Writing A Book Is Hard

I was set up at a local craft and vendor fair and a woman approached my table. She told me she was trying to write a book, but it was a lot harder than she thought it would be.

 

This is a harsh reality most people who aspire to write a book realize. Writing a book IS hard.

 

It's estimated 80% of Americans say they want to write a book. Out of all those people, only 3% finish writing a manuscript. And if that wasn't a small enough number, only 1% end up publishing said manuscript.

 

For the purposes of this blog post, I want to focus on why 80% of people WANT to write a book, but only 3% do. Whether you publish said book is up to you, but what is standing in the way of actually writing it?

 

There can be a lot of answers to this, but after writing and publishing 16 novels and meeting thousands of author's over the year, for most it comes down to one thing...writing a book is more difficult than they expected.

 

No matter if you're writing your first book or your 50th, it's not uncommon to hit a wall at some point in the process. This can happen at any point. And it's not always the same for every book.

 

For some, getting started is the challenge. Picking the perfect place to jump into the story can be challenging and can set the tone for your entire story.

 

A lot of writers have trouble with the messy middle. The inciting incident has gotten the story rolling, but then what? Things need to happen, characters need to evolve, change, learn things, before the climax and conclusion of the story.

 

Coming up with a story idea is the easy part. It's the writing that's the challenge. Writing isn't easy. It's not supposed to be. But if you want to write a story, then sit down and do it. Set your sites on the goal and figure out how to overcome the obstacles in your way. In the end, it will be worth it.

 

Should You Buy an ISBN? A Guide for Self-Published Authors

This is a question that comes up a lot with new authors in the self published space. If you're book is going to be traditionally published, either through a small press or with one of the big New York City publishers, they handle ISBNs so you don't need to worry about it. As a self published author, whether you purchase an ISBN for your book is up to you.

 

 First, what is an ISBN?

 

ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. It's a unique way for your book to be identified. Multiple books can have the same title, but no two books can have the same ISBN.

 

If that sounds important, it is. Sort of.

 

If you're in the US, authors can purchase ISBNs from a company called Bowker (Click HERE to go to the site).

 

Authors can purchase ISBNs one at a time, in batches of 10, 100, or 1,000. Of course, the more you purchase, the cheaper they are.

 

 But with the rise of self publishing, online retailers have looked for ways to remove the cost barriers of publishing. One of the ways they do that is by offering to provide ISBNs at no charge.

 

Sounds great, right?

Well, that depends. If you're only publishing on one platform (usually Amazon) and you have no intention of ever publishing on any other platform, then maybe taking the free ISBN is a great option. Who cares what the ISBN is if it's only going to be for sale on Amazon?

 

But what if you want to publish your book on multiple retailers?

 

Well, they offer ISBNs as well. When you upload your book, you'll be asked if you want them to assign your book an ISBN or if you have your own. And again, it's free.

 

This all sounds great, so why would anyone buy an ISBN?

 

Let's say you decide to publish your book on Amazon, Apple, and Nook. If you decide to go with the free ISBN option offered by the retailers, your book will have a different ISBN on each retailer. On Amazon it will show Amazon as the publisher. On Apple, it will show Apple as the publisher. And on Nook, it will show Barnes and Noble as the publisher.

 

You get the idea. There's no consistency across all retailers even though it's the same book. 

 

Again, this may not matter to you. But it is important to decide what your long term writing goals are from the start. If you want to try one day for a run at one of the big lists, it might be a good idea to own your ISBN. If you want to build a publishing brand, you may want to have your own ISBN.

 

If you choose to take the free ISBN, then later decide to purchase your own for whatever reason, you will loose any reviews you've accumulated under the free ISBN. Given how important reviews are and how difficult they can be to get for self published authors, that alone could be a deciding factor.

 

Personally, I choose to buy my own ISBN. I bought a block of 100 almost 10 years ago and I'm still working my way through them.

 

It was the right decision for me, but that is something each author will have to decide for themselves.

The Book That Changed My Life

 I was in the middle of writing my very first fan fiction based on the television show Prison Break when an online friend suggested I check out this vampire romance series called Twilight. I was hesitant because I'm a steamy romance reader and Twilight is a YA romance. Would I really like a book series that had zero spice?

As it turned out, I did. I fell in love with Bella and Edward. So much so, that when I finished writing my Prison Break fan fiction, I decided to dive into Twilight fan fiction.

