I appreciate your transparency and sharing of your serial writing journey. At one point a few years ago, I was convinced I wanted to go this route but my writing, as it often does, took me on an entirely different route.
Looking forward to that comic project. I've also found that serializing has been better for actually getting stuff out there as opposed to working and revising endlessly, at least in feeling actually accomplished. Though the silence can be a bit deafening, while before the few people I showed my writing to would actually respond to it.
In addition to keeping my work on my own newsletter up I'd like to do more projects, both for the newsletter and maybe even stuff not directly on the newsletter. Still researching for that Dracula x Aztec mythology project I mentioned before.
Yeah, getting engagement with my fiction has been tricky on Substack so far. On Wattpad I was far more used to having lots of comments on every chapter (although often this would only start to happen once a book was near-complete).
Yeah, it was a bit of a breakthrough for me. I've always gravitated towards more realistic artists and have wanted to go in that direction, but there's a big gap between what I can do and what they do. A more expressive, cartoony look, it turns out, is much more something I can actually achieve. Seems to have got a good reaction from people, thus far!
Good luck with the comic and love the sketch! I too wish I had the talent of Jamie McElvie and Jen Bartel, but barring that, maybe one day I will be able to hire them to do a variant cover
I think I've been waiting for my art skills to catch up to my ideas, which is probably never going to happen. Whereas adjusting my story ideas to match the level of my current art makes a lot more sense - and then that'll give me direct experience with which to begin improving. That's the idea anyway...
I feel like that last sentence applies to the entire industry, whether you're talking self-publishing or traditional publishing or anything in-between! I'll keep chipping away, though. A key thing for me is making it easier for people to get into my current serial - at the moment there's a high barrier due to the size of the book AND due to the Substack interface.
Good luck with your own book! Keep me posted on that. :)
See, this is why I follow you. Love “her.” So cute. I’m also one who appreciates your transparency regarding your ebook sales. I have no plans to write a book. I’m quite happy to hone whatever writing skills I have right here on Substack. Cheers, Simon! 😊
Thanks, Sharon! I'd never really looked seriously at books until recently, at which point I though it'd a) be fun and b) potentially a useful way to get my work under more noses. a) has already proven true, b) remains to be seen. :)
Thanks for sharing your goals. It's helpful to see other writers taking similar routes. I've been working out a plan to moving to posting my works in progress in serialized form and have scheduled to begin this year! Your posts are encouraging and your tips awesome as I've been getting ready to make this jump. Thank you :)
Love this transparency! As an indie author myself, I know the sales struggle is real! Curious how many subs you have to this vs Substack. Seems like Substack readers do not convert to book buyers.
As to selling more books there is a YouTuber named David Gaughins who has a list of “free (or low cost) book promo sites.” And apparently authors get some results with this.
Also check out the last episode of the Charlotte Reader’s Podcast. 6 members of my writers support group and myself went on the show and talked about what worked for us as far as sales bumps.
My bumps have come from getting on other people’s podcasts and talking about my books.
I’d say you could join our group, because we are constantly testing new promotion methods, but the time difference to the UK doesn’t really work sadly.
I will definitely check out all of those links, thank you. That podcast (and your group) sounds great. Getting on podcasts and talking about my work in places that aren't MY newsletter definitely seems like a priority, though I'm not quite sure where to start with that. Very happy to talk endlessly about writing. :)
Cool! And actually that podcast has a form any author can fill to get on the show and they have a lot of listeners and have hosted some big names, so while you’re there you can apply and upload an snippet of yourself talking about your book. The hosts eventually play every snippet and react to them.
I just read this post Simon. You would never get a job in advertising - you are too honest. At my old agency we would have converted everything to percentages and never mentioned the actual numbers and then added lots of adjectives in the copy. My first book 'Get Rid of Glenda' generated about 40 sales. My second, 'Deviates from the Norm', is a collection of edited short stories from my Substack, has about 15 sales and my latest book 'Tuff Ship' has about 10. The last two books have been out for around two weeks. How do I promote? I bring some of the characters to life with Midjourney and they add some voice action and animation through Eleven Labs and D-ID. I post up to Youtube and all the usual suspects. Not sure if this helps with sales but it is fun to do - sometimes I think praying might be a better route. I delight in telling people that my sales are into three figures. They must think that means in the hundred thousands as they raise their eyebrows and nod in amazement. Why would I bother? My standard answer is: 'Writing about insane people keeps me sane'. I've ordered your book. Thank you.
Ha! Thanks for the order, Jack. I'd forgotten about this post - the publishing of No Adults Allowed was always more about me poking at the process, rather than expecting sales. But still.
The interesting thing to think about is how much this newsletter has grown since I wrote this article. Makes me wonder what would happen with another book, if I were to promote it to subscribers. All I need to do is find the time...
I appreciate your transparency and sharing of your serial writing journey. At one point a few years ago, I was convinced I wanted to go this route but my writing, as it often does, took me on an entirely different route.
As long as you're on a route, it's all good. :)
Looking forward to that comic project. I've also found that serializing has been better for actually getting stuff out there as opposed to working and revising endlessly, at least in feeling actually accomplished. Though the silence can be a bit deafening, while before the few people I showed my writing to would actually respond to it.
