Support for Indie Authors discussion

Is there anything not being discussed in this group that you'd like to cover? Let's use this discussion as a "suggestion box."

Can we (if we don't already- I can't find one) do a post where we can all put our social media links in, and we can "like" and "follow" each other?

Great idea! We will get that set up!

It was a wonderful idea, it's up now.

Awesome :)

BB. wrote: "I have to like and follow you guys??? So that's what its come to is it. Lmao xD XD heheheheehehehheehehehehe"

Only on Social media. No in person stalking allowed. :P

Only on Social media. No in person stalking allowed. :P

I thought you were going to say nobody was required to like each other outside of social media.

I liked the conversation on how people come up with names and wouldn't mind seeing either that or a how do you come up with *blank* topic. Might just be me though. Because I like offering suggestions.

Would you be able to set up a folder for promotions? Personally, I don't do review swaps, but if I find a book I like, I review it. I am also poor, so I look for books that are on a free or discounted promo. This also means my Amazon reviews are mostly 'verified purchases.'

I would limit this to free and 99¢ promos instead of everyone just posting a thread about their books. That way it doesn't turn into a largely ignored 'look at me!!!' thread.

That is a good idea.

Christina wrote: "Would you be able to set up a folder for promotions? Personally, I don't do review swaps, but if I find a book I like, I review it. I am also poor, so I look for books that are on a free or discoun..."

Yes, I agree. Our novel, The Unrevealed, is on free promo right now, and I'm trying to find places to promote it. Anyone have any suggestions?

Suggest you add a thread where we can post and support each others ThunderClap and HeadTalker campaigns.

I have to admit that I've never heard of either of these. . .

Nathaniel wrote: "Suggest you add a thread where we can post and support each others ThunderClap and HeadTalker campaigns."

they can be useful

I'm admittedly new here, but I've read that one way to (legitimately) seed your new book with reviews is to offer free copies of your book for an honest review. I haven't published my book yet, but I'd love to support other authors in this way, and probably can't afford to buy all of their books to do it, even if they are priced affordably. Is there any way to facilitate this, even just a forum to hook up authors who want to provide free copies of their books, and people who'd like to read them? I'd be the first to start offering an honest (and encouraging) review. Sorry if this exists somewhere already and I haven't found it.

Nope, we don't have a site for it. But if you go to the author resources thread, you can drop your e-mail or ask people to PM you and offer to do a review or swap.

Thanks, I'll do that.

Hi Sarah,

I saw your Goodreads post offering honest, encouraging reviews for indie authors. If you are interested in my book, I can gift you a copy through Amazon. It's ok if this genre isn't your cup of tea.

Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/ozsmjov

Thanks!
Susan

We seem to be collecting a large number of books on our bookshelf. Could you add shelves for specific genres (fantasy, sci-fi, etc.)? Then authors could place their novels on the appropriate shelf and readers can more easily find a new author to support.

Great idea Daniel! I can do that!

There a history group, a love group, a paranormal group (you get my drift.) How about an Indie group to attract readers to get out of their comfort zone and try something different!!

On a lot of discussion boards I see indie authors asking about cover designers, graphic designers and illustrators. I feel we should show more love for our artists. Maybe put a discussion box for artists to post links to their deviant arts, tumblr, or art pages for our writers to breeze through. If someone catches the authors eye, they can contact them via Goodreads and discuss things further. There are many many great artists out there, some who are just as capable of putting together a bespoke book cover as any professional would be. The world of art and writing doesn't belong to graduates and degrees, it belongs to bedroom shut-ins, who don't even know they're any good lol. So much support for authors here, I feel there should be some for our artists too. I have a few people I could recommend already.

Also, maybe a subgenre folder? For any and all sub-genres; Splatterpunk, nanopunk, cyperpunk, Gonzo etc etc.

I'm just beginning to know how to navigate Goodreads discussions. That said, I received an email today that listed New Releases. I have a book that was recently released. When I did my giveaway in February, 530 people entered - I gave away 10 hardbacks.

My question is this: I'd like to submit my newly released e-book to whoever is in charge of "New Releases." This is probably simple, but, as I said, I'm not very experienced outside of simply responding to the Goodread emails I receive. Can someone give me instructions for this? Thanks!

Matt wrote: "On a lot of discussion boards I see indie authors asking about cover designers, graphic designers and illustrators. I feel we should show more love for our artists. Maybe put a discussion box for a..."

An interesting idea, and one we've thrown around. We've been talking about taking #SupportIndieAuthors and modifying it to #SIA to include independent artists as well. So it's in discussion, just trying to find the best way to implement it.