My first foray into writing Bella and Edward was to give them a proper wedding night. I was perfectly fine with the slow burn, but I needed more from the wedding night than what the author gave us. I mean, she made us wait for 3+ books and THAT was all we got?

I needed more, so I decided to write it.

My first Twilight fan fiction was titled Perspective. It was written in Edward's point of view starting three weeks before the wedding night. Stephanie Meyer mentioned how Bella and Edward had been practicing for their wedding night. She didn't give us details, but I decided to fill in the gaps.

With each chapter, we get to watch Bella and Edward test the waters and prepare for their wedding night. And then, of course, the story wraps up with the big finale...the wedding night. And unlike what we got (or didn't get) in Breaking Dawn, I didn't leave it at a fade to black. I gave Bella and Edward a proper wedding night.

That fan fiction led me to writing more in the Twilight universe and it was that second story that caught the attention of some ladies who were starting their own publishing house. The owner of the publishing house reached out to me, explaining how she'd read and loved my story. She wanted to know if I had anything I was interested in publishing.

As it turned out, I had a story I'd written and was in the process of editing with the intention of trying to get it published. I emailed her the story and within two weeks she contacted me again. This time, it was to offer me a publishing contract.

 Fourteen years later, I am not 100% self published and have 16 novels, 1 novella, and 3 short stories. Writing that first fan fiction changed the course of my life, but I may never have published my first book without having read Twilight and diving into the world of Twilight fan fiction. It truly changed the course of my life and gave me an outlet to tell all the stories floating around in my head.

To find out more about my books, check out my website at www.sherrihayesauthor.com.

Pushing Boundaries In Romance

 With the explosion of indie publishing over the last fifteen years, there's no longer a gatekeeper preventing an author from writing, and publishing, whatever they want. Today's authors are pushing boundaries, breaking taboos, and delving into uncharted territories like never before. If you have a niche you love, chances are you can find it somewhere out there in the author-verse.

Spicy and erotic romance writers no longer have to sugar coat taboo topics and controversial themes. Authors can delve into complex human emotions, challenge societal norms, and spark conversation about consent, power dynamics, and so much more.

I first published Slave (Finding Anna, Book 1) in July of 2011. Back then, it wasn't common to have a book where the heroine had been a victim of human trafficking. It wasn't uncommon for me to get reviews saying how unrealistic the premise of the story was because that didn't happen here (the United States).

Fast forward twelve years and a lot has changed. The truth of the matter was, and still is, that human trafficking happens everywhere, even in the US. It just wasn't getting a whole lot of representation in the publishing world.

The same can be said for many other more taboo topics. Would bully romances have been such a huge trope if not for self publishing? What about modern age gap romances? Reverse harem?

It's hard to say, but authors today are able to address sensitive topics and help open the doors of communication. Writers tackle everything from challenging societal norms to power dynamics to consent.

I recall a conversation on a forum not long after I published my first book. It stemmed around whether or not authors needed to include birth control in their stories. Today, I look at the books publishing and, if they're set in modern times, they all address birth control. I can't remember the last time I read one that didn't. But only a dozen years ago, it was a big question.

Another big turn in the publishing industry has been moving BDSM stories into the mainstream. Kink in spicy and erotic romance novels was rare two decades ago. Sure you'd maybe see the hero tying up a woman and having his way with her, but that was about the extent of it. Other than that, kinky romances were relegated to the dark recesses of the erotica section of the bookstore.

Writers today are pushing boundaries. They're showing sex as a natural part of human relationships, even for those who may veer out of the norm, whether that be because of their body types, desires, experiences, or career choice.

Most of the readers I encounter embrace this change. In fact, they love it. There really is something for everyone these days. You only need to look.

A New Year, A New Story

It's a new year, and of course that means sitting down and making a list of things I want to accomplish in 2023.

 

Every year I evaluate what went right and, yes, what went wrong. What worked for me, made me more productive, and what just sounded good but didn't produce the results.

 

This year I have a goal of publishing 3 novella and 1 full length novel. While that might not seem like a lot for some authors, it's a mountain for me with my commitments outside of my writing life. In order to have any chance of achieving my goal, I need to be focused.

