I love your channel, tons of great wisdom. That being said after listening to this video I can't help but point out an easy solution to your seeming challenge with all kinds of unfinished serials...simply dont make them serials and write standalone single novels. Give your stories a great satisfying ending and move on to your next awesome standalone book instead, that way no one is upset and everyone is satisfied plus it satisfies your seemingly personal preference for creating many different projects.
Amen. I'm so glad you touched on this. I've had lots of criticism for encouraging people to write what sells and to only write what doesn't sell if you really don't care whether you're making money from it or not. Brilliant and on point as usual, Derek. Thanks so much for validating everything I've been saying...to myself...since no one is listening. LOL
The speed at which one must produce has been a terrifying revelation. On the one hand, readers seem to think that creative effort is fun and therefore easy. I see it alot in the design field, programming, and animation. ex: 30 seconds of animation can take over a week to produce and that's on the fast side. I suppose it's our fault for making it feel effortless. On the other hand, I question the content. I know it's possible for an author to produce high quality content in under 30 days, I just have a hard time believing that a first time author can produce quality reader friendly works in under 30 days - but again, that's a me thing. Going back to the example in animation, animators who put out 30s of animation in a couple of days were either highly experienced, had easy 'talking head' scenes, or completely failed the team, leaving someone else to fix their mistakes in the revision stage. The reader's expectation of constant access to new content is the main reason why I'm not publishing until the series is done. I'm testing it's readability and general interest on free platforms first. Free platforms get a hard knock from indies in general (I shouldn't have to give my stuff away for free) but there are a lot of valuable lessons on those platforms; like learning how to market with no budget, learning how to take criticism, joining groups and becoming a member of a community instead of hoping for a get rich quick ego scenario, getting listed, learning how to create organic traffic, developing the basics of your platform. If a potential author fails on a free platform odd are good that they haven't learned enough of the basics to succeed on paid platforms, but that's just my unpopular opinion.
I'm on any free platform I can find. Wattpad is where I've found the most success, largely because i haven't invested the time or lessons into the others. Here are a few more: FictionPress, Sparkatale, WriteOn (I think it's defunct now but it didn't cater to readers, it catered to writers so it was a very different environment), Scrib, Medium, and of course, your personal blog. Edit: and no I don't write romance, or romance disguised as another genre. I'm honest about what my story is, I have a great cover, I'm testing blurbs. :) Given I'm a slow writer to boot, these free platform have yield to sales in my shorter works that I have available to purchase all while building my readership.
I think it's best to trust your gut. You have to ask yourself why you're writing it in the first place. Is it because you have a story to tell? Or is it just to make a quick buck from it? If the answer is because your passionate about the series you're writing, then continue to write it. Each book should get better and better and eventually start selling. If you're writing just to make a quick buck from it, then maybe that's why it's not selling. Usually those books/series tell on themselves.
I do agree with what you said about starting off with the 1st book which is always the experiment and judging by how that book sold how it turned out and then moving on or deciding to put it to bed I do agree with that
some good thoughts, i'm definitely a reader that checks how many books out in a series and also the publish dates of each book though :) to see how long between installments.
I have been considering serializing one of my novels (in a manner similar to Fifty Shades of Gray). Your tips were very helpful and will keep me aware of many factors that will aid me in making the right decisions.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for addressing the issue of how important it is we get paid for our work! I believe in offering some free content, but it's supposed to lead to generating income. That's why businesses offer free samples of their products. Praise for our work is nice, but we need money in order to pay the bills so we can keep writing.
I'm left with the questions, Wouldn't it look bad in your portfolio as an author to have a bunch of unfinished series? How many readers are considered a success to keep writing a series if you're a new writer? I'm a new writer trying to come up with great content for a series.
The main challenge is visibility... your book can't be successful unless it stays visible and attracts new readers. I don't care much about looks; I'd rather have my books selling so I can earn a living from this. That said, yes, I've turned off a lot of readers by not finishing series faster. On the other hand, I've seriously shortened my learning curve - so now I know exactly which projects will sell and what kinds of books I should be writing. I always want to be working on my BEST work, that will satisfy the MOST readers.
