self-publishing – Jenny Grace's Poetry and Creative Writing Techniques

Unpublished: Part Two

Well, I decided to unpublish all my projects tonight. As I stated in my previous blog post, I have been disappointed by the whole self-publishing enterprise.

My advice is that if you plan to self-publish on Amazon/Kindle make sure you do your homework.

Apparently, even after you unpublish, third parties can sell your books and you will not get a royalty because the book is sold used. The rationale is that you got paid the first time the book was sold, so you don’t get paid again.

So, does that mean your creative work is out there being sold and resold and you do not receive any royalties for your creative efforts?

It appears that is the case according to the email I received from Amazon/Kindle regarding unpublishing my books.

They still haven’t explained to me how third parties can sell my books if my books are now unpublished and are not supposed to be printed anymore.

I thought the books were printed when they were ordered, so if I have unpublished then how could they print it and sell it?

Cautionary tale: Think before you self-publish.

I advise against it.

In fact, tonight I completely cancelled my Amazon account and Kindle, as well. Also, I cancelled Goodreads.

I am just sick of the underhanded dealings of big corporations.

My books are my creative property; I deserve to make a profit off my creative property.

I put my foot down here.

I refuse to associate with Amazon/Kindle.

I am walking away from anything that resembles big tech.

I want to support local stores rather than buy on Amazon.

I will find an actual small press or literary agent to publish my creative work.

Self-publishing has been a disappointment and a rip off. . .

Unpublishing

Well, I guess it’s back to the drawing board.

It’s been over two years since I self-published my novel “Bully Another Day,” my short story collection “Short Stories and Vignettes,” and a second poetry book “Spaces between the Pause.” I’ve only had one sale for “Bully Another Day.” That’s it. Of course, I really don’t know for sure whether this is it. . .I mean, how would I know for sure if someone purchased my books out there in the virtual world?

I unpublished my books, but according to Amazon/Kindle, a third party could still sell my books. Not altogether sure that I am onboard with that. . .their little message said that my books will not be available for sale now

But if they’re not available for sale then how could a third party sell something that is not available for sale?

I give up on trying to navigate this virtual world behind a computer screen. It is isolating and dehumanizing.

I wonder if I should just delete my books. I need to look back and see if there is even an option for that. Probably not. Life behind a computer screen is like that song “Welcome to the Hotel California”. . .You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.

So, I wonder if I can submit my manuscripts to a publisher. Probably not, since I’ve self-published.

I have grown quite weary of all this. I am just tired.

Writing has always been something I have enjoyed, but, but, the quest to get published, to get just a little recognition has grown quite exhausting.

Self-publishing has felt like an exercise in futility; it is like hurling oneself down a dark, dank tunnel. Maybe others have had more success than I have. And, I congratulate you if you have been successful.

But, alas, I have failed at self-publishing. With the exception of my poetry book “Life at the End of the Rainbow,” which did sell a few copies, I have failed.

So, I throw in the towel; I send up the white flag; I step away from this unconquerable task.

I did try; I did attack it with optimism and dedication; I did have a plan. . .

So, this brings me to a quote by Mike Tyson “Everybody has a plan ’till they get punched in the mouth.” (Brainyquote).

I’ve definitely gotten punched in the mouth (metaphorically, of course).

I’ve actually gotten hurt in my heart; writing has always been my passion.

I am not sure what to do about this. . .this disappointment. . .this failure. . .

I’d like to say I will get up and brush myself off and try again. . .

So, what is the clinical definition of insanity? Doing the same thing and expecting a different result?

Uh?

I need to think about that. . .Yeah, I think I’ll just skip self-publishing and search for a publisher or literary agent. . .

Leave a comment, if you’d like. Any suggestions?

Be kind, though. My heart hurts. . .

Need Your Opinion

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Hi Everyone,

This is the cover of my poetry book I put on Amazon/Kindle almost two years ago. It has not been selling. I have tried to market it on WordPress. Other bloggers have been very kind and have promoted it, as well as reviewed it. For this support I am very thankful.

I am also very discouraged because I feel that it has just been sitting out there in the virtual world despite my best efforts. Perhaps, my best efforts aren’t enough. I am very happy for those of you who have had success in promoting your books and making sales. I am not sure how you have managed to do it; perhaps, you all are far more outgoing than I am.

I am seriously considering removing my poetry book from Kindle/Amazon and looking into reaching out to more traditional publishers or literary agents. Maybe they can help me or advise me. I am not sure what to do. All I know is that I feel very isolated in this virtual world of writing. I feel as if I am flinging my words into an abyss, a black hole in a limitless expanse of nothingness. I, in short, feel as if I have been swallowed up by an immense void of darkness and silence. It has become quite deafening, this silence.

I have always loved to write. I have been told that I am a gifted writer. I have been rejected more than I have been accepted, however. Go figure. The world is upside down, anyway. I have grown to expect very little from it, except for occasional glimmers of light in an otherwise dark tunnel.

Thank you all so much for your encouragement over the past few years that I have blogged on WordPress. I do plan to continue blogging. I do so enjoy it. I just am quite disappointed in not seeing my poetry book reach more readers. Maybe it’s just that the world is just so big and there are so many writers and that time just marches on and that we just cannot control for destiny or the lack thereof.