I love my job. I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I was inspired every time a book left me feeling like the characters were my friends. I admit to laughing out loud and crying on multiple occasions when reading, though I am not by nature a crier. Every book like this leaves me with renewed passion to follow in the author’s footsteps. With Faith’s Journey being released a year ago the sequel, Grasping Hope, coming out in March, I have begun to see the dream become reality. And I love it, most of it.
Before publication I’d participated in enough classes and workshops to know writing is more than writing. I could converse about platforms, query letters, and elevator pitches with anyone interested. But let’s be real, only other authors are actually interested in those discussions! I knew to expect the cutting of beloved scenes. I knew even the title I agonized over could be erased for something the publisher found more worthy. I knew these things, but I didn’t KNOW these things. Now I do.
I’m learning more about technology than I ever wanted to know. However, one quick discussion shows I’m still a novice. The monster of marketing lurks in the shadows of my mind. I fight the dread it brings. But I know I have to learn the magic code that tames the beast or it will kill my dream of writing. And networking with other authors and publishers is the marketing monster’s equally daunting cousin. I’m an introvert. The networking side of writing pushes me into an unnatural level of extroversion.
These are things I knew in my mind as I became an author, but living with their reality can be overwhelming. I’ll be honest. I’ve never felt more uneducated in my life. These things are challenging, but I am up to the challenge. I will tame the beasts and learn to be a marketing, blogging, and networking pro. And in truth, I don’t dislike these things. I’m simply not proficient at them yet.
No, these are not the parts of my job I find less than fun. One day, I believe I will not only do them, I will enjoy them. I’m simply in the learning stages right now. The less than fun things fall in the editing category of writing. I don’t mind cutting things. As much as I’ve heard others complain about changing “their baby”, I’ve never looked at it like that. It helps my book grow up and become the best it can be. It’s an opportunity to make my writing stronger. The final read through is tedious though.
By the time I get the final manuscript, I’ve read my book multiple times. This time, however, I read it out loud. That makes it a slower process. I’m ready to be done. I’m ready to see my book in print, and I’m bogged down with a slow reading. But it’s necessary. Reading this way helps find errors my mind would otherwise gloss over. I have to approach it with this perspective. And to be fair, it’s probably not even the process that I chafe at. It’s the waiting.
Grasping Hope comes out in a month. The final read through and the cover are the only things standing in the way. Publication is close. The finish line is in sight, but these two hurdles stand in my way. I can’t rush it or those hurdles won’t be successfully cleared. But boy do I want to be at that finish line.
Well. Would you look at that. I guess there’s really not anything about my job I don’t like or won’t like once I get past the learning curve. Some things aren’t exciting, but they positively impact my writing so I don’t mind doing them. The thing I don’t like is waiting. And that’s a problem that will follow me wherever I go.
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I don’t like waiting, either, but you’re right. It’s a part of the process. And if we use that waiting time wisely, it makes the release date even better. 🙂
And my book comes out after yours, so at least you’re closer than I am. Ha!
It will be here before you know it!
Were we separated at birth? I have the EXACT same concerns and feel the EXACT same sense of insecurity when dealing with all the newness of the publishing world…and blogging! However, now I will know I have a kindred spirit out there experiencing all the same fears (and joy) I am! This is a wonderful post and one that has blessed my socks off! Thank you, Regina!
Oh, my goodness. I was just reading over what I’d written and realized I called you Regina. What can I say. It was past my bedtime that night. Sorry, girl. It was a GREAT post! 🙂
I know the feeling. I made an event with the wrong day because I was working while tired! Thank you. I didn’t want to assume you were speaking to me and not Regina.
Reading this encourages me. I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling these things. Like you, I’m on that learning curve as well! And congratulations on Grasping Hope!
Thank you!
Lovely post, Heather.
I agree on the learning curve. People call me the human sponge because I can learn really quickly, but even KNOWING what to do, doesn’t make DOING it easier. The balance of all the jobs required as an author and life outside writing is the hardest part. Praying the Lord shows you what will work best for you.
The thing about marketing that can be so overwhelming is that there are so many ways to do it. Nearly every marketing guru has a “new and improved” method, making it easy to get distracted by shiny objects. Your best marketing tool is your book. If it’s a great book, people will read it, write reviews, and tell their friends about it.
What I tell my clients is this: (1) Build your email list. Hands down that’s the best sales tool you have as an author. (2) Work on ways to get more traffic to your website. One of the easiest ways is using other people’s people – group blogs, guest posting, interviewing other authors, podcasting, etc., are all ways to build your website’s traffic by using the established audiences of other authors. (3) Don’t stress so much about social media. It’s not that great of a return on your time investment. Yes, you need to do it, but focus on sending traffic to your website with the intent of getting more email signups. Pick one or two social media platforms and get good at those. Personally, I’d suggest Facebook and Instagram, but you can do well with Pinterest and Twitter, too. It’s what works best for you. Don’t ignore all the platforms, but focus most of your energies on the two where your audience is. Once you get those down, branch out and try new things. Video is always a good choice, too, when you get ready to branch out.
The waiting part does take patience. Like birthing a baby, though, it’s worth the pain. Marketing consumes a lot of a writer’s time. If we only knew where to promote our books for the best results (profit), we could make wiser use of our time. Like writing the next best seller. Lol.
Waiting can be hard. I am thankful when I receive good news about my writing. 🙂
Heather, I love your positive attitude! Good luck with your first book!