Another Vampy Rant

I recently joined an anthology with six other amazing authors. The experience has been terrific; everyone taking part in it was supportive and encouraging while we all worked on our winter themed pieces. Today the anthology has gone live and can be downloaded for free on smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/503613

Exciting, right? I was planning on celebrating this amazing step but the party in on hold because I couldn't keep my mouth shut. I babbled away about this adventure to some friends and family whom most of which were happy for me- the rest were a little less thrilled. In fact, it has me irate. Here is some of the oh-so-wonderful ?(sarcasm) comments I have received so far because I wanted to do something fun.

1. "When is your book going to be done?"
When asked out of curiosity it can be a great conversation starter, when asked with a snotty tone it makes me irritated. The book will be done whenever it gets done! I don't need to hear this every week from the same person. Stop.

2. "What a cute hobby!"

... Why on earth would you say this to anyone? "How cool," "that's interesting," or "wow, did you have fun?" is ten times better than referring to something I take seriously as a cute hobby.

3. "Congrats, you wrote a short story. Just like thousands of other people in the world."
Can you be anymore of a Debby Downer? Who cares if thousands of other people did it, this is a HUGE step for me! I'm not doing this to impress anyone, and if the only thing you can think of to say is something negative, please don't say anything at all. I'd rather ignore the topic altogether than have to hear that again.

4. "Are you actually going to write something real, or are you just going to do a couple of shorts?"

My mind is still blown from this one... The length of a story doesn't make one "any less real" than the other. What are you trying to say here?!

5. "Don't waste money on something you aren't going to finish."

This was said because I admitted to having a WIP with a cover picked out and ready to go. First, I'm paying for everything so I'm pretty sure what gets spent on the book doesn't need someone else's nose in it. Second, why on earth would you ever say this asinine assumption out loud? I get some people don't have a filter but really? It's already finished, thank you very much. It's just waiting for me to have enough time to sort out copyrights, do the formatting, and finish up one last look through.

6. "Don't you ever do something fun?"
Writing- and reading- IS fun for me. Anyone who listens to me talk for more than five minutes knows that. I can't even....

I'm guessing this is just a taste of what other authors go through and I must admit I'm not too excited about the experience anymore. This doesn't stop me from writing but I doubt I'll make much of a fuss about publishing next time. I'm not doing this for attention, or to impress, I'm doing it for me. If there is nothing to say that is positive, please don't say it at all.

I'd rather change the topic to kittens or Star Wars than hear another low ball round of insults like this again.

My opinion on sell outs...

Independent publishing is truly an amazing thing. No longer are authors restricted by guidelines and time limits to complete their work of art. Everything is in their hands and the creative control has been empowering to millions. Someone who thought they would never be able to publish now can through supportive websites like Amazon, itunes, Barnes and Noble, and smashwords for as little or as much money as they want. They can write whatever they would like without someone turning them down through a piece of paper in the mail or agreeing to the manuscript but later butchering it because it was "too big" or had "too much steam" in it. However, as with everything in life, this choice has its flaws. The community isn't perfect, we experience cyber bullying near daily. 

Authors can turn against fellow authors. Bloggers against fellow bloggers. Readers stuck in-between pointless battles that suddenly emerged because someone said something rude and hateful on the internet. One of the latest issues I have seen pop up has me both confused and annoyed. Ladies and gentlemen if you have not heard this before around the indie world let me introduce to you- selling out.

Sell outs.

Whatever you want to say.

Now writing can be classified into three categories: a passion, a hobby, and a business. Yes you can mix the three but let me explain myself a little more first...

*A passion is needed for any sort of art to flow gracefully from the mind of the artist. But typically those who are ONLY passionate do this in their free time and only share it among their friends or family. Sure, one day they may take it to the next level and allow the public eye to view it as well but the passionate artist isn't ready for that leap yet.

*A hobby is something done on the side that usually isn't sold. An artist who looks at their writing as a hobby may take those pieces of work and publishing them on free reading websites so the public can enjoy it at their leisure. Now those who decide to sell it will have their prices very low and often be found giving out copies tons of copies for free because they would rather a stranger read it than they receive any sort of cash payment for it. The reward is found in being told their work was good and shown appreciation for the opportunity to read it at little to no cost.

*A business is something gearing to make money from the get-go and typically run by a pre-set plan. An artist who takes their work and turns it into a business must develop and use the mind of a business person. There are marketing strategies brewing, routine schedules make and put into immediate use, constant book ideas being jotted down. What works better, what doesn't? They will certainly find out.

You can classify as any one of these, or any mix of the three, and it is perfectly fine. There is no wrong way to go about writing and distributing (or not as the case may be) your work. Which is why this term "sell outs" is so mind boggling. Writing simply is, there are no bad ideas just as there are no more original ideas. You can have a unique spin on it that will make it yours but lets face it, every storyline possible has already been done- and that is perfectly fine! We, the readers, love them!

We want them!

Give them to us! (Please.)

I'm going to quote some remarks I've seen around (no names added, I'm not that kind of a person) and break down exactly why I find these comments to be utterly confusing, if not irritating:

"God, would you look at her? She is totally selling out just to make sales."

If they enjoy that genre, why wouldn't they write about it? Passion or hobby, the money doesn't matter. They were simply inspired by a fantastic book and wanted to do their own take on the genre. Now if they are doing it for the money please explain to me how that is wrong? Self publishing is a business and most of those authors are trying to help support themselves on their work. There is nothing wrong with following a trend to help that cause out. If you own a clothing store and only sold sundresses but those weren't selling, wouldn't you change to something else to help sell your merchandise? You need the income to survive and there is absolutely (I can't seem to stress this enough) NOTHING wrong with that!

"She is coming out with an MC book, how cute. She was writing paranormal before it, wonder what made her change her mind? Couldn't be the sales, could it? Gasp."

I take this one personally because when I write I jump all around the genre spectrum. I don't believe in limiting myself to one thing and thanks to the self publishing option I don't have to. If an idea comes to an author it comes with a drive, an urge, a push, that makes the idea seem one number on a list of priorities. Even if it isn't completed or published publicly, it HAS to be written. Muses do not care what trends and what doesn't.

"What a sell out! Her cover isn't even that attractive and I bet she doesn't know what she is writing. She's just doing it to follow the crowd."

I'll let you in on a little secret- a lot of authors BS their way through their books. All you need is a little grain of truth for it to hook someone in and then the rest rarely matters. Now please take into consideration that there are somethings that this should not apply to because you may insult someone. I have a friend who lives the BDSM lifestyle and finds a lot of these books to be an insult to herself, her husband, and her other friends in the community. I know another friend who was raped, so seeing a rape victim wrongly played out, or even glorified in some of these dark eroticas, insults her and scares her. This is why a lot of authors research the current topic in their WIPs before putting it out in the world. Unless you know for a fact that the author did absolutely no research by checking their computers history or getting a confession, the comment above is irrelevant and flat out rude.

I could keep going on but it would basically be the same thing repeated over and over. In my opinions "sell outs" don't exist. The term is a glimpse at the person who said it, not the person it was directed at. If you want to write fan-fic, then write fan-fic. If you want to write something weird and unusual, then write something weird and unusual. If you want to write what is currently trending, then do it baby!

You can't write something you don't want to write. The project will completely fail. So don't worry about the comments and remarks on your choice, do whatever your heart- or muse- tells you to do.

And please, for the love of everything literature, lets get rid of this ridiculous, pointless term and get back to focusing on what really matters- the next book in our lives. ♥

It is time to stand up...

Please read everything before passing judgement:
Another author has been taken down by bullying and harassment. I cannot tell you how disappointed and upset I am with this. The bullying I expect, as they say 'if you've never made an enemy, you've never stood up for something.' Bullies are often jealous of those they attack, especially when it comes to following dreams, such as writing. If it is your passion, the very air you breath, why would you allow someone to take it away from you?
Bullies only have as much power as we give them. Giving up means they won and gives them a sense of accomplishment they do not deserve. There is a lot of talk about stopping bullying, but honestly what are we really doing to help? I see people changing their profile pictures and cover photos to things like 'stop bullying' or 'the hate ends here' which is great, but to me it looks like a flag mourning another lost soul.

