Real Writers

I have been writing since I was fourteen years old. My imagination has been going almost non-stop for years. Yeah, I’m not a kid anymore, but writing novels has always been a dream of mine. Now that I am here (Thanks to the internet), I’m not gonna turn back.

I’ve learned a lot about myself and my bad habits over the last two years, and I still yearn for greatness. I dreamed of being Stephenie Meyer, and J.K. Rowlings before either of them even appeared on the scene.  Yes, I would love my Baby Farm Series to be the next Twilight or Harry Potter, but I lack the money to hire an agent, and the self publishing packages offered by anyone other than Smashwords are just out of reach.

Okay on to my topic. What is a “Real Writer?” I am one, or so I presume myself to be. I work like a dog on my stories, and spend what I can afford on marketing and editing. But people still have a hard time believing I’m actually published.

“Oh you write?” “Do you have any published books?” I say yes, hand them my business card, and give them the coupon code for a free copy of any one of my books, and it seems to end there. My normal response to the doubters is, “Google me.” People only seem to believe what they read on the internet or what the media says, so why not? Google me.

We all have been there at one point or another. My own mother didn’t believe in me, and I wish she was here to see me now. My father is just now trying to understand. Ugh! Sorry. Personal feelings coming out. I digress.

So all of you other indie authors out there besides me, I just have to say one thing. We are all Real Writers. Not everyone will like what we write, nor will they always accept what we do. But don’t give up. Live your own dream. Who knows, one day one of us (many Smashwords authors already have) will achieve the dream whatever it may be.

Monetary is not what I’m speaking about. I’m talking about every other person you meet on the street will ask “Hey, have you read the latest book by…?” That is where we all really want to be right? We want to know that we have entertained someone through our craft. Real Writers. We all are.
Question remains, are we really that good?

Until Next Time,
Kayresia

Book Covers

Once me and would be partner argued over something as simple as a book cover. We were working on a book together. (Which I don’t recommend doing with your friends. Lot’s of drama and extreme creative differences can occur.) She had her own opinion about what goes on a cover, so did I. I won’t tell you hers, but I will tell you mine.
People. And I’m not taking anything away from those whose opinion is different from mine. But I feel that people on the cover of your book convey a certain feel. I mean if you are writing romance, erotica or anything that has to do with human emotion, well people or persons most definitely should have a presence on the cover.
Flowers or any other object can say many things. Not saying that it doesn’t say romance, it just doesn’t say feelings to me. I mean really. Everyone is just not that deep.
Your cover should reach out to your target audience without them having to analyze what the story is about. Take my “Gift of Life” cover for instance. There is no doubt in your mind that it is about a man and a woman. A single object could mean several things. I, being the lover of romance, would have to take extra time to read the back of the book to find out if I really wanted to read the book.
I started reading a series about post apocalyptic earth. E.E. Knight. Very good series which I have yet to finish. But looking at the cover of the first book, I felt it was about a kid out for justice, watching his back the whole time. I picked it up and was instantly in love. Adventure, excitement and the kid with guts fought his way through to the next novel.
So, book covers. What do you think? Should your cover tell your story? Or should it be something obscure? If you are out to sell books, tell the story on the cover, for sure. It won’t hurt in the least.

Until next time,
Kayresia