Hi. Since we now have a dedicated thread, here is how to attract the skeptical reader or what cin has learned over the last few years.
1. Don't listen to the ones that say you don't need a second set of eyes. I don't care if you are a college professor or a grade school dropout. Find a second set of eyes to read your manuscript. I mean someone that will be honest, not someone that thinks everything you do turns to gold.
Side note to that one: watch your apostrophe and homonym usage. ( (Yes, I once ran across a published something (sorry cannot call it a book) that had every apostrophe and homonym wrong.))
2. If you want to write in the style of someone, actually read that someone's books to see how they did it.
3. If you want to write a serial, resolve something every episode.
4. If you want to write a serial, don't make it so long your readers start to think you are just writing it for the money. Conclude it in a reasonable amount of books and start a new one.
5. If you want to write a series, remember to resolve the original problem. You can introduce a teaser to the next book.
6. Read in the genre you want to write in.
7. Don't throw in nudity or sex scenes for their own sake. (Unless you are writing erotica or steamy romance.) It can throw off the story. I don't care or need to know what your main character is wearing when he grabs his morning coffee unless it is crucial like the bad guy is attacking him right then. It felt very out of place in an action/adventure.
8. Try to write believable scenes. Side note: please do not do bathroom stuff unless it has a major purpose. I do not need the details of a guy cleaning himself up after an accidental release of crap. And that may just cause your reader to NOT read you again.
9. If nothing else, get a proofreader and run the thing through spell check.
10. If your reader comments on something, do not make excuses or insult them. They are giving an opinion.
11. If you want to write in English and it is not your first language, get a native English speaker to proofread your book. This is especially helpful on singular/plurals.
12. Related to number 11, talk to the English as a second language department at your local college. It will benefit both you and the college. The classes are usually free.
Ok I think that covers the writing side.
Now on to marketing.
1. On free, never put your only book permanently free. It is a waste of your time and the reader's time. If you want to do free make sure to have something I can buy if you are good.
Now if you do KU, you can use your free days. Now the catch to that one is, use free days only on the first in a set. If you do free days on all, some people will wait and pick up all your books free.
2. Never talk about bad reviewers. At least not on a public forum or blog. Remember, it is just one person's opinion.
3. Never tell a person they are not your reader because they like free/bargain books. That will become a self-fulfilling prophecy and if you say it publicly, how many potential readers did you just lose.
4. If you have an English degree, don't brag about it. People will expect perfection. Note that degree means you could please academics, says nothing about your ability as a writer. (Side note
ne of the worst books I ran across was written by an English professor. )
I think that about covers it.
TL
R Get a second set of eyes, read in your genre and watch your words in a public forum.