I'm disappointed in how we are handling this situation. I'm disappointed in the authors who have fallen by harsh words. I thought we were a community! I thought we were here to help one another! Why is no one asking for help? If you would stand up for an author being publicly bullied, raise your hand! I know I would! All I need is to know is that it is happening so I can do something about it.

Every book an author sells is a middle finger to the trolls, so allow me to buy your book. Every honest review is a smack against obvious hate, so let me review your book. Every word of encouragement and support on your page is a nail in the coffin of those who think they can own you, so allow me to raise my hammer.

Please, come to us. Allow us to stand by your side and report that review as harassment. Amazon will ignore one complaint but a hundred? I don't think so, and I'm sure I have a hundred people here who would gladly do so. Don't forget your fans on your own page who need you as much as you need to write. They will help, we will help. Let's stop this power from getting in the wrong hands and show the trolls, the bullies, the enemies who is a stronger army. We are a community that is strong and united, it's time we prove it.

-Vampy

I've been pushed over the edge, and I don't care.

I love indie authors, but I’m more for the readers here. I share whatever comes to my page because I never know what tastes my readers may have- even if I personally don’t like the book. I never turn down an author, and I try my best to make sure my word is seen through. There are sometimes that I can’t; sorry, but my real life is more important than the internet. But when that happens I am willing to bend over backwards to try and make it up- and break my word doesn’t happen often. I think it happened twice, maybe three times now.
I’m heading up to my year anniversary and have meant some great people… Too bad I’ve also met some less than pleasant ones. I will share ANYTHING unless you are rude to me. I won’t tolerate it. I get being disappointed, or upset, but being a flat out bitch will put you on the ignored list.
This list seems to be growing and it honestly hurts me. I don’t want to make anyone mad, or sad, but I need to stand up for what I believe in as well.
I have a great admin here who is opinionated and loyal as hell. She has been around through thick and thin (though you wouldn’t know it, she is a silent person.) Attack her, and I don’t really care why you did it, and you can believe my ugly head is going to rise up.
This isn’t a fight I want to have. It’s not something I want to see my fans, or admin go through, but shit is already getting way out of hand. Now I NEED to say something.

Here are the rules to my page, if you don’t like them get out.

First, it’s MY page; I will post whatever I want on here. Which means if you have some petty ass dispute with one of the authors I share keep it to yourself. I’m not playing that game. Now, if she/he pulled some major bs and attacked you without cause and you can prove it, message me and we will talk.
I won’t allow anyone to mess with my fans, either.

Second, I promise my HONEST OPINION. How many times have I said this now? This goes for my admin(s) as well. HONESTY is the very backbone of this page. If I don’t like your book, I WILL say so. So will my admin. Now if you’re impatient and want to see a review before it has been edited, then that is at your own risk. Never rush my reviews, it doesn’t look pretty until it’s been polished by the second pair of hands.
Why am I bringing this up? Simple, everyone is upset when they feel something wasted their time or cash. Everyone wants to lash out at first until they’ve been slapped back into civil person mood by their logical outside voice of reason. Once that voice is heard though, we realize our actions were not the best and turn down a different route. Reviews can be the same way. Hell, half of mine don’t make any sense until I’ve had someone else glance over it- and this includes five stars.
So expect HONESTY (which means I will give out three stars and lower if I believed the book deserved it) and please DON’T RUSH. If I am busy and say so, please be patient.

Third, if you want to talk crap about me, fine, but taking it to the extreme where your gang of besties are clogging up my inbox with hate is not okay. I will screen shot it and maybe even post it up. I WILL NOT PUT UP WITH BS. I’m tired of being bullied because I didn’t enjoy your book. I’ve written one star reviews for some big named published authors as well. I’m not here to lie and kiss ass, sorry. My foot is going down now.

Fourth, I will post anything as long as you are respectful. Call me a hooker, I don’t care. But calling me a lazy bitch because I didn’t post it at the exact time you wanted without giving a shit about why I couldn’t be online is ridiculous. You will be listed and asked to leave.

I’ve said this all before, but I guess it needs to be said again. I’ve never tried to downplay who I am and what I expect; maybe I wasn’t too clear with it though. I am not a doormat; I will not lie down and take disrespect like I’ve seen. And I won’t deal with my friends going through it either. I am Vampy, a blunt reader who has an opinion and isn’t afraid to share it with the world. Hear me hiss, baby.

Things about Blog Tours that I don't understand

Yep, it is that time again! I am curious, I am admittedly a little irritated/crabby, and I need some answers. Continuing on with the I Don't Understand series is blog tours. As always I do not mean to be insulting, and am not making this post about anyone in particular. If you fall into this category and feel that I am completely wrong or rude, just say so and we can talk about it.
So why am I irritated/crabby, whelp, I have issues sleeping and this is one of those days where I shall be getting none. I either sleep a lot or not at all, and never will I go to bed at a decent time unless I over work myself. Yesterday I slept a lot and was lazy so here I suffer. On to the top at hand since I've had too much time inside my own head again. The following are just a few simple things I don't understand about blog tours....

  Tight Schedules
 While I get having to post the promos, reviews, excerpts and the like on a timely manner (i.e. the day you requested and not a week later) as most blog tours only run for a week, the thing I don't get is the request to have them up at some odd hour like 8am. For me, I get barely a trickle of traffic at 8am, and my only guess to why something needs to be posted right then is for the different time zones. After a poll I have learned that most of my followers are from the U.S., which means they are only a few hours behind or ahead and either in bed or at work and unable to loiter facebook. I know my page better than anyone, and granted most of the time (if I go to bed) I sleep until the noon or evening, those times are the best for posting. It just seems to be when everyone is free and glances around the newsfeed. So why such an early hour? Or even weirder, you must post after midnight but before 8am your time. Maybe I could understand this better if it came with an explanation like "I live in the UK or Australia and those will be the only hours I can see your posts." But I get zilch when I ask, and typically it follows with some rude reply. You know how I feel about rude remarks...
Yep, that is what it turns into. Guess this makes this two things I don't understand in one post. Why so early, and why the mean comeback when I was just asking a question? You know what I said? Copied and posted so you can make judgments; "Hey, how are you doing? The post is up but I have a question. Just being curious is all. Why do you ask for the posts to go up so early? I don't really mind doing it, but it seems odd to me." To me that isn't rude, however, I have been known to get lines mixed up on an occasion...

  Blog tours that don't pass the love
 So what is a blog tour exactly? The way it was explained to me is as follows: A blog tour is like a regular tour that involves questions to the author(s), excerpts from their latest book(s), news on any WIP(s) with promos and possibly giveaways, and even (a) cover reveal(s). Think of it like an author jumping from convention to convention giving an hour long speech about what they do and why everyone should be interested in it, except these authors don't need to leave the state, or house. It is a more efficient way for everyone to get to know someone new, or learn more about something they love without having to spend a dime. There is typically one stop a day for about a week, sometimes more stops a day with a long time frame. Sweet! Sounds great to me, and I can totally see how it would help the author out. But when an author is going from convention to convention, or bookstore to bookstore, they typically give a shoot out to that place so everyone can follow along. "Hey everyone, will be at Bookstore Conventions today, stop on by and say hi!" So what gets me is when a blog tour goes on and nothing is said about it from the author... Granted it can be hard to keep track, but even a quick shout out later on will direct people back around. I mean the stuff is online so it will be there awhile (or forever) to go look at. Blogs need attention, too. :(
 This can exclude cover reveals, who honestly wants to shout that many blogs out in one day to say the same exact thing? LOOK AT THE COVER! Although maybe everyone on your facebook page will finally get to see it, LOL. (Darn facebook for hiding stuff)

  Impersonal Tours
If a blog tour (which I may totally have the definition wrong here, in which case I just sound like an ass) are like a normal national/international author tour, why do some lack personality? Put some oomph into it! I was a part of the Dirt Thirty Blog Tour which I thought rocked socks because it was obviously R.M. Gilmore everywhere and not a robot. While I enjoy a good promo post every now and then, I want to get in the author's head. I want to meet them and discover who they are outside the novel. Give me a little personality! Picture sort of related.
 