Thanks for all the videos and website stuff. You've done a lot for me. I'm getting ready this year to begin releasing my books and building my author platform. I've been working on a New-Adult Humorous Fantasy Novel and it's taken me more than a year (and counting) to complete. I'm in the Beta Reading process now, which is invaluable IMO, so it's probably going to be two whole years before it's actually released, mainly because I'm a perfectionist, and I REALLY want my first book to make a good first impression. I used to want to get published, but as a debut author with a fantasy that's 205k words long, that's going to be a huge longshot, as industry experts constantly tell me in their videos. Which brings me to my question for you. I'm thinking about splitting my book into two parts. My book is supposed to be part of a larger series anyway, so having two 100k word books seems like a good release strategy, and good for revenue, since I'll have a first book to give away for free, to entice people with, rather than give away the whole thing. But I do have doubt with this approach, because the book is supposed to be all together, not in two parts. I have a very good sense of storytelling (through decades of learning), and in the exact middle of the book a major twist occurs. So it's a perfect place to split the book into two parts, BUT...as you mentioned in your comments with your book, the first part in my book would become a little boring/slow - since it's about building up the world and the characters. Whereas the second half has most of the action. My Beta Reader tells me that it's not very boring, but I know otherwise. Since my book is humorous, I have some faith that my wit will carry the reader further, but it's so daunting for me to make a mistake. I fear that I will only get one shot at this. Should I just flip a coin or something?
Two quotes I live by! "A writer must produce!" (Robert B. Parker) "I make movies that I want to see, if people like them then that is up to them! (George Lucas) I don't follow markets. I write what I want to write. If your in it just for the money then you will cry, moan, complain, till you eventually give up! Bottom line is if you can't take the heat the get out of the kitchen! Rhino skin is how you make it in the business. It's what I have learned from at least two published authors. So that being said, if you don't believe in your work enough to persever till the end, then you might be more comfortable flipping burgers.
1st time watching this video my responses come from basically how I am in life which is straightforward I don't believe in sugar coating or beating around the Bush
In my opinion you should write what brings you joy and what you have a passion for. Forget the audience and write the books you want to read and experience. If other people come along and get a thrill out of it that is great too, but it should never be the goal. Don't write to become rich, famous, or popular.
Derek Murphy From the man himself. Awesome. Thank you so very much. Love listening to your wisdom. im having a collaborative harry potter-esque series written. Do u have suggestions on covers for this series? or a link to your own cover-making platform?
Wow. "I don't want to learn how to plot..." as an excuse for quitting? Seriously? You don't need to suck all the joy of discovery out of your idea with a super-detailed outline. I don't! But unless it's a short story, you need at least some kind of "cocktail napkin" road map with a satisfying climax in mind. Otherwise, you're just wasting time and likely to never finish writing your novel. To those "anti-plot" people, I say, grab a copy of James Scott Bell's Plot & Structure book. Easy to read, easy to learn from, and not too long. Although written for screenwriters, Blake Snyder's Save the Cat! and Jeffrey Alan Schechter's My Story Can Beat Up Your Story are also great, and easily adapted for use by fiction writers. These are three of the best books on plotting out there, and all you need to go from zero to hero (at least as far as your ability to plot a story is concerned). 😉
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Whiners never win, but the ones who adapt to changing needs will.
I love your channel, tons of great wisdom. That being said after listening to this video I can't help but point out an easy solution to your seeming challenge with all kinds of unfinished serials...simply dont make them serials and write standalone single novels.
Give your stories a great satisfying ending and move on to your next awesome standalone book instead, that way no one is upset and everyone is satisfied plus it satisfies your seemingly personal preference for creating many different projects.
Yes - that's been a big part of my problem. I'll go back and wrap up most series with a 2nd book eventually and focus on the profitable ones.
