“My desire to write has been crushed of late. While my carpentry endeavours have been going well, the same cant be said of my books. My newest book made just one sale in four months. I’m told it’s because my covers are terrible. I fear the reason is much worse than that. Whatever the reason, if you want to read about Holly as she is now. Do it soon, there will either be a new look coming or she’ll vanish from sale completely in the near future. Anyway, here’s a poem about whats in my head right now.”
I wrote this prompt for the following prompts.
Ragtag Daily prompt – Disquieting
Fandango’s One Word Challenge — Padlock
Padlocked Dreams
My dreams trapped by a padlock
Somebody else holds the key
With cruelty they mock
Bringing my hopes to a knee
My brand all a tatters
My creation set aflame
To you it doesn’t matter
Of course, I’m to blame
I created my special story
Made it unique by fate
My dream to create smiles, not glory
Instead, you chose to hate
You say my covers are bad
That the contents are even worse
This was the best I had
Thanks to my rotten curse
Now my demon is disquieting
Just as my covers are shunned
My negativity is rioting
And my progress is stunned
So now I must trash the lot
Tear it apart at the seems
I don’t know if I have another shot
To get the key to my dreams
Thanks for reading my friends.
There’s more in the Poetry Corner, Poetry Nook, and the Short Story Collection
Have a great day!
Oh Mason. Virtual hugs to you.
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Thank you, Maria.
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Don’t lose heart my friend. It takes time for an author to get recognition. Hugs
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Thanks, Sadje,
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Hey Mason, things aren’t that bad. I never sold a copy of any of my books, I gave lots away though. If you want sales you need to do a lot of marketing, if you want readers, take it to book clubs, libraries, give it away. Don’t let others dictate your dreams. You are a very talented writer, I know I’ve read your books.
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Thank you.
Its just it though our dreams are held by others. If publishers don’t want us or don’t do what they promise our books are lost. If those who promise to help let us down or charge too much money we cant get there.
Either way I have to choose whether to try new covers or just make it all go away at the moment.
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Wait. Think about it, then act. There’s no need for haste. I’m being told at my writer’s group that you need to promote on Instagram. If you want I can find out more details and let you know
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Instagram is a joke.
When I had a phone I tried to use Intagram I quickly learned that it allows you exactly 10 views a day no matter what you post.
I put out one post got my 10 views.
I put out 3 posts each post gets 3 views and no more.
So, Insta is completely useless. Especially now I dont have a phone to use it.
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Let me talk to my group, I’m sure they’ll have some ideas. BTW I love your covers, they’re amazing
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Thank you.
My covers have been branded old-fashioned, not genre specific – or related to cozy mysteries, not inviting. I just feel like if anyone else put them out they’d be fine, because I did they’re wrong.
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That’s just you’re self doubt. You need to believe in yourself Mason. You are a really good writer, you need to make a plan to promote your books and pit yourself out there. I’m sure we could all help
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Thank you.
I am trying to figure out new covers. Then I can try again at another promoting run and see what happens there.
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Don’t feel too discouraged, Mason. I recently learned that Stephen King’s first novel, Carrie, was rejected by 30 publishers. J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was rejected by 12, and James Patterson’s first novel, The Thomas Berryman Number, was rejected by 31.
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Thanks Fandango.
Just having a bad couple weeks with it. I’ll get going again soon.
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How does the saying go? “Try, try again?” You do the best you can, and keep putting out what moves you!
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Thanks, Susi.
Putting it out there is the trouble. I just don’t have the money and ability to do it in a way that’d be successful. My last book has sold one copy in five months as proof.
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Similar to me! What I mean is, keep writing. WP is free or can be if you can’t afford to publish a book, but if writing gives you some release, don’t stop doing it.
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I havent written a word since this post. It was just before this I reached four months with only 1 sale on my latest book and got told by several people its because the covers are horrendous. Whatever I do with it seems to be wrong.
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😦 I’m sorry to hear that, Mason.
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It’s okay. I’m used to being a useless failure now. Some of us have to be on the bottom to show the others how far above they are.
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Oh, please don’t say that. NO ONE is a useless failure.
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