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Post by bill on Sept 10, 2018 2:46:08 GMT
Zentron - Is available on Amazon and I have ordered books. Now to promote...
Vetrix, Earth, Before Vetrix - I have books ordered with the new covers
Ghosts in the Quarry - Is available on Amazon and books are ordered.
A World Amongst - I have my package ready for the contest. I need to have it proofread, then I'll enter in Zebulon. I read through the first section and made some notes for revision. Now to get to work.
Marketing - I attended the Wichita Library Local Author's Day. Lots of great networking (I hope), but no sales.
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Post by Admin on Sept 10, 2018 3:05:53 GMT
I ordered Ghosts in the Quarry. I'll go look for Zentron. Didn't know it was out or I'd have ordered it at the same time I ordered Ghosts.
I got some benefits written and added to Patreon. I have to admit I'm torn about Patreon. I like the venue as far as having a place to consolidate my work but I only have 3 followers and you're one of them. Jody is one, and Cat is one. I think the work is solid and I think I'm offering benefits that more than pay back the subscription cost. I know I said I was done trying to find an audience but I'm finding out that I really want an audience. I want feedback. I want interaction with people who like my work. I have no clue how to get that except to keep producing work.
Some of what I write over there I can use on Medium. I'm encouraged at Medium. For some reason, it seems easier to get seen. I'm up to ten followers and week two isn't quite over. My reading % are all over 50% and most over 60% except for the big one. It's hanging in at 47% but it also has the most views. I'm getting close to 500 views, well 460+ views and I have 25 fans. I think that means 25 claps on the various articles.
I like that between the two sites, I'm developing work that will be publishable so my output should, in the very near future, pick up. I still need to get Knock Knock out. I don't know why I'm so resistant. I like having a published book in my hands so why I'm hanging on to it, I can't figure out. I have some sort of hang up with finishing.
I'm starting to panic just a little bit about the school reunion. I can feel the old dynamics taking over and I refuse to go back to that high school mentality. I just want it over with. I know I need to do it. I know I need to face up to a lot of stuff that happened. I'm guessing that the only person it bothers is me. Nobody else will remember it. I floated through school holding myself apart and I still feel invisible. I'm not quite sure how to move out of the shadows. Not sure I really want to and yet, I do. want to that is.
I was wanting to go to Texas during spring break but I don't know when the kids get it. I'll have to start looking at the schedule for next year. I think the Scales/Gilliam reunion is in June too and nobody has talked about it. I better go light a fire under the family page.
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Post by bill on Sept 13, 2018 14:40:05 GMT
I don't know anything about your school reunion. When is it?
I would think Patreon would take a while to develop a solid support base, unless you're semi-famous and can bring dozens or hundreds of people with you. I think the main thing is if you are getting good creative work from it, it may be worth it. I don't know.
I spent the day at Marilyn's yesterday. We looked over her geneology stuff and made a plan to get it published. We're starting with your parents and their descendants, so I will be sending you a request for info soon. This is out of my realm, but I think her knowledge needs to be recorded or it will eventually be lost. Hopefully I can help make that happen.
When I got home last night I had seven boxes of books. All my new books came in and I am so excited. I can't wait to see how they do at festivals and book fairs. Hopefully they will start selling! I haven't advertised Zentron yet but it's available. I need to get the blurb formatted correctly and get it added to my website. I'll try to have that done this weekend. Then I'll start pushing. I need to learn how to market online, too.
How do you tell how much you made on Medium? I see stats of views and read, but not $.
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Post by Admin on Sept 17, 2018 3:25:01 GMT
I know I answered this but don't see it so it must not have posted.
The class reunion is Oct. 12th and 13th. It will be at the hotel at the Wichita airport. One part of me dreads it, the other part wants it over with so I can put faces with the classmates. I want them to not be 18 when I'm 68. I'll survive the experience and it will probably be very healing.
Hank agreed to live in Kansas so next spring, I'm going hunting. I will spend the winter fixing up this house so it will sell. I really want to be in Kansas by the time I turn 70. I want Joshua settled in and find appropriate help for him. I won't be content until I know he's where he wants to be and surrounded by people who love him.