Amen. I'm so glad you touched on this. I've had lots of criticism for encouraging people to write what sells and to only write what doesn't sell if you really don't care whether you're making money from it or not. Brilliant and on point as usual, Derek. Thanks so much for validating everything I've been saying...to myself...since no one is listening. LOL
The speed at which one must produce has been a terrifying revelation. On the one hand, readers seem to think that creative effort is fun and therefore easy. I see it alot in the design field, programming, and animation. ex: 30 seconds of animation can take over a week to produce and that's on the fast side. I suppose it's our fault for making it feel effortless.
On the other hand, I question the content. I know it's possible for an author to produce high quality content in under 30 days, I just have a hard time believing that a first time author can produce quality reader friendly works in under 30 days - but again, that's a me thing. Going back to the example in animation, animators who put out 30s of animation in a couple of days were either highly experienced, had easy 'talking head' scenes, or completely failed the team, leaving someone else to fix their mistakes in the revision stage.
The reader's expectation of constant access to new content is the main reason why I'm not publishing until the series is done. I'm testing it's readability and general interest on free platforms first. Free platforms get a hard knock from indies in general (I shouldn't have to give my stuff away for free) but there are a lot of valuable lessons on those platforms; like learning how to market with no budget, learning how to take criticism, joining groups and becoming a member of a community instead of hoping for a get rich quick ego scenario, getting listed, learning how to create organic traffic, developing the basics of your platform.
If a potential author fails on a free platform odd are good that they haven't learned enough of the basics to succeed on paid platforms, but that's just my unpopular opinion.
I'm on any free platform I can find. Wattpad is where I've found the most success, largely because i haven't invested the time or lessons into the others. Here are a few more: FictionPress, Sparkatale, WriteOn (I think it's defunct now but it didn't cater to readers, it catered to writers so it was a very different environment), Scrib, Medium, and of course, your personal blog.
Edit: and no I don't write romance, or romance disguised as another genre. I'm honest about what my story is, I have a great cover, I'm testing blurbs. :)
Given I'm a slow writer to boot, these free platform have yield to sales in my shorter works that I have available to purchase all while building my readership.
I'm with you on flounce posts. They're more than a touch dull :(
I think it's best to trust your gut. You have to ask yourself why you're writing it in the first place. Is it because you have a story to tell? Or is it just to make a quick buck from it? If the answer is because your passionate about the series you're writing, then continue to write it. Each book should get better and better and eventually start selling. If you're writing just to make a quick buck from it, then maybe that's why it's not selling. Usually those books/series tell on themselves.
Just what I needed to hear, thanks.
13:30 Its been three years and my series hasn't received a book 2 yet. 😄 Gosh I suck.
I do agree with what you said about starting off with the 1st book which is always the experiment and judging by how that book sold how it turned out and then moving on or deciding to put it to bed I do agree with that
some good thoughts, i'm definitely a reader that checks how many books out in a series and also the publish dates of each book though :) to see how long between installments.
This was a very timely video for me. Thank you so much for the work you do in helping the rest of us out!
I have been considering serializing one of my novels (in a manner similar to Fifty Shades of Gray). Your tips were very helpful and will keep me aware of many factors that will aid me in making the right decisions.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for addressing the issue of how important it is we get paid for our work! I believe in offering some free content, but it's supposed to lead to generating income. That's why businesses offer free samples of their products. Praise for our work is nice, but we need money in order to pay the bills so we can keep writing.
I'm left with the questions, Wouldn't it look bad in your portfolio as an author to have a bunch of unfinished series? How many readers are considered a success to keep writing a series if you're a new writer? I'm a new writer trying to come up with great content for a series.
The main challenge is visibility... your book can't be successful unless it stays visible and attracts new readers.
I don't care much about looks; I'd rather have my books selling so I can earn a living from this. That said, yes, I've turned off a lot of readers by not finishing series faster. On the other hand, I've seriously shortened my learning curve - so now I know exactly which projects will sell and what kinds of books I should be writing. I always want to be working on my BEST work, that will satisfy the MOST readers.
