The Relationship Between Marketing and Imposter Syndrome
Imposter Syndrome…Don’t Be Fooled
There’s a restaurant in town that gets all the love. The line for the drive-thru was insane—backing traffic up for half a mile literally. People were willing to wait for more than thirty minutes to place an order. Since I’d never been, I was excited to go. So, when I was in the area and saw that the line was a decent wait, I turned in. And that’s where the excitement ended. The servers were friendly, but the food was meh. No, not true. Let’s face it. It was nasty. It was a huge letdown, and I found myself asking what was wrong with me. Why was I different? Why didn’t I like it? How come everyone else enjoyed what I didn’t? I felt bad—like an outcast. When people asked me about my experience there, I was reluctant to tell them. I was embarrassed to admit that I didn’t like it. Later, when I began analyzing the situation, I realized it was similar to imposter syndrome.
Now, don’t misconstrue what I’m about to say. It’s no shade to anyone. It’s also not something many novice or lesser-established writers are willing to share. There’s a real fear of being judged, criticized, or labeled as bitter. It’s amazing how it’s becoming less common to tolerate diversified opinions. But some things need to be said to allow others to know they are not alone and that there’s not always a “right” or “correct” view.
So, here’s a true story. Once upon a time, there was a book that became a bestseller. Readers went wild for it. Literary critics…not so much. The book had many grammatical errors—more than acceptable by industry standards. Okay, let’s pause here to dispel the gaslighting that is bound to come. Even the best books edited by top-notch editors may have errors. Being professionally edited does not guarantee an error-free manuscript. What it does do is reduce the number of errors to a minimum or acceptable number. It seems to be a go-to for some reviewers to say a book needs “editing” simply because he/she didn’t jive with the story and assume it is an indie author when in reality the book was professionally edited (regardless if the author was indie or not). It leaves other readers to believe the writing is terrible. And just because an author is not well-established does not mean the author is indie.
Indie authors work hard to be taken seriously and get their work out there. Mad love goes to anyone who can do it professionally. Let’s face it. Anyone can type words into a computer program (or have AI do it) and upload it to a publishing site. But an authentic writer is going to put in the effort to do all the things to create and publish the best story possible. It’s not easy or cheap being an indie author. They invest in their craft.
Small press authors are often overlooked. Because they are traditionally published, they are sometimes dismissed as not having “indie author” struggles. The truth is it’s hard for many of these writers, too. No, they may not be responsible for paying out-of-pocket for editing and cover art, but they still face the same marketing issues. Small presses generally do not have the budget to promote authors the way the large publishing houses can. Due to contracts, small press authors sometimes are limited in how, where, and when they can promote their books.
The book that I was referring to previously was poorly edited. On every other page, there were multiple grammatical errors. I mean basic errors such as subject-verb agreement. However, let’s overlook all of that. The biggest issue was the technical errors. Now, I’m big on creative freedom and authors taking wide liberties in their writing, but it still has to make sense. If a writer describes a contemporary medical scene, the description needs to be in the range of being close to what the procedure actually looks like. For example, if a character has a separated shoulder unless the story is in the future or fantasy, it would be farfetched for readers to accept the character’s shoulder was relocated into the socket by taking an aspirin.
The writer in question did not research the topic he was writing about. The kidney is not the organ responsible for breathing. A category five hurricane’s maximum wind speed is not thirty miles per hour. This writer got the basic facts wrong. But at the end of the day, readers didn’t care. They were entertained. They enjoyed the story. And that’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with that. A person is free to like whatever he/she wants.
The reason I mentioned this is not to shame the author. On the contrary, it is to point out to writers that: A. There is a market for everyone. And B. Never compare yourself to another writer, especially not a well-established one. If you’re struggling, that does not necessarily mean something is wrong with your story. It likely means you haven’t found your target audience. If you’re new to writing, it can be difficult to find your people.
What I’m about to say next is controversial. Do not take it as gospel. I urge writers to research it for themselves. One piece of popular advice for new writers is to give away free copies of your book(s) to gain exposure. This is awesome in theory, and it does work. It can also backfire, and when it does, it can be devastating. Some sites hold promotions where they offer books free for download. It costs the site nothing (other than promoting the event) because the author isn’t paid. Where this goes south is that these sites do not restrict who can download. This means the book can get into the wrong hands.
