Would you buy a novel from me?

Agatha Christie · #1 03-11-2017, 04:48 AM

Hi. not sure if this is the right place to post, but I am looking for feedback.
I have about 13 novels posted on my website, with covers and full synopses, but no-one ever buys one, though people do visit my website. Would really appreciate it if you could go onto my website and tell me why YOU wouldn't buy a novel!
I'm not looking for general critique of my website, nor generalisations on why others might not buy. I would like to know why you wouldn't buy a book. What is it that's stopping you? I'm sure there will be many varied reasons.
my website is www.novelsforyou.wix.com/novelsforyou

thanks for your time.

Nick Pierce · #2 03-11-2017, 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by Agatha Christie

Hi. not sure if this is the right place to post, but I am looking for feedback.
I have about 13 novels posted on my website, with covers and full synopses, but no-one ever buys one, though people do visit my website. Would really appreciate it if you could go onto my website and tell me why YOU wouldn't buy a novel!
I'm not looking for general critique of my website, nor generalisations on why others might not buy. I would like to know why you wouldn't buy a book. What is it that's stopping you? I'm sure there will be many varied reasons.
my website is www.novelsforyou.wix.com/novelsforyou

thanks for your time.

Hello.

Are you aware that Wikipedia lists you as having died in 1976?

Ooops. Now I see that is a screen name for WB.

Went to your site.
Heavy author synopses of books.
Now working through process of access to actual text.

Okay.
Read three pages of Essence of Evil.
Scanned from there to bottom.

Moves too slow for my Yank-me-now upbringing.

Not any shortcoming on your part, of course.

Now I gotta go see what our President has been up to since yesterday.
Kinda thinkin' he may step off from his personal vendettas and go international with his focus.

Agatha Christie · #3 03-11-2017, 05:24 AM

you haven't checked my website. You'll see I am alive and kicking

Originally Posted by Nick Pierce

Hello.

Are you aware that Wikipedia lists you as having died in 1976?

Nick Pierce · #4 03-11-2017, 05:52 AM

Originally Posted by Agatha Christie

you haven't checked my website. You'll see I am alive and kicking

You may have posted this while I was going through the process chronicled in my original post.

I do note the refreshing vibrant brevity of your response.

Write on.

Agatha Christie · #5 03-11-2017, 05:58 AM

What do you mean by 'heavy' author synopses of books????

All my novels start slowly. Action builds.

Originally Posted by Nick Pierce

Hello.

Are you aware that Wikipedia lists you as having died in 1976?

Ooops. Now I see that is a screen name for WB.

Went to your site.
Heavy author synopses of books.
Now working through process of access to actual text.

Okay.
Read three pages of Essence of Evil.
Scanned from there to bottom.

Moves too slow for my Yank-me-now upbringing.

Not any shortcoming on your part, of course.

Now I gotta go see what our President has been up to since yesterday.
Kinda thinkin' he may step off from his personal vendettas and go international with his focus.

Nick Pierce · #6 03-11-2017, 12:42 PM

[QUOTE=Agatha Christie

All my novels start slowly. Action builds.

[/QUOTE]

Noting the current non success of this formula are you considering starting one off with a bang (to beg a metaphor)?

Nick Pierce · #7 03-11-2017, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by Agatha Christie

What do you mean by 'heavy' author synopses of books?

Gonna need brianpatrick to help me with this as the meaning is not self evident by reading a synopsis.

Have you considered having another person read a book and asking them for a synopsis?

Agatha Christie · #8 03-11-2017, 12:58 PM

Problem is until I get feedback from a lot more folk, I'm not sure if that is the problem. I do give full synopses so people know what the book's about. Did you look at the synopses first and then choose one??? Which one did you choose

Originally Posted by Nick Pierce

Noting the current non success of this formula are you considering starting one off with a bang (to beg a metaphor)?

Agatha Christie · #9 03-11-2017, 01:02 PM

I always get four or five people to read my novel before I publish but don't get them to read the synopsis.

Originally Posted by Nick Pierce

Gonna need brianpatrick to help me with this as the meaning is not self evident by reading a synopsis.

Have you considered having another person read a book and asking them for a synopsis?

Nick Pierce · #10 03-11-2017, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by Agatha Christie

Problem is until I get feedback from a lot more folk, I'm not sure if that is the problem. I do give full synopses so people know what the book's about. Did you look at the synopses first and then choose one??? Which one did you choose

I started at the top with the synopses thing, after a few I went lookin' for a page text posting.

Found one at the other place your site directs readers to.

Read some of the top one.

Essence of Evil.

Is this a non response to the question of using another formula?

Nick Pierce · #11 03-11-2017, 01:12 PM

So I've just read Frustrations of an EMailer.

You do show some spark there.

Do you see that your work is all so perfectly presentable that one could read it aloud anywhere without causing a stir?

Nothing wrong with that, mind you.

I'm simply more likely to attempt deciphering graffiti on a passing train than peruse a phone book (yeah, like you and I aren't the only ones who remember those) for character names.

Nick Pierce · #12 03-11-2017, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by Agatha Christie

I always get four or five people to read my novel before I publish but don't get them to read the synopsis.

How about having one of them write the synopsis?

brianpatrick · #13 03-11-2017, 02:06 PM

So, I went to your link and here's what I found. I mean, for me personally. I'm not going to pull punches with you, because I think you want honest opinions.

