For #Writers: I don't usually rant...but I am doing so today! Insecure Writers Support Group

Insecure Writers' Support Group

MONETIZING is the word of the day. Everywhere I look, everyone I see, everyone I talk to is utilizing that concept. Is it causing our brains to tune out the commercialization tactics bombarding our lives at every moment? No. I feel like we'll be speaking in commercials soon, if we aren't already.

I remember a time when television was free but for the price of watching the commercials. Now I pay for cable and have to watch the commercials, any way, and don't get me started on the internet. Every page contains commercial material and after I stop the pop ups, I find advertising embedded in the web page.
This blog is no different. Well, somewhat... I 'm not taking money for any of this advertising. It's all about my books.

I want to reach a bigger audience because I believe what I write is entertainment at a reasonable price. If I charge less than $2.99 for a book on Amazon Kindle I only make 30% if I charge $2.99 I make 70% It isn't price fixing but it sure is price controlling. Even when you consider authors are out there giving away their work as a form of advertising, with so many free books available, who's willing to pay for a first time author experience? I think about how hard it is to hook a reader these days and wonder what it takes to develop a loyal reader base. Any ideas?

There was a time when workers banded together to demand better working conditions, hours, and wages...but today unions have a bad name. Professional organizations should have some answers. Upper echelon authors' sales have to be impacted by the ridiculous numbers of books being pumped into the market daily and yet authors, like lemmings, keep jumping off the cliff. Taking that leap of faith...this book could be the one!

 How do you decide what professional organizations are right for you? The first group I joined wasn't what I needed but they were great for making me think I was taking myself seriously...the beginning of my quest.

I'm a member of (Tampa Area Romance Authors) the local chapter of  RWA (Romance Writers of America), and I'm a PAN member (Professional Authors' Network) which means I've met some criteria to prove I'm attempting to work in this industry as a career. Lately, I find myself wondering about membership fees and whether they're worth what I'm paying for. The learning curve from 0-60 was worth it, but I believe the sustainability isn't meeting expectations for all their members.  And although these organizations are groups of authors who are highly supportive of one another, an unusual situation in a highly competitive industry, they can't keep up with the needs of an ever changing industry.

And another truth is...we aren't all competing for the money...but we are competing for exposure.

The dollar spent by a reader on an inspirational book isn't coming out of the erotic writer's pocket. I even recall when there weren't enough books being release in the genre I liked. As readers we have more choices (in some cases perhaps way too many) than we've ever had before. The new books pile up on top of the older books. The new books are buried beneath the next ones that release. At the release rate, it's only the most reviewed, highest rated, best selling books that you see. But if you don't have reviews before you put the book out...how does that work?

The industry is full of reviews of a questionable nature. How do you decide whether a FREE book is worth downloading? OMG we're in trouble when we've gotten to the point where we can't be bothered. It's free and we get angry when we discover it's not up to standards with what we're used to reading.

Who can you trust for an accurate suggestion for a Blog, for a book, for advice, for an organization?