H.M. Ward's Rebel University

I hadn't heard but I am in HM's FB group. She is still writing and never stopped. She's been mentoring writers for years but for free. She gives all kinds of tips to writers in her group. I don't blame her for charging though because she has sold millions of books so she at least has that to her name. I have an issue with people acting like they are experts but haven't done anything. At least H.M. has the stuff to back it up. So when folks like her talk, I like to listen. LOL!

I like H.M. a lot because when I reached out to her in an email to let her know I found a book I felt was plagiarized from her work, she was so nice and sweet. This was a few years back. That's how we first made contact. Anyway, I had known her of course from my years of lurking on Kboards so I saw her journey from when she was struggling until when she became a hit. She is so down-to-earth and so helpful to other authors which really impresses me because some authors on her level act like they are too good to talk to other people let alone help. I haven't popped into the group in a while but when I do she always has something profound to say and you can always reach out to her.

I will check in the group and see if she has mentioned this. Again, this is my first time hearing of it. Also, she is releasing a new series right now. The latest book came out in May and I am not sure but I believe she is writing other under pen names as well. Unless I am getting her confused with someone, I think she is. She even asked our opinion on helping her pick a design for one of her covers a month or so ago and man it was so cool to have H.M. Ward asking us for our opinions on her covers. She wanted to know what we felt looked best. We helped her tweak it and everything. 

So she is still publishing but not with a publisher or anything. She is indie. Forgive me but I forgot if she was one picked up by a big press or not. Can't remember. I don't think she is selling as well as she used to but many aren't. Sadly, that is normal because many indies make it big with one series or one book but might not catch fire with everything they write. A lot of authors who do well are just one-hit wonders. It's hard to keep that kind of momentum in today's book world. It was easier back then. Look at Amanda Hocking. She is indie again and I am not sure if she is even with her publisher anymore. I saw a new book she had. Didn't even know she had one. The ranking wasn't even good and she had like a handful of reviews. The issue with Amanda was her books didn't translate well to a trade audience. Back then it was easy to sell 99 cent books but that doesn't mean you can sell in physical stores and have the chops to sell at full-price. And I am not knocking her at all. I'm just saying that this was the issue. I paid attention to Amanda for years and it was like the trade contract killed the momentum she had. Plus she separated herself from indies who probably bought most of her SP books and were the reason she did so well. This is proof that just because you do well as an indie (especially back then when KDP was fresh) does not mean you fit the trade world. Many indies found out their books didn't translate well after they got publishers. I don't think anything Amanda did outside those initial Kindle books ever did much. Also, Amanda is another who would not have had the same success she had then if she started today. No way. She got big because she priced at 99 cents. That's no longer new. It's fair to say it was easier back then to make it as an indie. VERY. Some of the "stars" from the early days of KDP would probably not be selling even average now.

Yeah, I don't know what's worse. Going on and barely selling or making it big then falling back to where you were before? Notice we never hear from most of those big indies anymore? JA Konrath ran back to trade publishing the last thing I heard. After he said he never would go back. I don't know if Hugh Howey is still writing. He seems to be doing okay but haven't heard him release anything in years. Guess he might not have to. Yeah, it's weird that I can barely remember some of those biggies who used to be on Kboards because it's been so long since you heard of them. But yes, the harsh reality is just because you make it with one book or whatever does not mean you're gonna be James Patterson. 

A lot of the biggest got shattered by KU. Many of them were doing well wide then KU came and readers ran into the program and it hurt a lot of them. I think if KU hadn't started many of those indies would still be on top. Another thing, KU makes it so easy for anyone to become "popular". Many game the system or they are just content mills pumping out tropey stuff so they become popular quickly opposed to genuine writers with no great marketing savvy or who can't get out 10 books a month. A lot has changed since H.M. Ward and others hit it big. It's a whole different world. Had she released The Arrangement today, I doubt it would even make a blip but we must credit her for making serials popular again in romance because she started that craze. I can't remember anyone doing serials like her in indie publishing before The Arrangement. That was why it did so well. She released all those books, had cliffhangers, and got them out fast. That was "different" back then. Now? Meh. Everyone is doing it but the idea came from her.

I don't think anything HM has written since The Arrangement has been nearly as big but she is still on her game.  She did take a hit a few years back when KU started but she talked about this when she was still on Kboards. I think (if you can remember) she was the one pushing for Kboarders and readers to write Amazon about how unfair the KU system was.  I know it can be hard to know how she is doing because you might never see her. She is not all-out there in the public like many. Not sure she even does much social networking outside her little group. And her FB group is not some big crowded group either. It's a small group and that's what I like because she is very active and close-knit with you.