Thanks for all the videos and website stuff. You've done a lot for me. I'm getting ready this year to begin releasing my books and building my author platform. I've been working on a New-Adult Humorous Fantasy Novel and it's taken me more than a year (and counting) to complete. I'm in the Beta Reading process now, which is invaluable IMO, so it's probably going to be two whole years before it's actually released, mainly because I'm a perfectionist, and I REALLY want my first book to make a good first impression.
I used to want to get published, but as a debut author with a fantasy that's 205k words long, that's going to be a huge longshot, as industry experts constantly tell me in their videos. Which brings me to my question for you. I'm thinking about splitting my book into two parts. My book is supposed to be part of a larger series anyway, so having two 100k word books seems like a good release strategy, and good for revenue, since I'll have a first book to give away for free, to entice people with, rather than give away the whole thing.
But I do have doubt with this approach, because the book is supposed to be all together, not in two parts. I have a very good sense of storytelling (through decades of learning), and in the exact middle of the book a major twist occurs. So it's a perfect place to split the book into two parts, BUT...as you mentioned in your comments with your book, the first part in my book would become a little boring/slow - since it's about building up the world and the characters. Whereas the second half has most of the action.
My Beta Reader tells me that it's not very boring, but I know otherwise. Since my book is humorous, I have some faith that my wit will carry the reader further, but it's so daunting for me to make a mistake. I fear that I will only get one shot at this.
Should I just flip a coin or something?
Literally any manga/light novel
Me: “Why tf is there 8 more volumes!?
Two quotes I live by! "A writer must produce!" (Robert B. Parker) "I make movies that I want to see, if people like them then that is up to them! (George Lucas) I don't follow markets. I write what I want to write. If your in it just for the money then you will cry, moan, complain, till you eventually give up! Bottom line is if you can't take the heat the get out of the kitchen! Rhino skin is how you make it in the business. It's what I have learned from at least two published authors. So that being said, if you don't believe in your work enough to persever till the end, then you might be more comfortable flipping burgers.
1st time watching this video my responses come from basically how I am in life which is straightforward I don't believe in sugar coating or beating around the Bush
In my opinion you should write what brings you joy and what you have a passion for.
Forget the audience and write the books you want to read and experience.
If other people come along and get a thrill out of it that is great too, but it should never be the goal.
Don't write to become rich, famous, or popular.
This is the most common writing advice, and also why most authors can't find any readers.
How do you make a book permafree?
do u have a video on how to make a book permanently free?
I do somewhere, but basically, put it up on Draft2Digital for free, then ask Amazon to price match the book on ibooks or kobo.
Derek Murphy From the man himself. Awesome. Thank you so very much. Love listening to your wisdom. im having a collaborative harry potter-esque series written. Do u have suggestions on covers for this series? or a link to your own cover-making platform?
Heck. Yes. Love this channel. Had an interesting thought, but don't want to blow up your comments - check your inbox? --Evan
Wow. "I don't want to learn how to plot..." as an excuse for quitting? Seriously? You don't need to suck all the joy of discovery out of your idea with a super-detailed outline. I don't! But unless it's a short story, you need at least some kind of "cocktail napkin" road map with a satisfying climax in mind. Otherwise, you're just wasting time and likely to never finish writing your novel. To those "anti-plot" people, I say, grab a copy of James Scott Bell's Plot & Structure book. Easy to read, easy to learn from, and not too long. Although written for screenwriters, Blake Snyder's Save the Cat! and Jeffrey Alan Schechter's My Story Can Beat Up Your Story are also great, and easily adapted for use by fiction writers. These are three of the best books on plotting out there, and all you need to go from zero to hero (at least as far as your ability to plot a story is concerned). 😉
Lol, I agree it's better to make baked alaska than Floatin Iceberg! Haha, I'm working on Mystery and his advice is phenomenal!
:)