My Career is at a Standstill

November 05, 2024

My Career is at a Standstill

I hadn't stopped to think about it, but my writing career has had no movement in ages. When I was promoting Lies and Love and subsequently Inn Dreams, I was constantly checking for new reviews. Especially with Inn Dreams I distributed a whole lot of ARCs. While the prospect of reviews was scary, at least I would know that someone actually read one of my books. Things didn't exactly work out well. Out of maybe 200 ARCs for Inn Dreams, I garnered around four or five reviews, and a couple of them were negative. But I guess attention of any sort is better than no attention, which is where I'm finding myself now.

The last movement I saw anywhere was during the couple of days last month when I ran a free Amazon promotion for Lies and Love, which netted eight downloads (yea, that's all). Inertia is boring. As I sit here now, everything is at a standstill. I suppose I could run another free promotion for a different book, but that's really my only option.

I don't know if other authors continue marketing while they're working on a new book, but I'm more laser focused. If I'm writing, that's all I'm doing. I barely have time to do that. But it makes for a feeling of isolation. Ideally, an author wants to be on at least a few people's minds, if for no other reason than creating anticipation for the forthcoming novel. I still check my sales stats most days (nothing has changed), and I check my website stats (very little has changed), but the fact is, my so-called career is boring as hell.

I tried for a while. Goodreads allows authors to write blog posts, but while it felt good to be doing something, no one ever read them. Substack was a bust ~ I really need to delete my account. I recently posted on, of all places, LinkedIn (the demon site) about my work in progress. I'm not sure why; maybe because I've totally ignored that place and I still wanted to pop up occasionally. So no, I haven't put any effort into staying relevant, and maybe I need to try harder.

If only I believed it would make a difference.

