The Rocker and the Bird Girl (RBG) is a novella I wrote on Inkitt, more as an experiment than a serious piece of writing. I wanted to see if I wrote something YA oriented if it would generate for me any of the response this site boasts about. I'd have been happy with comments and criticism, but wouldn't have turned down a publishing deal.

Here's the blurb for the story.

If someone called Mattie a bird brain she'd take it as a compliment. She loves birds, has spent her entire twenty years surrounded by them and believes they are more intelligent, loving and loyal than, well, most anything else in this world.

Mattie's grandfather spent all his retirement, time and funds, establishing a sanctuary for homeless, imported, exotic birds. Now granddad was gone and so was the money to support the sanctuary. In her desperate search for funding to keep the refuge open

Mattie had read that lead guitarist and lyricist Bodine, of the notorious rock band, Seditious, owned a Macaw as a pet. The guy was obviously fabulously wealthy. Maybe he'd like to spend some of that money saving these beautiful, precious creatures instead of on drugs and expensive toys?

He wasn't answering her emails so she guessed she'd have to try to get his attention at the Seditious concert that was coming to town. She'd never been to a rock concert and wasn't looking forward to it, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

***

Sex, drugs and rock 'n roll have taken their toll on Bodine, lead guitarist and songwriter for Seditious, the chart topping, outrageous rock band. He's just playing the part until something better comes along. The problem is what's better than being a rich and famous rock idol? Certainly not helping some over zealous young woman save exotic birds, even if his best friend is a Blue and Gold Macaw.

I'd knock off a chapter about once every three days and upload it to the site then promote it on Twitter and Facebook. I kind of got caught up with the characters and the plot and before I knew it they were having their way with me.

Once completed, it's a novella, only 20,000 words, I left it up for awhile but had become too attached to it to let it languish among all the dreck. Besides after four months it had received no comments or criticisms and accumulated only about two hundred and fifty reads and eleven downloads. I'm not sure what that means in terms of success on Inkitt, but it was obvious to me nothing was happening.

And so, more or less to keep my hand in, and as an offering to my ART members (Advance Reading Team) I've self-published it and even have some ideas about developing it into a series. It was fun, easy to write and I got to addressed some issues. You can become an ART member and receive a free copy of The Rocker and the Bird Girl by clicking this link http://eepurl.com/cj5wjj

I'm seriously considering turning RBG into a series. Apparently, novellas are very popular (easily read on your cell phone during a commute), and the characters and story ideas are still resonating with me.

All the while I'm still waiting for a traditional publisher to pickup East Van Saturday Night - four short stories and a novella. So far not a peep, one way or another.

When it came to self-publishing the e-book edition of RBG I went with Smashwords and Kindle Direct (Amazon) and this time added Draft2Digital (D2D), more so I could pass along the experience to you and the participants of my workshops and creative writing circles since D2D has limited distribution which is more than duplicated by the coverage Smashwords offers.

If you think making it even easier to self-publish is a good thing (I'm not sure it is) than you'll love Draft2Digital (D2D). I found uploading my manuscript along with the pertinent details extremely user friendly. They'll even provide front and back matter for your e-book from the information you provide.

However, after uploading RBG I received an error message via email from D2D. My book was blocked from being distributed because I inadvertently hit the public domain button when uploading my file. I followed the instructions, went back and made the correction - nothing changed. My book was still blocked.

I sent an email message explaining my dilemma on June 1. Two days later after receiving no response I tried to de-list my book. It wouldn't go away. I then decided to reload my book making sure to not hit the public domain button and bingo it went through and got distributed.

Now two listings for The Rocker and the Bird Girl appear on my D2D dashboard - one blocked and one published. Compare this to Amazon's Create Space and Kindle Direct who always resolve my issues within twenty-four hours.

Three things I didn't bother with in this launch were Kindle Select, Kindle Scout, and Smashwords Pre-order. These highly touted services have generated nothing whatsoever in response for me.

My email list continues generate response and I'm getting quite creative with MailChimp about using free copies to increase the membership, like using Instafreebie's one month free introductory offer. Make sure you click the option to have Instafreebie members "opt in" by giving up their email address for a free book.

Stay calm, be brave, watch for the signs.

30

Links to websites referenced in this blog.

