u/authoronline

Okay, my first post wasn't the best one and I deleted it because yeah. I was tired with a lot on my mind so if anyone recognizes my user, I'm sorry. Bad laspse of judgement at the moment. But I did learn a bit in the comments and think on them which made me want to ask a follow up question.

I know someone had said if you want write for a career, you have to write to market. Which, after they explained what it was, which is understanding the premises and the common tropes, archetypes and why people like the genre (my case, it's Romantasy), I realize I did try to do that for my series. Though I guess the problem is that book 1 was already a complete story when I knew all the genre expectations that I couldn't really tweak it without it not making sense. Like I believe it's a well structured story with arcs that make sense. But I know the plot is kind of uncommon and the MMC is definitely a flip on things (cinnamon roll with that's a little whiny and brainwashed, and a bit in touch with his feminine side.)

I realized I couldn't really get rid of that side of him without messing up the story, but I realized I could develop him into a more masculine version of himself that readers would like. And add more tropes and a premise that people like (while staying true to the story and not feel like I'm stuffing in stuff for the sake of marketability. The sequels had a lot of space to work with, so I tried to keep the heart of the story while slowly adding in elements that people like about romantasy). I could slowly make the books more sexy to balance out the wholesome romance I want.

Question is... Could I work with this? Maybe I should promote Book 2 over Book 1? Maybe give out Book 1 Ebook for free to try and get people to want to read Book 2? Idk or is it just screwed til the series?

Just looking for ideas on how to market this sucker because it's hard 😭

EDIT: Or... Maybe should I just release the rest of the series quietly and put all of my marketing efforts into the next series that starts off more written to market? I want to complete this trilogy for sure, but if it's not marketable, maybe it's time to just write it and promote the next book idea?

I'm a first time author in Romantasy. Have a debut out for over a year. Doing my next book in the series. It's hopefully gonna be published March and the series' final book hopefully will be out next year as well.

It's disheartening. I tried Instagram. Tried Threads. Tried TikTok. Tried Reddit. Even if I had decent views compared to my peers (400+ views) it never resulted in anything. No sales or anything. Recently I've given up on social media as it's something I rarely like to do anyways and it took so much time away from writing. I almost feel like needing to do crazy work on social media is a lie. I've studied my peers, both successful and unsuccessful. So I've stepped away from it.

I did the ARCs before release (200+) and got a mix of reviews with 70% of them 4 stars and up. Nothing really negative. Many of them saying it was something they've never read before and saying they cried. I study other people, tried hook people onto my books, uploaded a lot, especially on TikTok. Tried different styles of posts, and different formats and everything I could possibly think of. Even increased my views. Still nothing.

I'm trying to build an email list. And hopefully get a Kickstarter going. And Meta ads going for the Kickstarter and I plan to test the ads when I set up preorders for my second book. I want to do the social media posts I would've done and just mostly keep it to my newsletter and Kickstarter where people seem to actually care. I have like a 15% to 20% open rate so far because I'm giving ebooks of my first book away for free. Got 5 Kickstarter followers but nothing has budged since I first announced it's prelaunch.

I'm just a bit discouraged. I just a post on somewhere where it was just like "I draw my own characters and my book is on preorder" and it has 1k likes (their debut by the way). Which GREAT for them, but I just wish it were that simple for me and even my authors friends that are doing the same as me or doing ads even better than me (doing all the "right" things with multiple books), but they still struggle. It makes me think... How does one even get it that simple? Is it because of the book I decided to write? Like is my book just not in demand? Am I even looking in the right market?

Marketing is exhausting. Going to keep grinding. Going to keep writing the story I wanted to write. Going to try looking for other marketing avenues. Will probably still avoid social media for the moment. But it still stings to think about.

I'm hoping this is the last time. This is a blurb to the sequel of my first book (Romantasy). This one, I tried to get rid of some worldbuilding and focus more on the main conflict and plot.

"What if… you don't like the man I'm supposed to be?”

After being forced away from her, Prince Amias escapes home to reunite with his beloved Ignatia. Now haunted by betrayal and lies, he’s become a shell of himself but he's determined to prove to Ignatia that he's still the same blissful tender-hearted man she fell for.

Opportunity comes when Ignatia's people need her to ascend her throne — only they resent her for falling in love with their enemy's grandson. If he is to be her king, he must prove his loyalty in three competitions against Felix — a highly adored soldier that everyone says is more deserving of the throne. If Amias can't face the cold truth about himself nor his family, and earn the trust of her people, he will lose her. This time, forever.

Souls Undone is the second book in the Soulmateless Trilogy. This emotional journey is perfect for readers of forbidden romance, found family and journeys of self discovery.

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Here's the blurb! It's a sequel to my Romantasy series. I tried to implement what I could from previous feedback though I'm not sure it's punchy enough.

“What if… you don't like the man I'm supposed to be?”

With his memories back, Prince Amias escapes home to reunite with his beloved Ignatia in the desert city of Harena. Now haunted by shadows of his past, his spark has been completely smitted, but he's determined to prove to Ignatia he's still the same man she fell for.

Opportunity comes when Ignatia's people need her to take back the throne from her wicked mother — only they resent Amias for what his bloodline has done. If he is to stay with her, he must prove his kindness through three trials, while competing against Felix — a highly favored soldier who wants to steal Ignatia’s heart and Amias' place beside her. If Amias can't face his past, and earn the trust of her people, he will lose her. This time, forever.

Souls Undone is the second book in the Soulmateless Trilogy. This emotional journey is perfect for readers of forbidden romance, found family and journeys of self discovery.

This is my blurb for book 2 of my contemporary Romantasy series. Can I get some feedback?

First he had won her heart. Now, he must win over her kingdom.

After gaining his memories back, Prince Amias reunites with his beloved Ignatia in Harena City; a city of sand, fire and everything opposite to home. Escaping into a world he’s never set foot in, and facing a harsh reality about everything he’s ever known, he hasn't been the same. But as long as Ignatia stays by his side, it's all worth it.

But that might all change when Ignatia seeks an opportunity to save her people — shifters that are rightfully angry with Amias’ bloodline. In order to stay by her side and correct history's wrongs, Amias must earn their trust by enduring trials that will test his character — while competing against their highly adored soldier, who has eyes on both the throne and Ignatia. If Amias can't outdo his new rival and prove himself to her people, he just might lose her forever.

Souls Undone is the second book in the Soulmateless Trilogy. This heart-wrenching journey is perfect for readers of forbidden romance, magic and unique takes on fated mates.

Want to start a Kickstarter. But since the Kickstarter would be for a sequel, i would be offering the first ebook that's already published.

Is that okay? I know the rules say the rewards need to be new. But does it mean like exclusive to Kickstarter? Or like... You just can't resell other work?