To Be Of Service To The Ebook Community

[CalmApparatus]

The point of this post is to briefly introduce myself and then try and convince you that I can be of service.
My name is Damien, I am 32 years old, and a struggling eBook author.
I live in WA, and to be perfectly honest, I was really hoping that self-publishing myself and getting on board for this "eBook revolution" might allow me to get out of the depths of this economic depression.
For what seems like a long while I have dedicated more than half of every day to writing, editing, formatting, and social-networking within the eBook community. My goodness, and to be honest the sales are just barely trickling in. It is discouraging.
So far, there has been only one way to generate sales. That is by being of service to the eBook community, doing it sincerely, and not asking for a penny in return.
That is what get's me from day to day in this environment and personal situation. You would be surprised how hard it is for a guy to be put to use lol, people think its like a scam or something lol.

So....let me help you. All you have to do is ask.

Can I write a review for you? Since I cannot afford to buy anything, it needs to be a free work that you are using to advertise yourself. I have 5 or 6 of those out there, and trust me they work, at least in terms of exposure.
Can I rate something for you?
Would you like a review of your eBook cover?
Would you like a review of your novel? If so you could email me a short synopsis and a really juicy quote. I would be honored to do that.
Could you use some editing or proofreading? I do not have time for novels, but I could check out your blog posts, flash fiction, or short stories.

The eBook community is the future of our species. It is based on a "gift economy" or in other words, "scratch my back and I will scratch yours."

What do you think? If you do not wish to take advantage of my offer, what have you been doing for other people that is helping their books sell?

Cheers

--Damien

[Nancy Fulda]

Originally Posted by CalmApparatus

The eBook community is the future of our species. It is based on a "gift economy" or in other words, "scratch my back and I will scratch yours."

Hello, Damien!

I admire your generosity and definitely agree that assistance freely-given and with no strings attached is an excellent way to build connections and learn the ropes of the industry. Some of my most useful education came from unpaid slush-reading for an online magazine, so I definitely think you've chosen a good path.

I'm going to contest your statement that the ebook community is based on a "gift economy". Or, to be more specific, I'm going to contest the implication that it should be so.

There's no question that a lot of authors on kindleboards and elsewhere consider it an imperative to review each other, retweet each other, and promote each others' work. And there's no denying that established pros do favors for each other, too -- by blurbing each others' books, and so forth. There's nothing wrong with doing something nice for someone you genuinely like.

But to presume that the ebook community is built on the foundation of mutual backscratching is, in my opinion, a grave error. The ebook community is built on the same foundation as traditional print publishing: on the power of a good story. It is the strength of your story, and not the strength of your industry connections, that will ultimately determine the success of your book.

Said another way: the ebook community is based in its readership, a readership willing and even eager to pay cold hard cash for its entertainment. My goal as an author is not to solicit publicity and sales from other authors, but to reach outward and find an audience that genuinely enjoys the stuff I write; so much so that they eagerly grab their friends by the collar, shove a book under their nose and say: "This. Read this. You don't want to miss it."

I find that industry connections are primarily useful as a source of information, not as a marketing avenue. The incredible advantages of belonging to an online writing community come from knowing which editor is looking for what, which marketing avenues are most successful and -- most importantly -- which writing techniques will help make my stories reach their full potential.

[CalmApparatus]

Originally Posted by Nancy Fulda

Hello, Damien!

It is the strength of your story, and not the strength of your industry connections, that will ultimately determine the success of your book.

Said another way: the ebook community is based in its readership, a readership willing and even eager to pay cold hard cash for its entertainment.

From what I have seen this is only partially true. My experience has shown that the more popular a thing gets, for whatever reason, many times having nothing to do with the quality of the story, the less it has to be top notch.

As a writer you can spend inordinate amounts of time trying to sell your own books, and maybe you will do ok, but if you dedicate that same amount of time to helping other people be successful, you cannot lose.

Thanks for your response. I am a little annoyed that Mobilereads moderators moved my post here...I was not shamelessly advertising anything that I am selling...I was only trying to be of service to people...

[QuantumIguana]

Communities are based on people. Think of it like an Amish barn raising: people getting together for mutual benefit. The stories are like the animals that go into that barn: they are your problem.

[CalmApparatus]

The craziest thing is, it is super hard to get people to let me help them...whats the about? There is no catch. I just did a review and rating for an author who found me through here and now we are buddies. Simple as that. She asked, I did as she asked, period.

Anyone else need anything out there? I am here to be of service, in any way I can, to other eBook writers and enthusiasts.

Cheers

[Nancy Fulda]

Originally Posted by CalmApparatus

The craziest thing is, it is super hard to get people to let me help them...whats the about?

Most people do not like to ask for help, and especially do not like to ask for favors from strangers. Within in the ranks of pro writers, it's considered bad form to solicit a favor unless you have a longstanding relationship with the person in question.