 Whelp, I have probably bored you all enough here, so it is time to wrap this baby up. In closing, I would love to have a personal blog tour just for giggles. Something that obviously says me even though I don't have a book out. It just looks like fun. Big thank you shout out to anyone who would help beforehand though it will probably never happen. (I can dream, can't I? :P ) And maybe one day I will get some further insights. Really hope I had the definition of a blog tour right, otherwise this is embarrassing and now up for everyone to see....
Oh well, we all make mistakes and how am I supposed to know? Check ya'll later my lovely vamps, lots of love!

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!

Things reviewers do that I don't understand

Hi, welcome back to my confused series of posts. This one is about reviewers, NOT bloggers, that was a totally different list. This is for the people who give books star ratings on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and so on. You've probably seen the reviews, maybe they talked you into buying a book, or talked you out of buying one; and while I don't aim to be offensive, this post is a little more blunt than the others. Quite frankly, there are a lot of things reviews do that I don't understand. Here are the top four....

Reviews books they haven't finished .......
 
I had to open up with a meme here. Really? Why on earth would you leave a good or bad review before finishing the book?! What if it changes halfway through, or does a dramatic twist near the end that puts your whole idea of the story before into a new direction?! You don't know how it will turn out until you hit the last page. I get that some books are just sooo bad that you cannot finish them. The typos, the content, the dead characters with forced dialog and relationships; I've hit this issue before, but I am talking about the people who keep changing it because every five pages they have a new opinion. It doesn't make any sense, and blows my mind. Not to mention it gets really confusing to read, and I'm not going to stalk you for whatever the finished decision is. By the second or third change- if for whatever reason I am really stalking that book that long- I will give up and just go by the picture, or blurb, or something... So, please, stop and finish the book if you plan to. If you're never going to touch it again and you're only halfway through then by all means, warn us, and be descriptive in your review!

  Four or five word reviews
Yeah, this kind of goes with the bit above. If you honestly hate a book, I want to know why. Nothing will help the readers out more than a few descriptive sentences on your true feelings, or thoughts, about the story. "I LOVED THIS BOOK!" Sweet! But... What made you love it? I'm not saying to type out a lot; I also get that some people have troubles putting those jumbled happy/angry thoughts into something decent. It doesn't need to be a paragraph or five, just a quick explanation. "I hated this book because it was just a repetitive and boring storyline." That makes my decision on whether or not to get it a lot easier, and we really do appreciate it!

  Weird star ratings
Sometimes I come across reviews that don't match the star ratings. Now each site has their own sort of thing, and sometimes people make their own up. This just gets confusing, but two things are about the same no matter where you go: a four means you liked it a fair amount and a two means you didn't like it. When I see things like "I hated this book, huge waste of money- I give it four stars" I am even more confused. Or "I love, love, LOVE this book! - two stars!" I don't know what to think here, maybe they don't know? Could certainly be, so real quick here, five is the highest mark. It means you loved it! One means you hated it, some while different sites kind of change what the in-betweens mean, it is all about the same sort of scale.
On a side note here, if your rating system is different and you are using amazon or something, please check out what they say each star means before clicking it. I saw this one person who's five star meant 'better than Bram Stroker' (huge vampire fan) and that was an impossible feat for anyone to get to. I think I saw one book she rated five star according to her scale; the rest were four and under. It makes the whole thing more complicated than it needs to be.

  Use text speak
I never fully understood text speak unless you were texting and driving, trying to text while giving a three year old a bath, or preforming some other attention demanding task. Even then the only text speak to be received is 'ttyl', and not something like 'i h8 dis book', 'U need an editor', or 'y dnt u understand proper english. ur suppsd to b an author.' Hey, we all make typos every now and then, just look around my posts and you'll see it. But why go this far? If your attention is that divided, why are you writing a review? It is hard to talk about your feelings and thoughts when something else keeps interrupting. Again, your review doesn't need to be long, but we all crave the inside scoop on the hots and nots of, well, everything! I am aware that this may look more like bashing than honest curiosity. A few of these topic fours are a little touchy to me, because I have seen them cause some trouble in the past. But if you have something to say for it, be my guest and speak up! I won't learn if nothing is brought to my attention. I do, however, want to leave on a lighter note. So here is one more question type thingy for all of you.

  Professional reviewers
What makes someone a profession reviewer? Is it the proper use in star ratings, or the five paragraphs of well explained opinions without giving away any spoilers? I honestly don't know. I thought it was working for a newspaper or magazine and reporting top stories of fashion or NYT bestsellers. I think if anyone aims to be a 'professional' reviewer without the true passion and schooling behind it, you are trying too hard. I say passion and schooling because if you want to be super awesome good, get a sweet job with it! Hey, why not? Got the drive, aim for the stars! For those of us who simply like reading books, and want to talk about it at the end, don't fret too much. A simple 'I like/dislikes it because of insert something good/bad here' works well, and a close guess on the stars, or a swift search of the meanings, will make you number one to me- even if we do have different opinions. =)
 

  *Disclaimer: Vampy's Book Blog aka Vampy's Ramblings does not under any means condone texting and driving, even if you use text speak to let the other person know you will talk to them late. One text, even a small one, could be fatal, so please put the phone away until you are off the road. Be safe on the roads! Love ya!

Things bloggers do that I don't understand

A little while back I did a post called 'Things authors do that I don't understand' and it kind of inspired this. As I learn and grow in this interesting community, I begin to notice somethings that frankly, I just don't get. Being a blogger, you would think I had some of the answers to these. But I don't, and funny enough, I do some of these weird things. I can't explain why, I question myself a lot, so if you have some sort of explanation for it I would love to hear about it.

  Acting like blogging about books is our job. 
And I mean hardcore, we are talking about authors like they're our bosses rather than people who politely ask for a review, or blog post about them. Admit it! If you are a book blogger, I bet you've done this before. Anyone we talk to, we act like this is something that means life or death (maybe not so extreme, but the point remains.) Let me give you a quick example: "Man, my boss is tough. Eight hour shift, starting at 6am. Ugh." Blogger replies, "I know what you mean! Three blog tours and five book reviews this week! I don't know how I am going to get it all done in time!"
 
 Most of us aren't getting paid for any of this. We do it because we want to, and we love it! So, why do we act like it is literally a job? I have sticky notes all over my wall with book review request, beta deadlines, blog tours events, spotlights, and giveaways. It isn't stressful per-say, because again, it is want I like doing.  But even my friends look at me weird when I start talking 'serious blogger'.

 
  Letting someone else control your blog
Now this is something I don't do, and I just don't get. So, some bloggers (and no, I won't say who. I absolutely refuse to because they may somehow, someway, have a good reason for it) have actually told me they won't feature an author, because a more 'popular' author doesn't like them. Whaaaa?! Dude, I don't care if Sylvia Day came up to me and said 'don't post about Jez Strider, I don't like her' I would cut her out of my life with a quickness. (All fictional examples; and cutting her out does not necessarily mean I would stop reading about her books. I would simply stop all contact; e.g. change my number, ignore her emails, block her from my facebook.) It is MY blog, I will talk about who I want to! Which, as a indie book blogger, is every indie author out there. I don't discriminate. If you act like a snobby bitch I will block you, but I will probably still read your books and write reviews. And I don't give out low reviews just because I don't like someone's attitude, I give them out because I honestly think the book deserved it- it has nothing to do with the author personally. If it loses me some likes, then oh well. I never thought I would get past my first 5, and frankly I won't shut up even if nobody is listening. I'm serious, just ask my family.

  Giveaways
Giving stuff away is fun, and it sets a good example for the kids. But let's face it, some of us bloggers get WAY too excited over it. I don't get it. Either A) we're giving away someone else's stuff, or B) we're paying for it ourselves, and regardless we all act like it is Christmas for us to do so. The giddy, pumped up posts to advertise it; the bouncing in our seats while we wait for rafflecopter or random.org to select the winners so we can ship those sweet swag packs out. I'm not complaining, it is awesome to see a lot of people selflessly giving stuff out, but it does confuse me sometimes... Why are we all so excited?!

