Stepping out of the cabin

I’m facing the decision of sending one of my books off to professional reviewers and book bloggers, and I’m terrified. I know this is a crucial rite of passage in an author’s journey. It is the only way to build confidence in my work and increase exposure, but the unknown is a daunting hurdle.

It’s not that I don’t think my stories are good, nor do I think I am a terrible writer. I mean, I love my books, but I am a little biased. The problem is that independent validation in the competitive world of fiction writing is hard to come by. Sure, I’ve made some sales, but not so much that I feel confident that readers want to hear my stories. Artists, in general, need a lot of confidence, and being confident is not my strong suit. Why, you ask? Well, the first would be lack of feedback, any feedback. As authors know, getting a reader to write even a sentence-long review is not easy. The whys of this are not unknown.

First off, most people don’t realize (or care) how critical a review is for an Indie writer. For most readers, the name on the book is just a name. The story exists in a vacuum, especially when it wraps the reader in its world. It is easy to forget or even know the creator’s struggle to pull that tale from their imagination and put it into yours. But it was a struggle, and the magic of that telekinesis should receive its reward. Reviews help other readers take a chance on an unknown writer. More importantly, reviews impact Amazon’s algorithm by pushing an author up in search results and making it more likely to suggest a book to others.

Secondly, Amazon has made it incredibly difficult to leave a review in an effort to fight against fake reviews. They take active steps to prevent friends, family, and acquaintances from leaving their feedback, going so far as scanning an author’s social media for relations. You may have asked yourself why it takes days for your review to show up (up to 72 hours). That’s the reason. If you’ve left a review, check back to see if Amazon actually posted it on the page. If not, follow up. They only let you know the why if you ask. Also, Amazon sets a yearly dollar limit that must be spent on the platform to leave a review. It used to be $25, but now it is $50. At $2.99 for an ebook, that equates to purchasing almost 17 books in a year before you can leave a review. Yes, I realize people buy other things on Amazon, but still. My wife makes almost all our Amazon purchases. If I wanted to leave a review on a book, currently, I wouldn’t be able to unless I used her account.

Thirdly, many readers don’t know what to say, don’t want to insult the authors, feel embarrassed, or just don’t have the time. Additionally, those who leave reviews either think the book is exceptionally good or terrible. That meaty middle group may have enjoyed the book, but it just wasn’t good enough to warrant the effort of sending the author a few sentences no matter how easy we try to make it. Most reviews are either five stars or one star. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there are many hostile and angry people out there. Don’t let them win in their mission of adding reinforcements to their team. Bring a bit of light to a creator’s world!

Sure, I could use a review service and pay to get matched to those willing to give an “honest” review. Oh, you didn’t know about these? Here is an example. They are more prevalent than you think, and all the big publishing houses use them (because they can afford them). I hate to burst your bubble, but many of the reviews you’ll read for any product on Amazon, especially if they’re like a Ph.D. thesis, come from these services. But even if I had a couple of hundred dollars to throw into my hobby, it feels a lot like cheating to me. I have very few Amazon reviews, but all were unsolicited, and I am proud of that.

But, an Amazon review and a review from a professional are different. Many avid readers only read things they are relatively sure won’t waste their time. As reading is a dying entertainment form (sadly), Authors depend on this group. Ah, but the bibliophiles and bookworms know the trickery of the Amazon review and see straight through the sharp marketing. They count on the little group of tried and true experts that have never let them down. These opinionators are the bunch I’m talking about, and they are frightening. They are the gods of the author’s world that can make or break a career in 500 words or less.

I’ve struggled for two years to get where I am. Admittedly, my writing career is no kingdom of success, but the small sales figures and no reviews are a comfortable cabin. I am by the warm fire of my stories, relatively safe from the wilderness. I make my little excursions to gather food and supplies, but I don’t go far, and as soon as the wind blows and the trees creak, I’m back in my cabin. But I keep finding myself looking out the window to those dark woods and asking myself, what if? Sure, a wolf could eat me, but maybe, just maybe, there is a paradise in those crooked trees. Life, a good life, is a series of little leaps. Without the failures, we don’t see our successes. So, I lace my boots, tuck my book under my arm and head out into the storm.

Cheers!

P.S. For a little writing update- Dawn of the Lightbearer and The Mourning Son are still selling. The writing of the third book in the Absolution of the Morning Star series, Noonday in the North, is moving along nicely and I’ve passed the 20,000-word mark a few days ago. Still writing a thousand words a day, which I am quite proud of with my day job being as crappy as it has been and the world falling apart. Stay positive and stay safe!