Thursday, June 30, 2011

100 sites for fiction writers: #24 - KindleBoards

Kindle, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology - includes Special Offers & Sponsored ScreensaversThis is an ongoing series looking at websites that can be of help to fiction writers with their craft and career.


KindleBoards


This is not a site just for writers. KindleBoards is an online community for those who love the Kindle, Amazon's dedicated e-reader device. That being said, if you are interested in promoting your work as a fiction writer, KindleBoards is a place you need to be, especially if you are selling your fiction in e-books for the Kindle.

Why do I suggest this? Because there is a growing number of traditionally-published authors as well as self-published indie authors who hang out regularly at KindleBoards, especially in the Writers' Cafe forum. Here you can catch some advice from long-time pros and up-and-comers, as well as pick up some news concerning writing and publishing.

If you just want to talk books, you can always check out The Book Corner. Or maybe you have a Kindle, in which case you might want to look into the Kindle Accessories forum, or the Let's Talk Kindle! forum. There are also Book KlubsReviews of Kindle devices, and plenty more.

Also, don't forget to check out the Blog for news and information about the Kindle and Kindle-related products.

Don't forget you need to Register if you want to become a member and leave comments.

Yes, KindleBoards is basically a forum site, but it is a popular one and continues to grow. A fiction writer interested in promoting his or her own work could do a lot worse than hanging out on these forums.

Let me add here that if you join the folks over at KindleBoards, please do not go in there all gangbusters and start promoting your e-books and other writings all over the place. That is considered spamming, and it is rude. If you look around the various forums, you will find a handful of posts where it is appropriate to market your works, but doing nothing but talking about your books is likely to bore and tick off others. Think about it: How often do you really like someone bombarding you with advertising? Most of us don't like it. Go ahead and promote in the places at KindleBoards where it is appropriate, but otherwise, take it easy. The best way to promote your work is to be yourself and become an active part of the KindleBoards community. Ask questions, provide answers, chat it up. Make some friends. If you are an accessible person to others, they will begin to notice. And when people begin to notice you, your e-book sales will improve.

6 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

I have been there a time or two. I need to visit more. I'm almost afraid to start connecting with a whole new community. I hardly have time for the one I'm in.

Ty said...

Charles, I know what you mean. There's just too much online to keep up with. My wife has been trying to get me to become active in her circle of YouTube friends, but I keep feeling it's just one more thing to have to keep up with.

lorikitty said...

I signed up over there (finally) and haven't posted much. I'm not sure where the authors "hang out" so to speak. I know it's important to connect with your readers, but at the moment my readers are already my friends xD
Thanks for your writing resources by the way, indies need all the advice a new parent does!
(I found you on digg btw. interesting place)

Ty said...

Hi Lori,

Thanks for dropping by.

At KB, look under "The Book Bazaar" forum header and you should see a link to the "Writer's Cafe," which is where a lot of writers hang out.

lorikitty said...

I see it there at the top, cool! Thank you :)
I knew I'd seen it before but couldn't remember where. Somehow Book Bazaar never occurred to me.
Are you on there?

Ty said...

Yep, I'm over there. I usually leave a couple of responses per day.