Please indulge me for a moment and allow me to share a brutal moment of honesty. This may sting a bit, but I feel it needs to be said.
As I perused my Kindle recently, searching for the next big thing, I began to get frustrated. Each sample downloaded held so much promise! Each lame opening sequence, or undeveloped character left me sour.
Where was it? Where was that captivating story premise? That character so compelling I HAD to know buy the book to learn what happened to them? Where was the creativity?
I'm not going to dis self-publishing, but it is a gift wrapped in an enigma. A total Pandora's box. I guess I thought, when I bought my first Kindle reader, I'd spend hours glued to that little gray screen (yup, it was that long ago). But for every 10 books I sample, I read maybe one or two.
AND I LOVE TO READ!!!
So let me, your reader, pass along some advice.
Make your story it's best before uploading! Take the time, dedicate the time to properly develop your story and character arc. Invest in editing. Use beta readers! Please, let's raise the standard of self-publishing to new heights!
Because I want to read your book. I want to love reading your book. I realize the vast amount of effort, of love and time you've invested in your baby. I know you're entrusting it to me when you place it up for reading, so why would you settle for anything less than the best most polished version?
I'm on your side. I'm your reader. Take care of me and I'll take care of you.
I promise.
Sincerely yours,
your reader