 

One of the big ways I'm hoping to stay on top of my goal of writing four stories this year is by getting an early start. I found last year if I woke up early (between 5am-6am) I was able to get a lot accomplished before my attention was needed elsewhere. This means going to bed early in order to make sure I get enough sleep. Each feeds into the other and productivity is the name of the game. I'm much more productive at 6am than I am at 11pm.

 

And even though we're only a few days into the new year, the change has been significant. Not only have I put a good amount of words down on the page, I've also began working on some other projects around the house. It's a win-win all around.

 

I've sat down at my desk every morning for about two hours and knocked out as many words as possible. For the last two days, I've been able to write 1,500 words in that time, which mean, if I can stick to my schedule (which I know isn't always going to be the case), I could knock out this novella in about a month. Crazy!

 

So what am I working on in the start of this new year?

 

At the end of 2022, I published the fourth book in my Serpent's Kiss series, Claiming His Kiss. The hero of the story, Daniel, has three adult children. After getting to know them in Daniel and Ali's story, I had the idea to write a short trilogy focused on his kids. So the first order of business for 2023 is to write the first story...Cassie and Jesse's.

 

If you'd like to read Cassie and Jesse's story as I write it, become a Patron. I post unedited chapters as I finish them as well as inspiration photos, behind the scenes insights, and deleted scenes. 

 

If you're interested in supporting me and getting a first look at my upcoming stories, click HERE to join me on Patreon.

It's My Publishing Anniversary!

 

 

 

 

Today marks my 12 year anniversary as a published author. On this day, twelve years ago, Hidden Threat (now published as Strictly Professional) was published by a small publisher based out of Australia called The Writer's Coffee Shop. 

 

At the time, I had no idea where this journey would take me, the people I would meet, and the friends I would make. This has been an incredible experience so far and I can't wait to see where it takes me next.

Happy Book Birthday to Strictly Professional!

 

A phone call from her father sends Cali Stanton back home to Chicago to look after the family business. Being CEO of Stanton Enterprises is never something she wanted to do, but when her father tells her she’s the only one he can trust to run the company in his absence she can’t say no.

Within hours of stepping into her father’s office she comes face-to-face with her father’s head of security, Matthew Andersen. The attraction is instantaneous and undeniable. Unfortunately, Cali can’t act on it. She’s his boss for the next three months and it wouldn’t be appropriate to cross that line.

Little does she know, fate is determined to throw them together at every turn. Someone is after her father’s company and now they've set their sights on her. Can Matthew and Cali figure out who’s behind the threats before it’s too late and still keep things strictly professional?

Amazon    Apple    Nook    Kobo    Google

Story Bibles And More - Bound By Books Podcast Episode 64

 

Keeping track of your story details is sometimes the hardest part of writing a series. Marianne Morea and Danielle Bannister are sharing how they keep track of all the character and plot details in their stories in this week's Bound by Books Podcast.

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Pushing Boundaries In Your Writing - Bound by Books Podcast Episode 61

 

Marianne Morea and I are discussing pushing boundaries in our writing today on the Bound by Books Podcast.

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Spin Offs And Cross Overs - Bound by Books Episode 60

 

 

Have you thought about creating a spin off for your series? Tina Moss and Marianne Morea are sharing their experiences writing spin offs and cross overs in this week's episode of Bound by Books.

 

 

Click below to listen, or go to www.boundbybookspodcast.com to find out more about all the hosts of the show.

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Writing A Serial Series - Bound by Books Podcast Episode 59

 

 

Danielle Bannister and I are sharing our experiences writing serial series in today's Bound by Books Podcast.

 

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Alpha Readers, Beta Readers, and Editors

In the book world there are a lot of terms that get thrown around, especially when it comes to publishing and marketing. It can be overwhelming. Especially if you're new to the self publishing world.

 

On this week's episode of the Bound by Books Podcast, Marianne Morea and I talked about the different types of editors. It's important going into the editing process to know which type of editor you're looking for and what you should expect to pay for those services. But what about alpha and beta readers?

 

If you've been hanging around the author world for any length of time, you may have heard other writers talking about alpha and beta readers. So what are they and how can they help you in your writing process?

 

Let's start with alpha readers. Just as the name suggests, an alpha reader is the first person, or people, who see your story. Alpha readers don't have to be professional editors or even have any editing experience, although they can. Instead, they are giving you feedback on the story as you write it.

 

Beta readers, however, are used once the story is completely written, but before the story has gone to an editor. Authors will often have a handful of beta readers to read through their story before sending it off for a professional edit.