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structure my newsletter (this time)1 i formatted my paperback1 I had a long conversation with AI about my work1 I hate marketing1 I hate my novel now1 I have a new professional book cover1 I Have No Idea What To Title My Novel1 i know my website is ugly1 i like my current story1 i love my new covers1 I May Have Exhausted My Promotional Opportunities1 I paid for it--where is it?1 i persuaded the magazine to publish my interview at last1 I redesigned my author site1 I Simply Can't Get Book Reviews1 I think I get how to write a blurb now1 I trashed my book cover1 i updated my website bio1 i will always write in one form or another1 I Would Like a Better Website1 i wrote a book no one wants to read1 i wrote a song for my novel1 I'd be embarrassed except no one notices1 I'll soon be ready to tackle my blurb again1 i'm a bad writer1 i'm a writer1 I'm abandoning all marketing1 I'm anxious to get on with the fun parts1 i'm bitter over my lack of sales1 i'm discounting my new novel1 i'm done 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problems1 manuscript progress1 manuscript revisions1 mark zuckerberg stole my book1 marketers1 marketing3 marketing failure1 Marketing Methods That Are Unsustainable1 marketing plans for new book1 marketing problems1 marketing that doesn't work1 marketing that works1 maybe outlining isn't a bad idea1 mediocre writing1 messed up my novel1 meta tags1 miblart color articles1 miblart free cover concept1 microsoft1 microsoft is pure evil1 Microsoft is Sabotaging Me1 misbelief1 miscellaneous thoughts about books1 misdirected spam1 misogynistic writing advice1 missing motivation1 mixing the old with the new1 mixing up genres1 mobile website1 Money Talks1 more analysis of Spoken Press1 more author scams to be aware of1 more fun with book covers1 more investigative posts forthcoming1 more microsoft treachery1 most books don't sell1 most marketing expenditures aren't worth it1 most of my covers have now been changed1 most self-published authors don't make money1 most social media book reviewers are scam artists1 most writers fail1 most writing advice is worthless1 moving in a new direction1 moving older books that didn't sell1 multitasking while plotting1 mushy middle1 music blogging1 music is good for you1 My (not real) author interview1 my adventures with book bloggers1 my amazon a+ content is live1 my Amazon ad didn't work1 my amazon ad's not working1 My Amazon Author Page Disappeared1 my anthology is published1 my article is finally published1 my article was accepted1 my author bio using mad libs1 My Author Site's Analytics1 my birthday gift to me1 my blurb is not working1 my book award pro review1 my book blogger's review1 my book giveaway stats1 my book is done1 my book is getting a lot of Kindle Unlimited page reads1 my book is in libraries1 my book of essays1 My Career is at a Standstill1 my computer is sabotaging my novel1 my cover for book one1 my cover redesign results1 my cover review was devastating1 my crash and burn promotion ideas1 my current book's status1 my current project is a total bore1 my editing sticking point1 my experience using a boosted Facebook post1 my facebook ad is a failure1 My Facebook Ad Isn't Really Working1 my final review of Spoken Studios1 my first day of creating an anthology1 my first draft is finished1 My First Facebook Ad Day1 my first mailing list signup1 My First Review1 my free Damonza cover critique1 my getcovers experience1 my initial cover concept from Miblart1 my interviewer asked bad questions1 My KDP Free Book Giveaway failed1 my KDP paperback looks good1 my last novel1 my long week1 my magazine article will be too late1 my main character's life coaches1 my Miblart book cover1 My New and Improved Author Site1 my new and improved book blurb1 my new method for creating book covers1 my new novel has failed1 my nonproductive day as an author1 My Novel Gets Better As It Goes Along1 My Novel Has a Personal Backstory1 my novel is available on non-US sales sites1 my novel is long1 my novel is not all bad1 my novel is not good1 my novel is titled1 my novel isn't yet in libraries1 my novel requires extensive revisions1 my novel revision is not going well1 my novel took a turn for the worse1 my novel's one-year-anniversary is approaching1 my old novel has a new title1 my own cover designs are better than the cut-rate design sites1 my paperback publishing nightmare1 my paperback's formatting looks like...1 my promos didn't work1 my promos netted zero sales1 my publishing interest is fading1 my Q&A for the "literary magazine"1 my recommendations for apps for authors1 my review of aragon.ai1 my second novel is bad1 My Self-Publishing Delusions1 My Social Media Blitz is Over1 my sordid writing "journey"1 my two months of book promotion in review1 my two new book covers1 my week in "publishing"1 my week in publishing2 my week in review1 my weekly recap1 my weekly review1 my weekly roundup2 my weekly summary1 my writing improved over the course of my novel1 nailing your opening1 namecheap1 narrator costs1 nathan bransford1 navigating a writing career with little money1 nearing the finish line1 need opinions on my book cover ideas1 needless words1 neurotic writers1 never-ending story1 new book release1 new hook for previously published book1 new name1 new novella1 new story focus is working1 new writing project1 newsletter host1 newsletter results1 newsletter signups1 newsletter subscriber list1 newsletter templates2 newsletters2 newspapers.com1 niche literary genres1 no ad results1 no ARC takers1 no clear path1 no genre called commercial fiction1 no longer getting KU reads1 