tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post3487143439025297388..comments2023-11-03T08:52:42.398-04:00Comments on The Blog of Stella and Audra Price: Apparently, we arent popularStella Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884248085185551744noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-60870786199915872412009-01-21T23:16:00.000-05:002009-01-21T23:16:00.000-05:00Let me share from the perspective of an avid reade...Let me share from the perspective of an avid reader (20+ books/week) and bookseller. I think authors are being pushed into spending so much time with blogs, social networks, Yahoo groups and other online time sinks that it's a wonder they have any time to write and that their readers have any time to actually read their books.<BR/><BR/>I used to read more but since I discovered MySpace and then the Yahoo Groups I don't have as much time to read. Since I'd rather read an author's fiction than their nonfiction, I'd rather see my favorites write one short weekly or monthly blog or newsletter and post the same one to all the different sites than waste time trying to come up with original material for each site.<BR/><BR/>Don't get me wrong, it's fun to communicate with authors on MySpace or Yahoo Groups and it builds a sense of connection with them, but if I had to choose between frequent contact with them and an extra published book, I'd take the book and that makes more money for them. Quality promotion is smart and should win over quantity for the sake of quantity. Worker smarter, not harder.<BR/><BR/>Yahoo groups are great and I've discovered many new authors though them. In fact I've purchased about 600 ebooks since I discovered them 18 months ago, from at least 200 new authors (Stella among them), directly as a result of the groups. But I’ve had to put some limits on how much time I devote to them and I think authors should too. I’d rather be reading.Scifibookcathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01449909007544812305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-5123963017820516722009-01-21T20:45:00.000-05:002009-01-21T20:45:00.000-05:00A publisher I spoke with said that while they don'...A publisher I spoke with said that while they don't mind reading samples of people's work, they would not publish anything that's already been published on a blog. They considered it already published.Susan Hanniford Crowleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15826255122071699621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-87336842049332773652009-01-20T20:46:00.000-05:002009-01-20T20:46:00.000-05:00Stella, I can soooooo relate to your POV. Every ed...Stella, I can soooooo relate to your POV. Every editor, publisher, or marketing genius lately is telling writers they must blog! Good for building a reader fan base, good for selling books, etc. I have a background in PR and haven't seen a single study that really proves any of that is true. But nonetheless, I succumbed and set up a blog a couple of months ago. And already, I feel like it is getting in the way of my "real" writing - books and newspaper and magazine articles. <BR/><BR/>I think blogs and social networking sites can all be great fun, but as sales tools, I think they have really questionable value when you consider the effort it takes to do a good blog and how much time it takes away from a writer's creative projects. I'm hoping in a few years, agent, editors and other publishing professionals will figure that out. <BR/><BR/>Maybe we should just post our books chapter by chapter on our blogs! I read a regency romance that someone wrote that way - every couple of weeks she posted the next chapter as her new blog entry. It was kind of a neat idea, and goes back to the days of Charles Dickens, when each chapter of one of his books was published weekly in the newspaper. Of course, he got paid for those chapters - I haven't found a way to get paid for blogging yet!Lynn Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02362404823340534355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-16429516912367725942009-01-20T19:09:00.000-05:002009-01-20T19:09:00.000-05:00This irks me really. It sounds like when I go to ...This irks me really. It sounds like when I go to get gigs at a club and the club owner asks me how many people I can bring. Honestly, if an agent wanted to know if I was already popular I would be turned off because I would feel they were either a primadonna or they were lazy looking to do the least amount of work possible. I like to think an agent likes my stories and is willing to go to bat for me to get me not only published, but to get me known. If they asked me this, I think I would withdraw my request.<BR/><BR/>I also hear far more people telling me they have more success on their own than with an agent. The world of self-publishing is beginning to look better and better and since I am an independent musical artist as well, I think I could do all right on my own with my book.Chaeyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715085085101740576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-82040768905053577212009-01-20T10:47:00.000-05:002009-01-20T10:47:00.000-05:00I love the few times you do blog and sometimes I h...I love the few times you do blog and sometimes I have to just delete the group letters I get because I get so many I can't read them all. Yours is a great change of pace.debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00794221344769954991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-50069950436609989812009-01-20T08:54:00.000-05:002009-01-20T08:54:00.000-05:00Wow Stella are you saying I now have to read autho...Wow Stella are you saying I now have to read authors blogs so they can be popular geeze? I honestly don't read blogs much nor do I subscribe or post to them unless it's work related. Why ? Honestly I don't have the time to follow them on a daily basis. I'm an in house editor and there is no way I'd look up an authors blog to see how many hits they had before accepting a manuscript that to me is laughable. Authors should be writing great stories for their readers not worrying about how popular their blog is. Keep doing what your doing your awesome!!!Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11477900692599223613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-87477085628267269792009-01-20T08:45:00.000-05:002009-01-20T08:45:00.000-05:00I don't read most of my favorite authors' blogs. I...I don't read most of my favorite authors' blogs. I read their books. I read authors' blogs because they're people I know and want to keep up with *waves to fellow Phaze authors, for example* or because the blog itself is a hoot, whether or not the author's writing a genre I'm all that fond of.<BR/><BR/>So what does that prove? That feeds don't prove all that much!TeresaNoelleRobertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08542291750786128688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-89158522868870513992009-01-19T23:18:00.000-05:002009-01-19T23:18:00.000-05:00I don't even know how to feed a blog or subscribe....I don't even know how to feed a blog or subscribe. Hell, I barely know how to use wordpress! lol.<BR/><BR/>I still am learning as I go, and it's a process.<BR/><BR/>I don't blog for my readers so much as I blog for myself and my friends who like to keep in touch and catch up on what latest bit of naughty fun I'm doing. Or not doing as the case may be. ::wah:: :P<BR/><BR/>I would hope an agent would look at more than a blogs popularity when making a business decision, though.<BR/><BR/>If I can figure out how to do those feed thingies, I'd be honored to subscribe to your blog, sugar.<BR/><BR/>Hmm, I know there has gotta be a button I am supposed to push. <BR/><BR/>::oops:: That was apparently not it. drats.<BR/><BR/>C.C.<BR/>::technically-challenged since 1980::Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05331887972977291676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-51877102022011573672009-01-19T22:18:00.000-05:002009-01-19T22:18:00.000-05:00Blow off this agent. If what he said was true, the...Blow off this agent. If what he said was true, then where was my book deal when three years ago I had a political blog that averaged just under 1k hits daily?<BR/><BR/>Keep doing what you're doing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-14759734756834904002009-01-19T19:48:00.000-05:002009-01-19T19:48:00.000-05:00Stella, I feel a lot like you do. If I blogged my ...Stella, I feel a lot like you do. If I blogged my everyday happenings, I'd bore people to tears. I blog when I have great news, I blog when I have something funny/amusing to share, I blog when I have publishing news or when I read something publishing related somewhere else that I feel is of note. I figure, if you're going to bother stopping by my blog, I may as well have something more useful to say than "I woke up this morning and put on red socks. The floor was cold." <BR/><BR/>Some people really have a way with their blogs and are so personable it's like talking to them on the phone. I tend to be much more focused on my 'fictional' writing- hence I don't focus too much 'blog voice'. Maybe that's my mistake. But honestly, I love the few people who DO visit my blog and I find that usually, if I get a new person, I'll check them out and return the favor. It's how I learn of new authors and how I network. I save the blogs on my Google Reader but I tend to lurk unless I have something important or useful to say. <BR/><BR/>I don't think that should determine whether or not I'm eligible for landing an agent. I think the book writing should speak louder than ANY blog. But then again, the industry is changing so who knows? <BR/><BR/>Great topic.Isabelle Santiagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09447992284262446608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-2099482547076363912009-01-19T19:41:00.000-05:002009-01-19T19:41:00.000-05:00orelukjp0 and Suzette:thanks so much. its not my a...orelukjp0 and Suzette:<BR/><BR/>thanks so much. its not my agent, hell we are still looking for one, but if this is the kinda craziness we are going to encounter out there.. Im seriously lacking.Stella Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02884248085185551744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-91067759957320174462009-01-19T19:21:00.000-05:002009-01-19T19:21:00.000-05:00About Blogging:I was at a sf/f con this weekend, a...About Blogging:<BR/><BR/>I was at a sf/f con this weekend, and a small press publisher said that she looks to see that the author has a web presence. This was on a panel about publicizing your book. It was also suggested by another panelist to post the same comments or article to your blog, Facebook, and Live Journal, because not everyone goes to all your web places. The point being is the the author goes into the publishing world as a professional that is web literate.Susan Hanniford Crowleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15826255122071699621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-27741477443057047602009-01-19T19:16:00.000-05:002009-01-19T19:16:00.000-05:00I'm trying to blog, but I'm still figuring out how...I'm trying to blog, but I'm still figuring out how to juggle writing w/ the rest of life (kid, hubby, puppy, etc.). <BR/>I say good luck! Oh yes, and I need to take the time and figure out all the nifty tools and gadgets of this whole blog thing- like subscribing!Sarah Kadeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15362974819513722709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-15073985060873874582009-01-19T19:06:00.000-05:002009-01-19T19:06:00.000-05:00As