Link to become an ART member http://eepurl.com/cj5wjj

Draft2Digital http://draft2digital.com/

Inkitt http://inkitt.com/

Instafreebie https://www.instafreebie.com/

Mail Chimp https://mailchimp.com/

Smashwords http://smashwords.com/

Kindle Direct https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/

Create Space http://createspace.com/

Find reviews, blurbs and buy links to my seven novels and two plays at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU

Facebook for writing news, my experience as a writer as well as promotions, contests, giveaways and discounts regarding his books

https://www.facebook.com/Rod-Raglin-337865049886964/

Video book reviews of self-published authors now at Not Your Family, Not Your Friend Video Book Reviews:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH45n8K4BVmT248LBTpfARQ

Cover Art of books by self-published authors at

https://www.pinterest.com/rod_raglin/rod-raglins-reviews-cover-art/

More of my original photographs can be viewed, purchased, and shipped to you as GREETING CARDS; matted, laminated, mounted, framed, or canvas PRINTS; and POSTERS. Go to: http://www.redbubble.com/people/rodraglin

View my flickr photostream at https://www.flickr.com/photos/78791029@N04/

Or, My YouTube channel if you prefer photo videos accompanied by classical music https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQVBxJZ7eXkvZmxCm2wRYA

I continue to learn and it seems to get easier.

I have to confess this surprises me considering my brain has been, according to most scientific studies, in cognitive decline for nearly seven years now.

Why is learning getting easier or am I just imagining it?

No, it's true. I actually figured out how to properly number my new novel Abandoned Dreams in a Word Document. And further still, I realized I could line up the front matter on facing pages by opening the menu "Layout" and pulling down "line numbers" and aligning the type by corresponding line numbers.

I think it's because I've more time, which allows me to be more patient, which allows me to make mistakes, and yes, actually learn from them.

There was a time, and not so long ago, that I would be running behind as soon as I woke up. I had no time for mistakes, nor the patience it takes to learn complex new things. Okay, page numbering is maybe not that complex but you get what I'm saying.

This is a round about way of announcing that my new novel, Abandoned Dreams is now available as a paperback as well as e-book at

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU

It actually is better formatted than my previous five novels and has the least errors. I'd like to say no errors, but I know at some later date I'll be looking at it and for sure I'll find one - or more.

And if you see any be sure to let me know.

Here's another thing I've learned. On social media nothing is more important than content.

I learned this while trying to find something interesting to tweet to my twenty-seven followers (some are real people). My themes are the environment, writing including literacy programs, author readings, and writing projects, community affairs and events, and photography (mine). If I come up with something original I get more response, which is gratifying but, you guessed it, doesn't translate into book sales.

So is there a way to get more content than setting up a sight that publishes creative writing? I don't think so. Writer's upload their work in hopes of what I'm not sure -some feedback, a connection and it becomes a self-perpetuating thing. Just imagine the numbers of hits, members, whatever, the site's owners can show advertisers.

The best thing is it's all free.

Throw in a contest with a small cash prize, a publishing deal (like that's worth anything in this day of fast and easy self-publishing) and the site lights up.

What I've just been describing is Inkitt. These are the people who claim they have a system using "data analysis to determine and predict the success of a novel." They also claim they "are working together with some of the world’s biggest publishing houses to publish any potential best-sellers we find."

Considering Inkitt's claims and after reading a few chapters of some of the stories posted on the site I was more than a bit suspect. What is actually going on here?

They recently hosted a contest called Swoon for romance novels. Since there was no down side (fee) I entered my novel Loving the Terrorist - Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs as an experiment more than anything else.

The submission deadline was February 23rd. The voting deadline was February 29th.

There were 160 submissions. A novel, Trying to Behave got the most votes at 312. Loving the Terrorist got one vote. I wonder, does this mean I won't win?

It is now March 22nd and the judges: agent Rebecca Friedman and romance authors Laurelin Paige and Melody Grace have yet to announce the winner.

What happened to the formula, the data analysis that could determine and predict the success of a novel? Why are we waiting for mere mortals to read all these submissions (a task I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy) to come up with a winner?

Meanwhile, Inkitt has launched another contest. The Grand Novel contest deadline is June 7th and already there are 198 entries.

Talk about content.

I recently discovered Inkitt. Actually, they discovered me through a website link on Goodreads(?).

