“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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This has nothing to do with anything, I just wanted to post this on an older post of yours. Show this to your demon and tell it to kiss your rear:
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I see Sadje had some great comments for you too. She’s read every single thing I wrote this last 3 years, a wonderful lady. Her comment about me made me smile too.
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She’s an amazing woman. But I wanted you to see that she has nice things to say about your writing, even on MY page, so it’s sincere from her. You deserve the sincerity to flow through you.
Also, did you ever read “The Giving Tree”? I was looking it up for my post today and found out that it was turned down by multiple publishers and he evenually found one that took it but they wanted to change everything as well, he stood his ground They only printed a few thousand copies thinking it was a flop. No one has it easy, I would still stay away from pblishing for now, but you’re not alone in any of it
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I appreciate you doing this for me, thank you.
I haven’t heard of that one, I should give it a read.
I’ve learned enough in the last five years. The last two mostly that my books are unsaveably bad. I just have to let them go knowing I had a good time with them and that’s the end. publishers want story showers, not tellers sadly.
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You’re welcome. Sometimes, something so simple can make an hour, day, month and even year. And Sadje has made so many of my days – I figured I could share her love for you too. And let the sincerity shine because she literally had no reason to compliment your writing on my page – she did because she truly enjoys your work.
It’s an AMAZING book. You need to read it.
And it’s currently on sale today!!! GO FOR IT!
And publishers suck. You got it right – you had a good time with them and with writing them and THAT’S The point!
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For a sure a comment about a writer on another writers page has to be the true feeling. There’s no other reason to say it.
I’m going to buy right now thanks for the link!
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You’re welcome. I hope you enjoy it!
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By the way, wanted to follow up.
https://marladragon.wordpress.com/2022/10/19/the-true-nature-of-love/comment-page-1/#comment-15509
Thank you from all of us
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It keeps coming:
https://marladragon.wordpress.com/2022/10/19/the-true-nature-of-love/comment-page-1/#comment-15553
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So it does. I’m honoured.
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Mason, go back and reread all of those comments in that thread. It starts here:
https://marladragon.wordpress.com/2022/10/19/the-true-nature-of-love/comment-page-1/#comment-15477
You should keep this thread open and keep following it for a little bit. Sadje is amazing and adores your writing. And she basically has said the same things I have said and I said them to her about you as well.
Read it all. Not piece-meal as I’ve been sending it. Read it You more than anyone NEED to hear it, and luckily it’s about you! lol
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It is a special thread for me isn’t it. Thank you writing the post that created it.
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It wasn’t originally about you, just a shout out because you inspired me. It turned into this because you are THAT good. Keep that in mind. No one is posting about me on other people’s sites completely unprompted, but you, you’re that good.
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Now you mention it sorry for inadvertantly hijacking your post lol. Did you see your email?
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No I haven’t looked. And you hijacked nothing – you didn’t start it. You just became a part of it – woven into the fabric of what that story has come to mean. It is a beautiful thing, not something to apologize for.
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You and Sadje gave me a lot to think about. I really haven’t written much this year especially on my blog. I wrote one big story that’s on the useless pile, and just a few short pieces. Seems that disheartens my followers somewhat, it’s amazing to see that too.
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Your writing makes people happy.
Stop trying to give it to people who make you miserable.
Keep giving the thign you ENJOY to the people who get joy from it.
Take the joy and spread it; not the negativity and hoard it.
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Thanks, that’s great advice.
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Welcome. Now try to listen to it lol
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I will do my best.
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Ah, yes, I just checked and I received one called Dinosaurs. I cannot read it now as I am at work. But I look forward to it!
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Thank you. Never rush to read on my account. It’ll wait until you have time and a cup of hot chocolate.
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Oh I love that!!!!
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Nothing better than hot chocolate and something to read.
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Beyond complete truth!
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