First: you need an artist to design better covers. I know, I know, but it really matters. Somebody who is an artist specializing in this kind of work would help you immensely.

Second: the synopses you wrote for your novels are not engaging enough. They meander, and give too many irrelevant details.

I didn't get anywhere I could actually read some of one of your novels, but I don't think that really matters. You want buyers. If people then return to buy another, you know you're a good writer.

Looking at the topics, you're not my cup of tea, but these topics are in line with a large audience commercially. People love this stuff. You just need better marketing.

brianpatrick · #14 03-11-2017, 02:09 PM

I'd suggest having someone, with a background in modern marketing, rewrite your synopses.

brianpatrick · #15 03-11-2017, 02:12 PM

Myers, and Mike C. I think both have experience with this. I haven't seen either around lately, though.

brianpatrick · #16 03-11-2017, 02:20 PM

HotchPotch is the best cover you have, but it still needs work. Also, I don't see a book for sale with that title.

brianpatrick · #17 03-11-2017, 02:21 PM

Hope any of this helps.

brianpatrick · #18 03-11-2017, 02:35 PM

Also... when googling you, I find you sell paperbacks. I didn't see any digital downloads anywhere. Hmm... there are those purists who love the smell of fresh paper, and the crack of a new spine, but most of us read our books on our iPads, or iPhones these days. Digital downloads are important. I don't think you should give up real books. Just add the digital.

brianpatrick · #19 03-11-2017, 02:38 PM

Okay... I'm done now.

Nick Pierce · #20 03-11-2017, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by brianpatrick

Okay... I'm done now.

Phew.

And then some.

brianpatrick · #21 03-11-2017, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Nick Pierce

Phew.

And then some.

Hey Tim...?

Yeah brian? What chu need?

I think Nick thinks I'm wordy... or maybe he thinks: verbose. Not sure.

Well, brian, I don't think you need to worry 'bout what Nick thinks. He talk ta hisself anyway. Prolly got hot sauce in his bag, tho.

OMG Tim! I can't believe you just said that!

What? If it good enough for Beyoncé, it damn sure good enough 'round heya.

Yeah Tim... I just think you can be more tactful. A little more, anyway.

Nick Pierce · #22 03-11-2017, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by brianpatrick

Hey Tim...?

Yeah brian? What chu need?

I think Nick thinks I'm wordy... or maybe he thinks: verbose. Not sure.

Well, brian, I don't think you need to worry 'bout what Nick thinks. He talk ta hisself anyway. Prolly got hot sauce in his bag.

OMG Tim! I can't believe you just said that!

What? If it good enough for Beyoncé, it damn sure good enough 'round heya.

Yeah Tim... I just think you can be more tactful. A little more, anyway.

Write me a synopsis when I get my scribbles together and we will let the public judge your blurb ability.

Nick Pierce · #23 03-11-2017, 03:07 PM

Beyonce is still alive?

What is she... like 40?

brianpatrick · #24 03-11-2017, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by Nick Pierce

Beyonce is still alive?

What is she... like 40?

Better not pull up on that mama... you see lemonade? Yeah... much as I'm not a fan, she got chops. Or her people do.

brianpatrick · #25 03-11-2017, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by Nick Pierce

Write me a synopsis when I get my scribbles together and we will let the public judge your blurb ability.

I'll do it. Although, I'm not a professional. I just play one on the Internet.😀

brianpatrick · #26 03-12-2017, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Nick Pierce

Write me a synopsis when I get my scribbles together and we will let the public judge your blurb ability.

Oh, and Julie?

This is a lesson in how you get another writer to pen you a synopsis.

See what he did here?

PickleBottom · #27 03-13-2017, 01:55 AM

Reading is an investment of (money), time and concentration, if I feel I will not get anything out of a book I do not invest the money, time or concentration.

Think about it, buying a book does not automatically or passively transfer the knowledge - further investment by the reader is required.

One thing I have learnt with books is, if the author is only writing to make money (for example, a well known author writes their next book just in time for Christmas, a retired sports star "writes" their biography just before Father's Day, a book appears shortly after and on the latest technological/nvestmrnt/business fad) the book is crap. With the added punishment, of not only spending hard-won cash, but also having the soul-destroying experience of reading the book, it is a lesson learnt very quickly.

Thus, when a person asks, why aren't people buying my books? Alarm bells ring, as opposed to, why aren't people reading my books?

Nick Pierce · #28 03-13-2017, 02:40 AM

[QUOTE=PickleBottom

Thus, when a person asks, why aren't people buying my books? Alarm bells ring, as opposed to, why aren't people reading my books?

[/QUOTE]

So the ringing I've been hearing is not a symptom of adult onset tinnitus?

Nick Pierce · #29 03-13-2017, 02:42 AM

Originally Posted by Nick Pierce

So the ringing I've been hearing is not a symptom of adult onset tinnitus?

I'm going to hell, aren't I, Mr. Pierce?

I'm sorry, Nick.
At this stage I don't see anything that can be done to save you.

PickleBottom · #30 03-13-2017, 03:20 AM

Originally Posted by Nick Pierce

So the ringing I've been hearing is not a symptom of adult onset tinnitus?

Well I'm not a doctor but...