 I'm going to wrap this up, and probably make a part two later. I'm sure I'm not done discovering weird habits that are blog related that I do, or see others do. Maybe you don't fit into any of this; but if someone has some sort of explanation behind this odd (but sometimes very pleasant) behavior, leave a comment below so I can hopefully understand. Got a question that has been buzzing in the back of your mind? Leave as well! I might know some insight, or it might make me realize that I am a lot stranger than I had originally thought. Either way is awesome. Love ya!

Novellas

These are just my opinions and are subject to change. If you disagree with me, please say so respectfully so we may discuss it further.

Ramble:

Nothing irks me more than feeling like I wasted my time and money on a book. It can't be helped that you purchase a bad novel, sometimes a book won't be up to par with your tastes. The loss in cash stings but you know what really feels like a waste to me? Novella series. I want to talk about some very specific types of marketing that get under my skin, and how long I'll actually stick out a novella series.

A novel is a short story that can be anywhere from 40- 150 pages. With as many times as I've sought out the true definition of "novella", that's my best answer. Typically a novella is used as a sort of prologue to a bigger series, or something that highlights a side character that an author didn't think would receive such a fan base. Usually, a novella is a stand alone. Even in regards to a bigger series, you don't have to read it to follow along with the plot. But lately I have been noticing a growing trend- the novella series.

The novella series can go one of two ways- the series follows the same hero and heroine, or it follows different ones (think J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood.) Something like a novella trilogy doesn't bug me. With those, I assume the author wrote out the first part, didn't have much of an idea to go beyond that until randomly inspiration hit and she/he was on the roll. It happens to the best of us. Stephen King's The Green Mile was purposely written in short books and released one for every month until the series was finished. He said having those 'episodes' out reminded him of his childhood- dime store novels; but afterwards when the last one hit the shelves for a month he put them in a box set. Dime store novels- for the younger generations- were just that, short stories or novellas sold at stores for a dime. This was a trend before comic books made it big, and the worth of a dollar changed.
But let's also keep in mind that not everyone is Stephen King, so not every novella series is done for that purpose.

My immediate reaction to seeing a long novel series (anything over three books) is 'what a lazy author! They couldn't just come out with a novel?!' Now I know this is unfair. Writing can be difficult and it takes a lot of time to accomplish. But seeing something stretched so far with simple novellas, especially when they follow the same two characters, just appears... Seriously lacking, to me.
To calm this sort of snobbish attitude, I then check the prices of each book. Something that is 40 pages but priced at $2.99 almost insults me. I could have more fun at an arcade for that much. Though I am a bookworm, books are NOT a necessity. It's a calming form of entertainment that I prefer to turn to instead of television. With the economy, we all struggle to pay the bills and make ends meet while treating ourselves to a little something every now and then. In these times, I need a cheap route to find literary pleasure. Not everyone is in my position, and I understand that, but at the same time I am not a rare case.
I feel like this should be taken into consideration when going choosing how much to put your book up for. Nobody wants to feel cheated out of their money.

Something that eases my conscience in buying a novella series for a jacked up price- box sets. With box sets I feel like I am getting more for my money, even if it's not true. "Five short stories for $6.99?! Okay!" True story. Infact, I am almost in love with box sets! One box set that I really adored was $7.99 and included two novellas and two full length novels. It was well written, I felt satisfied with my purchase, and it took awhile to read.

Just because you CAN write a review, does not mean you are a REVIEWER

*WARNING! This is a rant and will contain swearing, spelling errors, examples of things that tick Vampy off, and possibly hypocritical statements. Read at your own risk.

 When I write a review, I try to do so from a reader's point of view. I have a huge passion for reading after all, and I like to share it. But I also keep in mind that behind the words there is a living breathing human who has feelings and dreams. Authors put a lot of hard work into their books. It takes time, money, tears, and smiles to create something for the rest of us to enjoy. These stories can take anywhere from weeks to years to finish, and afterwards the reviews they get in can help shape up the next tale- and effect sales.

The point of a review is to help the readers out but saying whether or not you enjoyed it, and why. And to help the authors out by explaining politely what you thought worked, and what needs to be fixed up.

The plotline 

Character development 

Spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors 

How the story flowed 

Entertainment value

These are things I try to put into a review for a book, because it's what I think will be the most helpful in the long run. Now, everyone is different. You might think the cover art needs to be mentioned too, or that spelling should be ignored. That's fine. But what ISN'T helpful is spiting, in fact, by doing so you just look like an asshole. Yep, I swore. This ramble requires it.

I won't lie, there have been a few books where I wanted to do nothing but bash it into the ground because I thought it was so horrible! "Free is over priced, the author should be arrested for murdering what could have been a good idea, my 5 year old can spell better!"
That is all hateful and not going to accomplish anything- except ruining your own name. I've read worse, which involved certain names that- according to the dictionary- refer to female dogs and woman's body parts, but I won't specifically say or repeat them. Just know that some people took things too far.

So this brings me to my point here- Just because you can write a review, does not mean you are a reviewer!

(These examples are not quotes, I have made them up based off of real experiences. Anything that reminds you of another bad review is kind of the point. But I did not quote them!")

I have seen so many good authors get needlessly bashed for stupid stuff. Heck, I've seen authors I did not enjoy get bashed for pointless things. I feel bad for them, because it gives reviewer a bad name. It upsets everyone, and for what? Most of the ones I have seen said "I did not finish the book but I give it... I'll read the rest later"
First off, if you didn't finish the book but plan to, don't write anything until you hit the last page! Nothing looks more ignorant that a half-assed review for one little detail you didn't enjoy. Ignore it, move on, or say something about it AFTER you finished the book! Things change, so that tiny detail you hated might have taken a different twist and turned into something awesome. So if you didn't look like an ass in the beginning, by the end you definitely do.

"I hate this author, and this book going to be horrible!"
Why did you buy the book if you hate the author? And why are you writing this pointless bash when you haven't even started the book yet? More pointless, wasteful drivel.

"Her hair is pink, it's not realistic!"
... This blows my mind. I'm pretty sure you weren't reading a biography, so why would you assume the book is realistic to begin with? And dying hair is pretty common. The color might not be, but the act is. Fantasy books are just that- fantasy. Vampires don't exist, brain eating zombies don't exist, laser eyes don't exist, magical powers don't exist. Why are you looking for 'realistic'? A book is meant to take you into a mythical, magical realm of someone else's drama and stress so you can forget your own. Even history books are changing and admitting there are details they have missed, or the facts weren't completely accurate!

 While you don't need to write up four paragraphs to leave a helpful review- or even one. Please make sure that it is, indeed, helpful! If you want to fangirl a little, fine. But to insult and bash for no given reason? You're not a reviewer, you're just a mad person who is at the computer.

Cliffhangers

Ahh cliffhangers, they are inevitable in series and sometimes really add to the over all story. But I also know a lot of people who flat out HATE them. Using one can be tricky, you could chase away a few fans or gain some new ones. It's not just about when you use it, it's also how you write it out- and of course, when the next book is due.

 Personally, nothing will irk me more than when a story just stops. I like a smooth transition into the cliffhanger ending, not something like all of a sudden a great battle began, both sides were equally matched and then....! Stay tuned for the next book, coming out next year. It's like stopping in the middle of a sentence. Now a cliffhanger before the battle starts, even with both sides staring down one another, would be less upsetting. Don't stop it middle punch, that's just irritating. Seriously, I think I would be less inclined to read the rest of the series if a book did that.

 A cliffhanger that isn't a total cliffhanger is intriguing. The ones where the book could be a stand alone, but there is room for another book is the author felt inclined. Some titles that come to mind are The Boomerang Effect and Luxuria. The main conflict was resolved, but it could happen again easily to a new batch of characters and not be over played. Of course with stories like that I find myself mentally begging the author to continue. Who wouldn't? If the first book was awesome, it stand to say the next one will be as well.

 A cliffhanger with a large conflict, like a battle between two kingdoms that takes a while to resolve, is another one I enjoy. The first book talks about the beginning- how the enemies came to be and where they stood now- while slowly introducing the idea that down the line the ultimate battle would take place to finally end the conflict. J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series or Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld are fine examples of this. There is another one on the tip of my tongue but I can't come up with a name... Darn, maybe some other time it will hit me.

