Lord of the reads: +3087
Hi All, I thought this would be a good place to discuss what you think of what we are trying to do.
We made CompletelyNovel to help budding novelists and writers. It came about when I met a talented writer going through the frustrations of sending manuscripts to agents. She was sending out many manuscripts to many agents but she didn’t have enough history behind her or her book to persuade them to read it.
Before a musician even gets looked at by a record label they must have fans, tours and record sales, this is no different from writers and publishers. A publisher or agent is a business like any other so needs a proven low risk investment. I suggested proving her book by building a fan base and getting sales. We agreed this would be a good idea but we didn’t know anywhere where she could interact with readers, build a fan base and more importantly print and sell her book without significant expense.
So we came up with CompletelyNovel with the aim of providing all the tools needed for a writer to promote themselves, get feedback, get sales and ultimately get published.
The idea is that a writer puts their book on CompletelyNovel. From there they can promote their book to the community and friends and family. Each time the book is rated, reviewed, added to a club or sold it gets points. These points not only let agents and publishers on the site easily identify the good books but also the writers who are good at promoting themselves.
As everyone is part of a community every new reader which a writer brings on to read their book and build their own profile will probably browse around at other books that interest them. This means every new reader benefits all the writers and so all the community end up helping each other.
Let me know what you think! If you have any ideas I would love to discuss them with you.
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Hi All, I thought this would be a good place to discuss what you think of what we are trying to do.
We made CompletelyNovel to help budding novelists and writers. It came about when I met a talented writer going through the frustrations of sending manuscripts to agents. She was sending out many manuscripts to many agents but she didn’t have enough history behind her or her book to persuade them to read it.
Before a musician even gets looked at by a record label they must have fans, tours and record sales, this is no different from writers and publishers. A publisher or agent is a business like any other so needs a proven low risk investment. I suggested proving her book by building a fan base and getting sales. We agreed this would be a good idea but we didn’t know anywhere where she could interact with readers, build a fan base and more importantly print and sell her book without significant expense.
So we came up with CompletelyNovel with the aim of providing all the tools needed for a writer to promote themselves, get feedback, get sales and ultimately get published.
The idea is that a writer puts their book on CompletelyNovel. From there they can promote their book to the community and friends and family. Each time the book is rated, reviewed, added to a club or sold it gets points. These points not only let agents and publishers on the site easily identify the good books but also the writers who are good at promoting themselves.
As everyone is part of a community every new reader which a writer brings on to read their book and build their own profile will probably browse around at other books that interest them. This means every new reader benefits all the writers and so all the community end up helping each other.
Let me know what you think! If you have any ideas I would love to discuss them with you.
Can completely relate to this. I did manage to get an agent for my first novel – about 14 years ago! – but still didn’t get a publishing deal. The agent was one of the most succesful in the UK, but sadly, my novels proved too much even for him to place!!! It was hard coming that close and failing, and these days I try and focus on just enjoying writing rather than getting too frustrated with writing that elusive best seller. I don’t think you can ever really write well if your main motivator to write something commercial.
Yes I know where you guys are coming from…My work is historical and not fiction but the same criterion applies. I managed to obtain the services of an agent and while he was enthusiastic about my work he failed to sell it. This is due to fads and fashion in publishing, history is currently almost a no go area. We even had publishers editors praising the books! But the old ‘Sorry but this simply does not fit with our current lists…’was the final word.
I have managed to create a few interesting discussions on other sites and directed people to CN and accordingly my work has been read, at least in part, perhaps all, I do not know,…but free…
Here I am sure the electronic download/e book will come into its own as the prices of print on demand are of necessity higher than we would like and we either make next to nothing per copy or price our work too highly for sales. Given the costs of printing over 500 pages we fall into the latter category
Looking at the prices of e books elsewhere it seems that the publishers are making a bit of a killing here and writers on CN should be able to score quite well by asking a reasonable price for their work and still undercutting the average price. CN obviously need a cut and a percentage needs agreeing here but I am sure that e books from our site will be highly competitive in price and we shall eventually all benefit.
’What’s a taster?’
A bite out of the book so that we can taste the flavour.’‘Yeah! What’s a taster?’
Practically it’s an extract from the book, no more than 5,000 words, Add a title and the author. A brief synopsis ( no more than 50 words.) and put it on site for everyone to read. At the end is a place where people can comment (if they want) and a review section where CN members can review the piece (if they want’
‘We already have a review system, which I agree is not working very well. Why should this be different?’
