Monday, January 6, 2014

So You Want the Truth? Can You Handle It?

Streamline...
Write more...
Get more out there...
Market more... 
Market smarter...
Indie's saturated, go back to traditional...
No, join an author group...
Author groups don't market enough...
Author groups shouldn't market...
What should author groups do?

...Hang on... where is everybody???

It's a new year, reader-friends! 

I bet all you guys are making plans, setting reading goals, maybe exercising more, possibly making resolutions...

Behind this little indie-writer's scenes, a lot of talk is going on about how publishing is changing (again!), author support groups, what we should be doing heading into the new year.

Personally, I've also been looking at what's coming next, what's working and what isn't. Many of you have asked about Mosaic, and Yes! That is up next on the agenda!

Once we get un-snowed-in and the little ladies back in school. Snow Day #2 starts tomorrow~

In other news, would you LOOK at this blog? What a mess. *smh*

That's another thing everybody's talking about--Author Websites and Branding. (They've actually been talking about that one a while... I'm still talking.)

When I started this blog in Feb. 2010, it looked almost exactly how it looks now. Okay, my photos have changed.

I started out looking like this:

2009-2011

Then I looked like this:

LTM avatar

Now you see me as I am up there. (I actually look like all of these pictures... Just depends on if my hair's straight.)

I was also very much a traditionalist. I was querying agents, working, and waiting... waiting... waiting... write while you wait... quietly go insane...

Until I started this blog.

And lo and behold, this amazing tribe of writer-friends formed!

We would send each other little "awards"--which were actually networking-style greeting cards. You'd get one and then you'd pass it along and tag each other and tag the person who sent it to you... and the tribe grew.

It was how we met new friends before Facebook took over.

All those little awards still line this blog as you can see... (that's what you did when you got one--put them in the sidebar.)

Then some of us started getting deals. I can't remember who hit it big first. Maybe it was Sarah Fine, maybe it was Elana Johnson, maybe it was Lydia Kang...

Somebody can remind me.

The awards started moving to separate pages under tabs on the different blogs. The different blogs started looking more professional. The ones who'd gotten those big deals started getting too busy to blog... They had to write, y'all!

Totally understandable.

Then the revolution started. Jolene went indie... Susan went indie... Elle went indie... RaShelle blew up the indie scene with Blood & Snow...

I started editing for hire and when I did, I really saw how many of our friends had left the traditional game--AND how successful they were on their own.

Some days I still feel like a Major Dummy for waiting so long to join them, but I'm catching up. The only thing I haven't done is changed this blog.

It's hard because when I come here, I'm reminded of all those days we bonded over how hard this business is. How much those rejection letters hurt. How close we were to giving up. How we didn't think we could keep going any more. How we weren't even sure if we even had what it took to be a published author any more. How we wondered why we even started doing this to begin with...

This page has so much history.

I have an "official" web page that's pretty professional-looking---leightmoore.com.

Go there if you want to see me all spit and polished and looking like a Real Author.

But if you want the True Story, if you want to see behind the curtain, the journey, well, you've come to the right place.

Maybe one day I'll sit down and clean this blog up a bit. Make it look like a True Author Website...

*shrugs* I don't know.

Maybe instead, I'll pull down one of those awards and try circulating it again. See if anybody's still out there. If anybody else misses those old days.

Have a great week, reader-friends! Stay warm! I'll be heading back into the cave soon~ 

17 comments:

juliababyjen said...

I love reading your blog!! And your books lol! Keep on writing :) And I don't think there is a sure fire way to being an author, there are so many different kinds of success stories. To each his own!

Creepy Query Girl said...