 Now series are all good and fun, but when the next book isn't due for another year or two? Man, it is hard to wait. Especially when you come across a different series where the next book is being released a lot sooner. I have found myself forgetting about series I loved because the next book took so long to be released. I know this isn't the authors fault, and just to be sure here, it ISN'T the author's fault. Not everyone can simply sit around writing 24/7, that would be insane. But it is pretty easy to slip the mind when you are hanging around for a long time waiting for the next installment. I try to follow everyone's websites for updates, but that too can be forgotten or slip into the background as I read something different. How do you keep everyone's attention and have them hyped up for something so far away? I have no clue, if you find out, let me know.
Facebook has this thing where you can receive notifications every time a page posts something. I'm sure it helps, but I've never used it. I'm stalking so many people that I wouldn't see get to half of the notifications anyway.

 Lost my train of thought again... This happens often, please excuse it...

 Right, so, I'm sure I am missing more types of cliffhangers that are either awesome or irksome. But these are the ones that really get me. Maybe I'll update this later with more examples of stuff. Until then, what do you think? Do you love cliffhangers or hate them?

The Great Outline Debate!

 The outline follows:

BEGINNING 

1. Character 

2. Setting 

3. Problem

MIDDLE 

4. Protagonist tries to resolve the problem and fails. This makes the problem worse. 

5. The protagonist gathers their resources and tries to resolve the problem again and fails. This makes the problem a matter of life and death. 

6. The protagonist gathers whatever resources are left and tries to resolve the problem for a third time. They succeed for a happy ending or fail for a tragic ending. This is the climax of the story.

END 

7. Validation

This format works for everything, from short stories to 100.000 word trilogies. It can be as short or detailed, as you want to make it. It keeps you on track (from wondering up a lot of dark alleys in the middle of your novel) and gives you immediate goals so you remain interested in what you are writing.

I was discussing this with a dear friend of mine just yesterday- and how we had to do them in school. As writers, we found the old memories to be kind of funny. Both of us prefer not to use them; to just wing the entire thing and let our characters control the book. In school, this wasn't allowed, but for good reason. Outlines can be extremely handy in life, and not just for writing a novel or two. But this post is referring to outlines for basic writing. Should they be used, or not? Now my teachers were willing to dock some points for not using an outline in creative writing- and it was perfectly understandable on why. I was not following directions. But when it comes to the author world (for a lack of better words here) the use of an outline is debated heavily upon. I actually came across one group that helped aspiring authors reach their goals by giving advice, and offering beta services for free. One of the advice offered was - USE AN OUTLINE!! They even handed out templets to anyone eager to do so. Outlines were discussed often, and had been explained as the lifesaver of books. "How can you write a decent book with nothing but jumbled thoughts?" An outline is used to take those messed up thoughts and turn them into something neat, organized, and satisfying for the readers. I agree, it can help out but I would also like to take the time to say- everyone is different. And here is the point of this ramble: What might work for one person, may not for another. If you are trying to get through this big, literary world with your own masterpiece in the making and not sure where to go, experiment and learn what might work for you. When taking what the school taught me, and what that group insisted upon, I realized that everyone was trying to clump authors together. I felt it was time to put these fingers to the keyboard! I went around to various authors, asking them if they used an outline.

Hey Scarlett Jade, do you use an outline for your book(s)?

"Hey! No, I don't use an outline because I don't like to live in a box, and that translates to my writing. My characters are passionate people and pull me in many directions. I simply step off the ledge and follow where they lead."

  Serena Pettus! How are you? I have a quick question about outlines! Do you use them?

"I do! Especially if I'm in the middle of one book, but have an idea for another that is just rattling around in my head. I find that if I can outline the story, then my muse isn't quite so ADHD and she'll let me get back to focusing on my current WIP."

S. Moose, excuse me, do you use an outline for your book(s)?

"I don't use an outline lol. I like to write different parts-write notes and then bring it together. I'm not a very "linear" person. Scattered brain haha."

Llerxt the 13th, I have a question! Do you use an outline for your book(s)?

"I kinda do but don't. I have a very rough outline for Elemental Journey, but it's very vague. I wanted this to be the best thing I've written so far and to make it something people want to buy, plus, I feel like I get off track very easily."

Hi Nickie Seilder, random question here- do you use an outline for your book(s)?

"I don't; I find myself alleviating from the outline if I write one so I just figure its best for me to just write as I go, if that makes sense."

Diamant! Just a moment please, do you use an outline for your book(s)?

"We only rough out if it is complex and when the books have more than the two perspectives, so yes and no. We outlined each chapter of the WIP (8 pages) but we don't go in depth we write simple markers to remind us of the plot, but otherwise we don't know what we are writing till it happens. We don't say antagonist or protagonist because villains will show themselves soon enough."

Emily Walker, what about you?

"I don't, I am a full blown panster."

And when asked, Gail McHugh said "I do. I have to have at least 10 chapters plotted. I need to know that chapter one needs to show something in order to get to chapter two. Chapter two needs to show something in order to get to chapter three and so on. I get nervous if not."

More people responded with- "Since my novels have a main plot and at least a couple of subplots, a rough outline is a must for me." 

"I always write a detailed outline. I can write the book itself much faster this way, and almost never get stuck." 

"No - I write "by the seat of my pants"

Horrormeister Stephen King kept up his prolific output without the help of an outline, while J.K. Rowling had a spreadsheet plan for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. See? Everyone works differently on their books. Outline, no outline, vague outline... It's just who they are- or who you are. No need to stress about the little stuff. If you are an outliner, go for it! If not, forget what everyone else wants you to do, and do what you want to. 

It is your book, if you are happy with it, that is all that matters.

Things Authors Do That I Don't Understand

They say never trust someone who talks to beings that aren't there. If this were truly the case, we would all be in trouble. But even outside the magical world of literature, there are some things that authors do that I just don't understand...

Limit One Per Customer
Signed books are awesome, like it doesn't matter who you are, you will want one. Don't know the author? Pffft, so what, the book is autographed by them and that means something! So when an author puts up that announcement that says "buy an autographed book by me for x amount of cash through paypal"

   

 I jump on the offer like you wouldn't believe. But when it is followed by "limit one per customer" the train stops. I run an awesome page and blog (or at least I would like to think so) and these autographed books are like my bread and butter. What is cooler than getting something signed by an author in a giveaway? Sadly this means I need two copies, cause sorry ya'll, but I am getting a book for myself as well. I do understand to a point. Like if you only order ten or twenty copies you don't want someone buying all of them at once. But come on, let me have two. Two is a small number still. (On another hand here, if someone wants ten or twenty signed copies of your book, why are you saying no? Taking their cash then order more. Seriously, how cool would it be for someone to put in that big of an order!?) So I just don't get the limit one per customer thing.

Swag
This sounds really funny if you just look at the title and not read any further.
"Vampy, how the hell do you not understand swag?! You hand it out sometimes in awesome giveaways!" Why thank you, and it's not that I don't understand swag, it's that I don't understand what some authors do with it. Bookmarks, keychains, buttons, like I have researched up the wazoo to see how much creating some of these products would cost. Why? Because it is awesome but I am a tight wallet chick. I know approximately how much you all spend on this stuff, and while handing it out in giveaways and such is awesome, I don't understand complaining about it afterwards. In order to get anywhere with a business, you have to invest in yourself. For authors, this means promotional swag and stuff of the like. It's just a smart way to enhance your sales. But afterwards to complain about the money you spend on your swag which you decided to hand out for free?! It blows my mind.
My thoughts go like this: First, why are you spending more on swag than you have to begin with? Make homemade stuff, it comes from the heart and it is cheap. People will still want it.
Second, if you are ordering it offline and your stock is getting low, you're almost out of cash, why not sell it? If an author came to me and was like "Vampy, I have this bookmark I am selling for $2.50- includes shipping- are you interested?" My reaction would be one of two things. Either I would go "Hell yeah, give me two! What is your paypal?" or "fuck, can it wait until next payday? I want it, but I need to get that check first!"
And I know I'm not the only one!
Especially if you sign it, which will take about three seconds with a pen or marker. Big named authors do it, don't be afraid to do the same every now and then. Just keep your prices reasonable.