For example, a colleague participated in one of these free promotions. Her book was a not-quite-dark romance. She listed trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. The story was dragged for the subject matter covered as if no warnings were mentioned. Words like “gross” and “cringe” were used. It’s perfectly fine not to like a book or to say a subject wasn’t executed well. It’s not okay to buy a book about fishing, that says it about fishing, proceeds to discuss fishing, and then criticize it for being about fishing because the reader doesn’t like to fish. Free promotions are a wonderful way to advertise. However, it does not work if the books being promoted are not getting into the hands of the right readers.
Another example is from an associate who is an atheist. He is very public about his view, and he depicts it in his writing. He participated in a free promotional event, and you guessed it, his book landed in a fundamental Christian book club. It went over like a dud. The book was panned not for the story but due to the author’s stance on religion. Why would they even think they would like a book like this? It’s okay that they didn’t. But why waste everyone’s time? They were not his audience. If he based his writing ability on those reviews, he’d never write another word. The reviews were vicious.
Now, let’s talk about commercialism. One well-established author who had such a large fanbase that her publishing house allowed her to do whatever she wanted. What she wanted was not to have her book edited by anyone. The book was one of lowest selling and readers complained about the poor quality. However, the book still sold millions. How was that possible? Because this author had such a following it didn’t matter what she wrote. People were going to buy her book. Others were going to purchase it because they wanted to be in on the trend. This particular book wasn’t about “quality.” Thus, a lesser-established writer shouldn’t think their book isn’t as good as a well-established author. Of course, that could be the case but maybe (and most likely) not.
I’ve said it before. Well-established became well-established (most of them at least) by working for years to get where they are. Some of them had help and didn’t do it on their own. Some were in the right place at the right time. While accessing books for many people is so easy now, some research has indicated the number of readers has decreased while the number of books on the market has increased. This has made it even more difficult for new authors to get noticed unless they already have celebrity status. Thus, the odds are worsened when they are hit with less than stellar reviews out the gate. Moreso, many review sites do not regulate what is being posted. This means trolls and people who purposefully leave harsh, vicious, and negative reviews for the sole purpose of harming, discrediting, or disrupting sales are left unchecked. And yes, there are people who do this. There also are reviewers who write spoilers, and the site does not blur or warn against those spoilers. As a result, potential readers lose interest.
Additionally, Some reviewers leave erroneous reviews. For example, one reviewer left a review slamming a book for its story plot. The only problem was the plot the reviewer described was not the plot of the book. In fact, nothing in the review happened in the book. It may have been an honest mistake of confusion or uploading in the wrong area. However, the results remained that it brought down the author’s overall rating and the review site refused to remove it. Authors are encouraged not to engage with reviews as reviews are for readers and not the authors. Yet, at the end of the day, books, stories, poems, etc. are the jobs of authors and writers. Negative reviews can hurt writers and interfere with their livelihoods. Well-established authors have the fanbase and publishing house interest to squash these types of issues. Most lesser-established authors do not. Once again, this demonstrates the importance for authors to target their books appropriately. There are many things outside of an author’s control. Marketing does not have to be one of them. And when one really looks carefully with a scrutinizing eye, a lot of the imposter syndrome stems from feeling inferior due to not having the following, popularity, contracts, endorsements, and/or advances of a well-established author. But really this boils down to the amount of time in the industry and marketing.
That’s a wrap on today’s topic. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button, and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.
If Brokeback Mountain, 8 Seconds, Poltergeist, and Supernatural had an orgy, Demon Rodeo would be the lovechild.
Demon Rodeo is available now on Amazon. For video book trailers, visit my TikTok page. The full blurb is on my Instagram and Amazon.
Demon Rodeo is the first book in the Chasing the Buckle series but can be read as a standalone. It’s a friends-to-lovers romance set in the rodeo world. These are not your typical cowboys. It’s a widely diverse cast of characters and a mashup of genres that aren’t always seen together. If you’re looking for a palate cleanser, this may be a book for you.
Order
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Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.
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Out of the Penalty Box (book #1) One minute in the box or a lifetime out. Defending the Net (book #2) Crossing the line could cost the game. Ice Gladiators (book #3) When the gloves come off, the games begin. Penalty Kill (book #4) Let the pucker begin. Future Goals (book #5) The future lies between a puck and a net.About the Author:
Hi, I’m Genevive, and I am a contemporary sports romance author. My home is in South Louisiana. If you like snark and giggles with a touch of steamy Cajun and Creole on the side, I may have your poison in my stash of books. Drop by the bayou and have a look around. The pirogues are always waiting for new visitors.