no longer marketing1 no luck with arc readers1 no more marketing1 no more time wasting1 no more tips1 no one will buy my novel1 no one will like my novel1 no response means no1 no response to queries1 no reviews1 no reviews forthcoming1 no sales1 no site visitors2 no story focus1 no website visits1 noble books publishing1 nobody reads blogs1 nobody's buying1 non-fiction1 non-woke literary agents1 not definitively quitting1 not every writing session goes well1 not having fun writing1 not interested1 not knowing where to take a story1 not proud1 not quitting1 not selling any books1 not succeeding with story beats1 notes on reviews1 nothing is free1 novel27 novel endings1 novel marketing podcast1 novel openings are so tricky1 novel pacing1 novel progress at last1 novel taking the wrong path1 novel to novella2 novelette1 novella9 novella collection3 novella compilation1 novella finished1 novella in progress1 novella is done1 novella progress1 novella too short2 novella unfixable1 novellas4 novellas don't sell1 novels4 novels becoming outdated1 obscure things that writers research1 offering book 1 of my series free on November 201 offering books for free1 old versus new cover comparisons1 older authors1 on the fence about paying for a new book cover1 one bad review1 one final try at marketing1 one more complaint to cross off my list1 only free books work for promos1 opting out of book marketing1 out of the publishing loop1 outline templates per genre1 outlining1 overcoming writing flaws1 overthinking a story1 paid book marketing1 paid book reviewers1 pantser1 paperbacks1 passive marketing for authors1 paying for editing1 paying for nothing1 PDF1 peace of mind1 Pen Pinery1 penniless author2 penning articles1 people are reading my novel?1 people pushing publishing services1 perils of first person1 personal attacks in reviews1 personal blogs1 perspective1 pexels3 phase one editing1 philosophical about sales1 pinterest for authors?1 pixabay3 please yourself2 plot holes1 plot problems1 plots that meander1 podcast failures1 poor scene structure1 positive professional review1 post-surgical delusions1 potential customers like visuals1 poverty affects a self-publisher's career chances1 pre-publication efforts1 preparing for publication2 preparing my book1 preying on authors' low self-esteem1 price drop1 price markdowns don't work to drive sales1 pride in one's writing1 print versus ebooks1 problems executing a story1 problems with discovery writing1 problems with story1 problems writing1 process to distribute KU books to libraries1 professional book covers1 progress2 progress update1 projects i'm working on1 promo ads1 promo days1 promo sites1 promo sites and links1 promos1 promos that don't work1 promoting a back catalog1 promoting a book for free1 promoting your book1 promotion doesn't work1 promotion works1 publish day1 published1 publishing has no emotional resonance1 publishing problems1 publuu1 purging my newsletter1 Q and A about Running From Herself1 qualifiers1 query letter1 query rejections1 querying2 querying a novel1 querying agents2 querying website suggestion1 questionable advice sites1 questioning yourself as a writer1 quitters1 re-reading an old one1 re-reading what you've written1 re-reading your novel1 read your novel aloud1 reader's house pay-to-play magazine for authors1 readers are the deciders1 readers don't care about you1 readers' favorite1 reading reviews1 reading your own books1 ready to move on to my two novels1 reassessing my career choice1 recognition1 red headed book lover is a scam1 reddit1 redesigning my book covers1 Rediscover the Joy in Writing1 rediscovering the joy of writing1 reducing online presence1 reducing your book's price1 rejection1 replacing book covers1 rereading first novel1 research1 Research any offers you receive1 resizing a book cover for a paperback is impossible1 results of my Facebook boosted post1 review site rejected my book1 reviewer scams1 reviewers who don't read the book1 reviews4 reviews matter to authors1 reviews vary widely1 revising a novel3 revising a plot1 revising a published novel1 revising an old book1 revising an old novel1 revising an old story1 revising another book1 revising band website1 revising my author website1 revision progress1 revisions2 revisiting first novel1 revisiting old titles1 Revisiting the Book Trailer Idea1 reviving an old novel1 rework a novel into a novella1 reworking a published book1 reworking the big scene1 rewrite a novel?1 rewriting a novel1 rewriting my opening1 rewrote a blurb1 rewrote my book blurb1 romance1 rookie writing mistakes1 running from herself1 running from herself is free through February 271 Running From Herself is number one on Amazon1 running from herself review1 running from herself's one-year anniversary1 sales1 sales report1 sales tallies1 sales update1 sameness in writing1 scam marketers1 scammed by a "book blogger"1 scammers1 scamming authors1 searching and not finding answers online1 second day promo results1 second-guessing as a writer1 seeking validation in the creative world1 self-consciousness as a writer1 self-editing a novel1 self-evaluation1 self-promotion1 self-publishing20 self-publishing hobby1 self-publishing is awesome1 self-publishing tips1 selling self-published books1 sending a newsletter against my will1 sentence structure1 SEO1 series marketing tactics1 series titles1 set up Google alerts for your book and your author name1 Setting your website's favicon1 shadow song3 sharing book marketing advice1 Should authors pay to publish their books? Substack moron to the rescue1 should authors read their reviews? is there an upside to reading one's reviews? is