Street Teams
I may have brought this up before, but I don't understand them. What are they suppose to accomplish, and why do they have a specific name for them? From what I understand street teams are groups of fans who work under the author for nothing to spread the word of that author's latest project all around the internet. If this is true, I am on a dozen street teams. Come to me and ask me to post something, and I will. I won't turn anyone down, even if I didn't personally enjoy your book. I think the only people I refuse to talk about on my page are Allison Noel and P.C. Cast (sorry, but I can't stand any of their books. And I did give their work an honest try.) But anyone else? I am your number one fan!!

 

So another thing that baffles me is what the street team gets in return for posting all of those teasers, links, and just promoting like crazy. (I realize this entire thing is sounding greedy, but in some cases you need to be. Like I said, being an author is like running your own business. Not everything can be free.) Why join one? What are you getting? Like, does the author send you free swag to pass out in giveaways and stuff? If so, then I could totally understand it. I will promote any and everyone for free, but receiving random swag for it just makes the job that much cooler. I feel appreciated for it, and no lie, almost like I'm in debt to that author. I will post them more because my brain thinks I need to repay them somehow, and that is the only way I can really do so. Or maybe I'll trade them swag, or send them candy, or something. Running with how I perceive street teams, my whole page and blog is everyone's street team. All I do is ramble, and promote books. So why give it a name like that? I am but your humble fan doing what I love to do- talk to strangers about books and everything related. Do I mind doing any of this without something in return? Not at all! But this street team name to go with it? I don't get it. 

 I know I am probably wrong on more than half of this, but these are my thoughts. And I don't doubt that in the future I will run across more authors who will do stuff I don't understand. But this is the wrap up for now so I can get back to my book. Got some answers or questions of your own? Post them below in the comments! Love you all!

Some booky facts about Vampy (no sleep addition)

It's 6am right now and I have little brain power. So I came up with the idea to share some booky facts about myself with all of my awesome followers. Why do I think  anyone cares? Because it is 6am... Here we go:

I got into the Twilight phase, though in all honesty (not trying to be hipster here) I liked it before it was cool. I read the first book and fell in love. I own just about every book you can find that has to do with twilight, along with owning a Team Edward shirt, two keychains (which broke), a little tin with Jacob on it, all the movies except for Breaking Dawn part 2 (on my wish list), and an outdated calender. I didn't care for New Moon much, but the other books were cool to me. Now I feel like I need to finish this collection even though I'm kind of over the whole thing.

I also enjoyed Fifty Shades of Grey. I wasn't jumping out of my seat fangirling over it, but I thought it was decent for what it was- which was a BDSM fanfic of Twilight. The thing that irks me the most about Fifty Shade haters is the ridiculous comments about how they hated it BECAUSE it reminded them of Twilight. One more time here- it was a fanfic of Twilight, what else can you expect?! Seriously, nothing will ticked me off quicker than another comment like that. If you didn't like it because Christian was weird and mean to Anna, then I will agree- he had some big prickish moments. Or if you want to rag on Anna's character, I will be there with you. But don't get mad because it was a fanfic and you hate Twilight. Just don't read it and move on.

Another thing, I don't enjoy BDSM books, or sheer S&M. The whole thing weirds me out. I guess it is the embarrassing aspect of it? Like being spanked until your ass turns red and getting called a 'filthy whore' or a 'bad girl' might turn you on, but not me. It reminds me of being five (not the filthy whore thing, that's just disrespectful in my eyes) and I am an adult, I want to be treated as such.
Uh, yeah, a lot of it just looks/sounds degrading and disrespectful- it is not my cup of tea. This isn't to say I haven't  read any books like that, I have; I just prefer not to read them now.

You may have enjoyed some of my Stephen King references, funny tidbit here, I am not a big Stephen King fan. I loved Misery, and liked IT but that is as far as my Stephen King obsession goes. I do love the Children of the Corn movies, and Cujo, but I have heard that is a mockery to big time fans because the movies are so far off the books.

I can't stand P.C. Cast and Allison Noel. I think Zoe Redbird is a big leg-spreader with a need for attention, and Evermore is a super stalker. Ever actually makes Bella look perfectly fine (if you are a Twilight hater, this makes a lot of sense.) They, to me, are horrible writers. In fact, their work makes me wish bad things against them like "I wish they were driving really fast down the freeway and their tire popped, but they made it to the side safely and had to call for a tow truck which took up an hour of their day and probably irritated them. But the replacement tire was relatively cheap because it was used and yet still in good condition."
That is my anger towards their work!

I don't mind reading about torture, abuse, and rape. This stuff happens, and every once in awhile I want a book about real events in life, rather than fluffy bunny happy endings. It irks me when people take these topics too far though. Like if the book is just rape scene after rape scene after rape scene, I'm just disgusted and want to throw that book across the room. Or like one girl goes from one abusive relationship to another, but this time she is in love so it's okay... No, it's not okay, and it ticks me off. If you have a book where the dude kidnaps the chick, ties her down and plans to rape her but she screams "no!" so he doesn't, I am totally cool with that. I mean it makes things a little weird because he just backed off, but hey, at least he has potential to be a good guy in the end or something. If there is a book like A Child Called It that you want me to read, well, I need to be in that mood but I could read it no problem.

I am a huge Nina Bangs fan. Laugh at her name all you want, but her romance books are amazing! (Guess that makes it even funnier? Nina Bangs write about sex, haha...)

And now I feel sleepy enough to try hitting the hay again, so this is the end of my late night booky facts. Thanks for reading, and as I type this sentence I got an idea to interview readers for their booky facts about themselves. I don't know how much sense any of this made, but I hope it is at least somewhat coherent. If you are a reader and want your booky fact spotlight, message me on my facebook page and we can totally do it. Love you all, and hopefully this is goodnight! Muah!

-Vampy

The One Star Books...

The pain of spending money on a bad book is... Well, to me it feels like having my heart broken.
And yes, it happens; there is no way to not buy a bad book from time to time. When the synphosis sounds awesome and the cover art is amazing, you see plenty of raving reviews, you are eager to buy it. Of course what a "bad book" is depends on you personally. I can read just about anything, in fact, I've only been phased by a book once or twice. A Child Called It really got to me, especially since it's based off of a true story. I've come across many stories about abuse, rape, flat out torture... I guess when the author doesn't warn me about the content of the book is when I get a smidge upset. If I want something that is happy through and through why would I buy something I know is going to be about horrible pasts and mistreatment?
I wouldn't.
But I may very well revisit those titles at a later date when I can handle them. Just because your book has questionable content doesn't mean nobody will purchase it. But warn us!

Of course the storyline isn't the only thing that contributes to a "bad book". The grammar, spelling, and punctuation is also important. As I said before, a few mistakes are fine. But on every page, in every paragraph? I can't do it.
It tends to come across as though you are uneducated. I almost get embarrassed for the author when these things pop up.
Let's not forget about one of my biggest pet peeves: double wording and repetitive content. Example
"I opened the door to let him in. He shook my hand and I noticed he was cold. It was cold outside so I suppose that makes sense. I let him in and shut the door as a cold breeze blew by. Now I was cold but the house was warm so hopefully we would both be warm soon."
Cold, cold, cold, cold, warm, warm... Look, we get it. The outside is cold and your house is warm. Why not say the breeze was bitter? Or just get rid of it completely? Things like that really irk me and if it happens frequently I will put the book aside and label it as a waste of money.

Funny enough character development doesn't matter too much to me. I like to connect with the characters but if I don't, I don't necessarily drop the story in the reject pile. I know for a lot of people how the characters grow is important. I like to understand a little behind their motivations, but I've come across some phenomenal stories that had little to no character development in them.

The cover art, there is a lot of debate on this one. How is the cover art suppose to look? Will I deduct points on a review for a bad photo? To answer that last question, no. I might mention something about it on my review but don't judge a book by it's cover. I've made that mistake a few times before and finally learned, lol!
I think the cover art should have a little something to do with the book, but beyond that, it's all up to the author. It's their world, we're just visiting it. My only thing is that the title of the book should be easy to read. I think that's a flat out given, but you never know.