You might try just... helping people. Taking time to review someone's book when it goes free, posting on your blog about books you really enjoyed, that sort of thing. If there truly are no strings attached to your offer, there's no reason to wait for people to come begging.

[CalmApparatus]

Ok well thanks again for your advice and insight. I appreciate it.
I am not trying to talk with the "pro-writers" so they can do and think whatever it is they are accustomed to.
I like to have the offer out there. So far those people who have asked for help (not begged) have gotten it and we are friends. So it is slow going, but maybe some day I will have hours worth of stuff to do for people every day.

Cheers, doesn't hurt to try.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by CalmApparatus

The craziest thing is, it is super hard to get people to let me help them...whats the about? There is no catch. I just did a review and rating for an author who found me through here and now we are buddies. Simple as that. She asked, I did as she asked, period.

Are your reviews honest? If you reviewed a book, and thought that it was terrible, would you be honest enough to say so and give it a poor rating?

[Nancy Fulda]

Originally Posted by CalmApparatus

So far those people who have asked for help (not begged)

'Begging' was an unfair term to use. I apologize for that.

And I'm glad you've been able to build new friendships through your efforts.

[CalmApparatus]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Are your reviews honest? If you reviewed a book, and thought that it was terrible, would you be honest enough to say so and give it a poor rating?

Good question. Since I cannot go around buying a bunch of eBooks to provide reviews, they are free ones, which typically are shorter. So far all my reviews have been of short stories and Ebooks authors are using to promote themselves and their other works. Yes, I am completely honest. I have not come across one I did not like. I make light of what is good about it, not the little defects. If I find editing/formatting/general writing problems I send them a personal message and tell them so. This is another way to be helpful

[speakingtohe]

Perhaps posting a link to your reviews would be helpful.

And honest reviews really must include a few criticisms over time for a reviewer to be be taken seriously. If you have never read a book you didn't like you are unusual to say the least. If you refrain from saying to the public if and why you did not like a book then the review is not honest and IMHO useless.

Helen

[Dr. Drib]

Reading only short stories (perhaps you meant "excerpt"?) from a novel does not constitute a review of a book - in my opinion. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you, but I would want to see a review of the entire work, rather than a pat-on-the-back for a perceived portion of the work.

As Speakingtohe mentions, a review constitutes a considered critical examination of the work in question, one that probes into content, aesthetics, language, theoretical stance, and audience in order to examine the weaknesses and strengths of a story, and to tell the potential reader what works and does not work for the reviewer.

A review of only a short story - if packaged as only one story (and there are a number of these now on Amazon) - would be most useful to the author and reader, as long as the review digs into areas which will shed understanding upon the story.

As well, a reviewer brings his or her own sensibility to a work being critiqued, along with the requisite tools to accomplish this critical evaluation of a text.


Don

[CalmApparatus]

Well said Don and you're right, I should have been more clear. So basically, what I see on Amazon and Smashwords is this. Tons of people like me that put up free short stories or non-fiction to gather attention, and get reviews...however in my own experience, and from what I have seen, it is hard work getting little reviews to boost attention. I mean for example, I have a little thing I wrote that will soon have around 500 downloads. Guess how many reviews it has...0
So 500 people read the thing, but did not take the time, like what...two minutes...to write something kind. I have had people seek me out to tell me personally, to friend me on FB, to follow me on twitter or my blog, but not write something.
So I would like to do that for people. As someone earlier suggested, I could just go around randomly reading and writing reviews. However, I would rather form a relationship with the person.

http://www.amazon.com/Crimson-Fury-C...cm_cr-mr-title

Me and that author are now buds! She came to me and said she had friends and relatives write reviews, but would love it if I could.

You see? So maybe "Review" is not the correct word. I am basically saying I want to go and add a little blurb review, some rating, and w/e else to help people look good, and make better sales of their books..

Why is that so hard to do...I do not get it...I know for a fact people would love more short reviews and ratings...

[VydorScope]

So you are offering to read books, and write honest reviews? Well thats a no brainer. Sure, my first novel (see sig) is free. If its falls in your realm of taste, I am always happy to have another reader.

[speakingtohe]

I think it is a matter of perception. People may not feel a need for reviews of free works. After all it is free. The review is not going to help with sales or save people from a poor purchase.

Not saying that this is the way it should be,, but perhaps the way that many see it.

Myself, I have never bought or stayed away from a book based on a review. The story synopsis inside the cover or on the back is what has always swayed my decision. Then I open it randomly and read a page. (one thing I miss about paper books)

Teaser or sample chapters are like video trailers, who cares, perhaps that is the only thing in the movie worth watching, or in a book, worth reading. It has unfortunately been my experience in more than a few cases.

Still I read several books a year, 2-300 and am for the most part pleased with them, occasionally not and often enough thrilled and enthralled.

And I have read the occasional blog with witty and insightful reviews, which I have enjoyed for their own merits, but so far not made a purchase based on them.

Helen