tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post4135759547365194905..comments2024-03-18T01:49:03.153-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: How Your Blog Network Will Help Your Kickstarter SucceedDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-55809304624228059532013-03-18T11:10:51.869-06:002013-03-18T11:10:51.869-06:00@Dani: Thank you so much for your kind words! I ha...@Dani: Thank you so much for your kind words! I had a great time :DAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638584737109705999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-79845893909305406322013-03-16T16:19:24.542-06:002013-03-16T16:19:24.542-06:00Great idea, Emma. I'm thinking of it as well, ...Great idea, Emma. I'm thinking of it as well, to translate a book into Spanish...<br /><br /><a href="http://steamyfantasy.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Headstrong Girls</a>Enid Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12248877161249788607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-79726593510551319192013-03-15T20:07:35.347-06:002013-03-15T20:07:35.347-06:00Emma, stop by and visit us again, and next time it...Emma, stop by and visit us again, and next time it'll be on a blog book tour stop for your new title, right? ;) You've grown up to be such a smart and beautiful young woman! We're happy to be part of your grand journey.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-87646296844020674812013-03-15T17:24:12.610-06:002013-03-15T17:24:12.610-06:00@Kathryn Craft: Same in my family! It's been a...@Kathryn Craft: Same in my family! It's been a huge struggle to get to this point. I've read a lot of books and articles, even taken classes to get around the whole "women don't ask" issue. It's certainly not easy, but it's worth it to achieve your dreams :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638584737109705999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11654355089313403412013-03-15T17:20:42.944-06:002013-03-15T17:20:42.944-06:00@Dani: thank you! You guys have been an important ...@Dani: thank you! You guys have been an important part of my journey :) It doesn't feel like that far until you look back at all the years. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638584737109705999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-70384178348339410622013-03-15T17:11:28.883-06:002013-03-15T17:11:28.883-06:00Blurbs. Yeah, we need to write about those. What i...Blurbs. Yeah, we need to write about those. What is interesting to me is that so many authors go into full-time groaning mode when they are asked to write something short and pithy for another author. Maybe if you read certain authors anyway, you could just offer a blurb? It can't possibly be such a bad deal to be quoted on the back of someone's book jacket.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-50288820948254846182013-03-15T15:33:15.340-06:002013-03-15T15:33:15.340-06:00Hey Dani, guess I wasn't clear enough, but unt...Hey Dani, guess I wasn't clear enough, but until the "send my son to a wedding" plea in my last comment, which was on Facebook, I have only been approached for Kickstarter campaigns through my writer's loops. Writers asking other writers for money—that's the part I don't care for, since it's hard enough to keep up with buying all their books even though I stick to genres I typically read. And that's why I liked Emma's approach to go through blogs better—especially if the blog isn't just for other writers, as you pointed out that yours isn't. <br /><br />And Emma, I admire your ability to ask for things, since that was discouraged in my family's culture. I do agree that it's important. Would have made asking for blurbs a lot easier!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-72446682960370514362013-03-15T14:18:37.579-06:002013-03-15T14:18:37.579-06:00Oh, and all the newcomers to the blog, meet Emma L...Oh, and all the newcomers to the blog, meet Emma Larkins who was once a member of the BRP. You can search the blog for her sweet posts. So thrilled to see you in expert mode here, Emma, giving US a tutorial now. ;)Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-91864544119183272742013-03-15T14:16:55.294-06:002013-03-15T14:16:55.294-06:00You know... I'm trying to understand Kathryn&#...You know... I'm trying to understand Kathryn's comment about asking beleaguered writers to fund a book. Um... my blog readers aren't just writers. They are everyone including the wealthy, family, doctor friends. So climbing out of our limiting boxes is probably a good first step. I'm not sure I'd do this for just any book, because I don't really need this kind of cash flow. But I would if the title were a tutorial for a worthy cause that lots of folks could embrace, for example, and it was a time sensitive issue. This idea won't apply to every writing project or every person, but it is certainly worth considering for any number of projects.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-51038038626691302632013-03-15T13:50:33.145-06:002013-03-15T13:50:33.145-06:00@Kathryn Craft: More than happy to have a discours...