Anyway, it is so refreshing to see someone like H.M. who is still her sweet, genuine self despite selling millions of books. She hasn't changed at all, which we can't say for many who have "made" it.

I'll check out the site.

Thanks for sharing the link!

I don't remember anything about an indie reality show. (shakes head) I didn't join Kboards until 2014, so all I know from the early days are old threads I've read through the wayback machine. 13 million books is amazing!!!!!! I didn't know she had a Facebook group, I bet it is a good one.

I agree that it's definitely much harder to start out new now and make it big. There's so much more competition, and it's all pay to play. If I could support myself from TUOK I would consider that success. And I think that level, if you write and publish lots, and find a big enough audience is still viable, today. Especially if you're single, and berry thrifty. But really impressive hollywood level success is almost impossible.

I'm glad Holly is still doing well. Courses and coaching are a really great way to bring in extra money, and she is absolutely the real deal. Unlike some others I've seen who offer hyped up courses with probably fake earnings screenshots.

Speaking of services, I see Nicholas Erik now does an ads course too. And WOW, look at those prices. This is obviously not for the "average" author. I wish people would offer of these classes and courses for people who can't afford to spend tons of money. The ones who can spend 500 and 1000 dollars on a course most likely won't need your help.

Anyway, I stopped doing all types of click ads convinced it's a racket. Lately, it's been like throwing money away.


nicholaserik.com/ads/?fbclid=IwAR3JbBJqyetzzNn5KuZkm9hKtY3-lkXdB7MSx8uWxYhLSPNc6yBc6lgGBiY

Many authors have grown disgusted by many of these "services" popping up because they all seem to just be a way to get money off authors' backs. Especially when it's always so expensive and as bad as things are in the world right now and with all the folks struggling financially, there has been an increase of people starting these marketing classes and courses. And many don't know what they are talking about. As for HM, as I like her and yes she's sold millions of books. But that was years ago. So let's be honest, how much info can you share to help folks today when her recent books are not selling that well according to the rankings on Amazon? Her last few books are not even in the Top 100! That's hard to imagine if she has a huge fanbase.

I do agree with what you said about she probably needs some help now and that's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm not saying that to criticize her but I am sure HM is doing way better than the authors she's charging for these courses. And as I said, nothing she is offering is new. It's the same stuff. Mailing lists, etc. She claims to teach you how to market without ads but unless she has some secret sauce, which I doubt she has, I don't see anything that makes her courses different from a million others peddling the same thing. Again, just how helpful can you be if you were successful years ago but haven't done much of anything lately? The thing about publishing is tactics and strategies get old fast. The same stuff that helped HM become successful ten years ago is not going to do anything for an author today. And the stuff that might still work is what we already know. 

I'm so sick of these authors selling these overcharged courses and acting like they are doing people a favor. Now everyone is taking Skye Warren's FB ad course and it's over 600 dollars! Look, people can charge what they want but what gets me is they act like these courses and things are supposed to help struggling authors but what struggling author can afford to pay that much for a course and THEN spend money on FB ads? Everywhere you look now someone is throwing up a course or writing a how-to-write book. It's a big racket and everyone has caught on. Most of these people are making  their money off selling these courses and other things, not books. I just wish they'd stop pretending they want to help the struggling authors because if they did they wouldn't charge an arm and a leg for once course. It's sad that the authors who need the help the most can't afford the darn courses. If you look on Skye's course where she lists testimonials, everyone on there is some big time author who has been a popular author for years. Of course they say the course is good because they can afford to take it! They don't need the darn course if they are already bestselling authors. Where is the help for authors who really need it who can't afford all this stuff? Again, this is a racket that some authors or so-called marketers have caught onto. I'm not saying Skye or everyone is cheating folks but some of these people are and they use these courses just to get popularity. Let's not forget that's how Mark Dawson became popular, from selling those overpriced courses, not from his books. And I don't know why anyone is still listening to him after he admitted buying his own books to get on the bestseller list. Please. If anyone else had done that, indies would be burning them at the stake but because it's Mark Dawson people look the other way. Well, I don't. I think it's terrible when people write books and sell courses about how to be a bestseller and then you find out they are a fraud. Too many people trying to take advantage of other authors these days.

If you're a demonstrably successful author, whose sales have sunk, your pay per word is probably at its highest writing courses.