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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Dear Authors

Dear Indie Authors,

 My name is Vampy, and I am a reviewer, blogger, bookworm, rambler, and soda addict. You may know me from my previous rambles or maybe a spotlight, or you may not know me at all. We might be good friends through social media, we might not (yet.) But I have some things I want to say to you, regardless of who you are.

  You are AWESOME!

 You wrote a book, you published it on your own, you are marketing it with either no help at all, or a little bit of help. You took hours to pour over every word on the screen- or paper in a paperback- and combed through it for errors. You spent your hard earned money on advertisements and giveaways to get your name out there. You have taken time out of each day to work on your page and interact with fans. You are living a dream; but that dream comes with some bumps in the road. Did you get a one star review? I'm sorry, it does happen and I know words can hurt. Honestly, they do. Was it constructive at least? If so, read that review then turn off the computer and get yourself a snack. Eat that snack in front of the television and indulge in your favorite show or movie. Now go for a walk, or make a craft, knit something special. Make some dinner and take a nap, maybe watch some more television or play a video game- or hey, read your favorite book. Cool, now you can turn your computer back on, read that review again and then step away to finish up the laundry. While you are folding the clean whites or blues, think about it. Can you do anything with that criticism? Can you apply it to your next book? Maybe change the plot line a little, add more important detail, find a new editor, or even cut some un-needed scenes out. Give it a good hard think, then start writing. I bet the next book will blow off the virtual shelves like you wouldn't believe.

 But maybe that one star review wasn't helpful in the least. In fact, it was just down right rude and how dare they say something about one typo in your book when their two sentences have five! Read it, now have a good laugh. Yep, force yourself to do so if necessary. I want that belly to shake and that grin to fill your beautiful face. Laugh because you did it. THEY wasted their time and maybe even their money to read your book and didn't like it; but they couldn't properly say why. Laugh because you tricked them into picking up your book rather than something or someone else. But most importantly, laugh because your name is on their tongue and that is just free advertisement that you didn't have to do a darn thing to receive.

 Bad reviews, good reviews, it doesn't matter what it is because it will sell. It is free publicity to dozens of new faces who never heard of you before. Now you have them, now they are curious about who you are either because their friend raved or ranted about your book; and trust me, quite a few of them will pick it up because the curiosity is overwhelming. Now they HAVE to know what that person is talking about! I've been a victim to curiosity many times, and most of which lead me to some amazing people. I spent my money and time on a book just because it was mentioned once in passing. It sells.

 So authors, you wrote a book and you may be down about some person you don't know's point of view on your work. But don't fret too hard over it, you don't need the stress; you have more to write. You have a best seller waiting to be published; it is there, I promise. How do I know? Simple, you are an author and you are AWESOME!

 Live that dream, baby!

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