LITERARY WORLD SUPERHEROES UNITE!
Who, you ask, are the literary
world superheroes?
Why, YOU, of course!
What? How can that be?
Well, let me explain. Some say authors
are an endangered species who have been forced to navigate some pretty choppy
waters. Not only have they fled in masses from the traditional publishing
industry to “do their own thing” or to be hybrid authors with a foot in each
world, but then there is also the rumor that if scammers don’t kill the industry
first, AI will render them useless.
Nooo!!! Say it ain’t so.
(See me shaking my head and shrugging.)
I don’t know. I have always
believed that life makes a way, that when one door closes, another opens. Of
course, that door might be a window or…as is often the case for me…a hole in
the wall hidden behind a tarp. In any case, when things start to go south, I
tend to start turning shit over, looking for that hole in the wall.
But you can pretty much count on
the fact that there is little protection for the average author under the wings
of the big publishing companies. As competition gets fiercer, they do too. They
are not charity organizations; they are in business to make money. And to do
that, they will dictate changes to your stories, dictate topics that will and
will not get published, dictate prices and formats and every other little thing
that feeds into their bottom line. That is how they stay in business.
And who does that affect? Not just
authors—it affects YOU too! Because it changes the stories we write for you, it
eliminates stories you will never know you needed to read, and it sometimes frustrates
authors to the point of driving them into other professions.
Who loses? Everyone!
But wait, before you scoff at the
idea of authors in need of rescue, let me remind you that while there are many
authors making a bundle selling books, there are others who are actually paying
people to read their books with the cost of giveaways and advertising, on top
of slow sales. In 2022, the median writing and self-publishing revenue was
$12,749. For a full-time job, that works out to somewhere around half of
minimum wage in some states. When you consider that there are authors in that
bucket who are making millions per year, that means there are a whole lot of
authors on the other side of that $12K median point!
Also, while there are a number of
publishing platforms that allow authors to upload their books for free, it ain’t
free to produce and sell a book. Not by a long shot. Remember, there is the
time invested in writing, editing, formatting, cover creation, uploading,
promoting, determining market positioning and pricing, and if there is anything
left over at the end of the month, there is the cost of advertising. Then,
after the book is sold, there are more costs, such as the middleman’s cut, the
delivery and shipping costs, packaging costs, and taxes for every stinking taxing
authority imaginable. And don’t even get
me started on the cost of all of the tools an author has to invest in, such as
word processing, text formatting, graphics creation, mailing list support,
royalty reporting, sales reporting, free download portals…and so, so many more.
It ain’t cheap…not if you’re going
to do it justice.
Hence, the push toward new options
like Kickstarter which, in my opinion, is a platform where the weird and
wonderful collide, where a potato salad or a lighted camp stool can grab the
limelight, and where authors are now seeking refuge from the ever-elusive
publishing fairy godmother—who I sometimes refer to as “the bitch with the
wand.” (I think she might be related to Karma.)
So, what makes you a Literary World
Superhero? Your ability to kick the ass of the bitch with the wand, that’s
what! Your reading and spending habits,
your determination to support authors you enjoy, your commitment to making sure
you obtain your reading materials legally…and these days…your willingness to
explore new avenues for supporting your favorite authors directly.
So…that pretty much makes authors
the endangered species you never knew you needed. And now those elusive
creatures are beginning to turn to Kickstarter—not only for their survival in
the wild, but also to defend their right to write the stories in their hearts,
and your right to read what you love.
But what's in it for you aside
from all the stories you can read?
VIP Access to the Bookish Binge
Party. Imagine
sipping your tea and reading that hot-off-the-press novel while the masses are
still stuck in "pre-order" purgatory. Backing a Kickstarter campaign
means you get early access to the literary goodies. Talk about a bookworm's
version of Netflix and hot cocoa!
Behind-the-Scenes Drama. Forget reality TV. Get your backstage
pass to the creative process. Expect updates, sneak peeks, and glimpses into
the author's wild writerly journey. Will there be tears? Drama? Writer's
block-induced meltdowns? Tune in to find out.
Collector's Edition Goodies. Those signed copies, limited-edition covers, and custom
artwork—in other words, the good shit.
You're Not Just a Reader, You're a
Co-Creator. Backing
an author's Kickstarter campaign sometimes comes with the power to influence
the story, cover design, and more…sometimes they will even give you a walk-on
part! And…don’t forget that your backing sometimes allows them to create the
weird and wonderful.
Swag Galore. Shot glasses, flasks, bookmarks, artwork,
and other book-related swag—things to let you flaunt your indulgence like a
boss!
Joining the Literary Illuminati. Become part of an exclusive club. You're
supporting emerging voices, shaping the future of storytelling, finding new
talent, and encouraging risk-taking. Who needs secret handshakes, anyway?
Fueling Your Book Addiction
Guilt-Free. Got
an addiction? An insatiable craving for books? It’s all-out gratification
without any of the guilt—you're investing in literary artistry.
Keeping Karma From the Door. Lastly, there's the warm, fuzzies
of earning karma points. Who knows where helping an author to survive in the
wild can lead? Will you be the one to put the next bestseller over the hurdle,
or to launch the next big-name author?
So, there you have it…Kickstarter
isn't just a platform for quirky projects; it's your ticket to a world of
literary extravagance, where you can support authors, wallow in your bookish
obsessions, and revel in the delightful chaos of it all. Now, go back a few campaigns.
It doesn’t matter if you back them for a thousand dollars or a buck…it all helps—and
it is all APPRECIATED.
Now go put on your cape and bask
in the glory of being a literary superhero. YOU ARE THE BOMB!
And here is the link to start
with. 😊 Just sayin… (What?
You knew I’d get there eventually.)
COWBOY CRUSH CAMPAIGN
Well, that’s my story, unvarnished and unexaggerated, and I’m stickin’ to it. Hang on tight now ‘cuz we’re
runnin’ this puppy for the finish line—we got less than 7 days to kick the ass
of the bitch with the wand!
Bring it on!
Love ya,
Sign up for Kayce’s newsletter so you don't miss any of the
shenanigans—and be sure to forward the link to all your friends. What's a party
without friends?
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