I know people probably will bite my head off for this, but Locke's story is the opposite of inspiring to me. It's artless, soulless marketing. Commerce over art.

There's a place for that kind of thing, and an audience, clearly, but it's not for me.

 

I know people probably will bite my head off for this, but Locke's story is the opposite of inspiring to me. It's artless, soulless marketing. Commerce over art.

There's a place for that kind of thing, and an audience, clearly, but it's not for me.

I'm curious as to why you feel this way.

 

I know people probably will bite my head off for this, but Locke's story is the opposite of inspiring to me. It's artless, soulless marketing. Commerce over art.

There's a place for that kind of thing, and an audience, clearly, but it's not for me.

I feel the same way. I tried to take Locke's approach, but I honestly can't see what pleasure he might derive from churning that product out. Money is nice, but that motivator can only last for so long. He doesn't strike me as a real writer. I don't see any sign that he writes anything he feels the need to say.

 

I feel the same way. I tried to take Locke's approach, but I honestly can't see what pleasure he might derive from churning that product out. Money is nice, but that motivator can only last for so long. He doesn't strike me as a real writer. I don't see any sign that he writes anything he feels the need to say.

After so many years of earning nothing, the thought of using writing as a way to strike it rich seems about as silly as going to Alaska to prospect for gold. Sure, I might find the mother lode--some people do--but my real motivation for sitting out there every day swishing around my pan is because I love the outdoors and the independence.

 

I find the replies here interesting, in particular

He doesn't strike me as a real writer.

I'm interested to know what you think makes a "real writer"?

For me a writer is someone who writes... is there a piece of the puzzle I'm missing?

Personally I think Locke is interesting and I admire him for the fact that he did achieve his goal. He writes books that are entertaining and that people want to read. For me that's what I want to do, I'm not interested in writing art or even the next "big thing" but I do want to write books that people want to read. Books that entertain and give enjoyment, a means of escape. Now If I can do that and make a living from it I'll be one happy bunny

Bilinda

 

Robert Heinlein once said that the most beautiful phrase in the English language was:

"Pay to the order of____________________"

OTOH, Ring Lardner thought the most beautiful word in the English language was "gangrene".

Take your choice! 

 

When I first approached the indie idea of publishing, I started to do my research and his name kept coming up.

So, I bought his how-to book. All of it is very good information and I like how he considered each of his books as an employee and how that employee is working for him.

He builds and presents a very practical model for indie publishers to follow.

Why do I like the book - this is a new channel for writers to explore and build a reader base. To succeed, regardless of art or commerce, you need a framework to work from. He presents one.

Just my two cents.

 

I'm curious as to why you feel this way.

The guy below you puts it pretty well.

I honestly can't see what pleasure he might derive from churning that product out. Money is nice, but that motivator can only last for so long. He doesn't strike me as a real writer. I don't see any sign that he writes anything he feels the need to say.

It's not an inspiring story to me because it looks like a marketing guy (apparently a millionaire before he even started) who set himself the goal of selling a lot of books, not writing interesting stories. And if your goal is purely shifting volume, then that's fine, but he's clearly not setting out with the greatest of artistic intentions. Locke seems to speak talk entirely in empty marketing-speak, like those people who follow you on Twitter with the bio of "SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKING GURU" and whose only plan is following a bunch of people so they'll follow you back, with no content beyond that end. The whole thing of 'befriending' people into becoming his readers and sticking around for the next title doesn't sit well with me either. Of course, we must engage our audiences, but it's all so hollow and cynical, and when I'm reading lines on his website like...

Those who voted yes gave me brilliant reasons that inspired me! Those who voted no told me tragic stories that hurt my heart.... Your comments of support brought tears to my eyes.

... I'm thinking "Really?" Huh. In no way does that look like a writer's website either. It's got a total IMPORTANT NETWORKING GURU feel about it, or a self-help guy. I'd be interested to see if he ever did an interview about his creative process, of the writers that inspired him to put fingers to keyboard.

Nobody can deny that it worked for him, but he comes across as a marketer who decided books was the thing he'd have a go at, rather than a writer who writes because he has to, because it's in him, and who'd still be writing stories if every other person in the world had disappeared. I'm sure plenty of us here know what that's like, and never leave home without a notepad or two. I don't get that feeling from Locke. There's totally a place for the airport thrillers that he churns out, and not everything has to be the Great American Novel, but I hate the idea that this is what indie authors should be aspiring to. Aspire to write something that'll blow people away, not whatever you can churn out the fastest, put up for 99 cents and have people buy because of what your research told you sells the best.

