Living in this new age of self publishing and a million new authors trying to get their work not only out there but noticed, I have been wracking my brain on how to stand out among the herd. Just when I’m think I’m making headway and people are actually enjoying my work, I get slapped back into reality. I’m not at the front of the herd! In fact, I’m in the back eating dust and lots of it.
I have Googled, blogged, tweeted, Facebook and emailed every avenue and person I know, would like to know and many I have never even heard of, to what advantage? A few have acknowledged my work and some my efforts. I’m still at a lost to a well-kept secret on how to get my work noticed. My first book was a good first attempt at writing, nothing that was going to win a prize. Many liked it, some hated it and some were deeply disappointed. I could live with that.
My second book, I believe is a much better story and piece of writing. Those that have read it have all agreed it is good writing. An exciting, heart pounding, page turning story. So what’s the secret to get others to read my work?
I understand that all authors feel their latest work is worth reading and everyone should grab a copy and dive in. I get it. For us new authors it’s not about the money, it’s about accomplishment and acknowledgement.
I’m tired of eating dust! I just want to lead the herd for a while. Is that too much to ask? What’s the secret? Maybe there isn’t a secret and it’s all luck. If that’s the case, may lady luck shine on me for a while. If it’s a secret, whoever is holding the lock on that door needs to throw us new independent authors the key.
My husband keeps telling me that promoting my book is a full-time job. I feel like its full-time nagging. It’s true though, every indie author that taps that publish button is saying, “Oh please, oh please! Read my book! Please like my book! Please get your friends to read my book! Please, pretty please,” on the inside. In the mean time we wait for our weekly sales reports to show up and hope someone noticed.
Good luck my fellow Indie Authors!
Author K.D. Bloodworth 
So nice to read these frank comments on your work and the effort to promote it.
It’s so true that in this age, we really need to promote ourselves, even though you don’t prefer it.
Please let me know, if your work is available online to have a look 🙂
Have a beautiful day…
Thank you Sreejith. MrPerfect.com is available on Amazon. http://amzn.com/B00OQJENJK I also have a book trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK9DneU1AWs
I believe the reason I have such a hard time promoting myself is that I was raised one didn’t brag on themselves, you let your actions and work brag for you.
Promoting feels like bragging to me. Wow, now I really feel in the back of the herd and old! : ))
It’s so true in my case too 🙂
I am so reluctant to even share my blog posts through Facebook or Twitter, even a few months back.
Now I am getting used to the realities and trying to make my work visible to a wider audience 🙂
I share in your frustration. I’ve promoted my novel in every way I can thinking of: blogging, tweeting, dropping excerpts, and very little in the way of sales or acknowledgement. Those who seem genuinely excited or at least enjoy what I’m writing revisit my blog — and I’m grateful, but it doesn’t show up in sales. I truly believe I’ve written a good book, and have no regrets. So I keep putting my writing out there for folks to decide for themselves if I’m fooling myself. I guess I always believed the quality of writing would speak for itself. Promotion really is a full time job, and I’m doing the best I can, but it cuts back on all the time I could be writing.
So I wish you all the luck in the world getting your books noticed. I genuinely hope that someone discovers the secret recipe and shares it with the rest of us. 🙂
When MrPerfect.com first came out I offered it for free for one day. In a 24 hour period, 153 people took me up on the offer. When I promoted the free offer I only asked for a review. I did my best to relate that their review didn’t have to be anything in detail, a simple star review and a I liked it or loved it, or not my cup of tea. To my dismay I have only received five reviews on Amazon(on my last check) and a couple on Good Reads. I’m thinking to myself, how can this book get such good reviews from a few and other’s won’t bother? Like you also, when I have blogged and twittered, I have picked up new followers that read my postings, some like you even comment and I am so grateful. I really does make my day when people comment or decide to follow me. I don’t understand if they like my ideas and writings, why wouldn’t they try my book? If you are an Amazon Prime member you can borrow the darn thing. I’m really frustrated that I can’t seem to get people to even borrow the book. I feel like I’m begging for attention and approval. I have started a third book, in which I pick up where MrPerfect.com left off but I can’t get my head wrapped around it with the promoting always in the back of my mind. Good Luck to you too and all the other Indie Authors out there facing the same unsettled questions.