Here's the email I received from Mihaly Borbely:

"I was looking for romance authors on Goodreads, and found your contact through a website link. Here is something you might be interested in:

Inkitt is using data analysis to determine and predict the success of a novel. We are also working together with some of the world’s biggest publishing houses to publish any potential best-sellers we find. We are just about to sign a massive deal for a fantasy book series.

We are now looking for our next novel to publish - this time from the romance genre.

In partnership with the Rebecca Friedman Literary Agency, tomorrow Inkitt is launching a brand new romance writing contest. With a publishing deal and a $500USD prize on the line for the contest winner, this is a huge opportunity for romance authors. The judging panel is made up of bestselling authors Laurelin Page and Melody Grace, as well as literary agent Rebecca Friedman herself.

Here is the contest link:

http://www.inkitt.com/swoon

So what is Inkitt?

Inkitt is a company based in Germany that is reaching out to new authors or writers with works in progress to upload stories to their website and have it read and peer-edited (reviewed) by other writers.

They also claim to have developed an algorithm that examines reading patterns of stories at the site to determine very early if a story will become a best-seller.

Unlike editors who according to Inkitt, are biased and make decisions on gut feelings, their data is unbiased and objective.

To support their theory they point to the twelve publishers who turned down Harry Potter and the fourteen who rejected Twilight.

I really find these "exceptions that prove the rule" arguments specious, as if there are thousands of masterpieces (likely one of yours, right?) that editors are indiscriminately tossing in the recycling bin.

Putting aside the claim Inkitt actually has technology that can pick a best-seller from among the many submissions they're receiving, what they're really offering is the same as Watt Pad, Kindle Scout, and the  defunct Authonomy. Writers post their work and it's "crowd critiqued". The owners of the site then have the option to take the most popular stories  (those with the most votes, most comments, most promising algorithm, etc.) further - or not.

Inkitt says there's an additional the benefit of being peer edited (you read and comment on mine and I'll return the favour) however this feature can be accessed on most online critique sites like Scribophile  http://www.scribophile.com

I thought I'd  test out Inkitt and so submitted my novel Loving the Terrorist - Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs to their Swoon Romance Novel Contest. Check it out at http://www.inkitt.com/stories/58597

Then I checked out some of the stories posted to assess the quality of submissions. Most are in the fantasy genre and the work amateurs. Hey, just saying. Most are incomplete and the "peer editing" comments, though warm and fuzzy, are not very constructive.

Suffice to say I don't see many masterpieces coming from this digital slush pile, but you can decide for yourself. Check Inkitt out at http://www.inkitt.com/

I plan to keep my work on Inkitt at least until the contest ends on February 23 or they contact me and say Loving the Terrorist has tested positive for a best-seller and provide me with a list of publishers bidding on it.

Stay calm, be brave, watch for the signs

30

100 copies of The BIG PICTURE given away at

http://www.librarything.com/er/giveaway/list

til Jan. 23, 2016

Abandoned Dreams

After March 6, $3.99

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0191B3XDE?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Video book reviews of self-published authors now at

Not Your Family, Not Your Friend Video Book Reviews: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH45n8K4BVmT248LBTpfARQ

Cover Art of books by self-published authors at

https://www.pinterest.com/rod_raglin/rod-raglins-reviews-cover-art/

My new novels, FOREST – Love, Loss, Legend and The BIG PICTURE – A Camera, A Young Woman, An Uncompromising Ethic are available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU and as e-books at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/raglin

Visit my publisher’s website for excerpts from, and a buy link to my Eco-Fi series ECO-WARRIORS Book 3, Not Wonder More – Mad Maggie and the Mystery of the Ancients http://www.devinedestinies.com/?route=product%2Fauthor&author_id=92

ECO-WARRIOR Book 1, Saving Spirit Bear – What Price Success? is available at

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU

ECO-WARRIOR Book 2, Loving the Terrorist - Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs is now available as in paperback at

http://www.amazon.com/author/rodraglin

More of my original photographs can be viewed, purchased, and shipped to you as GREETING CARDS; matted, laminated, mounted, framed, or canvas PRINTS; and POSTERS. Go to: http://www.redbubble.com/people/rodraglin

View my flickr photostream at https://www.flickr.com/photos/78791029@N04/

Or, My YouTube channel if you prefer photo videos accompanied by classical music

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQVBxJZ7eXkvZmxCm2wRYA