Week One Down
So, my first week of Kindle Scouting is done and I'm not sure how I feel about it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm excited and upbeat. I'm hopeful and determined to do whatever I can to make the process successful. I've even had a few fist bump moments (when I hit over a thousand views in three days and my first hour spent on the hot and trending list, for starters). In the end, though, it's the uncertainty that gets you.
As a campaigner, you get a few stats so you can see how you are doing. These are updated once a day so you find yourself creeping in the back door every damn morning like a dirty-stop-out, with smudged lippy, and panda eyes. You raise your head just high enough to see if anyone noticed you were hanging out all night, pimping your wares and then you drag your sorry carcass up the stairs for a shower so you can start all over again.
You see...knowing how many views your page gets is exciting for all of three minutes and then you wonder whether those views have translated to votes. Did they love your cover but hate your synopsis? Did they drool at your synopsis but despise your first chapter? Did you edit the heart out of your narrative in a bid to be edgy? Did you miss witty and go straight to try-hard? My beta readers are glaring at me about now. Their feedback confirmed that I nailed what I was going for, but knowing so doesn't make ALL the doubts go away.
Irrational fears aside though, it is very liberating to put yourself at the mercy of the readers. They suddenly become your agent, your pub team, your cheerleaders. What better way to know you've written something that vibes with your audience than by letting them select your book? Yes, it is risky AF in the current UF/YA/Paranormal dominated climate. But Romance isn’t dead my lovers...Romance is right there like a thread woven into everything...and with STL and its this-is-real-life underbelly, I can't help but hope it appeals.
I’ve been kind of lucky too. The support I’ve had from friends and readers has been phenomenal so far. And the specific advice from previous scouters has been exceptional. Without them, I wouldn’t have even taken the first step.
Okay...rambling over for now. I will check in soon with updates.
Love
Fray xoxox
Read the Extract & Nominate me here.Somebody to Love
Don't get me wrong, I'm excited and upbeat. I'm hopeful and determined to do whatever I can to make the process successful. I've even had a few fist bump moments (when I hit over a thousand views in three days and my first hour spent on the hot and trending list, for starters). In the end, though, it's the uncertainty that gets you.
As a campaigner, you get a few stats so you can see how you are doing. These are updated once a day so you find yourself creeping in the back door every damn morning like a dirty-stop-out, with smudged lippy, and panda eyes. You raise your head just high enough to see if anyone noticed you were hanging out all night, pimping your wares and then you drag your sorry carcass up the stairs for a shower so you can start all over again.
You see...knowing how many views your page gets is exciting for all of three minutes and then you wonder whether those views have translated to votes. Did they love your cover but hate your synopsis? Did they drool at your synopsis but despise your first chapter? Did you edit the heart out of your narrative in a bid to be edgy? Did you miss witty and go straight to try-hard? My beta readers are glaring at me about now. Their feedback confirmed that I nailed what I was going for, but knowing so doesn't make ALL the doubts go away.
Irrational fears aside though, it is very liberating to put yourself at the mercy of the readers. They suddenly become your agent, your pub team, your cheerleaders. What better way to know you've written something that vibes with your audience than by letting them select your book? Yes, it is risky AF in the current UF/YA/Paranormal dominated climate. But Romance isn’t dead my lovers...Romance is right there like a thread woven into everything...and with STL and its this-is-real-life underbelly, I can't help but hope it appeals.
I’ve been kind of lucky too. The support I’ve had from friends and readers has been phenomenal so far. And the specific advice from previous scouters has been exceptional. Without them, I wouldn’t have even taken the first step.
Okay...rambling over for now. I will check in soon with updates.
Love
Fray xoxox
Read the Extract & Nominate me here.Somebody to Love
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