Welcome to the series of Posts from Your Archives, where bloggers put their trust in me. In this series, I dive into a blogger’s archives and select four posts to share here to my audience.
If you would like to know how it works here is the original post: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/04/28/smorgasbord-posts-from-your-archives-newseries-pot-luck-and-do-you-trust-me/
This is the third post for author Chuck Jackson and this week I have selected a post that Chuck wrote about editing software that I am sure you will find helpful if you are looking to buy a package.
Do you use Editing Software by Chuck Jackson
Many of you who follow me and my blog post, know I have complained about poor sales on my second book What Did I Do? I have it listed with Amazon’s KDP as an eBook and a paperback. Initially sales did well, but after three months, they have all but stopped. I tried for two weeks doing a promotional for $.99; I sold four. I have done the sponsored ads (e.g. pay per click). I’ve promoted it on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Flipboard, etc.
In my opinion there are several elements involved for the lack of sales. The prime consideration is the lack of reviews. I have pleaded and begged readers to leave a review. I get the typical promise, but they don’t follow through. I further believe the subject (e.g. child abuses) hinders people’s desire to read it. Whatever the cause, I have decided to not fret and move on.
What has been consistently selling is my first book One Month, Twenty Days, and a Wake Up. Even when I published it with syntax and grammar errors, it sells. Over the last month, I used the editing software ProWritingAid to clean up those errors. I also decided I would republish the edited revision. Since the book is selling well (for a writer at my level). I would further offer it as a paperback.
Even when it was time-consuming and demanding, I found it exhilarating going back over my work. I’m sure other writers have experienced the same feeling. My story entranced me where I had captured suspense and reality. What was embarrassing it was out in the public with all the errors.
I toyed sending it to the editor that did my second book. As an experiment, I’m trying using ProWritingAid instead. If the book wasn’t already selling, I would use an editor. Future books will for sure use an editor before publishing. I was surprised with what ProWritingAid pointed out as needed corrections. There weren’t excessive corrections, rather it pointed out corrections I had never heard before.
I never knew about ‘sticky’ words. Perhaps others call them by a different name. I never gave a thought about repeated words and the terminology of ‘echo words’. Then there were vague words. Even when it pointed out I was mixing “curly quotes with straight quotes’; I did not understand what that meant. I’m still pondering how this happened. There is an optional setting in Microsoft Word to use ‘curly quotes’ or ‘straight quotes’. When I looked I had ‘curly quotes’ turned off, yet Word was putting them in. Now I know ‘curly quotes’ are the preferred, I turned them on.
If you have used ProWritingAid, you understand its ability to go into depth in writing perfection. My opinion, if we made all the corrections it suggested, we would end up with an unimaginative writing and we would soon bore the reader. I changed my writing where it was obvious the correction made a smoother sentences or paragraphs. I made changes where the syntax or grammar was wrong. I felt sometimes you needed that adverb or adjective to show and not tell. Sometimes rewriting the passive voice sentence didn’t read well and I left it as is. My conclusion, editing software is great, but don’t take it literal.
©Chuck Jackson 2018
About Chuck Jackson
Chuck Jackson is a retired accountant living in South East Florida. He graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a BBA in Accounting. He spent the last 25 years of his career working as the Budget Manager for a Special District in Palm Beach County. He was a member of Government Finance Officer’s Association (GFOA) and Florida’s GFOA.
Since his retirement, Chuck has spent his years studying and enhancing his love for writing. In June 2016, he released his first book: One Month, 20 Days, and a Wake-Up. In July 2017 he released: What Did I Do?. May 2018 he released: Guilt — My Companion. All three books are available as an e-book or paperback.
Books by Chuck Jackson
One of the reviews for What Did I Do?
Jackson takes us back in time into his childhood where he was adopted by his parents at 14 months old. Where one would think adoptive parents would feel so blessed to have a child, this story isn’t one of them. The author opens his heart in his telling without whining or complaining of what he endured, but instead questions – What Did I Do? As we learn about the emotional neglect he suffered along with the physical attacks from his father, the author steals our heart and has us wanting to reach out and just hug the boy.