I reader I just save the blogs I like on my fav...As I reader I just save the blogs I like on my faves and check in to see if anything new is written. I dont always comment and I dont always go for the contest because unfortunately for some, you have to buy the book to know the answer(to something in the book) and I am in a financial crunch like everyone else. Meaning, I dont always buy books. You do a great job in contest and I feel kinda bad that you dont get as many responses as you would like. <BR/>I personally think its unfair, this popularity thing. I love your work and if you were blogging everywhere I would wonder when the hell you have time to actually write a book. Plus, Ive met you and know you are always doing promos and doing your best to get your work out there. <BR/><BR/>If it helps any I will subscribe to your blog because I actually am a fan of your work and I would like to say I did a littel to help the Price Sisters get their name out there.<BR/><BR/>You ladies just keep writing!Suzettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08680458923742830763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-22933179871811356922009-01-19T18:50:00.000-05:002009-01-19T18:50:00.000-05:00Hi Stella,Once again, you are letting your agent a...Hi Stella,<BR/><BR/>Once again, you are letting your agent and publisher sell you short. You don't have to be popular. You just have to be good.<BR/><BR/>I don't subscribe to RSS feeds. I only look at Blogs when I get an email from an author or yahoo group that has a blurb about a blog subject that I would like to read about or comment on. I get around 60 emails a day from authors or group digests. As you know, I talk to whomever I like and don't just talk to "popular people" (although I have found authors to be the nicest people there are).<BR/><BR/>It might help with popularity to have a group or use your blog and toss out a small comment every one or two weeks but it's more important to work on your stories and write well than chat about nothing everyday.<BR/><BR/>You have a good following, other authors like you and your works. Don't let your agent get you down. If you want a following, send out a mass email to all your subscribers and we can forward it to others. If all your agent wants is sheer numbers, it can be done but it really means nothing. You are a very good author and should not let them get to you.orelukjp0https://www.blogger.com/profile/17088725937016723303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-48162811914458262602009-01-19T18:40:00.000-05:002009-01-19T18:40:00.000-05:00I'd sooner invest my time writing than blogging an...I'd sooner invest my time writing than blogging and hunting down blog subscibers. <BR/><BR/>I know my website takes enough hits that it suprised the hell out of the web dude, and I have had several people email me because I'm not on any of the standard blog servers and apparently it is difficult to subscribe to me. (guess I'm SOL with whoever this agent is)<BR/><BR/>Much as I want an agent, I wouldn't want one who 'accepted me' based on my merit as a blogger. As mentioned first, if I devoted that much energy to blogging, where would my writing time go?lainey bancrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05198092987859920805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-41331108958936712612009-01-19T17:37:00.000-05:002009-01-19T17:37:00.000-05:00Michelle:It was at her annual RWA chapter meeting....Michelle:<BR/><BR/>It was at her annual RWA chapter meeting. this Agent threw everyone into chaos because they said that it was a deciding factor, and my friend was one of three people in a chapter of about 20 that DID in fact blog. the rest are techno-illiterate...<BR/><BR/>So its insane that she would even suggest it....Stella Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02884248085185551744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-65577055600938309362009-01-19T17:17:00.000-05:002009-01-19T17:17:00.000-05:00The agent's viewpoint is skewed. I read a lot of a...The agent's viewpoint is skewed. I read a lot of authors, but don't often visit their sites. There are too many! Likewise, the sites that I DO visit often, I'm not subscribed to. Only recently did I subscribe to 2 blogs; but I visit more, and purchase books for more.<BR/><BR/>That is very strange advice from an agent. An author's readership isn't judged ONLY by the size of their blog subscribers; it's a good indication of the size of their readership, but it tells nothing about the percentage of people who don't go online or who don't subscribe.<BR/><BR/>On the flip side: there are some agents who don't blog. At all. Now does that mean they have no clients? Obviously not. Some agents with extensive client lists don't bother blogging online; it's a personal choice and has no reflection on their talent or success in that field.<BR/><BR/>I'm curious though: did your friend query this agent and receive this "advice" as a result? Or did this assertion come out of the blue?<BR/><BR/> <B><A HREF="http://www.michellelaurenbooks.com" REL="nofollow"> Michelle Lauren </A>| <A HREF="http://romantictimes.com/news_amtitle3.php" REL="nofollow"> View my American Title Entry "HOW TO TAME A HARPY" </A></B>Michelle Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18085418536742452960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-65765956158805068032009-01-19T16:33:00.000-05:002009-01-19T16:33:00.000-05:00What a great topic, Stella.I have to say, I don't ...What a great topic, Stella.<BR/>I have to say, I don't blog on a regular basis. I'm not going to babble for the sake of filling up a page--boring! As for subscribing to blogs: I usually don't. Too much trouble to remember log-in names and passwords. If I'm interested, I'll bookmark the page to look at it again.