game, like Family Feud or Jeopardy.

But how much money do you waste on lottery tickets before winning even a small fraction of that back? If you do happen to win big, how much of that is the government going to get in taxes? And how many tickets did you have to buy to get there? Those dollars add up. For example, the cheapest lottery ticket is $1.00. If you buy $10 worth every two weeks, by the end of the year you will have spent $260.00 in lottery tickets. If you won nothing, then you have nothing to show for it.

[image error]Courtesy of BrainyQuote.com

Let’s apply that same theory to a book. Say you took that $260.00 and invested it in publishing a book. At the end of the year if you have had no sales, would you consider yourself successful?

I would. Because publishing that book in the first place is no easy task. 

What if the following year you took that same $260.00 and applied it to marketing that book? Would you still consider yourself successful if you had no sales at the end of the year?

Your answer should be yes. Because you spent that year learning what worked and what didn’t work. So the next year you can improve.[image error]

And THAT is what makes success simple.

Success is nothing more than working toward a new and better goal and meeting that goal day after day, month after month, and year after year.

Yes, the concept of success is complex, but we have the power to make it simple by continuously reaching small goals and setting new ones.