‘There is a big difference in reviewing a book of some 50,000 words plus and a shortened version of the book. Consider a writer who has had their book published. A “taster” of the book could encourage people to buy. For budding authors it would give more reviews and comments and a place where they could read “tasters” and improve their writing skills and technique’
’So where do I upload my “taster”?
‘Ah!! there is a bit more to it than that. For every taster you want to upload you have to do three reviews.’
‘Can I review a taster as well as a full book?’
‘Yes! they all count.’
‘What if I want to upload more than one “taster”?’
Perfectly accetable providing you have the required review ponts.’
‘Who is going to read the “tasters”, apart from CN members?’
Tasters parents, sisters, brothers. the woman next door, the milkman, friends and colleagues from work, agents and publishers. Everyone in fact, but only CN members can review.
‘What are the advantages of such a system?’
1. Published authors will sell more books.
2. Budding authors will get more help to develop through comments, reviews and reading other “tasters”
3. The system automatically generates more readers, writers and visitors
4 Agents could read a taster in their genre and request authors to submit more details. Better chances for the author with agents and publishers.
‘Sounds great, is this new’
‘No way, what’s new is the way it’s implemented.’
‘Any disadvantages?’
Well number 1. Er- let’s leave it to fellow CN’r to tell us them, shall we?’
Hi Colin…not just here, it is one of those quiet weekends on web…at least in the UK. Perhaps associated with Rugby?
Good suggestions bye the way. The challenge is what to put as an extract…not too difficult for my work but not so easy for novelists…
Perhaps some suggestions regarding method of text selection from the more experienced among us to the lesser experience may be useful here.
Cheers
H
I think for fiction it has to be the first chapter (or prologue, if you’re so inclined). It’s worth noting that a lot of genre novels have the first chapter of the sequel at the end of the book, as a taster – not Capter 15, Chapter 1.
By the way, what’s the deal with prologues? Virtually every source of writing advice says: ’Don’t bother with them. Publishers don’t like them, and they’re pointless.’ And yet, virtually every thriller has one. Weird.
Thanks for the reply Harry I was beginning to think the world had been destroyed and missed me completely. Even my wife is away on a charity walk.
As regards what to select, I would thing the opening chapter is a good bet. Agents usually require ths first two or three chapters to assess the writing and story line. Alternatively, if you are a little concerned about one partuicular chapter you could upload that with a brief, ‘the story so far’
intro. I sent a very brief extract from my first chapter to Shea on this site for comment. Later, I thought that this principle could be exteneded somewhat. I investigated other writing sites on the web and found a couple that did the same sort of thing including my other site, youwriteon.com. Litopia Writers Colony also do something similar. It’s not new and I am not suggeting we emulate other sites, just the principle.
Sorry Harry I missed your last post, When I started writing mine yours was not on I agree Prologues can be a little wierd although I must admit my first book has an ‘epilogue’
I think on a site like this you need more than one chapter to really allow your intended audience to bond with your work. In my case, for my second completed novel I’m looking to put anywhere between 3 and 6 chapters up as I feel this will truly give readers the drive to want to read more of what I have to offer with this particular work. I have edited, drafted, re-drafted, edited, got some feedback, edited then actually re-edited again and applied copyright to the point where I’m absolutely happy and convinced that the book is at its peak and ready to go forth to the world now.
In the first instance I want readers to decide if the work warrants a much bigger audience by reviewing sample chapters and giving feedback. I would then look at approaching agents and publishers again or indeed welcome any approach from they themselves if they experience the work and feel they wish to discuss it further. Either way I’m happy with the finished work (2 years and 8 months! in the making) and will let the literary world decide. As ever there will always be the option to self publish but I really do hope someone sees the work and agrees that this needs a much bigger audience.
Do any of you agree that 6 chapters out of a 37 chapter book is giving away too much? Or like in Alan’s case he has put up his entire work with the option to buy from CN, is this giving too much? I know Alan’s motive is very similar to my own so sales via CN are probably not a priority, more the feedback that can be sought, however have many actually bought the book on the weight of the free sample Alan? It would be interesting to know.
Speaking from my own experience, I have been asked if the book is available to buy from reviwers who have read my opening chapters. Not in great numbers. I must agree, but if only one reviewer shows an interest the possibilty exists for others to do the same. Any avenue that results in the purchase of our completed and published books should be investigated and used as much as possible. This sort of system is self generating although the time period may be not as fast as we would wish. As far the ‘taster’ system goes, I would like reviewers to read my ‘tasters’ and give me advice and help, before I decide to publish myself.
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