I miss those days, too. I did a blog makeover this weekend because it's a new year and I just feel...different so I figured my blog should reflect that. The pressure to attract readers and make contacts has wained, I think, the longer we're in this process and the focus on writing takes center stage. I definitely envy the courage all you indie writers have and the satisfaction I imagine comes with finally having books 'out there'. A part of me wishes I could have joined the club, but it never felt 'right' for me, for some reason. And yes, I've noticed that things are swinging a different way in the world of publishing yet again. It's like a pendulum that never stops. Anyway, I LIKE your blog this way! It doesn't need too much work, I think. It always felt spacious and airy and still does.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Lovely rendition of the past few blogging/writing years. I recall most of it. Most. lol

We are creatures of habit. Change seems to ruffle most of us. Yet change is what shows us what improvements are needed, even pushes us (sometimes, forces us), to forge ahead through obstacles. I'm very much looking forward to this new year. ;)

Old Kitty said...

Awww I like this blog - it keeps things informal and friendly and comfy!! I like comfy! LOL!!

Wishing you and yours a brilliant new year - please stay safe and warm! Take care
x

Natalie Aguirre said...

Can see all the changes you mention as I know all these people too. And yes, blogging as well as publishing is changing. I'm glad there are different avenues opening up for getting published. I'm sadder about the changes in blogging because I think it's the best way to connect with other bloggers and become friends.

And I like your blog the way it is, but I'm sure I'd like your changes too. Been so much fun watching all the changes in your career too.

Patti said...

I miss how blogging used to be, like Natalie said it was a good way to connect with other writers. A lot of the people I began blogging with have stopped and I've lost contact.

The publishing world always seems to be changing, so no I can't really say yes or no to traditional or self publishing, since I'm not read for either yet. When the time comes is when I'll make a decision.

Bish Denham said...

Everything changes, nothing stays the same. That can be both a good and not so good thing. Personally, I like your blog. Happy Three Kings Day!

Barbara Watson said...

I play with my blog's look at times, most recently cleaning it up to the all white background and cleansing it of most of the sidebar photos. I like simplicity so it'll probably stay like it is for a long time.

Jessica Bell said...

I miss those days! And gosh, I miss YOU!!! You've gone all "writer hermit" on me! <3

Michael Di Gesu said...

HI, LB!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

IT's been AGES!!!!!

Oh, how I remember how blogging used to be. It took AGES to get our first hundred followers. Remember. Each hundred was a mile stone. We'd have vital parties, give away prizes to number .... Such great days. We all blogged seven days a weeks. Remember?

Now most of us are lucky to blog three.

I used to spend ten hours a day blogging. I LOVED IT! But now there is just no time. The reality hits us all at one point.

But, yes, those were remarkable days. I don't think we'll ever see them again. We are just all too busy.... Sadly.

I miss you! Did you have awesome holidays?

Can you BELIEVE this WEATHER?.... We are so cold it's ridiculous!!!!!

I can't WAIT to go back to Florida... LOL.

Hope all is well. I really enjoyed your post today! You took us back to a time when blogging really meant something.

HUGS....

BB

Unknown said...

The "good ol' days" of blogging were actually only a few years long, and I'm really glad I was part of it when it happened. It WAS where I met so many great writerly friends.

But things have changed, for better or worse, and my blog and blogging life has changed with it. Who knows what new things will happen in the future. :)

I love your blog and I'm glad you're still posting with honesty and humor!

TL said...

I remember all you incarnations! I don't get around to the blogs much, but this one has always been one of my favorites. Same with its author. :)

erica and christy said...

Keep it the same! I love how nostalgic you are! Yes, I remember those days. In those days Erica and I used to send about 100 emails back and forth hourly. Now we barely say hi weekly. So busy. So sad! But I love all this indie talk. I'm very much considering it. So, you're no dummy at all! Congrats to you on all your decisions and your successes! Christy

PK HREZO said...

Funny story how I arrived: Christy above me there commented on my blog, which led me to hers, where she mentioned this post, and now I'm here.
Gosh, I miss those old days too. But now that I've just entered the indie fray, I know exactly why so many of you have stopped blogging regularly. It's just not where the readers are. But wow so many great friendships have been made. Always fun checking out what you're up to!!

Janet Johnson said...

Hey old friend! Yes, a lot has changed. Funny thing, I actually got one of those old awards just yesterday. In truth, I was kindof surprised any were still out there, but it was a nice warm fuzzy reminder of the chumminess of back then. It really is amazing to see how much has changed in a couple of years. :)

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