Okay, you’re in!

Being a lifetime indie ninja would help my writing because I could access workshops that would help me promote my books which would leave me more time to write.

Oh, gosh, where to start.

Well, I wrote a middle grade mystery story and completed the usual milestones: first chapter written, first half written, first complete draft written, first rewrite written, second rewrite written…and the beat goes on.

I submitted my manuscript to some publishers and started on my next novel. Amidst all the rejects, one wrote back asking me for a rewrite, and they gave me some pointers…third rewrite written. So, I re-submitted my manuscript to them again, and they declined saying ‘couldn’t ‘t connect with the protagonist’, ‘she’s flat’ and ‘too much chattiness’. I was distraught. Well, maybe that’s a bit too extreme, but I was upset. I was ready to chuck the whole thing in the garbage, and I haven’t even looked at my current WIP since. After I calmed down, I thought, perhaps, I would work on some short stories instead. I’m struggling even getting that going, but I’m pushing myself to stay motivated. THAT’S tough to do.
So, I guess this is a long winded way of saying I’m getting prepared to self publish my original novel, but I have no idea how to start or where to start. I need loads of help and, right now, oodles of encouragement. Having read your emails, which pop into my inbox, I know I will get all that as an Indie Ninja.

Thanks, for asking…Jane

I’ve been amazed by the generosity of the self-publishing community in general, but Toni and Shannon, you’ve been stellar examples of the concept of giving back. Duolit always has timely posts with advice and how-to’s for those of us trying to navigate new roles as marketers and authors. I look forward to your posts and share them via Twitter because I think the messages always strike the right balance between writing and publication tips, while keeping writers grounded. Self-publishing has been an amazing learning opportunity. Thanks for all you do to help fellow writers.

I’ve always felt two things – that I was put on this earth to write, and that my true purpose is to help people through my writing. And I have felt that purpose even more deeply since my son was diagnosed with autism and epilepsy. Since then, I’ve dedicated my spare (ha!) time to writing about these and other special needs topics, both in fiction and nonfiction forms. Lifetime Access to the Duolit Indie Ninjas would help me to learn ways to get more of my work out there, connecting with more readers who would benefit from it and enjoy it. I’m so glad I found Duolit! Thanks for all you do!

Okay so the confession is I’m not an author. I currently don’t plan on being one (although you never know, right?) But I am an author assistant and I do marketing work as well. Duolit has given me excellent ideas that I have used for authors I work with, and even if I have some idea I use Duolit has a way of putting the idea to paper in a way that makes sense. I believe with access to Indie Ninjas I will be able to better learn how I can assist every author I work with (which means in essence you would not be helping out just me but every person I help out 😉 ). As a current college student affording workshops and new books to increase my knowledge is very difficult, but thanks to the generosity of the literary community there is always something I can learn. And most of what I learn comes from my favorite team at Duolit.
-Kate Tilton
katetilton.com

I would love to join the elite group of Indie Ninjas. It would be a great honor to learn and become a successful author. I look forward to getting your emails in my inbox. They are so full of encouragement and knowledge. Please pick me.

Hi, Toni and Shannon. I’ve signed up because, knowing how much you two have helped me so far, I have complete confidence that lifetime membership with Duolit will be worth it… (Hopefully, I’ll be the winner, since I’m retired and living on a very limited income). What have you done for me so far? Given me tools and inspiration to set up a schedule for marketing and pretty much stick to it; given me Free marketing books, pdfs and organizational charts and checklists; set up my MailChimp account on my WordPress website/blog and supported my newbie-tech learning curve as my mind kept spinning out of control (Ooooh, guess what? Thanks to you, I’ve just sent out my third campaign and I think it’s pretty awesome.); you’ve offered invaluable boot camps and video conferencing for FREE; and, whenever I have a question, you gals at DUOLIT are right there to help me answer it; you never make me feel like an idiot, but rather you guide and encourage me to step out of my box and succeed… The list could go on an on, but I know you’ll have a gazillion winner-worthy comments to consider. Why? Because DUOLIT rocks! As The Bard might say, “Thanks, thanks and ever thank,” for all that you do… Bette