<BR/><BR/>Take Care,<BR/><BR/>KarenKaren Michelle Nutthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04083893569523248900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-71638729455509950652009-01-19T16:04:00.000-05:002009-01-19T16:04:00.000-05:00Love your blog. I think the subscriptions will co...Love your blog. I think the subscriptions will come in time.Susan Hanniford Crowleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15826255122071699621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-86462059955935310602009-01-19T15:22:00.000-05:002009-01-19T15:22:00.000-05:00Stella, I'm so sorry, we could be sisters. Okay, m...Stella, I'm so sorry, we could be sisters. Okay, mom would be spinning now, but I so identify with what you said. I'm older than you and been married for... uh, probably longer than you've been around, but my life is so dull watching grass grow would be an exciting change. <BR/><BR/>My kids are grown and gone, I see my grandchildren about three times a year, and wimp about that constantly, but I don't put it on my blog. Why would I? I've had publishing issues over the years, editors who make me crazy, others I adore...but will a reader really care? Not likely. I love my husband, have for yonks, but our lives aren't exciting. He's a computer nut too, and he's often out taking pictures, cause he's a photo nerd too. We see each other, we talk, we do couple things...you know, paint walls, wash the car, weed the garden... okay I do the weeding, but you get the drift. It's just dull stuff that everyone does. <BR/><BR/>Oh, and conventions, there's no way I can go to them. I'm not in the US, so the little I make writing just wouldn't cover it. Stick a $500-$1000 plane ticket onto the rest of what a convention costs and you get that picture. It's just not in the cards for me. <BR/><BR/>I'm unpopular... sigh. Don't blog enough. Don't get out at all. Crap, I may as well hang up my comp. <BR/><BR/>Okay, that's not going to happen either. <BR/><BR/>Hugs<BR/>JudeJude Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14067166768734750026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-47783935572623205142009-01-19T14:49:00.000-05:002009-01-19T14:49:00.000-05:00I don’t even subscribe to the blogs of my favorite...I don’t even subscribe to the blogs of my favorite authors because I don’t have time to read them. I basically drop by a few Diva blogs every day to see what’s going on and many of the blogs I like to read are by people who are not yet published or who write in genres I don’t often read. <BR/><BR/>I’m shocked that an agent would make a claim that blogging makes even the slightest bit of difference. It also surprises me that agents who are supposed to be inundated with submissions in addition to hoofing it for their clients would have time to read a multitude of blogs and make a decision about who to represent based on how many subscribers someone has. I’m sure JK Rowling did not have a blog when her first Harry Potter book was contracted [does she even have one now? I suppose she doesn’t need one, does she?]– so a decent agent would certainly not place importance on such an arbitrary factor. Sales, I can understand, but even so – someone published with small press may not have phenomenal sales but may still write phenomenal books. Isn’t it ‘supposed’ to be all about the writing anyway?<BR/><BR/>I’d rather sign with an agent who’s impressed by good writing, not by how many blog subscribers I have.Two Voices Publishing https://www.blogger.com/profile/13509265828424193303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-78707929596159562712009-01-19T14:44:00.000-05:002009-01-19T14:44:00.000-05:00Nell:Thanks for stopping by when you do, and I thi...Nell:<BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by when you do, and I think you have it right, they should look for an online presence, but really blogging isn't any more important then a website, and so few authors actually have webbys that are presentable. It boggles the mind!Stella Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02884248085185551744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-46122245477055459252009-01-19T14:43:00.000-05:002009-01-19T14:43:00.000-05:00I barely find time to write my own stories and rea...I barely find time to write my own stories and read books by authors I love as it is. I don't subscribe to any blogs and can't imagine taking the time to read all the blogs of all the writers I like on a regular basis. That doesn't mean I don't buy those writers' books as soon as they hit the shelves. The average person only has so many hours to spend online...and I already spend too many online without blogs. I'm currently trying to figure out how I'm going to keep up with my own blog posts when I launch my website. Honestly, I wouldn't think that many agents have tons of time to check blog counts and subscribers anyway (I am no expert on this though and may be totally wrong). It might just be time for your friend to move on to the agent on her list and not worry about it.Estelle Hartehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04414648250536094709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21404249.post-87859276611605270492009-01-19T14:41:00.000-05:002009-01-19T14:41:00.000-05:00I can see an agent looking for an internet presenc...I can see an agent looking for an internet presence because that's marketing but rss subs? really. I visit friends blogs and some like yours if the topic sounds interesting and I've hit my word target for the day. I get a good number of visitors to my blog each day some comment, lots don't but that's cool. My agent and my publisher are happy with my sales.Nell Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16346808072962615721noreply@blogger.com