Surviving The Slump
So you've written a novel. That's quite an accomplishment. People you tell express surprise and ask questions about it. One of the worst: "Is it any good?" One of the best: "Are you going to write a sequel?" You smile, you chat, you talk it up, because you believe in your book and you want people to read it and enjoy it. Then the rush is over and you face the prospect of The Slump: the period when your initial surge of sales tapers off or stops altogether. Perhaps you never experienced the Slump, but I've talked to many writers who have, and some even survived it - intact and willing to talk about it.
What to do in those long dark days when your Tweets and blog posts and encouraging comments result in book sales statements that refuse to separate from the zero mark? What to do when cannot get reviews of your work? What to do when the 'Buzz' dies? What, indeed.
First, don't give up. Unless you suck at writing and are unwilling to learn how to write better, you should stick out the dry season. I have been in dry seasons, but they do pass--keep the faith.
Second, don't be obnoxious. Blaming others for your lack of readers is not helpful. Suggesting that the wrong type of people are reading your stuff (ergo, your slow sales/low reviews) is not helpful. Continue to engage in social media in a positive way... give your potential readers some reason to think of you and your past readers some reason to keep thinking of you. (This does not mean spam your Twitter followers with sixty per hour entreats to buy your book).
Third, keep writing! This is the most valuable piece of information that I hear from established authors, which is why I saved it for last. Every time I've been morose or angry that my books are languishing, I take that emotional energy and go WRITE. Guess what my characters are like when their creator feels high emotions? Do they plod or pop? They more than pop, they go BANG! Think about how it feels to write an emotionally REAL scene... REMEMBER it, LIVE it and write from that place again and again. Because someday, so they tell me, enough people will read your stuff and like it. Like it so much that they'll jump up and talk about it and keep talking about it, along with their friends, and so on and so on--one positive comment at a time--building that roadway to your success.
What to do in those long dark days when your Tweets and blog posts and encouraging comments result in book sales statements that refuse to separate from the zero mark? What to do when cannot get reviews of your work? What to do when the 'Buzz' dies? What, indeed.
First, don't give up. Unless you suck at writing and are unwilling to learn how to write better, you should stick out the dry season. I have been in dry seasons, but they do pass--keep the faith.
Second, don't be obnoxious. Blaming others for your lack of readers is not helpful. Suggesting that the wrong type of people are reading your stuff (ergo, your slow sales/low reviews) is not helpful. Continue to engage in social media in a positive way... give your potential readers some reason to think of you and your past readers some reason to keep thinking of you. (This does not mean spam your Twitter followers with sixty per hour entreats to buy your book).
Third, keep writing! This is the most valuable piece of information that I hear from established authors, which is why I saved it for last. Every time I've been morose or angry that my books are languishing, I take that emotional energy and go WRITE. Guess what my characters are like when their creator feels high emotions? Do they plod or pop? They more than pop, they go BANG! Think about how it feels to write an emotionally REAL scene... REMEMBER it, LIVE it and write from that place again and again. Because someday, so they tell me, enough people will read your stuff and like it. Like it so much that they'll jump up and talk about it and keep talking about it, along with their friends, and so on and so on--one positive comment at a time--building that roadway to your success.
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