It is hard to get the picture of a slightly (OK, very) pudgy panda standing in a fearsome ninja stance, wearing her fearsome ninja costume, out of my mind. (Cartoon is sure to follow!) I never expected to find myself here, taking this quite different path from the one I started out on, that of a full time fine artist.
Well, the universe had other ideas, and here I am, still painting, but also drawing panda cartoons and publishing books on my own. I am currently taking your Weekend Warrior Workshops, (although these workshops are so packed with great information that I don’t know how you could get through even one on one weekend.) I am learning far more about things I thought I knew “enough” about than I ever thought possible.
I feel that I am at one of those crossroads, standing at the edge of a cliff, opening my world to a brand new thing, and mixing my metaphors with wild abandon! Not to go all metaphysical here, but at each of the crossroads I have approached in my life, it is as if there is a big neon sign in the sky, with a pointing arrow, pointed at precisely what I need to go forward. The trick, of course, is to recognize the exact thing that the arrow is pointing at.
“Trust your gut,” the wise woman says. The path to your door was a convoluted path (Alexis Grant blog exchange> Dana Sitar book launch> Facebook Writer’s Bucket List group > Duo-Lit, I believe was the progression) but I feel like I am exactly in the right place.
Would I like it if a publisher/ agent suddenly waved a lucrative contract in my face? You bet I would, but I would still want to be here at Duo-lit. I’ve been in the art biz long enough to know that the more I understand about how the business of art (or writing/publishing) works, the better I will work with someone else who helps to build my career as an author. Turning everything over to the gatekeepers be they gallery owners, agents or publishers, and not minding the store and learning what makes things work, is not a wise option.
I would love to win the free LIFETIME Ninja membership, for the obvious reasons (trying really hard not to whimper). Working with you on the workshops has been great (mandatory sucking up) and I can’t imagine better guides into the wild world of indie publishing.
Be the Bear!
(I think I would make an excellent ninja.)

I think you can help me with where to start marketing my book and keep me motivated doing it.

Hello!
My name is Michel King and I am an introvert. There… I said it… WHEW! Getting serious though, I have a really hard time reaching out to people and asking for anything, especially money. I’ve always been that way. For years my family would have to ask my sister (because she knows me better than anyone) if I liked the presents I got at Christmas or my birthday because I was too shy, and frankly embarrassed by the attention, to act as grateful as I felt. I thought that meant I’d look prideful or egotistic. And, that has carried over into my career. I have a book released now that isn’t selling much of anything, and another coming out in June that I am afraid will fail because I am too dang shy to market myself and don’t really know how to without looking like some deranged, atavistic neaderthal on social media annoying the crap out of everyone with giant marketing run-on sentences. (it’s okay, you can take a breath now) I know my writing is good. It may not be the best, but it is good, and I want to succeed more than anything! However, I know myself well enough to know that in order to do that, I am going to need some help and pointers. I’m a bit lost and seem to have misplaced my compass.
Sorry about the long-winded response, but we’re writers, right? That’s what we do. *shrugs with a shy smile*
Thank you.

A few months ago I retired from a 33 year career as an Army Reserve soldier – the last five years had me in assignments that were far more demanding than one weekend a month, (though without any additional pay for the higher demanded work -literally my reserve related expenses were often greater than my reserve pay check). My writing career was left on the back burner . Now I’m concentrating on the writing career I always wanted to develop but had to wait for the time to devote. Writing has become far more complicated than write, revise, submit, publish, write some more. Now a writer is so much more a entrepreneur of her work. With the indie-publishing opportunities, the writer is a small business where writing is one department that also relies upon the marketing, publishing, sales, and public relations components all competing for the writer’s attention, time, and investment of resources.

Which brings me to the opportunity of Indie Ninja Lifetime access. The resources that come with Indie Ninja Lifetime access are a huge, sustaining, constantly updating toolbox for the indie author. For me that means all in one place, many of the resources I need to self-educate, skill
update, and prudently distribute the investment of my time and focus without degrading my creative resources to the determent of actually writing. Too often, the search for information and gain of skills needed for the business of writing as opposed to the function of creative writing take up all the available time and the production of my creative product suffers.

I’m at the beginning of my writing career. There is lots going out, not a sustainable level of income returning. That makes selection of tools (workshops, online resources, anything with a price tag)
impacted by cost because as a retiree that won’t see a pension for another decade (reserves don’t draw pension until after sixty), cost is a factor. Free lifetime access will immediately benefit because I would have access to so much information, mentorship and support that is just out of reach currently while I trudge onward as an emerging writer who while publishing here and there is still at the contributor copy level . This can make a huge difference for me to become the successful author I’m aiming to become. Indie Ninja Lifetime Access is the Golden Ticket in the Willy Wonka of writing.

This is hard for me, a confirmed introvert. I’ve been told I write beautifully and I’m finally, at the ripe old age of 50-mumble, ready to test that theory. I’ve got three+ books in the works and will need the motivation and encouragement to launch them on the world. I think this might be the way to go!

I submitted once – hope I’m not repeating…but here goes…

I started my self-publishing journey in January with the release of my romantic suspense novel, Dangerous Ally. In the months since my debut, my confidence has waned as I continue to discover how much I DON’T KNOW about this industry. I love writing (and I love marketing too) but with working full time and raising a family, my time is precious and I hate wasting it!

