Do What you Need to Do

Sometimes you just have to do what you need to do. You might not like it. It might be really tough. But you need to do what you need to do.

As long as the reasons are right for you, then go through the hardships to achieve it. For example, I met up with my fellow author friend the other day. We had a great chat and both discussed the full awesomeness of our fantasy series. However, she then said to me that my titles, covers and synopsises don’t in any way show the full awesomeness of my series. Not one bit.

Normal people might have been upset or angry at themselves but I wasn’t. Instead I agreed with her; I could finally see it and understood that the younger me had made a mistake. A mistake of which was hindering my sales. So now I am working hard to fix that mistake whilst sales are low and there’s still time.

Do what you need to do.

I could have easily said she was wrong. I could have ignored her. I could have cried and vowed to never publish a book again. But because she told me in a respectful way, and said so after hearing the full extent of my series and asking questions, I realised that I believed her. It was comforting to know and truly realise for myself that the books are good, it’s just the marketing that needs work. Which makes sense because I am an author who’s still learning to market herself. There’s a lot of trial and error needed for this because what works for one doesn’t work for everyone.

I’m learning. I know I say that a lot and anyone who reads this must think I’m mad, but I write these things so that you know it’s okay to make mistakes. It’s okay to be unsure. In fact it’s okay to be totally sure about something but then change your mind later! That’s life. And when you’re young, you’re learning what you do and don’t like. Who you do and don’t like. Where you want to go. And most of all, who you want to be.

I’m just learning that not everyone has to like me or agree with me. I’m learning that everyone has an opinion and a lot of the time they will clash with my own, but once I know who I am and am confident in that person it won’t matter.

So I admit to my mistake with my books, but I don’t regret making them. I needed to do it to know what doesn’t work. I now have that knowledge to move forwards with. And I’ve engaged people and made sales and gained fans even with the bad marketing, so it can only go up from here.

I’m excited!

You will hear a lot of hard stuff in life but only take on what you know to be true and necessary. Then do what you need to do to get where you want to go, or be who you want to be.

Good luck.