 

So what other distinctions are there between alpha and beta readers?

Alpha readers are great for catching specific issues on culture and lifestyle. I use two alpha readers for all my BDSM stories. They're a couple who's been living a master/slave relationship for over twenty years. I send them a chapter at a time and they let me know if something doesn't make sense, or if I've set up a scene incorrectly.

 

When I was writing Welcome to Serpent's Kiss, the prequel to my Serpent's Kiss series, I wrote a scene where the male submissive's wrists were chained above his head, and then a spreader bar was attached to his ankles. When I sent the chapter to my alpha readers, they informed me that I needed to have the Domme attach the spreader bar before chaining the submissive's wrists as the spreader bar would lower the subs center of gravity.

 

While the above would have been an easy fix even if I'd sent my alpha readers the story to read after I'd completed it, sometimes it's much easier to address the issue right away and not let it create a huge plot hole that needs to be fixed later. For example, I was writing a scene where the hero walks out on the heroine. He immediately regrets it and goes back, but when I sent it to my alpha readers they were both ready to throw my hero to the wolves.

 

This is good feedback to have right way so it can be fixed. When you're writing a romance, you don't want readers to hate your hero. Or, at least I don't. I want my heroes to be likable.

 

But if you have an alpha reader, then why do you need a beta reader?

 

The short answer is you don't NEED a beta reader if you have an alpha reader, but having one can be an asset. 

 

Depending on how fast you write a story, an alpha reader could be reading your book over the span of months or even years. By the time they get to the end of the story, they may not have the best memory as to what happened at the beginning. But even if you only send a beta reader a handful of chapters at a time, the story is complete before they see the first word and you're able to send them the next set of chapters as soon as they've completed the first. This means they can give you feedback on how the story flows and whether you may need to make adjustments to the pace.

 

Beta readers are also great at noticing plot holes, both big and small. Again, they're seeing the story as a whole instead of a chapter at a time. If you mention your character grew up in Texas in chapter one only to have them growing up in New York halfway through the book, that's something that can be caught and fixed before it ever goes to an editor. Or worse yet, paying readers.

 

Do you use alpha readers or beta readers?

 

Is A Small Press Right For You? - Bound By Books Podcast Episode 48

 

On the podcast this week Tina Moss and Yelena Casale are providing a behind the scenes look at their small press publishing house, City Owl Press. Is publishing with a small press right for you?

 

Click below to listen, or go to www.boundbybookspodcast.com to find out more about all the hosts of the show.

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Should You Write Under A Pen Name?

Pseudonyms, or pen names, have been around for a long time. Woman used to use them to hide their sex from readers back when it was uncommon for women to write and publish books. 

 

Today, pen names are still used to hide the author's sex. If a female author is writing in a genre that is predominately male, such as thriller or science fiction, they may choose to use a pen name to mask their sex. Some authors decide to use initials and their last name so the reader doesn't know which sex the writer is. Yet others, choose a different name altogether.

 

But writers aren't only using pen names to hide their sex. They could be using a pen name to differentiate between different genres of books.

 

For example, Nora Roberts is famous for her romance novels. However, when she branched out into futuristic mystery stories, she decided to publish under the pen name of J.D. Robb.

 

Why would she do this? The short answer is marketing.

 

When Nora Roberts decided to publish her first futuristic mystery, she was already well established in the romance world. Her readers knew what they could expect from her stories. But writing romance and writing a mystery set in the future require different story elements. Readers of those genres expect different things.

 

There's also the algorithms to consider. Computers are funny. They like things to be direct and straightforward. So when an author that has written dozens of romance books puts out a new book, the computer is going to want to show that new book to the readers who've previously enjoyed that author's stories.

 

Not every romance reader who's loved Nora Roberts's romance novels is going to enjoy her mysteries. It's a totally different genre. But the computer gets confused. The author is the same. Surely the same readers would want to read this new book, too.

 

In steps the pen name.

 

These days, many authors are open about using pen names. It isn't a secret as it has been in times past. This way the readers that want to follow the author to their new genre of books can, but the new name makes it very clear which type of story the reader will be getting. And it makes the algorithms happy, too.

 

So the question becomes, when should you use a pen name?

 

1) When you want to mask your sex. If you're a woman writing a thriller or a man writing a romance, you may choose to make it less obvious which sex you are. I know a few male romance authors who write under pseudonyms.

