Paradigm shift
Ever since I wrote last Thursday's post, I been doing a lot of thinking about my writing career. There's nothing I love more than creating stories from my imagination. It gives me more joy than anything else at this point in my life.
The key phrase in that last sentence is "at this point in my life." As a result of all this recent musing, along with the comments of my authors friends and associates, I've come to the conclusion that I have been putting too much pressure on myself - pressure to be prolific (at least two novels and one short a year). Pressure to make my books available with every profitable retailer. Pressure to promote my books on as many sites as possible. Pressure to do interviews and book features around the Internet. Pressure to post regularly to my blog. Pressure to stay connected with readers on thirty plus Facebook groups. Pressure to retweet for an endless number of Twitter followers. Pressure, pressure, pressure...
At my age, I realize that I can't look at my writing career, or what's left of it, in the same way my colleagues who are in their twenties, thirties and forties do. Neither should I pattern my writing and promotion plans after theirs no matter how successful they are.
I have released and promoted seven books in less than three years, and each one has made a Kindle bestseller list. Next month will be my third anniversary of being an indie author.
All I want to do is write books that my readers love, whether or not they make the Kindle bestseller lists. Since I don't have an author assistant, and still can't financially justify paying one, it looks like I either need to scale back and let things happen as God sees fit or continue trying to do everything myself and face the consequences to my health and sanity. Lately my blood pressure has been out of control. So far, everything the doctor has prescribed has given me some kind of ugly side effect or failed to control the numbers. I also need to lose 50-60 pounds, which is nearly impossible when you sit on your butt 10-12 hours a day and have two bad knees.
I guess all of this boils down to one thing -- I need to be me and stop being concerned about making a certain number of sales every month. Thank God I have a working husband....
The key phrase in that last sentence is "at this point in my life." As a result of all this recent musing, along with the comments of my authors friends and associates, I've come to the conclusion that I have been putting too much pressure on myself - pressure to be prolific (at least two novels and one short a year). Pressure to make my books available with every profitable retailer. Pressure to promote my books on as many sites as possible. Pressure to do interviews and book features around the Internet. Pressure to post regularly to my blog. Pressure to stay connected with readers on thirty plus Facebook groups. Pressure to retweet for an endless number of Twitter followers. Pressure, pressure, pressure...
At my age, I realize that I can't look at my writing career, or what's left of it, in the same way my colleagues who are in their twenties, thirties and forties do. Neither should I pattern my writing and promotion plans after theirs no matter how successful they are.
I have released and promoted seven books in less than three years, and each one has made a Kindle bestseller list. Next month will be my third anniversary of being an indie author.
All I want to do is write books that my readers love, whether or not they make the Kindle bestseller lists. Since I don't have an author assistant, and still can't financially justify paying one, it looks like I either need to scale back and let things happen as God sees fit or continue trying to do everything myself and face the consequences to my health and sanity. Lately my blood pressure has been out of control. So far, everything the doctor has prescribed has given me some kind of ugly side effect or failed to control the numbers. I also need to lose 50-60 pounds, which is nearly impossible when you sit on your butt 10-12 hours a day and have two bad knees.
I guess all of this boils down to one thing -- I need to be me and stop being concerned about making a certain number of sales every month. Thank God I have a working husband....
No comments have been added yet.
