…Patterson's "hire an intern to type 80,000 words, throw my name on it …

Patterson was the head of the ad agency I worked at way back when and one of his "interns" was the woman who one time turned me down for a job writing copy there and another time hired me for basically the same job. The interesting thing is, that "intern" was an administrative person not a writer.

 

I find the replies here interesting, in particular

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

well said. i'm not a fan of his work but kudos for going it alone and making it happen

 

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.

I get mine during morning showers too

It also like to show up, when I'm winding down to sleep and have to get out of bed to write something down, or in the case of last night, sketch a potential book cover on binder paper.

 

I find the replies here interesting, in particular

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

As I say above: "I don't see any sign that he writes anything he feels the need to say."

That's what I think makes a real writer.

In his book he says he writes what he thinks will sell, and if something doesn't sell, he switches back to what does.

 

As I say above: "I don't see any sign that he writes anything he feels the need to say."

That's what I think makes a real writer.

In his book he says he writes what he thinks will sell, and if something doesn't sell, he switches back to what does.

i can understand where you're coming from as a writer, and i usually appreciate a writer with your passion. however, publication becomes a whole different monster, and Locke has mastered what most indies would do anything for.

i do agree with you in that in some ways he doesn't seem like a 'real' writer with regards to his work.

 

It's always kind of funny how everyone reacts when John Locke comes up. Personal attacks are frequently the modus operandi, so I hope that doesn't happen this time.

Before he released his book on indie publishing last year, I picked him out as someone to study to see how he markets his books and how he does so well. I could never see how he did it.

Then he released that book.

The thing is, after reading it, he doesn't DO the things he says to do. Until recently, his website looked less than amateur. It was horrible. Now it looks like the work of a motivational speaker. He will go weeks and weeks without appearing on Twitter. His interactions with readers always strike me as insincere and transparent (especially after reading his book). His monthly blog posts are... well... lately they're all related to his books, but before that they were about shopping cart incidents and bad days and Michael J. Fox. Despite what he claims, people really believe his Michael J. Fox and shopping cart stories went into the internet bloodstream and triggered sales? It just doesn't add up for me. Never has. Go ahead and jump on me, that's just my gut feeling.

 

i can understand where you're coming from as a writer, and i usually appreciate a writer with your passion. however, publication becomes a whole different monster, and Locke has mastered what most indies would do anything for.

To a degree, but for most people here, I'd imagine that the sales part is a half that wouldn't fly without the other 50% of affecting the reader, or producing something you're truly proud of. There's been a lot of bluster about Locke, but everything focuses on the sales stats. In a decade, or even a few years, is his work going to have made enough of an impact to still be remembered? Not everyone wants to be the new Dickens, but this cynical way of breaking down literature to the base elements of what sells the most the fastest will only ever result in work that's completely transient. It's the boybands of writing.

 

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

EXACTLY! And I think their stuff will have a much longer shelf life because of that fact.

 

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.

A lot of writing is commercial writing. Also, he's writing westerns now, not exactly a popular genre. I'd have to think he's doing that because he enjoys them.

 

A lot of writing is commercial writing. Also, he's writing westerns now, not exactly a popular genre. I'd have to think he's doing that because he enjoys them.

At this point, he's got such an established fanbase that he could be pumping out neanderthal erotica or stories about a horse that runs a detective agency and still be shifting copies.

 

At this point, he's got such an established fanbase that he could be pumping out neanderthal erotica or stories about a horse that runs a detective agency and still be shifting copies.

So work hard writing in a popular genre and build up a fanbase, and then write what you love is a bad strategy?

My first love is poetry. I don't see a big demand that.

 

So work hard writing in a popular genre and build up a fanbase, and then write what you love is a bad strategy?

I didn't say it was a bad strategy, just not something particularly aspirational.

 

At this point, he's got such an established fanbase that he could be pumping out neanderthal erotica or stories about a horse that runs a detective agency and still be shifting copies.

His readers would turn on him. You really sound like you are jealous of his success.

 

His readers would turn on him. You really sound like you are jealous of his success.

Yeah, man. Totes turning green right here.

Really though, you can't have a different opinion about something a successful person does without it being down to jealousy? OMG, I'm like, such a hater!

 

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.

I would advise against bringing your laptop into the shower.

We're all probably in different places on the continuum between art-for-art's-sake and business. Sounds like a good thing to me. Though, I suspect that, a hundred years from now, no one will be reading any of us (from Locke to Patterson, from the guy writing post-modern stories on toilet paper and back again). Well, maybe my great-grandkids will be reading my stuff and saying, "gee, Mom never told me that Great-Grandpa was a nut."

 

To a degree, but for most people here, I'd imagine that the sales part is a half that wouldn't fly without the other 50% of affecting the reader, or producing something you're truly proud of. There's been a lot of bluster about Locke, but everything focuses on the sales stats. In a decade, or even a few years, is his work going to have made enough of an impact to still be remembered? Not everyone wants to be the new Dickens, but this cynical way of breaking down literature to the base elements of what sells the most the fastest will only ever result in work that's completely transient. It's the boybands of writing.

good points. i would assume that every writer here would do near anything for his sales though. i will say i'm glad there are many fine writers who do put pride into their work but i must give credit to mr locke. he's done well for himself and kudos to him. i also think he's done alot for the indie movement, but won't receive the credit due.

 

I think John Locke is brilliant.

Whether the strategies in his book will work for everybody is very doubtful. Locke got his success at a certain point in time. The same tactics might not work as well anymore. The general strategy is still sound, but, then again, it's hardly new. Try to maximalize initial sales and build on that.

I think he moved beyond that. His "How I sold..." delivered what he promised it would deliver. What it also did — and what he didn't tell explicitly — is that it is one gigantic promotion for his other books. Core readership: we, indies. "Look for yourself what the level of writing is to be successful. It's easy. Just buy my books." And a lot of us did, keeping him high in Amazon's rankings.

There were lessons in the book, but also: the book itself was the lesson.

PS: I exchanged a few mails with him. John Locke is very professional and very friendly. He replied rather promptly and it was no generic mail either. I could tell he had visited my website because he commented upon it.

 

I think John Locke is brilliant.

Whether the strategies in his book will work for everybody is very doubtful. Locke got his success at a certain point in time. The same tactics might not work as well anymore. The general strategy is still sound, but, then again, it's hardly new. Try to maximalize initial sales and build on that.

I think he moved beyond that. His "How I sold..." delivered what he promised it would deliver. What it also did - and what he didn't tell explicitly - is that it is one gigantic promotion for his other books. Core readership: we, indies. "Look for yourself what the level of writing is to be successful. It's easy. Just buy my books." And a lot of us did, keeping him high in Amazon's rankings.

There were lessons in the book, but also: the book itself was the lesson.

PS: I exchanged a few mails with him. John Locke is very professional and very friendly. He replied rather promptly and it was no generic mail either. I could tell he had visited my website because he commented upon it.

Well said. He rid himself of ego and marketed his work to a wide audience, doing everything right. Wish more indies had in them what he has.

 

I find the replies here interesting, in particular

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

I absolutely agree. I do not buy that one must be some sort of artiste to be a "real writer".

 

His readers would turn on him. You really sound like you are jealous of his success.

Surprised it took so long for someone to pull this moldy old chestnut outta their attack bag. Gimme a break, man.

 

Well said. He rid himself of ego and marketed his work to a wide audience, doing everything right. Wish more indies had in them what he has.

Writers are supposed to be devoid of egos now? Good grief. Those will be some uninteresting writers!

 

Writers are supposed to be devoid of egos now? Good grief. Those will be some uninteresting writers!

i would assume that once a book is done and headed to 'print', ego must go out the window.

 

Writers are supposed to be devoid of egos now? Good grief. Those will be some uninteresting writers!

Yep. With no opinion whatsoever on anything. (Beware the Lurking Reader.) And with a thick, teflon-coated skin.

Seriously: as indies we have two personas, the writer and the publisher. Ideally, never the twain should meet.

 

Book sales stroke the ego. Ego means you want to sell as many copies as possible. I would argue that you have to have ego to go out there and push your books. Someone without a healthy ego would keep them in a drawer.

 

Book sales stroke the ego. Ego means you want to sell as many copies as possible. I would argue that you have to have ego to go out there and push your books. Someone without a healthy ego would keep them in a drawer.

perhaps. perhaps not. i'm not a writer so i couldn't tell you