Self-publishing Genius!

     Being a self-publishing genius is NOT like running a marathon.  It's like running a super octathlon, while wearing a sleep mask.  Once you take the plunge into total responsibility for your work you are not just a writer, you are a marketer, and designer, and editor, and copy-editor, and advertising guru, and time management coach, and whatever the hell else you can pile on top of that '–er' heep.  There are three different parts of your brain at work.  The left, right, and center.  You heard me, the center part.  That's the part where a little greek chorus lives, it keeps you going against all odds, and tells you everything is going to be okay, especially if you have one more lemon wafer.  I imagine my center part is very large.     But, I have met people who can do all these things at once.  And they are all freaks.  just kidding.  no, maybe not.  I don't know maybe they are freaky in some way, like they have a third nipple or something.  Or maybe they are just very good at compartmentalizing, but that's not the point.  The point is you can't just write.  You can't just market.  You can't "get by" without editing.  No. No, you can't because you don't know the proper uses of comma's without a "comma guidebook".        It's still a new world in self-publishing.  I don't believe there is a single person who self-publishes and starts out thinking 'I'm going to write a book that everyone is going to read, and everyone is going to love it, and I'm going to make millions of dollars, and then they will make a movie out of it', because we are smarter than that.  well, there are probably a few but let's face it their elevator doesn't go to the top floor.  But that's not the point. The point is in order to finish the octathalon you have to take off the sleep mask and look at the unbelievably daunting task ahead of you.  Now, instead of freaking out as you imagine all the other "blind" people bumping into each other, chart your course.  Step one.  Imagine.
Next time on Billibatt blog:  My imagined conversation with JA Konrath, a true self-publishing genius.  Full disclosure:  I've never met Mr. Konrath, but I think he may be a freaky compartmentalizer.  And I mean that in the best possible way, like I don't think he has a third nipple or anything. who knows maybe he does.  it's hard to completely trust people with that much facial hair, except Santa Clause of course....