Stories Unplanned #IWSG

Hola, insecure writers! I'm skating in here at the last minute, so let's get right to that Optional Question: 

Have you ever written a piece that became a form, or even a genre, you hadn't planned on writing in? 

Up until now, no, not really. I did have a short story idea grow into a novella, and an idea for one book grew into a series of three, but I'm not sure if those really count. I'm letting both the form and genre find me on my current story idea, though. Right now, I'm thinking it'll be outside my typical chick litty romance genre...but somehow you know elements of my comfort zone are going to find ways to work themselves in. It could be a whole novel or just a novella. Maybe even a short story...or a series of short stories??

In other writerly news, my latest chick litty novel, MOLLY UNPLANNED, released yesterday! 


I've found that a strategy of pricing at 99 cents for release and then advertising in a bunch of discount book e-newsletters is a pretty stress-free way of doing it, and I'm happy with the results. Molly's running in a few more newsletters today and tomorrow, so maybe I'll get even happier. 

Reviews are tough to get at low budget and low effort, but through an offer to my email subscribers and a couple of giveaways at LibraryThing, I got the book into 38 readers' hands pre-release, and I (barely) beat my goal of having 5 reviews posted at Amazon on release day. 

But the BEST news? So far readers are enjoying the story! The one thing that hasn't changed since I first started writing and posting my stories at fanfiction sites is that I still get giddy every time someone takes the time to write a review and tell me they enjoyed my story. ðŸ˜Š

How are you all doing this month?

This post is part of the:


Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds. This wonderful group for writers was begun by the one and clonely Alex J. Cavannaugh.

This month's awesome co-hosts are:

Comments

Alex J. Cavanaugh said…
Congratulations on the release! Glad the advertising and low price are working.
8/05/2020 9:35 AM
Madeline Mora-Summonte said…
Congratulations! And how great that readers are loving it. Yeh, you! :)
8/05/2020 9:39 AM
Jennifer Lane said…
A very solid release day performance for an excellent read!I want to pick your brain more about Library Thing--I haven't been active there at all.
8/05/2020 10:41 AM
Carrie-Anne said…
Congratulations on your new release! Having good reviews so soon is a wonderful achievement.
8/05/2020 11:32 AM
L. Diane Wolfe said…
Congrats! I get giddy, too. Just as much when readers love my authors' books, too.
8/05/2020 12:33 PM
Olga Godim said…
Congratulations on your release. A good review is such a treat!
8/05/2020 5:49 PM
Pat Garcia said…
Hi,
Congratulations on your release. I do love to sit read a good story that's not so heavy about love and have purchased your book. It looks like something I will enjoy.
All the best on your launch.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
8/06/2020 4:42 AM
Natalie Aguirre said…
Congrats on your book's release. And awesome that you figured out a way to market it that works for you.
8/06/2020 5:28 AM
Susan Gourley/Kelley said…
Congrats on the new release. And thanks for sharing your marketing plan and the results. I always take note of what others do.
8/06/2020 5:49 PM
Michael Di Gesu said…
Hi Nicki,

Congrats on the release! So happy it is going well so far. Seems like all is going well in the 'burbs.' Galena is lovely as ever, but with the increase in tourists, the virus is escalating an alarming pace for here. Sold the condo in Orlando and sadly I have to go back to pack and move everything out. This is the LAST place I want to be with COVID surging in every crevice of Florida. I can't wait to come home and self quarantine for a stressful two weeks while praying I have survived.... Please keep me in your prayers and good thoughts. I would LOVE to see you sometime this fall...
8/07/2020 6:13 PM
Mandy said…
Congrats on the release! SO glad you get such joy from reviews!

With Love,
Mandy
9/03/2020 9:42 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In which I get rated R...eh, maybe NC 17...

Image
Before I start talking dirty, guess what happened---I hit 200 followers!   My 200th follower is Tony VanHelsing (who I'm going to assume is a descendent of you-know-who, and if anyone knows differently do not tell me).  To celebrate this milestone, how about I put Three Daves on sale for only 99 cents in Nook , eBook, ePub , and even Kindle until September 30th. ;) For today's feature post, visit Irish beauty Carol Oates .  This talented author and I discuss Adult versus Young Adult and where the line gets crossed.
Read more

Lexa & Julie's Dream Destinations Blog Hop & #Giveaway

Image
We're celebrating the release of Julie Flanders' The Ghosts of Aquinnah   and Lexa Cain's  Soul Cutter   with a Dreams Destinations blog hop. Aaand Lexa & Julie are hosting a great GIVEAWAY.  Visit either Lexa's blog or Julie's blog to enter and also to find the Linky list so you can travel to more dream destinations. It was unbelievably difficult for me to settle on just one place. I decided to make it somewhere I'd never been before...and then I decided to stop over thinking and just pick a place already...and I landed at Piazza San Marco in Venezia, or as we call it for some reason, Venice. (Does anyone know why we don't all call it Venezia?) I would stroll the square, sidestepping pigeons and saying buongiorno to people whose eyes met mine, not worrying about my sorry accent. I would have tickets for that evening's opera in my pocket and a caffe-flavored gelato in my hand. I'd be wearing a darling scarf I'd just purchased, arr...
Read more

Top 10 Movie Countdown Blogfest

Image
Yay, today's the day for another of Alex. J. Cavannaugh's famous blogfests. I'd like to thank him not only for hosting, but for keeping it simple & fun---coming up with this list and looking at posters of my most favorite movies turned out to be quite a cathartic exercise. I hope you found it to be the same (assuming you were in need of catharting). Thanks, Big Al. These are in the order of my affection for them: 1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl 2. Raiders of the Lost Ark 3. Star Wars: A New Hope 4. When Harry Met Sally 5. Return of the Jedi 6. The Empire Strikes Back 7. Toy Story 8. Mystic Pizza 9. Goodfellas 10. Jaws  I'm allowing myself two more because I think it was really good of me to count the original Star Wars Trilogy as three separate entries: 11. Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring 12. Pirates of the Caribbean: D...
Read more