 

I write because my muse keeps giving me story ideas, and because I have such a good time writing. I think of my novels as smart entertainment. Not the loftiest of descriptions, but if I provide a reader with hours of enjoyment I feel I've accomplished something worthwhile.

Locke says he writes for fun, and I believe him. I read "Vegas Moon," at his suggestion; I emailed him and asked which of his books might be a good starting place. "VM" reminded me of the old Destroyer series by Sapir and Murphy, paperback originals that were also cheaply priced back in the day.

About 88% of my novels' reviews are either four or five stars, but marketing is the weakest part of my game. I need to do better there so my sales numbers can reflect a larger number of people I'm making happy, including me as I head to the bank.

 

I read Locke's book and agree with some of his approaches to marketing (like developing a Twitter network). On the marketing side, he has great ideas.

That said...I don't like that he admits he's not a great writer, sets a goal to churn out a book in eight weeks, and treats his books like customers. Sure, books can be vehicles for earning authors income and royalties, but there's far more to writing than creating "employees" to work for you. I set soft deadlines for myself but would never throw a book out to the public before it's ready to publish. IMHO once a book is finished, it's finished, and you shouldn't expect to make any revisions. Get it right the first time. I would much rather take the extra time to write a timeless classic that is read for 100 years than a book with an eight-week run. Writing is a passion to cultivate, not a cash cow.

I like to think that this approach will stand the test of time. Once today's John Locke has had his run, the John Locke of yore, the father of liberalism whose incredible works stand the test of time, will again surpass his contemporary.

 

That said...I don't like that he admits he's not a great writer, sets a goal to churn out a book in eight weeks, and treats his books like customers.

Yeah, this is horrible to me. My goal is to create something as good as a Herzog film, or Chris Morris's Blue Jam, or any of the things that blew me out of my seat and inspired me to want to make somebody else feel the same way.

 

Sorry, guys... I'm trying to read this thread with a straight face, but all I'm seeing in my head is Terry O' Quinn on the Island stating "Don't tell me what I can't do!"

 

What works for John works for John. Some of you want to create works of art and that's great. John just wants to write some stories and he has a good time doing it. What's your problem? Not everyone can be as talented as some of you, nor have such lofty goals. He knows he's not a great writer. He just likes to entertain with stories. Nothing wrong with that.

 

I write because my muse keeps giving me story ideas, and because I have such a good time writing. I think of my novels as smart entertainment. Not the loftiest of descriptions, but if I provide a reader with hours of enjoyment I feel I've accomplished something worthwhile.

Locke says he writes for fun, and I believe him. I read "Vegas Moon," at his suggestion; I emailed him and asked which of his books might be a good starting place. "VM" reminded me of the old Destroyer series by Sapir and Murphy, paperback originals that were also cheaply priced back in the day.

About 88% of my novels' reviews are either four or five stars, but marketing is the weakest part of my game. I need to do better there so my sales numbers can reflect a larger number of people I'm making happy, including me as I head to the bank.

I don't know that Locke's particular ideas are that horrible. I think his books are meant just to be fun entertainment, and obviously he's found a successful way to market them. I read through part of "Wish List" the other day at Sam's Club, and there's nothing that terrible in it. I could certainly imagine wiping it out in two hours and not feeling like I completely wasted my time.

Yes, we write when our muse hits us, but like Faulker said, his inspiration was always at 9 in the morning. He has a certain businesslike attitude toward writing and marketing his books; so do a lot of other writers. At a certain point in his career, Mickey Spillaine would only write a new book whenever he decided he wanted to buy a boat, or he needed to make quick money and he knew he could sell the book (no, I'm not holding the creator of "Mike Hammer" as an arbiter of high art, BTW). Chandler started writing essentially because he had so mucked up his previous career no one would hire him anymore. Dickens wrote "A Christmas Carol" just for the money.

Patterson has an even more driven sense of marketing, and he doesn't even really even WRITE his books, and yet people eat 'em like they're peanuts.

None of us set about to write a bad book, and I doubt he does either. There seems to be more than enough room for Herzog AND the latest popcorn action flick.

 

Well, I guess there's hope for me after all.

 

I have bought, read, and enjoyed all of John's ebooks.

They are entertainment and should be judged as such.

I have interacted with him via social media and email and I will tell you - the man is genuine, gracious, and giving.  He spends up to 6 - 8 hours a day interacting with his readers, asking about their families, thanking everyone for their support, etc., etc.

He is also one of the successful self-published authors that is driving the market change in the publishing world - along with authors such as J.A. Konrath and Barry Eisler.  If you do not think their success is having a positive impact for ALL of us indie authors - you are deluding yourself.

