To Authors in Draft Mode:
I am now following a number of projects in draft mode, and am being followed by a number of "draftees" in turn. So I thought I’d provide some unsolicited advice and make an unrequested suggestion. :-)
1. Draft mode is a good idea. It is a time to generate interest in your project and to refine it as much as possible. At some point, you will flip the switch from Draft Mode to Funding Mode, but before you do, consider this:
2. It is best if your book is complete or nearly complete. People prefer to spend money on a tangible thing, a done deal, like a finished book. If your story is not yet finished, their money is not going towards a tangible thing, but rather is an investment in a person, the author, and in a promise that a good book is coming.
3. Be willing to invest money in your own project. The number one most important thing to invest in, IMO, is on a professional-looking book cover. Get it done before you flip the Funding switch.
4. Spend your time in Draft Mode smartly. Read as many other projects as you can and take the time to leave a Review. Not a recommendation, but a Review. These are greatly appreciated by all authors. Your name will be seen by everyone visiting that project page from that point forward. You will earn a reputation as a supporter, and you will be rewarded when you do start Funding.
5. Finally, consider my unrequested suggestion: When you do start Funding, you will want pre-orders, reviews, recommendations, comments, and such. - While you are in draft mode, invest in my book, Mission 51. In return, when you do start funding, I will not only pre-order yours, but I will provide a review or recommendation. I will do it early in your funding campaign. I think that is a good investment/deal. If you are in draft mode and decide to take me up on this, just send me a DM when you do start funding.
Peace and love to all!
Ferd. :-)
Although I’ve become a poor blogger with no sense of schedule over the last year or two, I still have a blog which counts several hundred page-views even when I don’t post, every month. Much more when I do. Starting this coming monday (very much in honor of Draftshares which has so recently ended) I would like to invite Inkshares authors the chance to display themselves and their projects on my blog. Basically it would be an author profile and an introduction to their stories, with one or two images of their choosing.
Obviously, I don’t promise any specific results. It’s only a chance to spread the word of your project on another tiny piece of this infinite little internet of ours. If you are interested in taking part, message me here or post on this forum thread. I can’t say that everyone will be able to do this, since I’ll only be posting one profile per week, but I’ll do my best to spread the love!
If there is enough interest, I might even turn it into two posts a week; one for drafts, and one for projects already in the pre-order phase.
Please let me know if you have any thoughts or ideas about this!
If you want to check out the blog first: It’s Right Here