Categories
IWSG

#IWSG Feb. 2023- Cover Design Control

Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click here to learn more or sign up.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click through to make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Any amount I make goes towards my dream to host a book fair in Hampton Roads, VA. Please see my About page for more details. Thank you for your support.

Optional Monthly Question: If you are an Indie author, do you make your own covers or purchase them? If you publish trad, how much input do you have about what goes on your cover?

I’ve designed all my book covers since going exclusively indie, outside of anthology covers I’ve contributed to. I like the control and the creative challenge. I also like polling readers throughout the process to see what does and doesn’t work, but sometimes I just do what I want anyway. That’s the beauty of self-publishing. Still, if I plan to actually make money with a publication, I do put effort into finding out what’s going to work for the genre and get reader feedback before letting my ego take over.

****

IWSG BOOK CLUB ON GOODREADS

#iwsgbookclub

Member Spotlight

Summer of L.U.C.K.- Goodreads, Amazon, Bookshop

Craft Book

Nail Your Novel- Goodreads, Amazon, Bookshop

We have some changes coming to the book club. More details will be provided in March, but here’s a sneak peek.

In January 2023, I completed 2 books, but my goal was three. I have a short book I plan to read to hopefully fit in with my February reads. 

2023 Reading Challenge

2023 Reading Challenge
Toi has
read 2 books toward
her goal of
36 books.
hide

Below you’ll find my star ratings and review tags for each title I completed in the indicated month. You can also click the images to see the thorough reviews.
4-stars, no review posted yet. Amazon
5-stars, no review posted yet. Amazon | Bookshop

Now, on to the personal updates.

I created a BuzzFeed quiz and would love for you to check it out.

What Kind of Whodunit Can You Handle?

I’ve been busy in a lot of ways, but the most challenging at the moment has been as a developmental editor to an aspiring writer. The great thing about this is that the writer has some natural talent. I’m just there to guide and hone. I’ve found that I’m better at helping people develop their stories than I am at writing my own, but I still love to write, and I’ve been able to do a little of that lately.

****

Do book covers really matter to you?
Are you excited about some changes with the book club?
It may take some time, but I promise, I will eventually stop by your blog.
My response time has gotten slower but I’m still making my rounds.

****

After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Jacqui Murray, 
Ronel Janse van Vuuren, 
Pat Garcia, and
Gwen Gardner!

****

Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #28).

Thank you for making it this far down the virtual page. Kudos to you! I’d love to know what you thought of this post in the comments below. Stay safe and be blessed.

Categories
About Toi

Amazon changed my titles. Apparently #readers are easily confused. Let’s help #dumbreaders

compareSo apparently the books above, which have been available for sale for three plus years, are confusing to potential readers. Amazon is so concerned that readers might not be able to figure out the difference between the fiction books and the non-fiction companion guides that they are making me change the titles and covers (ebook only, apparently they don’t care about the paperbacks). Seriously.

40blog

I will say that I liked some of their listing requests since they will help me better categorize these companions, but beyond that, they are taking this too far. Let’s just ignore the fact that each of my companion guides are titled after the blogs they were originally written as and say that the titles are catchy and fun, while the changes are not.

battleblog

I don’t know if I’m more annoyed at Amazon for thinking people are dumb or if I’m pissed at the fact that people might actually be this dumb. And, if I’m offending someone at this point, I really don’t care (well, I do a little). I think this is ridiculous.

40questAccording to Amazon, I can’t list my name on the book because it might confuse people. WHAT?

According to Amazon, I can’t call it a companion, I have to call it a study guide because it might confuse people. WHAT?

According to Amazon, I can’t use my current title at all. I literally have to call it A Study Guide. WHAT? (I’m using it somehow.)

battlequestSo now my paperback and ebook covers won’t match unless I change it across the board. I don’t even know if I care enough to do so at this point.

Are they crazy or is it me?

Seriously, I want to know. Tell me.

Have I been confusing people for the past three+
years or has Amazon lost their minds?

#BeAFriend #TellTheTruth :/

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
IWSG WIP Updates

#IWSG September 2016: finding time to #write & WIP update 19

72b25-iwsg2bbadge

Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

Monthly Question: How do you find the time to write in your busy day?

****

If I’m really being honest with you and myself, the truth is, I don’t usually find time to write. I’ve tried many times to stick to a writing schedule, but being the worrier that I am, I found that it only stressed me out more. I do make a conscious effort to write regularly, but that could be anything from blogging, editing, formatting, creative writing, outlining, and more. Then I also find time to do social media and read for pleasure. It doesn’t help that I keep taking on new projects either. I guess, all in all, my main goal is to publish or release something each year; even if it’s not a full-length novel or the long unfinished third installment of my Eternal Curse Series.

But…
On the note of publishing something each year; I’m just a few steps away from releasing a quartet of educational children’s books. For those of you who read this post each month, you know I’ve been talking about how I wanted to write and illustrate these myself. Well, I did it. I just got them back from a few educators I trust and admire. I have a few minor things to change and spruce up and they’ll be out to the public just in time for my birthday in October. I’ve attached the covers I’ve mocked up as a sneak peek of what I’ve been able to do. I have another children’s book in the works, but I’m not illustrating that one myself. I really want a professional to do it justice. Know anybody I could try?

On a personal note, I’m back at my day job; back to teaching. It’s exciting and scary all at once. There are many lows to what I do, but the highs and kids make it all worth it. I will admit, though, it’s really going to be difficult to finish my series now that back to work, but I’m determined to at least finish a draft.

****

How do you find time to write?
Releasing any books soon?
Stuck trying to finish a long unfinished piece?
Know any good and affordable illustrators?
Think they’ll do a payment plan?

****

After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
C. Lee McKenzie,
Elizabeth Seckman,
Lori L MacLaughlin, and
Elsie Amata!

****

Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #72).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords