Welcome to my first post in the Indie Life blogfest. To join, go here, where The Indelibles Writers have started this second Wednesday group where indie writers can share, comfort, encourage and basically, help each other manage the sometimes lonely life of being a writer.
Though this group is small, I believe it will grow and thrive because there is a need for it. Most writers get the answers they need from other writers. Need to know how to promote, how to use social media, how to self publish, how to find an agent, how to investigate the reputation of a small press, ask another writer. If they don't know, they know how to find out or someone who does know.
This brings to my point for this first post. When you become published, you'll find yourself checking your sales numbers, your reviews, and your ranks against other books in your genre. What you find might be encouraging or quite the opposite. It might discourage your from trying again. You might feel hopeless. But ... remember you're not competing against those numbers you obsess over.
If your book isn't doing well, do a better job or promotion. If your book isn't getting good reviews, try to learn something from them. And then make your next book better. You're competing against yourself. You must try to make every book better than the last one your wrote. You must improve your voice, make it unique and memorable. Create characters who readers will care about. Challenge your characters more than you did in all your previous works. The competition is your past work.
Do you see improvement in your work from one project to the next? Do you have other indie authors who have helped you along in your career? Am I the only one that blogger won't let upload a picture?
15 comments:
Competing against yourself - that is the best way to look at it.
I never knew about this group until now. Thanks for the heads up!
You have invaluable insight and information here. It's much appreciated. :)
I think it would be easy to get obsessed with the numbers. I used to do some data warehousing work in my former career - I might get particularly obsessed with numbers when that time comes. For now, I write....
I'm so glad to learn about this group. As an aspiring indie author, I think I could learn a lot from it.
And I agree with Tonja. I think it would be easy to get obsessed with numbers too. I know I definitely will. But your words are wise and I hope to remember them when the time comes.
Great idea for a blogfest. I love how the blogging world brings people together to support one another.
You're so right because if you compare yourself with others one of two things happen; you get haughty or depressed; neither is good.
good advice--i have seen where other people have been having problems with the pics :)
I've learned not to worry about the numbers or ranking. It just makes you nuts.
Awesome - thinking of your competition as your previous works is truly brilliant!!
Fantastic advice. I do keep looking at my numbers. All the indie authors I've interacted with have been great helps. We've got a wonderful community. I've definitely seen improvement in my writing over the years. And there's still room for more.
Every time you start something new it will be better than what you've written previously because you've learned.
I look at things I wrote a few years ago and I still see the same potential but I have to cringe because the writing is no longer up to my standards.
Lauren
I love your thoughts and tips!! I have learned a lot from the blogging community...I would like to someday join the ranks of a published community!
It is a great way to look at it. Always trying to do better than what you've done in the past. Raising the bar. Great post.
Sounds like an amazing group.
Thanks for the insights...
Each writer's journey is unique, and we shouldn't compare ourselves to the next person (but we sometimes do it, anyway...)
I used to work for Airtouch Cellular that was bought by Verizon. That brings back memories.
Good luck with your fourth book! Let me know if you want help with shout outs!
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