Let's Talk Writing: A Quickie On Bad Reviews

So as some of you may know, my book has been getting a number of bad reviews. It's not all that bad, though I may be dulled to the effects of bad reviews, but even on Goodreads, where people tend to be more honest, the ratings seem to be quite balanced. My book's divisive though, that's confirmed - You either love it, sit on the fence or hate it. It's quite pronounced, especially considering that there are no 4-star reviews on Amazon where there are 3 5-stars.

Darn, even my book cover's crying because of it.

It's no doubt painful to get some bad reviews, but even those one and two-stars aren't all that bad (once you get past the depression and suicidal thoughts). Here are some reasons why:

1. Some of them are actually constructive critiques. My book has improved in quality, I believe, after I edited it based on some of the feedbacks. The first act has been shortened by about 2,000 words - and even I, as the author, have a problem with a first act that's too long.
2. They 'balance' out the ratings chart. You won't know what's a genuine good review until you've seen the bad. Lots of books out there have 90%-100% 5-stars. Would you believe that? Neither do I. Sure, while there are more bad reviews than I would like, at least it makes all the 5-star and even 3-star reviews all the more valuable and honest.
3. It's basically a 'Welcome to the Club' letter. All authors get them. There were some authors who were downright hated in their time, or ignored, like Edgar Allan Poe, but eventually people got around to liking them. The world changes much faster these days due to technology, so I believe I'll start seeing fans before I die. I already have, I believe. Thanks guys!
4. It inoculates me against bad decisions when it comes to marketing and writing. Sure, it hurts like a bitch, and it's okay to cry, groan and moan about it, but at the end of the day, it's going to bring you some insights on what to do when it comes to self-publishing. Now, I don't think my book's rubbish, but these bad reviews had given me these insights:

• Heightened publicity brings naysayers. It's normal.
• Bookbub brings naysayers. It's normal.
• I haven't found my niche audience yet.
• I've actually gone ahead and put my book where it could shine, like in World Literature > Asian and Literary on Amazon.
• People won't take long books from newbies like me.
• Crossing genres and mashing them together is best done after you've written more conventional books and gained enough fans.
• Plus all of the above and things I might have momentarily forgotten about because I'm rushing to get this out before I leave for the gym.

So things are fine - I'm not going to die in my sleep over some bad reviews. In fact, I think my second book might be released sooner than I expected! Formatting's nearly done. I just have one or two stories left to add chapters to and format, the back matter and possibly re-arranging the stories but otherwise, it's good to go.

See ya'll and thanks for reading!

Taking a Different Path

Hi guys,

I realise that I haven't posted for quite a while, but it's for good reason. Work, some serious action related to my books, my friends and writing circle, etc.

But I would like to talk about something that's been on the back of my mind for a while, and it's that my plans for my career in writing has taken a slight tilt.

Originally, I envisoned myself working on a sequel straight after my short story collection. That was up to late last year, I think.

But a lot had happened, is still happening, and things have changed. Recently, my novel had gained much attention. It was featured on Bookbub, and so gained almost 20,000 free eyeballs, a substantial amount of eyeballs who paid for my book, and unfortunately, some bad reviews for one problem or another.

The last bit had disheartened me a little, but it reinforced something that's been clear to me for more than half a year - I'm not ready to write the sequel to The Keeper of Pulau Purba just yet.

My second book has a flash fiction set in the same world as TKoPP, and a TKoPP short story will be featured in an anthology. The next natural step, I believe, are novellas. A good number of them.

The reason why I feel that I'm not ready for The Keeper of Pulau Purba sequel is not just the anxiety to do better, but that my universe hasn't been fleshed out very well yet. By the end of The Keeper of Pulau Purba, here's only 3 major characters left, one of whom is the main character. A few minor characters might be lucky enough to survive on Pulau Purba by the skin of their teeth, but that's it.

The world before and after the events of TKoPP, and outside the titular island itself hasn't even been explored. A lot of things are up in the air. Therefore, here's my re-adjusted plan:

Short Story Collection: Through the Abyssal Gates (Launch Date: 15 July 2017)

A Model Son: A Pulau Purba Short Story (Launch Date: 31 October 2017)

Pulau Purba Prequel (So yes, I'll be working on a prequel to The Keeper of Pulau Purba, a novella that will centre around a pair of marine conscripts. It will be set just before everything turns dark. It will be permanently free, possibly on multiple platforms) (Est. Launch Date: 15 January 2018)

Pulau Purba Interquels x3 (This part is major. I will be writing a series of 3 novellas set during and directly after the events of the original novel. They will all be told from wildly different perspectives. One is already set in stone: it will be told from the angle of a prepubescent Christian girl, and her path will come really close to those of some of the characters in TKoPP. I'm still deciding on the other two) (Est. Launch Date: 4-5 months intervals, so something lik 15 May/June '18,  15 September/October '18  and 15 January/February '19 respectively.)

So there you have it! As you can see, the timeframe for the development of these novels is a far cry from the estimated 18 months cycle of my original novel! Exciting things are going to happen!

But then again, you never know how things will change. My productivity has been up recently, and it can only go up even further as I quit my job for a career in freelance tutoring. You might end up seeing the Prequel by December this year, and all of the Interquels long before 2018 is over...

Through the Abyssal Gates Is Now on Pre-Order!

Hi guys,

I am proud to announce that my second book, a short story collection consisting of 8 short stories and 8 flash fictions, is now on Pre-Order.

It has been quite a journey, since I started writing it somewhere in September 2016. It is slated for launch on 15 July 2017. That makes about 11 months in development time, whew!

Anyway, here's how the cover looks like:

How about a little vacation?

Here's a little blurb to go along with the picture:

From the author of The Keeper of Pulau Purba, sixteen new dimensions of horror emerges.

You stand before a series of dark portals, each of which will take you to a reality worse than the next.

Step into the shoes of a modern day technician, who discovers a strange hatch in a rarely-used and secluded toilet.

Cower with a teenager who's all grown up, as a strange new neighbour moves in next to him, bringing along strange barrels of vinegar and mannerisms.

Join a woman and her boyfriend as they run an ultra-marathon, only to discover that something has been pursuing them.

Wake up to find yourself on an island city as overpopulated as it is futuristic, where a waitress clings on to her traditions even as everything is grasping to take it away.

Or enter a world rife with ancient artifacts and deadly creatures, where a young man must risk all to save his father.

Many more worlds await, and once you enter the abyssal gate, there is no turning back.

A collection of eight short stories and eight flash fictions, there's always a little something for everyone beyond the threshold.

Oh, and watch your head.

Those are just five of the sixteen worlds you will tour if you choose to take that journey with me. I will leave the rest of them as a surprise for when you do. In the meantime, here's a link to the store page: Through the Abyssal Gates

Oh, and by the way, to celebrate the pre-order of my second book, I've made my first book free for the next five days. Enjoy: The Keeper of Pulau Purba