With that in mind, the few steps of advice I’ve been able to incorporate from you has been very helpful to me and I think it would be extremely beneficial to have you “in my corner” on a regular basis. What I believe will help the most is a guiding hand that leverages my time and helps me work on only the most productive steps toward success.
Thanks very much for the opportunity!
Michelle

I’m ready to be a ninja! After a lifetime of hiding my writing from everyone, I decided to become a writer and share my work,which took lots of courage. I went to workshops, and started submitting the tried and true fashion. Agents and editors like my work, but nothing has ever happened. Then I learned about Indie and it is more acceptable, in fact, celebrated. The Indie world is NEW and EXCITING, but also feels as though I am blazing my own trail. Being an Indie Ninja with Duolit will feel like I have a support system as I publish, which I know I will this year!!!

D: dedicated to the process of examining what works and what might not on Indie Planet, and willing to try new things…AND admit when I need help, which is how I feel right now…because I feel so scattered when it comes to handling the Indie Planet where I want to live and thrive…too many choices and so much information out there…which path do I take? Who do I listen to?
U: understanding that I cannot figure this out by myself, but willing to take the time to learn what I need to learn from mentors and tribe members…yes, I need a ninja tribe…
O: over the moon with successes I’ve had so far as an indie author (with a traditional print background), but feeling like I’ve just stepped off a playground merry-go-round–nauseated, out of breath, happy, confused, dizzy, and wishing there were more of us playing together…and hoping someone might come along to nudge me back onto the merry-go-round when I hesitate.
L: listener to those who have gone before me, those who have the wisdom I seek…so that I’m working smarter and not losing valuable time reinventing the wheel (or sitting paralyzed, staring at the screen and unable to take the next step).
I: inspired by readers who share with me…yesterday I learned that a mother and daughter are reading my 2nd ebook together (free through today)–they are their own little book club–as the mom is going through radiation and chemo…oh boy, that stopped any whining I might be doing….making all those hours with my butt in the chair so worthwhile!
T: talented writer–all my life I was the one people came to for help in writing something….sure, I was a secret writer during some of this time–but unsure if I could really write a whole book or channel the natural talent I had (early reader and lover of words AND having had the best creative writing teacher in high school–and, yes, he got a copy of my first print book along with a thank you letter!)….so, at one point, I decided if I was going to try writing fiction, I’d better try it…even though I wasn’t sure I could tell a story others wanted to read and, more importantly, that my stories might have an effect….whether to simply provide a fun read or an escape,or maybe a peek into a world that felt comfortingly familiar, or perhaps a distraction from a difficult day…or–most importantly, a reminder that happily-ever-after is possible. Because it is…as long as we participate in the process….
….and I want to participate in my own happily-ever-after by becoming an Indie Ninja !!!

Gals, it is as simple as that: in complete contrast to the two of you, I have no friends to support me in that task. .I do have friends but most of them have no idea, as far as the Internet is concerned.

Let alone that in my country, Greece, very few people have the knowledge that is needed for the marketing of my -or any other- book on the Internet (pros excluded!). And-God knows!- the book can actually sell! When released, some years ago by a traditional publishing house, here in Greece, it became a best-seller right away.

This is the first part of my explanation.
There’s a second one, though!

Among all information I have received so far, yours is that inspires me the most. I like your humor, your enthusiasm, your spontaneity. I would very willingly pay for your services, but as you may know, the financial situation in my country is terrible (So is mine!)

I confess that -not being an English native speaker- I’m a little skeptical about my English, but with some effort -and much study!- I can overcome this obstacle.

My second concern is my poor knowledge on marketing -but there I will have your super-wow instructions!

Thank you for the opportunity you give us all.

I wish you all the best for everything you do in your life.

Kate

Oooh – I’ve been added to a “lifetime membership interest list” – the prospect alone is a little intimidating. But that’s precisely why I think being added to the list would prove so helpful – because as time goes on and I evolve as an author (as opposed to just a “writer”) I realize more and more that this is a life-long endeavor, and there is still so much that I have yet to learn!

Once upon a time writing a book was a matter of putting words on pages until I reached a word count, made a point, and (hopefully) explained my argument. Never in my wildest childhood dreams did I imagine the myriad of other responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities that writing would present.

And here’s the thing – I still don’t know. I’m learning as I go. When it comes to things like marketing, author web pages, social media, and … you know … SELLING my books, I am starting from square 1 and trying to figure out the rules as I go. But I’m learning, and grabbing onto every valuable resource I can find (ehem … thoughtful nod in your direction) And I intend to KEEP learning, because I intend to KEEP going, to keep moving forward.

So how do I think this membership would prove useful to me? Gee, I don’t know – what possible use could I find in the ability to pick the brains, read the writings, and access the thoughts of two people whose strengths match so perfectly with my weaknesses? Hmmmmmmmm …. :0 I’m sorry, I’m not able to come up with anything more profound or serious than that. But here’s what I know – I’ll be taking full advantage of every opportunity given to me to learn what you two already know

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