@Kathryn Craft: More than happy to have a discourse!<br /><br />First and foremost, the key to building any sort of a network or platform is always coming from position of giving and gratitude. For years, I've hosted interviews with writers on my blog, written guest posts, critiqued stories. Not with any sort of ulterior motive, but just because I like doing it.<br /><br />Naturally, a person I've helped out in the past will be more inclined to help me (although I never presume).<br /><br />As a person trying to build a presence, you need to get comfortable with both asking for help, and being asked. Absolutely nothing wrong with asking, as long as you're ready to accept whatever answer you get.<br /><br />None of us ever move forward in a vacuum, and the writing profession isn't a competition. If we work together, we can make sure that the readers of the world continue to have great authors to sate their hunger!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638584737109705999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-50886853034812633962013-03-15T13:13:16.851-06:002013-03-15T13:13:16.851-06:00I've actually heard quite a bit about Kickstar...I've actually heard quite a bit about Kickstarter campaigns, especially since the economy meltdown, and have seen more fail than succeed. They aren't just being used by start-up self-pubbers, either—well-known authors have gotten in on the game.<br /><br />People need money for sorts of reasons, and with grants and other funding streams drying up, people are using technology to take their needs to the public. I just learned of a woman using Indiegogo to raise funds so her son could fly to a family wedding and be a ring bearer.<br /><br />My biggest reservation is that writers tend to market these things to their writer's loops, because the platform they've built in the early years = other writers. It's certainly easier to turn to colleagues than develop your own readership (although I do understand these two groups may genuinely overlap), because they don't have to explain their desire for publication to those who already understand. <br /><br />But think about it: you're asking another beleaguered writer, who has invested countless years and funds on powering up his own career, to support yours (why, because you want it more?)—then you'll turn right around and ask them to purchase that same book to them later. Somehow that doesn't sit right with me.<br /><br />So I would suggest that if our readers go this route that they try hard to find blogs to write for that target readers, not other writers.<br /><br />Emma, did you grapple with these concerns? Do you have more success with other writers than general readership sites, or is that kind of data too hard to track?<br /><br />(Sorry about the length but I appreciate discourse about this topic!)<br />Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-29369998280011064412013-03-15T12:57:35.840-06:002013-03-15T12:57:35.840-06:00@Helen Ginger: I think the trick is to work on ver...@Helen Ginger: I think the trick is to work on very carefully targeting your audience, and avoiding spam. There are people out there really need our writing in their lives. It's just a matter of finding them :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638584737109705999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-66270876889469819322013-03-15T12:55:32.954-06:002013-03-15T12:55:32.954-06:00@Heidiwriter: You're welcome!@Heidiwriter: You're welcome!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638584737109705999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-21059826599979067072013-03-15T12:55:02.321-06:002013-03-15T12:55:02.321-06:00@Dani: I think you're talking about the Veroni...@Dani: I think you're talking about the Veronica Mars project that raised a few million in a couple of days. It just goes to show what you can do with a well-loved brand and good storytelling! Not everyone can necessarily reach that level, but the basic tenets are the same: have passion, know how to communicate that passion succinctly, and spend time nurturing an engaged audience.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638584737109705999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11533135967371144852013-03-15T12:51:45.351-06:002013-03-15T12:51:45.351-06:00@Morgan Mandel: Only time will tell!@Morgan Mandel: Only time will tell!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638584737109705999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-71497735846629822672013-03-15T12:51:14.124-06:002013-03-15T12:51:14.124-06:00@Terry Odell: That's the great thing about cro...@Terry Odell: That's the great thing about crowdfunding - you're building an audience and raising money at the same time! I have 30 people at the moment who will be receiving my novel the day it's on sale (or before), all of who can create buzz, review, etc. As far as costs go, it's possible to get cover art, formatting, design etc. at just about any price point. There are pros and cons to spending certain amounts, but at the end of the day the most important thing is finding out what will resonate with the readers who you want to target.