Perception vs Reality
Even as a kid, I thought I knew how to write a book.
Television and movies make it look easy:
1) You are minding your own business, living your life, when BAM! inspiration hits,
2) Pound the typewriter keys furiously – make sure you have a determined look on your face for good measure,
3) Your somehow perfect manuscript gets mailed to an eagerly awaiting publisher, who offers you large sums of money for your genius,
4) Instant best seller list,
5) Book signings so you can be a model of kindness and sophistication while others adore every word that comes from your fingertips.
To be clear, this was never my goal. If I could do this anonymously, I would. But a few You-Tube videos helped me to realize this could be a way to earn a little extra money while allowing my imagination to go out and play. Good influencers with book writing content (Looking at you, Bookfox!) warned it would be hard work, and that I would need thick skin. They also encouraged me to write anyway.
The reality I have come to know (self-publishing version):
1) Inspiration may come from the desperate need for a creative outlet. Even good ideas need time to form thoroughly. Often, the funniest or most touching parts of a story happen as you are writing it, instead of the planning stages.
2) Typewriters were a wonderful invention, but the ability to cut and paste without literal glue is awe-inspiring. The determined, focused face, however, is nearly canonical. The exception to this is the need to laugh out loud at your screen while writing in a coffee shop. Yes, I laugh at my own jokes. If I don’t think they’re funny, why would I dump them on my readers?
3) Writing emotional scenes is emotionally and physically draining. When you’re done, you can then send those pieces of your heart to an editor YOU PAY to tell you what’s wrong with it, and how to improve it. Then you open another piece of your heart, this time a deeper one, and let it out your fingertips. This can go back and forth a number of times, which can be frustrating and ego-crushing. However, if you have a good editor, and you take their counsel to heart, your work will be something greater than you could ever have done yourself. Of course, the outcome is your own responsibility, so make sure not to compromise your creative vision.
4) You have to market your work. A common rule of thumb is to start marketing six months prior to the release date. I was still writing at that time, so it was like having two jobs at once; a marketing professional and an author. If you are not comfortable selling your book, you won’t sell books. I learned to approach bookshop owners, businesses where my stories take place, and even libraries. I am not a natural salesperson, and have often had to tell them, “I’m a better writer than a salesperson”. Apparently, this is a common affliction. Much to my surprise, when they read my calling card, (a bookmark with a synopsis of my book on the back) the feedback has been encouragement and excitement for my upcoming book. This can keep you going in the writing process, so it is good to do both in tandem.
5) Book signings can run the gamut, from crickets to a busy bookstore full of people who have never heard of your book, but now want one. You never know how they will turn out, but keep going, keep marketing. If even one copy gets in the right hands, it could be a game-changer for you.
5b) Reviews can be harsh. In writers groups, the consensus is that you’re not really a writer until you have a one-star review. If you are looking to others for your self esteem, the five-star reviews will be tossed aside, and the one-star ones will haunt you. This is not the world for you. If you realize that people have all sorts of reasons to lash out at others and their work, then you’ll be ok. Remember, though, that there are actually one-star books. Make sure the quality is there before you publish. At the very least, make sure your spelling and grammar are correct, as these are bare minimum expectations from the readers.
Writing your own book can be very rewarding, whether or not others appreciate it enough to invest both their money and time to consume. If you are looking to share your imagination with others in this way, calculate the expense in time, money, and even emotional expenditures. If it seems like a good return on those investments, then I hope to see you at an author’s event one day soon!