Totally Buried in Work
@bagarad (14283)
Paso Robles, California
October 6, 2019 1:58am CST
I guess that's better than being buried period, LOL. Marketing my book inventory takes about all the energy I've got. I barely have time to write anything anywhere anymore. I even took a month off from contributing to the ReviewThis blog during September. And I've cut way down on Medium. I keep meaning to write, but I have to devote most daytime and some evening hours to listing, promoting, selling, and shipping books. I'm selling on Biblio.com, Homeschool Used Book, and Instagram .
Each site requires a different listing form. To be competitive on Instagram requires several photos and possibly a video of a book's contents. Biblio doesn't require a photo, but it's recommended. Homeschool Used Book requires a photo of the actual copy of the book you are listing.
I need to use my camera for Biblio photos and my phone for Instagram photos. Gradually I'm getting more efficient at using Evernote to write descriptions on my computer that I can paste into IG on my phone. It's a constant learning curve.
A also need to use different order processing software for each site. All this learning helps keep my brain alive. After working hard on books all day, I have little energy or motivation left to write or get on social media except for promotional purposes. At the end of the day I'm just drained.
Today I was too tired to do much of anything. So I started reading another Jan Karon book in the Mitford Series -- #14. I'm really enjoying it. Have you read any good books lately?
11 people like this
7 responses
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
7 Oct 19
I like James Patterson. I'm just too drained to read thrillers at the moment. They require emotional energy. Jan Karon writes warmhearted books set in small towns with lovable characters with problems and daily lives most people can relate to. There is always a touch of humor. Something I always like. The main character is an Episcopal priest. His wife is an artist. They have an adopted son. The books show realistic characters trying to navigate the same kinds of problems most of us have. They are uplifting but not preachy. They are relaxing and unlike with thrillers, you can put the book down for a few hours if you need to.
Since you've seen my listings on IG, you know that in almost every case I show photos of the actual book or another in the same condition if I have more than one copy.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16548)
• China
6 Oct 19
Small wonder we see little of you here .You have been swamped with work of Marketing your book inventory .Take care yourself !
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
6 Oct 19
I started reading a Mary Higgins Clark book yesterday.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54407)
• United States
6 Oct 19
The more you talk about this project, the bigger it seems. I am really impressed!
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
7 Oct 19
It is a big project. I still have to edit about 3,000 listings on Biblio that are already in my listing software. Then I have a few hundred more that aren't listed anywhere. I list those which are most appropriate for my target audience on Instagram first. Tonight I'm really tired, but I have a blog post due for Review This on Wednesday and I need to get it written. I don't like to wait for the last minute. I also need to post something on Medium this week, since I only got one post up last week. On those sites I have to fuss a lot more over titles and photos that I have to here.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54407)
• United States
7 Oct 19
@bagarad i understand that. i remember sorting through my dads books after he passed. It took 4 of us two days, and we already had a place to donate the books.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
7 Oct 19
@DocAndersen When I donate any of my inventory, I have to list the title and my cost for the IRS to show what I got rid of. That's kind of a pain. My own books I can just put in a box and estimate the value.
@ptrikha_2 (45576)
• India
11 Jan 20
That looks like an interesting read. Of late, I have read a few of Agatha Christie's works, and one is still in progress.