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638584737109705999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-48191855558942849012013-03-15T12:45:07.851-06:002013-03-15T12:45:07.851-06:00@Elspeth Antonelli: You're welcome! It's a...@Elspeth Antonelli: You're welcome! It's a really good skill to practice :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638584737109705999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-30672573540070898592013-03-15T12:44:34.622-06:002013-03-15T12:44:34.622-06:00@Dr John Yeoman: It's true that performance ar...@Dr John Yeoman: It's true that performance art tends to have a higher success rate on Kickstarter. You really need to have visual elements to capture people's attention. However, this is true throughout the book promotion world: the story you tell about your story (in pictures, videos, and taglines) is what gets fans engaged, gets them to read that first line, first page, first chapter. A successful Kickstarter is a simple combination of good storytelling and a whole lot of outreach!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638584737109705999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-86735049980196044242013-03-15T12:42:09.355-06:002013-03-15T12:42:09.355-06:00@Christopher Hudson: Building a platform to crowdf...@Christopher Hudson: Building a platform to crowdfund is not that different from building a platform to read your work. Just a matter of making individual, personal connections with people, and getting them to buy into your story :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638584737109705999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-72097442633563758212013-03-15T12:40:22.952-06:002013-03-15T12:40:22.952-06:00Wow, great to see so many comments! I'll do my...Wow, great to see so many comments! I'll do my best to answer :)<br /><br />@Linda Lane: It's true that anyone can self-publish using POD, but it's nice to raise some money to pay editors, artists, and others up-front. Also consider that raising money is only part of the equation - building a fan base and "testing the waters" are just as good reasons to go the crowdfunding route. The fact that you blog on BRP is important - you're already ahead of the curve! Building a platform doesn't have to be a scary concept - after all, it basically just means finding readers for your work, and that's why we're getting published in the first place, right? I'd suggest choosing one thing that you can experiment with. Do you like to read your work in writers' groups? Could you see attending a writers' conference, and meeting people that way? If you like blogging on BRP, could you see spending a little more time to create or flesh out a personal blog? Don't worry about what other people say you should do to promote; just pick one thing that resonates with you, and focus on that. The number of books you offer through crowdfunding depends only on the number of people you can get to back you. Best of luck!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638584737109705999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-71908446505038500682013-03-15T12:34:49.104-06:002013-03-15T12:34:49.104-06:00I'm getting notice of more and more writers go...I'm getting notice of more and more writers going the crowdfunding route. I wonder how long it'll be before people begin to ignore the requests.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-60079294063332191192013-03-15T12:19:57.019-06:002013-03-15T12:19:57.019-06:00Interesting! I just read an article in our local p...Interesting! I just read an article in our local paper about a singing duo who raised money to release an album. Food for thought. Thanks for explaining this to us!Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-71746905069270711012013-03-15T11:59:59.431-06:002013-03-15T11:59:59.431-06:00Didn't someone famous just raise a couple of m...Didn't someone famous just raise a couple of million dollars via kickstarter in one day? The name eludes me now, but you probably know, Emma.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-50112863025850307752013-03-15T11:56:52.990-06:002013-03-15T11:56:52.990-06:00This is a unique concept happening lately. I'm...This is a unique concept happening lately. I'm wondering how well it will catch on.<br /><br />Morgan Mandel<br />http://www.morganmandel.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-31713087313763361562013-03-15T11:40:22.590-06:002013-03-15T11:40:22.590-06:00This is new to me, and as an indie author, seems w...This is new to me, and as an indie author, seems way out of the box as far as expenses based on your page, but what do I know. You mentioned needed $1000 for a cover, when I've never paid more than $89. And there are no huge costs to the author when indie publishing a book beyond editorial services, the cover, and maybe a formatter. I will have to look at this in a bit more detail. I don't need funding to publish my book, I need people to buy it! :-)<br /><br />Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.com