I got articles written and posted. Got some stuff added to Patreon. I'm actually making more money on Medium than I've made all year on books. Even though its slow, and really low payments, at least its something and my reading percentages are staying in the upper 30%. I'm beginning to follow others and gaining a few followers every week. At some point, it has to make a difference. I'm always curious about what the tip over point is.
I'm tired all the time. I think because of uncontrolled blood sugar. I'm going to be facing some health decisions soon. Not happy about them but I guess things happen the way they are meant to.
I love the new book covers you have. I got Ghosts in the Quarry and love it. I'll get Zentron ordered after Wed.
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Post by Admin on Sept 17, 2018 3:26:12 GMT
I forgot to tell you how to check Medium. You go to Medium Partner Program underneath your picture icon. It opens up to a payment page and you can see the payment info there.
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Post by bill on Sept 18, 2018 2:51:53 GMT
The payment page isn't showing up. I think I'll have to contact Medium to find out why not. My payment to them went through my bank, so I know I registered. Maybe I didn't publish my writing correctly.
I had a disappointing day. I tried to enter my stories for the Zebulon contest yesterday, but it said closed, so I sent an e-mail. They put the contest on haitus this year. So now I'm bummed.
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Post by bill on Sept 18, 2018 14:40:01 GMT
That's is super exciting that you plan to move to Kansas! It will be awesome to have you guys closer. We can talk shop in person more often
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Post by Admin on Sept 18, 2018 22:28:01 GMT
What a disappointment about the Zebulon. Makes me wonder what is going on with them. I know the people in charge have changed several times in the last few years. They might not know how to get things done on time. The work is good so the time you put in on it isn't wasted.
I hope you're enjoying the new job. I've been trying to figure out how to get Patreon to work a bit better for me. Same old problem as with books. Visibility. I need to figure out a way to get followers. I'm thinking about dropping the price. I thought the benefits I offered were worth 3 dollars and 5 dollars but maybe I'll drop them to 1 and 3.
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Post by bill on Sept 19, 2018 2:49:33 GMT
I don't think with Patreon it's a matter of value. I think you offer good value. I think you're right, it's about how do you get followers. I have no idea, obviously. People will like a post but I can't get them to spend $.99 (a steal of a value) to help me boost my ratings on Amazon.
I start the new job tomorrow.
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Post by Admin on Sept 19, 2018 5:55:40 GMT
Do you set your medium posts so they can earn money? at the top of a new post there is small print that says this post does not qualify to earn money, or something like that, there is a little arrow icon on the right. If you click on that it will ask you if you want it included in the earn money. You have to manually set each one up to earn. If you know this, I won't go into detail but if you hadn't noticed this, I can give you a bit more info.
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Post by bill on Sept 19, 2018 12:48:09 GMT
I just started a new post but I don't see the small print you're talking about.
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Post by Admin on Sept 19, 2018 14:05:15 GMT
When you click on 'new story' you'll get a draft page up. Your bio will be at the top. Above the bio, you'll see a line that says "This story will not earn money through the Medium Partner Program" the an upside down 'v'. Before you can access the next step you have to actually have something written. but once you have a title in place and content, you click on the upside-down 'v' and it will say: Make this story eligible to earn money? and gives you two choices. a not this time and a yes. click yes and the post you write will be eligible for the Medium Partner Program. Before you publish, go back up to the top right hand corner and to the left of your icon picture there is a bell. ignore the bell. then the three dots. click on the three dots and you get a drop down box that has options. click on visibility and adjust that as needed. Next go over to the Publish button and fill in your tags. After you get all that done, you can publish and your article will be eligible. You can go back and edit your posts to make them eligible but I don't know if the claps you got will stand, or if they will be disregarded. Can't hurt to try.
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Post by bill on Sept 20, 2018 21:32:11 GMT
I tried everything and read everything. I sent an e-mail to the help on Medium. What you are describing is not on the screen for my stories. I even started a new draft to test it, but nothing.
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Post by Admin on Sept 20, 2018 23:04:13 GMT
did you set up an account with Stripe?
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Post by bill on Sept 21, 2018 0:17:02 GMT
Um, no. I' haven't read anything about stripe.
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