This reminds me of another thing going around- is it okay to look indie? You shouldn't be ashamed of telling everyone you're an indie author but when it comes to the layout of your book nothing should give it away. I think when it comes to anything you should put up a professional front. It's okay to ask for help when you're confused or unsure, the indie community is extremely nice and very helpful. But the final product should be as close to perfect as you can get. I might sound like a bitch for it, but this is just my opinion. I don't make any judgements when I read about how they got published. I don't deduct points for being independant. But I do for a sloppy execution of the book.

These are some things that bug me and make me toss a book to the side. What makes you put a story on the "bad book" list?

Paying For A Review

Woah, woah! Let's pretend I did not see that...

I don't know if I've rambled about this before but- paying reviewers?! What, does fifty bucks earn you four stars? I mean I've known about this happening for awhile but everytime I see something suggesting at such a thing my mind gets blown. 

"Earn a FREE review by doing this~" 

Yeah. Or, you can hunt down bookworms who will gladly do it for free. Hell, there are times where I'm completely taken back by people providing the book to review. I'm not rich, but I don't mind paying for my hobby. And I can get people asking for money to flash an ad of your book on their website- or a trailer, really. You know, like those annoying things on the side of practically every site out there? 

Fine. 

But getting paid to be honest?! Oh and here's one that put me up in flames.

"Please send your book and thirty dollars to -insert address here- and we might get back to you. But we reserve the right to not read your book. Your money will not be refunded, and if we do not read your book in three months you must submit it again with another thirty dollars for us to consider, again."

Not an exact quote, but that's basically what the site said. I don't want to point any fingers here, and while getting paid to read would be awesome, this just sounds... Sleazy, cheap, dishonest, disheartening, the list goes on... I can understand to a point why authors would do this. It can be tough to get someone to leave a review. But man! Just the thought of some person practically taking advantage of that fact irks me. 

Or the other one in which you aren't even guaranteed a review is flat out disgusting. I get swamped with requests for reviews, but you know what I do when that happens? I ask them if I can read their book in a week or two after I've finished reviewing for the authors before them. If it's like a quick needed thing, I try to work out some solution that will make everyone happy. It's not complicated.

Feel free to correct me here, or further explain how this whole system doesn't sound messed up; but to me, this is what it all looks like and exactly how I feel about it.

Author to Fan relationship: When is asking for help inappropriate?

Rambling time...

 So I've seen a lot of author ask their fans for help with new books. I don't see an issue with this, everyone needs help some times; and this is usually for names. I can understand names being hard to come up with, especially when your book has a lot of background characters.
But when is asking for help inappropriate?

 By this I mean: when are you crossing the line and selling someone else short. A name is one thing, but what about asking someone to create a background to go along with that name? Can it be used for your book when they've done all the work for that one character? Or worse, several...

 Is it okay for you to ask someone to come up with a scenario for your characters to fight through? Or ask them to sell your merchandise (you'll provide it, but they need to clean out what you've given them in a month) with no payment offered for their time?

 I feel like some of these step over the line of an author to fan relationship.
First, how can you use a character someone else made for a story you have already outlined? Or thought up, even. I would imagine this is hard, unless you give out a lot of detail on what you would like to see happen; and even then, are you really the one writing it anymore? If they create the character with a full bio attached, it is theirs, not yours!  One of my biggest fears with this would be any following lawsuits.
Plus asking for such a thing just appears... Lazy. I'm sorry, but in my eyes it does! If you need help with the bio, say something about it bugs you, then that is a little different. To pull someone aside and ask, "does this sound right?" is perfectly fine. It is still your work.

Scenarios is a tricky edge to walk. Some more examples to come...

"Who wants to see Kasey and Roger's book?!" "What should I make my two characters do now?" "Do you think a love scene after this big fight is cheesy?"

 "What should my book be about?"

The first question is acceptable and exciting. If you're working on a series and you think two background characters should receive some spotlight action, this is a great way to introduce the idea. Not everyone is going to be thrilled, but we all have haters somewhere.
The second question looks like more laziness. If you don't know where to go it might be time to end things; or put the project away until a later date. No need to worry over coming out with seven books for one series. It's not always possible, and in my humble opinion unless you do something like what J.R. Ward did, it's better to keep things short... Drawing your series out just to try and make some cash may back fire on you. I can list a few author's who have made that mistake and quickly lost my interest. So, when the ideas stop flowing, just put it aside. And if you're asking this with your first book... Well, just put it aside and try again. The third question- a perfectly fine question to ask if you are honestly unsure. (To answer it, sex right after a big battle is pretty hot.)
I can see everyone having moments where they fear being too "cheesy"; especially when you are new and have no outside opinions about the full product yet. However, it might be best asked to a trusted beta reader so they get the full effect of the battle and current character development.
The last one should go without saying. When I see anything similar to that I ask myself two questions: Are they a ghost writer looking to reel in a new customer? Why are they trying to be an author if they have no creativity. More often than not I find the ones asking this is not a ghost writer. And even sadder, it's their first book. Don't get me wrong, there are some people who honestly have so much in their heads they can't figure out what to work on first and so they turn to their fans. But if they do, it is asked in a more appropriate way.

"Hey, I've just finished Name The Book Here! It's time to move on to the next project, but which one should it be? I've had an idea for a werewolf book, but I think my stand- alone should turn into a series; any ideas?" "Eager to write again! But I'm lost- what do you want to see more of? My witch series or a contemporary romance I've had buzzing around in my head?" 

"Eeek! I have an idea for a horror book, but I've been with the mystery genre for so long... Should I switch over or keep doing what I'm doing?"

Selling merchandise... 

I've actually had a few people ask me to do this, and similar things, with nothing to show for my efforts. There is a big difference between lending a hand, and giving a handout. I'm sorry authors, but when it comes to selling your stuff, I will say no. That's a handout; it's your bookmarks, magnets, books, posters, etc. You should do it, or pay for help. I will, however, share because I am not the one personally pushing said item(s); and I will share it more than once. Not more than once a day, but like in a week. It's nice to show support, hell, I love doing so! Share a page, share a link, not a problem! But when it comes to actually selling their stuff for them, pushing the merchandise on the fans, constantly trying to draw them to the page and website; nope. Not going to happen unless I see a percentage. 

I don't want your big box of bookmarks to distribute to costumers for nothing. I don't want to spam my fan's newsfeed with your links. It's kind of rude and will most likely end in me losing followers. And I think asking someone else to do so crosses that author to fan line. 

"Please share the link to my new book" sounds a lot better than "get your friends to buy my book, and don't forget about the merchandise on my website! Sell, sell, sell people!"

Bottom line here, it's all about wording your questions properly. If you want an opinion make sure that is all you are asking for. If you want some feedback, phrase it nicely. And if you could use some boosts in your sales, do some research on who will happily share the link to your book or website- and only ask them to share, not personally hand the stuff out.

Last thing before I leave: I did not edit any of this. I did not reread it to catch errors, I just wanted to get it off my chest. I've seen these misuse of words and author to fan relationships WAY too often. I felt like something finally needed to be said. If you have any opinions about this topic, or notice a distracting typo, please feel free to share it in the comments. 

Until then, Vampy love to all, and happy writing! ♥

Ick, Writers Block!

The land suffered, the animal life suffered, we as humans suffered but for some reason it wasn’t an issue until the internet or transportation was effected. Greed is the best answer I can come up with here, but still it is boggling. Were you hoping for a future filled with jetpacks and insistent food producing fridges were all you need is to say a command and it does it without a hitch? Flying cars perhaps, or peace and worldly knowledge at our fingertips? I’m sorry to disappoint but we became nothing more than selfish fat pigs sitting around waiting to be picked off by whatever was higher on the food chain. And yes, there is something higher on the food chain. We found that out in 2026. See what was higher on the food chain isn’t stupid, though in my opinion it could have the IQ of a dog and still surpass us by this point. It attacked points of power; the laboratories, financial districts, the heartland, and military bases. Our government was saved for last, along with the rest of the surviving society. Countries teamed up with others to stop this unknown force driving in with odd shaped aircrafts and welding weapons of mass destruction...