 

2) You write in multiple genres. This is perhaps the most common reason I encounter these days. I know several authors who write in different genres who use a different pen name for each genre so they don't confuse readers or the algorithms. 

 

When it comes down to it, using a pen name is all about marketing. You want to present yourself in the best way in order to find your right readers and sometimes that means using a pen name.

 

To Pen Name Or Not - Bound by Books Podcast

 

 

 

Danielle Bannister and Marianne Morea are talking all about pen names on this week's episode of the Bound by Books Podcast. They both have experience with pen names and they are sharing their wisdom with listeners.

 

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How An Author Can Diversify Their Characters And Enhance Their Story

There's been a huge push recently for more diversity in books, movies, and TV shows. But I think sometimes we get bogged down in what constitutes diversity.

 

It isn't having a list you reference. When you get down to it, diversity is realism. It's creating real characters in the real world. Or, in this case, the fictional world.

 

Diversity is more than race or sexual orientation. It also includes body types, physical and mental disabilities, and even religious diversity.

 

No two people are exactly the same. Shocker, I know. We all have different experiences, different morals and values, and different things that turn us on. And as a writer, that should be looked at as a blessing. There is nothing more boring than one dimensional characters.  

But what if you write science fiction or fantasy?

 

People, at their core, are still people. Even if you're writing aliens you want readers to be able to relate to, then they need to have their own unique personalities--their own backstories--their own problems and challenges. They aren't a monolith.

 

So how do you include diversity in your story?

 

It's not as complicated as you might think.

 

Several of my books contain some level of diversity. In my Finding Anna series, Brianna is suffering from a mental illness. In Behind Closed Doors, Elizabeth is a curvy woman who has body image issues. My hero in Longing for His Kiss has a limp from a combat injury.

 

These are only a few examples of how a writer can diversify their characters and enhance their story. Humans are complex creatures. You characters should be as well.

 

The first step when writing should always be to get to know your characters. Some writers go as far as writing character profiles before they begin the first chapter. Others, like myself who write by the seat of our pants, get to know our characters backstories as the story unfolds. We peel back the layers one at a time and build on that until we have a well rounded character.

 

Either way, getting to know and understand your character's history and motivations are key. If someone has body image issues, you may want to explore what led to those issues. When talking about sexual preference, addressing when the character first noticed their changing desires helps increase the connection a reader feels to the character.

 

In my BDSM stories, I almost always mention how one or both of my characters discovered they enjoy kink. This can be as detailed as it needs to be, but if a character feels strongly about something, no matter what it is, it's a good idea to give the reader a way to understand.

 

This goes beyond the topic of diversity, of course. If a character detests avocados to the point where they are running out of a room at just the sight of one, then explaining that reaction is a good idea. 

 

Don't leave your reader hanging. Bring them into the character's world. Let them experience what the character has experienced. Tap into those emotions. Make the story come alive.

 

Writing Diversity In Fiction - Bound by Books Podcast Epidsode 45

 

Diversity is a hot topic lately. Tina Moss and I are discussing the dos and don'ts of writing diversity in fiction on this week's episode of the Bound by Books Podcast.

 

Click below to listen, or go to www.boundbybookspodcast.com to find out more about all the hosts of the show.

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Writing Myths - Bound by Books Podcast Episode 44

 

I have a guest host with me this week on the Bound by Books Podcast. PJ Fiala and I are discussing some writing, publishing, and marketing myths we've encountered over the years.

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Co-Writing With Different Writing Styles

 

 

 

Danielle Bannister is joined this week by guest host R.J. Keller and they are talking about co-writing. Whenever two writers mess their writing styles, there are bound to be obstacles. Danielle and R.J. discuss their experiences with co-writing and how they've overcome these challenges and turned them into benefits.

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Kindle Unlimited Vs. Publishing Wide

 

 

 

One of the biggest decisions an author has to make is whether or not to place their book in Kindle Unlimited (KDP Select) or to publish wide. On this week's episode of Bound by Books, Marianne Morea and I are discussing the benifits and drawbacks of each.

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Hostage Deadlines And Writing Resolutions

 

 

 

It's a new year, which means more books to write! This week Marianne Morea and Danielle Bannister are talking about writing multiple projects at one time, deciding when to publish, and balancing writing and marketing. Learn some of their tips, tricks, and learn from some of their past mistakes.

 

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