So my cousin, who recently became an uhh.. "author" complains a ton. Here's why.. Well about a month or two ago, she wrote a short book and "published" it herself online through some website. I am friends with her on facebook and all of my news feed is her complaining about how no one reads her books. She has been constantly trying to write new books, EVERY WEEK. One of her statuses said something like this, "If I don't keep writing new books, I feel like America will forget me". She is trying too hard for something that she thinks can be accomplished overnight. Honestly I want to tell her that to her face, but we are not close and sometimes she can be a well... five letter word.. It just annoys me how she thinks she is going to be so successful after submitting her book to the kindle store. She acts like she deserves fame. Its not like famous authors just wrote a book one day and were famous overnight.. ? Recent statuses: "It gets so d**n hard to keep plugging along and keep my head up when I have, in total, ONE ******* REVIEW. FROM MY EX BOYFRIEND." "I mean, s***, saying "Oh my god this s*** SUCKS" would be more helpful than purchasing the d**n thing and then being silent." GAHHHH. It just annoys me how she thinks that everything will run perfectly smooth and according to her, well it doesn't! This is not the only thing she complains about either. She works at a gas station. She ALWAYS complains about her job, when she should be lucky to have one at all in this economy. And really, if she hated it enough, she doesn't even have the guts to say I QUIT? I know I am kind of being a contradiction complaining about HER complaining, but I wish I could tell her that she needs to relax!!
people who complain are never happy.. it's sad really. As for book publishing, it takes years to get published legitimately and alot of hard work. Our neighbor and friend just got published by Penguin I think (she just got back from some writers conference in NY) and she's been writting for at least 5 years now, probably longer. Success rarely happens over night. Just encourage her to keep working and if she's still getting on your nerves, unfriend her on facebook...
My sister wrote a few books. I read one. August Freedom. It wasn't that good. Took her three years, and she lived here and was a terrible room mate when she was writing it and stiffed me on the rent most of the time and schlocked out on pain meds the rest of the time. I just get kind of sick to my stomach thinking about those years. Glad she is gone. What a user.
Just imagine the angst and turmoil that would exists if someone buys one of her books and gives it a terrible review. I've bought a few Kindle el cheapo books before and found that there is a reason why they are cheap and they get a less than stellar review in return. I have a friend who self published a book and it was terrible. I kept it around only because he is a friend but I can't make it past the first page or two. I've written short stories as well as some longer works and getting published, really published, is no easy task. I say just sit back and watch the tantrums.
Quote:x2 People like that tend to drain on you. Also, such Facebook statuses aren't likely to wow future publishers and editors. Speaking of which, I write fan fiction based on Jean Auel's Earth's Children series. While I have a small fan base of my own, I know I have made some continuity errors in the plot that I can't fix because my first thread is locked but ... the point I'm trying to make is that a good editor makes a good book. It doesn't sound like hers has any real editing or good beta readers.
I feel for ya! My now deceased ex wrote a book...loooong book! He thought it was marvelous but it was SO technical and verbose you couldnt follow or enjoy the actual story. It was a mystery/suspence, spy /gov,conspiracy thing about what really happened to Princess Dianna.... Then he writes a follow up (book 2) before the first one was published. He cut us all out of his will (kids too) in the end and left it to his "friend"
Quote:The thing is, she SELF published.. so she's trying to create her own success. I'm happy that she wants to be successful , but she is trying way too hard.
she needs to put more work into promoting herself rather than complaining about it. Maybe she should try offering a short story for free so people can get a taste of her style. Not everyone leaves reviews for things. I only review books that are terrible or amazing. Anything mediocre gets forgotten. If she's trying to make a name for herself through self publishing, she really needs to utilize social media to develop a "personal" relationship with her readers, and just keep working to promote herself. Nothing happens overnight, and giving people free samples always helps.
She should be using facebook as the business medium that it is. Like halfway said she has to develop herself as a character.