 Well darn, what comes next? My mind is a blank slate right now; this isn't the first time and it won't be the last. I know I'm not the only one to suffer through this. It's the horrible curse formally called 'writers block'. Staring at the computer screen or your notebook, with the cursor or pencil hovering near by, but no words come to you to explain the next scene in your story. I hate this and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Things were going great! Then your mind laughs and says no, effective shutting down your creative flow for days, weeks, months even.

 So what do you do?
Beating writers block is still tricky for me. I have done a lot of things to try and ease it, but nothing seems sure fire.

 Waiting it out- I think this is the most common form of dealing with it. Does it work? Sure, but who knows when it finally will. I've found myself waiting months before I could touch a keyboard again. The time until then was frustrating. I wanted to write but I couldn't. I also felt trapped; like I couldn't force myself to continue since the process was too painful to push past. Making yourself write something when you don't have that awesome mojo working behind you is like pushing through a swimming pool of molasses on a hot summer day.

  Forcing yourself to write, however, does have its advantages. Even if the piece is something you won't use, it's still something to keep you going until that muse plunkers back down on your shoulder. Your brain is a muscle after all, and just like every other muscle, it needs to exercise often to keep in shape. Look at the item to your left, then describe it in a word document or on a pad of paper. Useless, maybe, but hey, you did something that day. And more often than not, this will break the barrier in your mind quicker than waiting it out.

  Purposely seeking out inspiration is another way to go. How you find that depends on you and what you're writing. I find revisiting my favorite books to be effective; the ones that really got me into writing in the first place. Funny enough, it's the Three Little Pigs. But who cares what the book is, you don't have to confess it to anyone, just sit back and enjoy it. Or maybe pick up a new book on the genre you choose to work with. Writing a mystery? Google some famous- or obscure- mystery authors! Then purchase and read- pirating sites are never encouraged, after all. This just steals from the author and how would you feel if you suddenly found your hard work displayed for free?
Movies and t.v. shows are another way to go. Writing about a real life drama? Teen Mom! Might be a bad example, but it could work... Action? The Fast and The Furious! can also be a great motivator to write.
At night, or during your free time, pop in some tunes and just sit back with your eyes closed. Eventually your mind will paint something to go along with that song. Classical has inspired some interesting battle scenes for me. It might not work right away, but I find some good songs and a moment of relaxation to break the creative block. Writers block can be brought on by stress so finding ways to get your muscles relaxed and mind clear is highly effective. I also suggest a walk in the park.

  Being around other people has helped me on many occasions. Especially when I'm stuck on a character. People watching could give you some fillers for the otherwise lacking information. Hair color, dialog, body structure, personality, backgrounds even. Just be careful, if you're writing a murder series and most of the characters who die off are coincidentally identical to family members you may find yourself in some trouble after it gets published...

  Starting a new story could work as well. Maybe you need a break from Kaden and Michelle so you begin working with Casey and Jessica. Don't call me crazy here, but when I do this I often come across a bit of story jealousy issues. See Kaden might not be talking for a week but after I spend some quality time discovering Jess, he comes crawling back. Then I run into the issue of who to focus on... Sorry Jessica, but Kaden was here first...

  Taking a vacation is a good idea but not too realistic- unless you just visit some friends who live like an hour away for a week. Admit it though, it would be awesome to get pack up and leave whenever your muse slips away. "Hey babe, I can't figure out the next part to my book. Let's go to Mexico, okay?" Or "I feel stuck again... I better take a cruise around the Bahama's." That would be sweet!

 Like I said before, there is no sure fire way to get rid of Writers Block, but there are different tricks to try and get around it. Having your creativity blocked could be the very downfall of your dreams- until it goes away, at least. And there is no wrong way to go about it! That's the great part. "I need to watch a movie in the name of research!" Or visit France if your budget allows it, there is no judging. A little envy, maybe, but no judging.

  Vampy paused, her fingers resting lightly a top the black keys of her new Gateway. Her expression was blank, just as her mind. Several seconds passed before she threw her hands up and cursed at the ceiling. "How the hell am I suppose to end this post?! Come on brain, work for me!" she whined, running her hands roughly through her long brown hair while her eyes locked back on the white screen. The cursor flashed, taunting her. So close! But no dice... "Guess I'll save it as a draft" she mumbled with a glare. Her writer's block couldn't last long after all... Could it?

Ebooks vs Paperbacks

I think this is a timeless battle between our love for ebooks and paperbacks. The questions surrounding them have been plaguing my mind for quite some time now. Will paperbacks become extinct? Will ebooks eventually fail? With the rise of indie authors, will it become harder to find a decently written book?

Time to ramble:
 I think the hardest question to answer would be 'will ebooks replace paperbacks on day?'. Ereaders are incredibly handy; take a hundred books on the go without having to lug around three stuffed suitcases. You have a vast selection of books to purchase at decently reasonable prices- and you can do so with one click! I am addicted to my Kindle, I admit it. Infact, I have been neglecting the paperbacks yet to be touched on my bookshelf to read off of it's screen. I can't stop myself, I have a shopping addiction. And shall we even start talking about the daily freebies?
It's handy, but let's compare the Kindle to a paperback...

 A paperback book can be bought online, but it takes a few weeks to ship. I find it easier to simply drop by a store and pick one up. A bookstore is like a playground for bookworms. I get all giddy when I enter one, and of course, I spend hours browsing through their selection. All the big names are there! Usually if you stop by a small mom and pop book shop you can find some great deals, and you're helping to keep them in business.
I feel like bookstores are beginning to drop off the planet. When Borders went down, I just about cried. So seeing some smaller place fills me with joy. There is hope!
And you want to know why? Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, can beat the weight of a new paperback in your hands. Flipping the pages isn't a hassle, but an honor. Even the smell of a book is enticing! Sure, ebooks are more convenient to purchase when it's a dark and stormy night, but reading a paperback is an important experience that will never be forgotten. They're comforting, don't require a battery, and give bookmarks a use other than wall decorations. I know I love getting a new bookmark. It's all part of what makes reading fun and special- to me, at least.

 So, no. I don't think paperbacks will die out, even with the new advances in ereaders. We love them too much to let that happen, and honestly, they are a huge part of our society. Textbooks, manuals... I fear a future where we solely rely on technology. (I read a book about the outcome, it didn't look good. ;) )

Will ebooks eventually fail? This is a tough one. Looking at things right now, the ebook is a booming business. It's beyond easy to publish your own work without having to fight through a large company. It's just as easy to buy and read on the go. But will this happy new fad ever die out? ... I seriously doubt it, society right now thrives on convenience and that's what ereaders do for us. Which I think I've said like four times by this point; several, at least.

Of course that question leads into the next one: With the rise of indie authors, will it become harder to find a decently written book? Ouch, it's sounds harsh that way. First off, let's give them a little slack. They DO work really hard to produce a book and put it out in the world. It takes a lot of courage to put your writing out there for people to either love or hate. If you think nobody has any haters, well, I don't know what to say. Even Stephen King has people who bash him.
On the subject of Stephen King, I'd like to point out that a few of his books have typos in them. Only like one or two, but still. When I see an indie author with one or two mistakes in their books, I keep that bit in mind. We're all human, which means we're all imperfect. As long as most of the book is correct, I won't complain.
The plotlines and character development in most of the indie books I bought were pretty good. I have come across a few that were a waste of money, but you can do that with a big publishing company as well. (The Evermore series by Alyson Noel? I hated it, and felt like I wasted ten bucks buying the paperback.)

Facebook is a great place to find teasers to indie author's books. Take a look before you purchase their work. You might find that you love or hate them without needing to spend the money. But in all honesty, I have rarely come across a book I didn't enjoy; indie or not. Maybe it's just good luck. Who knows? At this point in time I really couldn't tell you. But the prices are cheap and I say it's worth the risk. If you don't like it, post up a review so others know.

I think I've rambled enough here, just wanted to just some thoughts down so hopefully they leave me alone to focus on other things; like finding my next book. But hey, feel free to give your own opinions here as well. I'd hate to be the only rambler around. :P