JANUARY #JoWriMoGo Total

So, not as big a month as December, but I do need to take into account that I had a week's holiday and other health issues. The main point is that I did get all my chapters of the month written and will start afresh with a new month tomorrow!

How was your writing January?

From Joey's Instagram

More things to do! The work of an #indieauthor is never done! #beingawriter #writing #writerlife #joeywrites #booktrailer #writer

A photo posted by Joey Paul (@joeybug) on Jan 28, 2016 at 5:31am PST

From Joey's Instagram

That moment when you get an idea for your next book! Just need to finish books 13 & 14 and then I'm all excited to start two new ones! #beingawriter #writing #writerlife #joeywrites #indieauthor #whyiwrite #writerlife #writersofinstagram

A photo posted by Joey Paul (@joeybug) on Jan 27, 2016 at 5:22am PST

From Joey's Instagram

Being an #indieauthor means contacting people yourself for promotion. A nice way to spend the morning when you've got Elementary to watch. #beingawriter #writing #writerlife #joeywrites

A photo posted by Joey Paul (@joeybug) on Jan 26, 2016 at 5:43am PST

From Joey's Instagram

Ah the muse we all need! #beingawriter #writing #indieauthor #writerlife #joeywrites #writerproblems

A photo posted by Joey Paul (@joeybug) on Jan 25, 2016 at 5:32am PST

From Joey's Instagram

A #writer must spend some time plotting! Done my page for the day but I still might write more! #beingawriter #writing #indieauthor #writerlife #joeywrites #writersofinstagram

A photo posted by Joey Paul (@joeybug) on Jan 25, 2016 at 5:15am PST

HAPPY 2016 GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

OPENS: Monday 25th January at MIDNIGHT GMT
ENDS: Monday 1st February at MIDNIGHT GMT

ENTER NOW AT THE LINK ABOVE!

How To Deal With Negative Reviews - The After Process

How To Deal With Negative Reviews

I know what you're thinking. Your work is so perfect and excellent that it won't get anything below four stars, three at the very least. Or you're thinking that the only people who leave reviews below three stars are trolls. I hate to break it to you, but you're wrong on both accounts. Now, this isn't me saying that your work isn't up to scratch, how could I know? I probably haven't read it. This is me saying that every writer, EVERY. SINGLE. WRITER. with published work has had bad reviews. Now, some of those reviewers are indeed trolls, some of them are bullies, but the most of them? They're just readers who didn't like your work. That's not a bad thing, it happens, you can't please everyone.

Now I know that one of the first reactions to being told someone doesn't like something, especially something as personal as a novel, is to ask why? However, the first rule regarding authors and reviews? DO NOT INTERACT. The reviews may seem to be there to show you how your work is received but that's actually a secondary thing. They are there for the reviewer to tell other readers what they did or didn't like about the story. If you're only happy to receive five star reviews, then you're in the wrong business. It's just not going to happen. Take a look at some of the big greats of our time. J. K. Rowling, she has bad reviews. So does Terry Pratchett, Harlan Coben, and any other author you could name. Why? Because you can't please everyone.

But, I hear you cry, other people may be put off by those bad reviews! I'm trying to make a living here! While it is true that people may look at the bad reviews and think, nope this isn't for me. It's also true that they may not. I don't know what attracts you to a book, but for me it's the synopsis. If you, the writer, can convince me, the reader, that this is a book I will enjoy in the synopsis, then I'll probably give it a go. I may glance at the highest rated review as well as the lowest one, but they are not deal breakers to me.

Also, here's something that I know a lot of authors will agree with - only five star reviews and nothing negative? It doesn't look right. I mean, yeah if you're only got a handful of reviews it's fine, but a hundred reviews and they're ALL five star? I'm not saying it doesn't happen, it does, but as I've said twice already - you can't please everyone, so either people aren't taking a chance on a book because the cover/synopsis/whatever doesn't catch them, or the people who don't like the book are just not leaving their reviews. It's not a bad thing, but to me, having a less than perfect score makes it feel more genuine. Your mileage may, of course, vary.

What about trolls though? Yes, they happen. Yes, they suck and yes, they do shake the trust in the review system. If someone has never read your book and is leaving fake bad reviews all over Goodreads or Amazon, then yeah that's harsh. But still, engaging just ends up making you look bad in the eyes of the oblivious reader. I know it's hard, but take a deep breath and move past it. Now, if they started to get personal, or cross over into cyber bullying territory, then you need to contact the site. NOT the troll, the site because they should have plans in place to deal with that kind of thing. However, a 1 star review that's just that, is not a troll or a bully. If they're telling people that they didn't enjoy the book for whatever reason, that's their right as a reader. Once again I say, you can't please everyone!

So yes, negative reviews happen and yes, they are disheartening, but don't engage. Rant to a friend, cry, eat chocolate and marshmallows, but do not, ever, ever, ever, engage with them. It doesn't help and it makes you look unprofessional. Keep your chin up and move past it however you can and accept that just because they didn't like your work, it doesn't mean that no one does.

Follow Joey on Facebook or here on her blog to be kept up to date with the latest information regarding Joey and her books.

Welcome to Joey's BookTube!

One of my goals for 2016 was to start a BookTube channel. I plan to post a video a month and the above is the introduction video. Be sure to subscribe to my channel and to keep an eye here and on Facebook to be sure you catch every one as they are uploaded!

HAPPY 2016!

Looking forward to 2016!

Happy New Year! I hope you have all had a happy holiday period. It's that time of year, having looked back on the year past, it's now time to look to the year ahead. I usually set myself goals that I'd like to achieve in my writing. So here are my book goals 2016:

->Time Sensitive Ones<-

1.  Release Dying Thoughts - Fourth Week in paperback by March 2016
2.  Release Dying Thoughts - First Touch & The Friendship Triangle in paperback by Summer 2016.
3. Release Destination: Unknown in both paperback & e-format by Summer 2016.
4. Do a blog tour for Waiting On You in the Summer of 2016.
5. Have 125 ratings & 100 reviews on Goodreads for all books combined by Summer 2016.

->General Ones<- 

1.  Organise two book signings locally.
2.  Take part in five events over the year.
3.  Do #JoWriMoGo every month.
4.  Do five giveaways on the blog/Facebook/Tsu/Goodreads throughout the year.
5.  Contact book blogs and get at least ten reviews done.
6.  Have over ten reviews on each book on Goodreads & Amazon.
7.  Finish Walk A Mile & Dying Thoughts - Seventh Death.
8.  Plan and begin books fifteen & sixteen.
9.  Write often & keep up with writing log.
10.  Take part in #NaNoWriMo.
11.  Do at least three "Questions from Readers" over the year.
12.  Keep up with contacts in the Indie Author community and make new ones.
13.  Do blog posts once a week. 
14.  Start a monthly booktube channel.
15.  Do five events of my own over the year.

I hope that at this time next year, I will be posting about all the success I've had over the past year. Do you have any goals or resolutions for the coming year? Share them in the comments below. And again, Happy 2016!