Riley wrote: "Matt wrote: "On a lot of discussion boards I see indie authors asking about cover designers, graphic designers and illustrators. I feel we should show more love for our artists. Maybe put a discuss..."

:D Good stuff, Riley!

Charles has a wonderful post that he's growing with his writer's toolbox discussion that is full of a great many good links and resources.

Could we consider making a similar post where the various publishing platforms are linked to, summarized, and discussed? There are a good many posts in this group discussing different experiences authors have had with KDP, DU, Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, Kobo, and other publishing entities that post to those sites, but no comprehensive section where all of them are weighed in on. It might be nice to have those centralized somewhere in the group discussion boards.

Hi, I'm an Indie author and new to this group - I was looking for a discussion where I could ask for advice and opinions about YA fiction recommended chapter length; would this be the right place?

Hi Lara! We have had several threads discussing YA, so I went ahead and made a folder. I'll be moving the discussions in there, but feel free to post your question in the folder. I named it YA All Day. :)

Monty Python was the first to be spammed. Maybe that should be in Guiness.

Spam in Guinness? Well, you get beef in beer, I suppose

Is there a place just to say "hi" whenever, other than introducing yourself?

For example, I'm a new member, and I don't have experience actually publishing anything, so I don't have much to input into marketing/promo/publishing threads, but I've been spending a little time reading and such. I'd hate to clog up an important thread with "hi I read this," but I would also like to let you guys know I'm around, even if I don't have anything constructive to add to the existing conversations.

If this already exists, could someone please point it out to me? Sometimes I miss the obvious when it's right in front of me.

Hi Julia. The Fun folder is for just that: anything fun. It doesn't even have to be related to publishing. Buried somewhere in there is a thread about embarassing moments, what folks are watching on TV, at least one 'I'm drunk on Goodreads' post, and who knows what else. Feel free to say hi, pose a question, or whatever!

Why would anyone get drunk on goodreads? How absurd.

Ah, thank you Christina! I figured my eyes just hid it from me ;-)

Now I know where and what to look for...

We're trying to stay organized, but dang this group is growing! :)

Charles wrote: "Why would anyone get drunk on goodreads? How absurd."

Right? Crazy kids and their bourbons... O_o

Charles wrote: "Why would anyone get drunk on goodreads? How absurd."

Agreed. Getting drunk on Scotch or gin or beer or wine or rye whiskey or margaritas, sure. But goodreads?

I mean just try doing a food pairing with that. It's a bloody nightmare!

Christina wrote: "Buried somewhere in there is a thread about embarassing moments, what folks are watching on TV, at least one 'I'm drunk on Goodreads' post, and who knows what else."

We need one for farts.

Christina wrote: "Charles wrote: "Why would anyone get drunk on goodreads? How absurd."

Right? Crazy kids and their bourbons... O_o"

Maybe someone created a Goodreads Drinking Game. You read posts and take a drink every time a moderator comments. Double for posts about deleted comments. Triple for a moved topic.

Matt wrote: "Maybe someone created a Goodreads Drinking Game. You read posts and take a drink every time a moderator comments. Double for posts about deleted comments. Triple for a moved topic. "

Or we could all read the rules and not be responsible for alcohol poisoning.

Happy Friday everyone :) Drink responsibly. SIA is all for moderation!

Ann wrote: "SIA is all for moderation!"
Sure, that's easy for a Moderator to say!

Micah wrote: "Ann wrote: "SIA is all for moderation!"
Sure, that's easy for a Moderator to say!"

Ann is the very model of the moderation moderator

Speaking of moderation, I have never seen an airport selling bottles of beer from portable kiosks before, but these are everywhere at Houston Hobby. O_o

At least this 2 1/2 hour flight delay gives me time to write. 10,000 more words today.

Can we get an espresso machine for the break room?

Yes, Charles. I'll include it in our monthly budget.

Ann wrote: "Yes, Charles. I'll include it in our monthly budget."

Put a break room in the budget while you're at it. Or do we have one and no one has told me. YOU GUYS!!!

Beer and espresso? Is it time for breakfast already?

Matt wrote: "10,000 more words today. "

Hey, five or six more delays and you'll have a novel.

Great idea. Hubby bought a Keurig machine for the computer room last week end. We have one in the kitchen but hey, that's on the first floor and the computer room is on the second. Saves time. ;)

G.G. wrote: "Great idea. Hubby bought a Keurig machine for the computer room last week end. We have one in the kitchen but hey, that's on the first floor and the computer room is on the second. Saves time. ;)"

We have one of those here at work. At home I have a forty dollar Wal*Mart special. What I NEED is an IV directly into my arm.