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A New Way to Use Book Country - Weekly Following
Michael Guarneiri
Posted: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 3:07 AM
Joined: 4/27/2011
Posts: 28


Good morning/afternoon/night fellow citizens of Book Country! 

I've created this thread to begin a weekly Solomon Pierce following. This is probably a bit out of the ordinary, but I think it's for the best. I've had my story - Solomon Pierce - up for a long while and I've received several reviews (which I appreciate a great deal). However, I've found that reviews tend to focus on the first few chapters of the story. 

From this point forward, I will put up six and only six chapters every week (this means that chapters will be removed every week). I'm hoping this will help target reviews a bit better. Fortunately, I tend to write very short chapters (i.e. reading six chapters of Solomon Pierce doesn't take very long at all) so it isn't difficult for me to crank out six chapters a week (when I'm productive).

This week begins the first week. The first six chapters are up and ready, but most have already reviewed those. Next week, I'll upload chapters 7-12. 

If you'd like to weigh in on this approach, feel free. Might work wonderfully, might be a disaster. Only time will tell! 

If you like the story or want to give it a shot, join the discussion!  

Colleen Lindsay
Posted: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 2:29 PM
Joined: 2/27/2011
Posts: 353


You can also leave the first six chapters up and add additional chapters every week marked as "new drafts" so previous reviewers can continue to review them. I know that as a reader, I probably won't start critiquing something if I have to start in the middle. Why cut your potential readers in half?
Danielle Bowers
Posted: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 2:39 PM
Joined: 3/16/2011
Posts: 279


That's the downside of having a WIP longer than a few chapters, a lot of people aren't going to want to sit down and read the whole book.

Colleen is right that a lot of people aren't going to want to start at a mid-point.

If you want more attention to the later chapters, why not just ask? Write in the author's note that you would really appreciate feedback on chapters 6-12. Most of the Book Country reviewers genuinely want to help and if they know what you want feedback on, you'll get it.
Michael Guarneiri
Posted: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 3:11 PM
Joined: 4/27/2011
Posts: 28


Thank you Colleen (unless you'd prefer Ms. Lindsay) and... er... Ivoidwarrenties. Colleen, great point. Picking up readers at the half-way point is pretty much impossible. Ivoidwarrenties, great suggestion. I'll play around with the author's note in the future.

I'll still continue with the weekly following, though, in all likelihood, I won't erase previous chapters. Hopefully, giving followers something to expect *every* week at about the same time will help the process out in some way.
Danielle Bowers
Posted: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 3:28 PM
Joined: 3/16/2011
Posts: 279


Ivoidwarrenties is the name I go by whenever I join a beta. I never expected to actually stick around long enough to regret it.

Another thing I would do is comment on reviews and point the reviewers to changes you made based on their suggestions. This might get you another read/review/feedback because people like to see results of their review manifest. I have a few people who have reviewed Bon Voyage more than once after doing that.
Colleen Lindsay
Posted: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 2:31 PM
Joined: 2/27/2011
Posts: 353


I prefer Your Highness or Empress Colleen, but "Hey, fat chick who opens the cat food cans!" is what I'm generally called around my apartment. =)
Carl E Reed
Posted: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 4:42 PM
Joined: 4/27/2011
Posts: 608


So our choices of honorifics for you are either (a) Rotund Tuna-spattered Cat Food Dispenser or (b) Most Glorious Sister of Heaven: High & Holy Incandescent Light of the Eternal Goddess: Golden Empress of the 1000 Realms.

PS. That second option might take a little practice before it trips off the tongue. . . .



Danielle Bowers
Posted: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 4:56 PM
Joined: 3/16/2011
Posts: 279


I'm leaning towards Her Royal Highness (HRH) Colleen, Queen of Quirky, Duchess of Canned Cat Food. Bow before her or she shall smith you with the Hammer of Banning.
Carl E Reed
Posted: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 5:10 PM
Joined: 4/27/2011
Posts: 608


Heh! She's going to kill us. . . .
Danielle Bowers
Posted: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 5:36 PM
Joined: 3/16/2011
Posts: 279


Smith? I meant Smite. Bloody auto correct.



Carl E Reed
Posted: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 5:57 PM
Joined: 4/27/2011
Posts: 608


And I meant to write: ". . . before it trips dulcetly off the tongue."

My god, we're obsessively re-writing and typo-correcting tossed-off comical quips in near real-time.

Writers—a different tribe. . . .

Colleen Lindsay
Posted: Thursday, June 23, 2011 12:33 PM
Joined: 2/27/2011
Posts: 353


Am kinda digging (a) Rotund Tuna-spattered Cat Food Dispenser - LOL!
Carl E Reed
Posted: Thursday, June 23, 2011 3:53 PM
Joined: 4/27/2011
Posts: 608


Heh! You're a good sport, Colleen!