This kind of A/B testing reminds me of the TV model of releasing a pilot, and the game model of play testing early builds. Nice to have some assurance the audience is responsive before committing to the full book.
This is an interesting idea. However, I think you would have to be an established writer with a sizeable loyal following for it to work. I doubt an unknown writer is going to find people willing to take part in such a program (especially if it required them to recruit friends.)
I have been able to get a handful of people to read my second novel in progress and give suggestions. But they were already fans of the first novel in the series.
You might be able to replicate this sort of system using one of the serialization subreddits, posting the first few chapters of several ideas and seeing which one gets the most traction. As a bonus, you could leverage the community awareness for any successful serial once it was finished.
Drawbacks would include the fact that vitality on one of those subreddits is still a bit of a black box, but at least you’d solve the lack of community aspect.
Yes, I still believe that there is no way to predict a bestselling novel. Even if a small group loves it, it's hard to know if that will be an indication of whether a large group loves it.
If art is suggestive, we can either write what others want (not knowing if masses will like it) or write what we want (not knowing if masses will like it). Either way, it's a gamble!
Fascinating stuff. Doubt this would work for me, though. Once I've started something, I have to see it through. I couldn't just write a few chapters and drop it if nobody liked it. But I can certainly see how this would fit well with the "write to market" technique.
Another great interview with an author who is trying something different. Sounds like publishing on a serial fiction platform could provide similar testing benefits. I also wonder if you could A/B test with your Substack subscribers by segmenting your list and sending one version to each segment.
I'm sure it could be done with a workaround of some sort. I have to admit though that I don't write for an audience, I write for me. So I'm not sure I'll try A/B testing myself.
Hmm, really interesting! It's a fascinating approach and I'm glad Mary noted at the end that it feels like it's given her *more* freedom, rather than constraining her. Data should only ever help, rather than hinder, I feel.
On the one hand I can't imagine giving this much control to readers, but then by the time I start writing I tend to be very clear on where I'm going. I don't think the A/B testing would work for my particular style of writing. But that said, I do write and publish as I go, traditionally on Wattpad and now on Substack - and that, in a way, is similar to what Mary's doing here. The feedback I get during that live writing helps to shape the book, so while I don't go all the way to A/B testing variants, there is still an organic connection between me and my readers.
I'm with you. I write for me, not for someone else. So I wouldn't actually want to test my chapters. That being said, I met MC over the weekend and she was explaining that she herself doesn't know what she wants to write, and that many times she has too many ideas for ways the story could go. So in that sense, I could see why she loves to do it that way!
This is a very interesting concept! I'm kind of in the same boat with having too many stories in my head to choose from and have been going solely off of my internal drive to pick the next story. A/B testing would be neat. I like the website, too. Brilliant!
Just fascinating. Like all your interviews, I love this one too -- not least because it gets down into the details of how this author is actually working (and selling) her books, and skips all the bland platitudes that are so common in pieces on how authors work in other places. Great stuff, Elle!
Yes, I think the Author's Guild can be helpful to authors. Especially if they want to go the traditional route! But I've also found it helpful to learn from other authors. Especially when they are doing something particularly innovative or different!
This kind of A/B testing reminds me of the TV model of releasing a pilot, and the game model of play testing early builds. Nice to have some assurance the audience is responsive before committing to the full book.
Oh, you're right! It's exactly like pilot testing!
This is an interesting idea. However, I think you would have to be an established writer with a sizeable loyal following for it to work. I doubt an unknown writer is going to find people willing to take part in such a program (especially if it required them to recruit friends.)
I have been able to get a handful of people to read my second novel in progress and give suggestions. But they were already fans of the first novel in the series.
But, as always, very thought-provoking.
You might be able to replicate this sort of system using one of the serialization subreddits, posting the first few chapters of several ideas and seeing which one gets the most traction. As a bonus, you could leverage the community awareness for any successful serial once it was finished.
Drawbacks would include the fact that vitality on one of those subreddits is still a bit of a black box, but at least you’d solve the lack of community aspect.
Yes, I still believe that there is no way to predict a bestselling novel. Even if a small group loves it, it's hard to know if that will be an indication of whether a large group loves it.
If art is suggestive, we can either write what others want (not knowing if masses will like it) or write what we want (not knowing if masses will like it). Either way, it's a gamble!
Agreed. It is more fun to write what you want to write. And if you are not getting rich, you might as well have fun.
Absolutely! (And what would getting rich be anyway if it wasn't fun!)
Fascinating stuff. Doubt this would work for me, though. Once I've started something, I have to see it through. I couldn't just write a few chapters and drop it if nobody liked it. But I can certainly see how this would fit well with the "write to market" technique.
I'm with you. Everyone's process is so different!
Elle, I'm trying to become a paid subscriber, but it says the account is no longer active . . .
Yikes! I *think* I fixed the issue. Will you let me know if it still doesn’t work? Thanks so much for telling me!
Another great interview with an author who is trying something different. Sounds like publishing on a serial fiction platform could provide similar testing benefits. I also wonder if you could A/B test with your Substack subscribers by segmenting your list and sending one version to each segment.
I'm sure it could be done with a workaround of some sort. I have to admit though that I don't write for an audience, I write for me. So I'm not sure I'll try A/B testing myself.
Hmm, really interesting! It's a fascinating approach and I'm glad Mary noted at the end that it feels like it's given her *more* freedom, rather than constraining her. Data should only ever help, rather than hinder, I feel.
On the one hand I can't imagine giving this much control to readers, but then by the time I start writing I tend to be very clear on where I'm going. I don't think the A/B testing would work for my particular style of writing. But that said, I do write and publish as I go, traditionally on Wattpad and now on Substack - and that, in a way, is similar to what Mary's doing here. The feedback I get during that live writing helps to shape the book, so while I don't go all the way to A/B testing variants, there is still an organic connection between me and my readers.
Thanks for sharing!
I'm with you. I write for me, not for someone else. So I wouldn't actually want to test my chapters. That being said, I met MC over the weekend and she was explaining that she herself doesn't know what she wants to write, and that many times she has too many ideas for ways the story could go. So in that sense, I could see why she loves to do it that way!
This is a very interesting concept! I'm kind of in the same boat with having too many stories in my head to choose from and have been going solely off of my internal drive to pick the next story. A/B testing would be neat. I like the website, too. Brilliant!
I know, I could see how that would really work well in that scenario. It's really cool on the inside too!!!
Just fascinating. Like all your interviews, I love this one too -- not least because it gets down into the details of how this author is actually working (and selling) her books, and skips all the bland platitudes that are so common in pieces on how authors work in other places. Great stuff, Elle!
I agree. She has really tried it all too!
I was so intrigued by this process. Thanks to you both for taking the time to explain how A/B testing works. It's fascinating.
Glad you liked it!
Yes, I think the Author's Guild can be helpful to authors. Especially if they want to go the traditional route! But I've also found it helpful to learn from other authors. Especially when they are doing something particularly innovative or different!