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I was wondering if anyone would be interested in joining a writers group. Many of us have story's we want to tell, be it about our experiences or an epic fiction novel. The idea is we would review each other's work, assist in finding resources for new authors, and encourage each other to follow through with finishing our storylines. We would share our expirance with self publishing, or the road blocks to publishing.
We would help each other in promoting our finished work to reach a broader audience, and offer the encouragement to not give up.
I have created a closed group on Facebook so anyone interested will need to have an invite to join the group link up with me and I will add you to the group if you are interested.
https://www.facebook.com/kevin.gardner.94?ref=bookmarks
We would help each other in promoting our finished work to reach a broader audience, and offer the encouragement to not give up.
I have created a closed group on Facebook so anyone interested will need to have an invite to join the group link up with me and I will add you to the group if you are interested.
https://www.facebook.com/kevin.gardner.94?ref=bookmarks
Learning
Writing
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 13
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I'm conflicted about joining a writer's group. What's in it for me? Well, there's the agony of having to tell a friend that their work product is crap. Sorry, but I'm going through that now with an old friend who self-published one of the worst pieces I've never read. Yes, you read that correctly. I never read it. I can't read it, not past the first few pages. I've tried, several times. I stopped the first time after the first paragraph. I would have stopped with the first sentence but, well, he as, after all, a friend.
The sad truth is that there is an odd intersection in the forces of the universe with the number of wannabe writers growing exponentially as the numbers of readers is diminishing. What the hell is up with that?
The other sad truth is that the quality of writing doesn't necessarily determine the market success of a book. Have you read any of the recent best sellers on Amazon?
So, yes, I'd be happy to join, but first want to know what the "real" purpose of the group is. Do you want help marketing your book? Trust me, no one really knows the key to marketing success. It's a real crap shoot. The traditional paths to publishing success have been lost in the murk of new channels of distribution. Of course, you can always achieve some degree of success by writing a tell all about "How to be a successful writer". Don't worry, you don't have to be one or even know how you did it if you have a best seller. People will buy your book because they want to know. Fortunately, they can't come and get their money back when they discover you don't have any idea of how to do it and your strategy doesn't work.
Do you want someone to help you write your book? There are editors who will be happy to help you ...for a fee. Sadly, many of them aren't any better than your brother-in-law.
Do you just want someone to hold your hand? To give you some encouragement? Well, I guess I've just about proven that I'm not much good at that, haven't I.
So, sure, go ahead and call me when you get your group started, if you really want me around.
The sad truth is that there is an odd intersection in the forces of the universe with the number of wannabe writers growing exponentially as the numbers of readers is diminishing. What the hell is up with that?
The other sad truth is that the quality of writing doesn't necessarily determine the market success of a book. Have you read any of the recent best sellers on Amazon?
So, yes, I'd be happy to join, but first want to know what the "real" purpose of the group is. Do you want help marketing your book? Trust me, no one really knows the key to marketing success. It's a real crap shoot. The traditional paths to publishing success have been lost in the murk of new channels of distribution. Of course, you can always achieve some degree of success by writing a tell all about "How to be a successful writer". Don't worry, you don't have to be one or even know how you did it if you have a best seller. People will buy your book because they want to know. Fortunately, they can't come and get their money back when they discover you don't have any idea of how to do it and your strategy doesn't work.
Do you want someone to help you write your book? There are editors who will be happy to help you ...for a fee. Sadly, many of them aren't any better than your brother-in-law.
Do you just want someone to hold your hand? To give you some encouragement? Well, I guess I've just about proven that I'm not much good at that, haven't I.
So, sure, go ahead and call me when you get your group started, if you really want me around.
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CPT Jack Durish
PVT James Strait - I too had to give away a few thousand hardbacks when my wife and I sold our home and moved into an apartment. The saddest part of the experience was that no one wanted them (well, no one I could find. I later learned that they would have been welcome at Camp Pendleton). I had to leave them like foundlings at the backdoor of a Goodwill collection center in the middle of the night. Fortunately, Kindle more than compensated for the lost shelving.
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SGT Kevin Gardner
Some of the advice I was given about hardback and paperback books from indie authors was to have them ordered from Amazon so you don't come out of pocket for them. I do know that if you reach out to your local Costco they will let you promote your books there. You have to stick around and do a book signing but that can only help. I would like to see you both join the group if nothing else we can help one another with promoting.
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PVT Mark Brown
My wife and I read a lot. I just took two boxes of paperbacks out to Mather VA and have another box for the McClellan VA which I will take next appointment. I have a hard time letting for of books and magazines and fell it is almost an obligation to pass them along to some else. The problem is that original author is missing out on royalties that would have been earned had a new copy of the book been sold at retail. I buy all my book as 2nd hand stores which still leaves the author with no royalty on that transaction. Truth is that if I had to buy books new either paperback or hard bound I would not be able to afford much. When I see a fellow Vietnam or Korea veteran with a book he has written for sale I will always buy at full retail and directly from the author when ever the opportunity presents itself. This is sure off topic. Sorry.
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LTC (Join to see)
I feel for you CPT Jack Durish. I've read some terrible writing from family, friends, and coworkers. It's terrible when they trust your qualified opinion, but cannot accept honest criticism and feedback.
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SGT Kevin Gardner Hell yeah, sign me up. And I'm going to tag in SSG Warren Swan , because that guy can beat words into shape like a blacksmith making a blade. And I have reason to believe that Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS would appreciate this as well.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
SrA Christopher Wright - I appreciate the praise but my current project is "unpolished" to say the least. It's about 25% complete (1st rough draft phase) now though.
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SGT Kevin Gardner
No problem there, I am going to be posting my draft as well. I created a group on Facebook it will need an invite in order to access because I want to make sure our work cannot be viewed by anyone outside the group.
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MAJ Bill Darling
SrA Christopher Wright - He's commented on my most recent question and I agree. He's articulate and passionate, two things in which it's hard to train people.
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SGT Kevin Gardner
Yes I do realize this, however until I can figure out how to cover the cost of a private forum, i see no other option for the time being. I have every intention of finding a solution to this issue.
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SGT Kevin Gardner
I do, but right now I am trying to get a private website put togeather to move the group off of Facebook.
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