About a month ago, Amazon announced that they would be paying indie authors by the number of pages read instead of just splitting the pot evenly among all authors as they had always done. For example, an author who had written a 20 page erotic novella was getting paid the same as an author who had written a 300 page novel. As somebody who tends to be a little wordy, I was pleased with the change. Many are not. I’ve been reading the Kindle community forum pages as entertainment. There is so much anger, frustration, and drama—-one indie author even brought up the words “class action lawsuit.” I drink my iced coffee and page through the forum posts like I’m reading a soap opera. People are pretty serious about their paychecks. Honestly, I would be upset, too, if I had just found out that my income was about to be cut significantly. However…..here’s my unsolicited advice. If you’re an indie author who is writing for a paycheck, you’re going to spend a lot of time pissed off. Amazon opened up an amazing world for authors who had never been able to break into the traditional world of publishing. I feel incredibly lucky that I found an outlet to share my work. The paycheck is gravy, pure and simple. I wrote long before Amazon started an indie author division and I’ll write until they pry the pen from my cold, dead hands. I hope when I pass through those pearly gates, St. Peter points me towards the cloud that’s named “For Writers Only.” Dibs on the seat next to Charlotte Bronte. If you’re writing for the money, you’re writing for the wrong reason. Write because you have to. Write because you would lose your mind if you didn’t. Write because you breathe.
Tag Archives: writer’s tips
Flawed characters
There’s a saying: Perfect boys only exist in books. Although certainly true, you’ll never find a perfect boy in one of my books… or a perfect girl for that matter. I like to write flawed characters. I prefer that my characters say the wrong thing or wear the wrong clothes or think the wrong thoughts. Doesn’t it feel so much more satisfying when you come to the end of a book and the flawed character has found happiness or love or peace? He or she has learned a lesson and through doing so, is so much more deserving of our affection. When I was a young girl, I loved reading romance novels with perfect men. Then I became older and began to date such very imperfect men. I even married an imperfect man. This works out really well, since I’m nowhere near perfect. Perfect is boring. Perfect is a fairy tale. Bring on the flaws.
The best reason to write…
When I want to read a novel, I write one–Benjamin Disraeli
How often have you read a book and wished that it would have ended differently? I am still scarred by the fact that Laurie ended up with Amy instead of Jo in Little Women. How many times have you pictured a character and then the author ruined it by describing him/her differently? No, he doesn’t have long blond hair that has to be tied back with a piece of leather–no!!! This is why I write. I get to create stories, settings, and characters that appeal to me. Even though I hope (sometimes even pray) that others will like my stories as much as I do, at the end of the day I wrote what I love. Sometimes, when I miss my characters, I pull the book out and re-read my favorite sections. Sure, I know how it’s all going to end but it’s fun to spend some time with old friends.
Editing your work
I hate editing. I love to write but editing is the lump of brussel sprouts on your plate that your mother makes you eat before you can have dessert. I hate brussel sprouts and I hate editing. I don’t like admitting to myself that a character or a sub-plot just isn’t going to work. Sometimes I have to “kill” a character with a promise that I will revive him or her in another story. In the end, though, editing makes the story stronger and more believable. For me, it is the necessary evil of writing; it is discipline and order that must find a balance with your creativity.
Sandy Huth 