We get a good look at emotionally bankrupt parents who carry their own demons, which gives us a hint at how they project their own unhappiness in their lives on to poor Bobby (author’ name in the book). This void of love Bobby exists in doesn’t sour his desire to want his parents to love and appreciate him, but rather, disturbs him through life as to why they couldn’t give him any affection. Eventually, Bobby runs away from home with fears that the beatings won’t stop despite the apologies that sometimes come after a consequent attack.
The story gives us insight into not only what the child had to live with growing up and into adulthood, but has us shaking our heads at what on earth went wrong in his parents’ life to make them so self-absorbed and uncaring.
I would highly recommend this book to parents to have a look at what abuse can do to a child through Jackson’s eyes and words, as well as for anyone who has been abused to be inspired by how Jackson handled his life and still came out as a compassionate good person without falling victim to his upbringing and continuing the trend of abuse. #Recommended
Read all the reviews and buy the books: https://www.amazon.com/Chuck-Jackson/e/B01IX2PBEG
And Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chuck-Jackson/e/B01IX2PBEG
Read more reviews and follow Chuck on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18190755.Chuck_Jackson
Connect to Chuck Jackson
Website Blog: http://www.chuckjacksonknowme.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chuck_cljjlk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cljjlk/?ref=bookmarks
Flipboard – https://flipboard.com/@ChuckJackso2017
My thanks to Chuck for inviting me to share some posts from his archives. I hope you will head over and explore more yourself.. thanks Sally.
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Loved Chuck’s post. And also loved that book, What Did I Do, which, btw Sal, thanks for sharing my review. I think so many of us writers are trying to make heads or tails of what’s selling and what’s not, but the bottom line is I’ve heard ’round the grapevine that so many – even well established Indies are sharing their dismay in decline of sales. I don’t think it’s the subject matter at all for Chuck’s book because many who endure(d) similar events, look to books for comfort and outcomes. I also have a lifetime license with ProWritingAid. I find it helpful when revising after each chapter to turn it on and get a rundown of errors. Thankfully, I’ve gotten much better over the years and nothing big, but I have learned from the app – sticky words etc. But even using and editing app, my work still goes to an editor. The less heavy lifting for the editor, the cheaper the bill! 🙂 ❤
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I agree Debby about getting as much done as possible. When we first began we were getting manuscripts that had not even been spell checked. These days with the new software the majority of books that arrive are pretty much there, but we can tell those that have been edited by another set of eyes. ♥♥
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Of course you can FBI Sal. ❤ xxx
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♥
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Hi Debbie, I agree, the learning of how to promote and market your writing when you self-publish is as hard as trying to get a publisher to accept it (almost impossible). Yet with support with individuals like you and Sally, I have been able to get my work recognized. I take the craft of writing seriously, but it still is a hobby and not a career. I still use ProWritingAid. I think it is the best editing software, but I agree you still need a professional editor in the process. Thanks again for your support. HUGS
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Thank you for your lovely compliment Chuck. And I wholeheartedly agree, ProWritingAid, paid version is one of the top favorites for many writers. ❤ xx
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Pingback: Week Three — From My Archives – The Many Pieces of Chuck Jackson
Hi Sally,
Thank you again for promoting my work. A novice writer like myself attempts to change and perfect our writing. Since that post, ‘What Did I Do’ has increased its sales and is competitive with my first book. The lesson learned with the first book was even the best editing software does not catch everything that a human editor will find. It won’t find the transition error or areas where we should have shown not told and many more details. Writing is a learned skill and art. For me, it is a hobby I don’t take too seriously but enjoy enlightenment and keep my mind active. HUGS
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It is great to explore all options and combine them effectively Chuck.. we employ a number of grammar software programmes as well as have the author go through a live editor.. It is amazing what still gets through.. hugs
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Reblogged this on All About Writing and more.
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Thank you, Henrietta, for your reblog.
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U are welcome
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