I know not everyone will not like your book, but I’ve heard some people say just don’t read the reviews to keep yourself from getting discouraged or changing your writing style based on negative reviews.

I've been reading up on Amazon ads recently, and I've noticed a lot of threads & comments arguing that ads are only worth paying for if you have 5+ books you can funnel users towards. Otherwise, your marketing budget is best spent on lower-risk options like newsletter promos, ARC campaigns, etc.

What do you think? Assuming an indie author perfectly optimizes their listing (correct keywords, genre-appropriate cover, a strong blurb, etc.), would it be worth investing in Amazon ads? Or is their focus best spent elsewhere?

I have officially hit the two mark of having my book published in Amazon and KDP and I think I have sold 9 copies. What do I do to market?? I have reached out to influencers sent free books and nothing. I can’t afford their rates. I might have an article in the local newspaper but what else?? I stopped running Amazon ads because I felt like there was no traction. I have approx 4 reviews on Amazon and 3 on Goodreads. Any suggestions?

I'm really not sure where to begin to search for a line-editor. My book is long, so editing will be very expensive. I know my concerns are more relevant when it comes to dev editors, but I really don't want to waste my money on an editor that doesn't "get" my book.

I'm wondering if any of you have recommendations for editors that have experience in my genre-blend and who are open to a book that has a strong civilizational critique.

I've posted a few times about this little adventure. I've published a grand total of 8 books now, four in a series, two in a related genre and two stand alone pieces. I have three more coming down the pipeline by year end. That exhausts all the writings from the years 2000-2026. The cupboard is empty and i'm beginning from a blank sheet of paper, but with a bit of experience. Current books at are 66,405 Kenp and 94 orders since I began this little journey in mid September. First amazon ad ran 09/21 and I got pretty immediate traction on book one and i'm seeing good read through it appears on the series. I've released the first book of the series on booksy and the fussy librarian. I'm about $75 under water advertising spend vs revenue. I believe we are going to call this a win and check the write a book box off. Been quite an adventure. I intend to keep writing and trying to keep the series alive, but doubt it will ever be financially viable. Just a great and fun retirement project.

I've noticed here that almost everyone here either has written a book series or is starting one. It usually comes up when someone notes that we most commonly won't make much money on our first book, but we'll make it up on the next ones in the series.
My books are not like that and I often feel left out in the discussions. My first book was a collection of southern-voiced short stories in first person. My second was an historical literary romance thriller. My next one will be about a man who finds he has a year to live and is struggling to make his last days meaningful. None of these are in a series. Until I joined this group, it never occurred to me that so many people wrote their books in succession.

I have always used my own ISBNs for ebooks and print. However, I have never used my own ISBNs for audiobooks. I publish audio on ACX and Voices by InAudio, or whatever Findaway Voices is going by these days.

I'm not looking to save money on my publishing. This is a business expense for me, and I have a package of 100 ISBNs. I'm rethinking my publishing strategy, and I want to know other people's thoughts on whether or not to use my own ISBN for audio.

Thanks!

I’ve written six manuscripts over the last two years one is finally publishable so it’s up for pre order, now I want to finish the seventh but I also want to get the second manuscript publishable and set up for pre order after the first one officially releases. I also want to just take a break a world build for a little while. Anyone do that? Or is it just me?

Reviewing the Top 100 Book in Manner Guide on Amazon i found some instructing things. And some confusion too, Yesterday few books have a ranking from 50 and today's ranking is 77.

Please clarify how to review these things?

Which one is more important Rating or Ranking?

I only heard about this platform yesterday, and I'm wondering whether to try it out.

I spent about a decade trying to make self-publishing on Amazon work, to no results. I gave up, for the sake of my mental health, and because I just have better things to do than beat my head against the same wall forever in the hopes of breaking through. I'm not active on social media, and I don't have whatever marketing genius it takes to get noticed without it.

I've mostly just been sending the occasional query letter to agents, and releasing the occasional free story online, just for fun. But what about Scribl? Is putting a story there without a media blitz just more shouting into the void? Or is it worth trying?

I write fantasy and sci-fi, if that makes a difference.

Hi everyone! My memoir is enrolled in KDP Select, and I'm planning to use my 5 Free Promotion days soon. I'm trying to decide if it's worth paying for newsletter promos (like Bargain Booksy, Fussy Librarian, etc.) to boost downloads during a free run. If you've paid for promos for a free book, which service gave you the best results? Especially curious if anyone has experience with the memoir/non-fiction genre. Thanks!

My book is a science fantasy and it just entered its third round of betas. It has issues, and every round is better than the previous one.

But two consistent “I, as a writer, am unable to fix that bro” feedback I’m getting is

1. Tenses mixup (some are actual faults, some are just memories popping up and people not realising. Easy fix by changing words)

2. Whiplash from humor followed by immediate horror (one POV is sarcastic and does it. I can’t see it unless betas mark it)

This is consistent and I think I need line edit, but I can NOT afford that. So I’m going for copy editing to fix tenses and other issues. My editor said she’ll do some Point 2 fixing for free (she’s a writer too), but that won’t be her job so I’ll be unsure if the whiplash will be gone since I’m not paying for that service.

And now I’m second guessing. A part of me says I should save money and spend it on editing when I earn back, which is… how do I professionally say stupid?

I’ve DNFed loads of self published books bcz they weren’t edited properly.

But then I go, “What if I spend so much on this and people DNF if bcz of the lack of line editing?”

It’s a complex book, so I NEED editing. I just can’t afford the line + copy.
Hell, I preferred line over copy, but copy is 2x my current salary and line is 5x. That’s the only reason I’m going for copy editing.

So, for editors or people who have had books edited, if someone came to you with this rant and confusion, what would you say?

How can you be sure now? I've been paying a guy a decent amount of money for my last covers and they look good but I still have that fear in the back of my head as always.

I'm currently writing my book. However this is my first time writing a book and I find myself getting so engrossed in making Lore and backstories for characters that I simply cannot make any progress advancing, does anyone have any tips on how to manage character creation and story integration, i find that i spend 4 hours creating a character and everydetail that could possible be needed but then struggle to make all my information for together in a way that isn't to confusing and difficult