New Installment Up on WattPad

[lydamorehouse]

My experiment continues. I've just posted (as Tate) the third installment of my work-in-progress: the sequel to Precinct 13, UnJust Cause.

Here's where you can read it: http://www.wattpad.com/44898135-unjust-cause-part-3-the-body-and-the-suspects

If you're confused about what I'm doing over there, the short of it is that I've really struggled with motivation to write ever since I was dropped by my publisher. The idea of posting this is a work-in-progress on WattPad is to keep the momentum going. I am really hoping to develop a following and a community there, so I can be encouraged to keep on keeping on.

I can't really say it's working so far. It's possible that I've been silent too long. My readers may have given up on me, which is totally fair. I really dropped out of the scene pretty hard. Particularly as Tate.

I probably should have considered doing this sort of self-publishing thing immediately, but, the truth is I held out hope that one of my other projects would sell quickly. Obviously, that didn't happen, and when it didn't, I was very thrown for a loop. I still have projects that I'm hoping my agent will be able to sell, but I probably wasted a lot of valuable time scrambling around trying to fight a system that changed on me, seemingly overnight.

For instance, she and I were still trying to sell books on proposal, which, apparently, despite how many books you've had published, you really can't do any more. You need to have a finished project, ideally, but, if not that, then a lot of finished product to show off. I didn't have that, and so when there was interest, I had to scramble and write... which I'm not as good at. I did my very best, but I'm much better at having a chance to have a lot of revision and time to feel my way into a character and the plot. So, no surprise, those 'samples' fell flat for a lot of publishers....

...which, of course, only continued to depress me.

So, the whole idea behind publicly posting my work on WattPad was to up my confidence. But, alas, I've lost half my readers between my first post and my second. So... that kind of sucks. I'm not sure what to make of it. It wasn't like I had an overwhelming response for my first post, either.

However, I'm still trying to use the publication schedule I've set for myself as a motivator. At least if I write a 2,000+ word installment a week, that's forward progress. Considering that previously I was writing zero words a week, that's a very good thing. So, I'm not ready to write off this experience just yet. Not by a long shot.

For those who are wondering, yes, the end result should be a self-published e-book. Provided, of course, I stick with this.

In other news, I'm hoping to see "Captain America: Winter Soldier" today at noon. I'm sure to have a review of sorts for you tomorrow (which I promise to put under the cut). Also, tomorrow is Wednesday, so Mason and I will have a podcast for you (talk about a dwindling audience! Ah well.) But, he and I will talk Bleach and the new SnK and Toriko and whatever else strikes our fancy. Maybe I'll give a little review of Detour, too.

Anyway, there you are.

Comments

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine how difficult it must be to feel like you had an audience and lost it and now must rebuild it. It must be very discouraging. :/ But readers will find you again if you stick with it! And some of the changes to the system are really glorious. (Others are difficult and frightening, but I guess that comes with the territory.)

[lydamorehouse]

True, I imagine it will just take time to build up a new audience. It's frustrating, though. But, luckily, I'm using this as a reason to have a deadline, so that will work.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

It is frustrating!

One thing I remind myself is that serial readers and book readers don't necessarily cross over. Some of my readers like both, but more of them will read an e-book or print book than they will read a serial. I have an entire subset of readers who see me start a new serial and tell me 'email me when I can buy it.' So it may be that your fiction audience just isn't into the format and is waiting for it to finish up so they can devour it at once!

If you haven't already visited and submitted your serial to Webfiction Guide, I recommend that too. And the forums are filled with very nice authors with useful advice/chatter specifically about serialization. :)

[lydamorehouse]

I checked out Webfiction Guide, but I'm not sure how it works? I mean, I get it, but I'm not sure if it's the kind of community I'm looking for. They seem to be pretty intense critiques, which I can get from my writers' group. Am I wrong? What are the advantages, in your opinion?

You're absolutely right about some people just not being fond of things in progress. Anyway I think the signal has been boosted a bit, with some help of some friends, so I'm feeling a bit better about that.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

It's not a critique site, it's a catalog for people who want to read serials, so they have a central place to go to look for something new to read. There are also some people who review them, but the site's function is mostly to collect serials so people can find them. :)

[lydamorehouse]

Ah! Okay, thanks for the clarification. I'll be sure to submit my work. I appreciate the pointer.

[offcntr.livejournal.com]

Plz keep writing. I don't do episodic fiction well, so I read the first chapter, then put off going back to let a few more build up. I haven't stopped caring. *Really*

[lydamorehouse]

Oh, understood. Some people don't and that's something I should factor in.

I don't really think anyone has stopped caring. It... well, it's just hard for me to care, if that makes sense. I can write some fast bit of fan fic and get twice as many readers as tuned in for the first WattPad installment of this. So, *sighs*

Ah well, I'll keep on, don't worry!