In addition to keeping my work on my own newsletter up I'd like to do more projects, both for the newsletter and maybe even stuff not directly on the newsletter. Still researching for that Dracula x Aztec mythology project I mentioned before.
Yeah, getting engagement with my fiction has been tricky on Substack so far. On Wattpad I was far more used to having lots of comments on every chapter (although often this would only start to happen once a book was near-complete).
Absolutely love that art style!! Can’t freaking wait. You’ve inspired me to get back into drawing ✍️
Yeah, it was a bit of a breakthrough for me. I've always gravitated towards more realistic artists and have wanted to go in that direction, but there's a big gap between what I can do and what they do. A more expressive, cartoony look, it turns out, is much more something I can actually achieve. Seems to have got a good reaction from people, thus far!
Good luck with the comic and love the sketch! I too wish I had the talent of Jamie McElvie and Jen Bartel, but barring that, maybe one day I will be able to hire them to do a variant cover
Ha, now you're talking!
I think I've been waiting for my art skills to catch up to my ideas, which is probably never going to happen. Whereas adjusting my story ideas to match the level of my current art makes a lot more sense - and then that'll give me direct experience with which to begin improving. That's the idea anyway...
You've inspired me to consider publishing one of my books like this. :)
It's great to read about your journey. Would be nice if books were more profitable though!!
I feel like that last sentence applies to the entire industry, whether you're talking self-publishing or traditional publishing or anything in-between! I'll keep chipping away, though. A key thing for me is making it easier for people to get into my current serial - at the moment there's a high barrier due to the size of the book AND due to the Substack interface.
Good luck with your own book! Keep me posted on that. :)
See, this is why I follow you. Love “her.” So cute. I’m also one who appreciates your transparency regarding your ebook sales. I have no plans to write a book. I’m quite happy to hone whatever writing skills I have right here on Substack. Cheers, Simon! 😊
Thanks, Sharon! I'd never really looked seriously at books until recently, at which point I though it'd a) be fun and b) potentially a useful way to get my work under more noses. a) has already proven true, b) remains to be seen. :)
Thanks for sharing your goals. It's helpful to see other writers taking similar routes. I've been working out a plan to moving to posting my works in progress in serialized form and have scheduled to begin this year! Your posts are encouraging and your tips awesome as I've been getting ready to make this jump. Thank you :)
Hope it all goes well! When do you start?
Thanks!
Love this transparency! As an indie author myself, I know the sales struggle is real! Curious how many subs you have to this vs Substack. Seems like Substack readers do not convert to book buyers.
As to selling more books there is a YouTuber named David Gaughins who has a list of “free (or low cost) book promo sites.” And apparently authors get some results with this.
Also check out the last episode of the Charlotte Reader’s Podcast. 6 members of my writers support group and myself went on the show and talked about what worked for us as far as sales bumps.
My bumps have come from getting on other people’s podcasts and talking about my books.
I’d say you could join our group, because we are constantly testing new promotion methods, but the time difference to the UK doesn’t really work sadly.
I will definitely check out all of those links, thank you. That podcast (and your group) sounds great. Getting on podcasts and talking about my work in places that aren't MY newsletter definitely seems like a priority, though I'm not quite sure where to start with that. Very happy to talk endlessly about writing. :)
I did talk on The Nudge a few months back, which was great fun. https://open.spotify.com/episode/76iBDUNL3NNqNfxGzc1zB9?si=ugPopoVtR5K2_j3Ukl_B1A Hearing others read an extract was particularly exciting, I found!
I have about 1,200 (free) subscribers on here, so the conversion rate to book buyers is thus far fairly low. :D
Cool! And actually that podcast has a form any author can fill to get on the show and they have a lot of listeners and have hosted some big names, so while you’re there you can apply and upload an snippet of yourself talking about your book. The hosts eventually play every snippet and react to them.
I just read this post Simon. You would never get a job in advertising - you are too honest. At my old agency we would have converted everything to percentages and never mentioned the actual numbers and then added lots of adjectives in the copy. My first book 'Get Rid of Glenda' generated about 40 sales. My second, 'Deviates from the Norm', is a collection of edited short stories from my Substack, has about 15 sales and my latest book 'Tuff Ship' has about 10. The last two books have been out for around two weeks. How do I promote? I bring some of the characters to life with Midjourney and they add some voice action and animation through Eleven Labs and D-ID. I post up to Youtube and all the usual suspects. Not sure if this helps with sales but it is fun to do - sometimes I think praying might be a better route. I delight in telling people that my sales are into three figures. They must think that means in the hundred thousands as they raise their eyebrows and nod in amazement. Why would I bother? My standard answer is: 'Writing about insane people keeps me sane'. I've ordered your book. Thank you.
Ha! Thanks for the order, Jack. I'd forgotten about this post - the publishing of No Adults Allowed was always more about me poking at the process, rather than expecting sales. But still.
The interesting thing to think about is how much this newsletter has grown since I wrote this article. Makes me wonder what would happen with another book, if I were to promote it to subscribers. All I need to do is find the time...