I compare it to Tiger Woods on the PGA Tour.  Once he started attracting so many new viewers and fans, the other golfers on the PGA Tour benefited immensely from the increased revenue, attention, etc.  They are all grateful to Tiger - Phil Mickelson will shout it from the rooftops for example.

Anyway - I understand everyone has the right to their own opinions - and I truly respect that, but I have a hard time understanding negativity for it's own sake.

Wishing ALL of you much success,

Summer

 

I feel the same way. I tried to take Locke's approach, but I honestly can't see what pleasure he might derive from churning that product out. Money is nice, but that motivator can only last for so long. He doesn't strike me as a real writer. I don't see any sign that he writes anything he feels the need to say.

Wow. Not sure where to start with some of these comments. I guess overall: why do you care what someone else does? And would you care if he "churned out product" and hadn't sold 1mm+ books? Speaking of churning out product, there is a fifteen page thread documenting people trying to write 60k words in 29 days. Is that similar to churning out product?

Who cares if he is a marketing guy? Being a millionaire before he started writing? How is that relevant? The "real writer" theme through the thread has me scratching my head, too.

Not sure that money is his motivator (see pre-existing millionaire condition above). Maybe he wants to be the big dog. Maybe he wants to see his name in the #1 slot. Maybe he has his own goals he would like to reach. (Is it acceptable for non-REAL writers to have goals?) Maybe he has an ego the size of Louisville. Who cares? I doubt he would question your motivation: I imagine that he would just wish you well.

Books are income producing assets and should be managed as income producing assets, regardless if your motivation is money or being "read" (the idea being that you have to move product to reach those goals). If you just want to be "read," put your book up for free and write another one. If you are a writer that just absolutely has to write, to tell that story that is burning through your soul (needing a cathartic outlet seems to be the definition of a REAL writer (at least in this thread)), then go "hone your craft," "open a vein on the page," and put that thing in a drawer.

Incoming..........

 

Yes, we write when our muse hits us, but like Faulker said, his inspiration was always at 9 in the morning.

Inspiration just once a day? Cripes. Mine comes any time of day or night. Morning showers or while doing the dinner dishes and blasting rock 'n' roll are particularly good times. Maybe water, suds and music are key contributors.

 

Sorry, guys... I'm trying to read this thread with a straight face, but all I'm seeing in my head is Terry O' Quinn on the Island stating "Don't tell me what I can't do!"

That made me laugh ... Love it!!

 

As far as some of the "Why you gotta be so negative, man?" comments, my issue is with the title of this thread and the idea in general that it's somehow an inspiring story, when I feel it's the complete opposite. There's no "negativity for negativity's sake," just a different opinion. Kinda like how five star reviews are AWESOME AND SQUEE, but one star reviews are by vengeful idiots who know nothing.

 

Inspiration just once a day? Cripes. Mine comes any time of day or night. Morning showers or while doing the dinner dishes and blasting rock 'n' roll are particularly good times. Maybe water, suds and music are key contributors.

Mine likes to interrupt what I'm otherwise doing. I am never more inspired than when I need to be doing something that actually pays me.

 

I prefer David Daglish or Modwitch, also successful writers but stories with heart.  I'm inspired by them. 

 

As far as some of the "Why you gotta be so negative, man?" comments, my issue is with the title of this thread and the idea in general that it's somehow an inspiring story, when I feel it's the complete opposite. There's no "negativity for negativity's sake," just a different opinion. Kinda like how five star reviews are AWESOME AND SQUEE, but one star reviews are by vengeful idiots who know nothing.

Fair enough. As I said - your mileage may vary.

Differing opinions are what makes the world honest and interesting.

Good luck to one and all.

 

Regardless of where you stand, this is a useful conversation to have. There is a lot of ground between Patterson's "hire an intern to type 80,000 words, throw my name on it, buy another yacht" method and the guy who lives in his mother's attic and writes an absurdist short story every twenty-seven months on a roll of toilet paper and then mails it to the New Yorker one sheet at a time.

I used to get frustrated at this woman in my writing group a number of years ago. I was struggling to sell anything for more than a penny a word and every story she wrote ended up on the Nebula preliminary ballot. Thing is she only wrote a story every couple of years and had told several editors that no, she was not writing a book, and had no plans to ever do so. It seemed like such a waste of talent.

I eventually realized that different people have different motives for writing.

 

"I eventually realized that different people have different motives for writing."Michael Wallace

I think it is an inspiration that a guy without any training can write entertaining books that people want to read and can sell over a million copies of his stories.

He has a good idea of what his target market wants to read and he produces it. His marketing may be good, but if he didn't have titles readers enjoyed--they wouldn't continue to buy them and read them.