Amazon's "look inside" feature important?1 should authors take advantage of all writing opportunities1 should i only care about selling my book?1 should i quit writing?1 should storytelling be studied?1 should you ask book bloggers to review your book1 should you hire a book cover designer1 shouting Into the void as an indie author1 simple facebook ad tips1 simple SEO tips for websites and blogs1 slow week1 slow writing3 smaller book promotion sites are struggling1 snags along the way1 so I resubmitted it1 social media1 social media does not sell books1 social media doesn't sell books1 social media doesn't work for book promotion1 Social Media Doesn't Work For Selling Books1 social media for authors1 social media is useless for authors1 social media pests1 social media scams1 social media user statistics1 Some Genres are Easier to Write1 some genres are impossible to market1 someone actually returned my book for a refund1 sometimes I miss writing1 Sometimes I Wonder If My Books Even Exist1 sometimes my writing is really good1 songwriting1 spam1 spam marketing and authors1 spamming authors on social media1 sparse writing1 spelling1 spilling too many words onto the page1 spinning my wheels1 spinning my writing wheels1 spoiler reviews1 spoken press for audiobook creation1 spoken.press1 spoken.press review1 spoof emails?1 stacked deck1 standard querying template1 star ratings1 starting a new novel1 starting a new story1 Starting a Novel in the Wrong Place1 starting is the worst1 Still on the Fence About Publishing1 still trying to come up with a book cover1 still waiting for my cover design1 still waiting on reviews1 still working on my book cover1 stop whining and make a plan1 stories that take an unexpected turn1 story concept1 story ideas aren't revelations1 story in progress1 story meandering1 story openings1 story pacing1 story problems1 story progress7 story research1 story transitions2 storytelling1 struggles1 stuck1 stuck trying to write a blurb1 substack5 substack is good for finding specific topics1 substack is very confusing1 substack notes1 substack post1 successful trade authors denigrate self-publishers1 successful writing needs to be real1 surgery1 surrender1 surrendering a domain1 suspense1 Synopses are the Devil's Handiwork1 T Minus One for my book launch1 taking a break1 Taking a Promotion Breather1 taking care of old business1 terrible paperback formatting1 thanks for the five-star review1 thanksgiving1 that1 that bad review was a mercy killing1 the "bad" of indie publishing1 the "michael levine" publicist scam1 the best way to write a book is to write it1 the book cover discussion1 the book industry1 the Canva trick i learned today1 the competition in writing is unceasing1 the deck is stacked1 the diner girl1 the dreaded saggy middle1 the failed author1 The few people who read my novel really liked it1 the fussy librarian3 the importance of book cover images1 the January publishing doldrums1 the long scene continues1 the more you write1 The Naivete of a New Author1 The One Story You Have to Write1 the psychology of colors in book cover design1 the reality of writing1 the reveal1 the saggy middle1 the slow burn novel1 the steps to writing a blurb as I see them1 the still waters series1 the story progresses1 the storygraph1 the tips will keep coming1 the women's fiction label is like a pesky mosquito1 the writing community1 There is Book Marketing Help Online and it's Free1 things an indie writer will need to do1 think I just blew it with my book blogger1 think you don't need an editor?1 thinking about writing1 thinking of quitting1 thinking of republishing my third novel1 This blog exists because I am a loser1 Thomas Umstattd2 threatening email1 three different book covers1 tiktok1 tiktok for authors?1 Time For a Free Book Promotion1 time heals1 time to update my music blog1 tips for goodreads reviewers1 tips for titling books1 titling a book3 Titling a Novel1 titling books1 titling your book wrong?1 too distracted to think about my writing career1 too many ARC readers? story progress1 too many fundamentals to get out of the way1 too many ideas1 too much detail1 too much fun in a novel?1 too much writing advice exists1 torn how to end my novel1 touching home2 track your website visits1 trade publishing is dying1 treat publishing as a business but don't go broke1 trends in trade publishing1 trying new free marketing ideas1 trying new things1 trying to amend my writing style1 trying to learn how to rewrite my book blurb1 turn a Blogger blog into a website1 turning a novel into a novella2 turning all my books into audiobooks1 turning an enemy into something else1 two parts of a novel that don't match1 two-star review1 unable to concentrate1 unable to write well1 uninspired1 unlearning bad writing habits1 unpredictability1 Unprofitable Fun for Authors1 unpublished one of my novels1 unresponsive companies1 unsolicited requests1 unsolved mystery1 update on contacting my former teacher1 update on my search for a former teacher1 update on my teacher search1 updated my author site1 updates on my anthology1 updating band website1 updating my music blog could be going better1 use read aloud for your novel1 use smaller promo sites? Amazon ads aren't the way to go1 useless writing sessions1 using humor in novels1 using life experiences1 using Miblart for my cover redesign1 using unfamiliar occupations in novels1 very slow progress on my manuscript1 very slow writing1 videos on book editing are not helpful1 voicing an author's frustration1 voracious readers only6 voracious readers only drawbacks1 walmart1 want story to be finished1 wasted writing sessions1 wasting money on book ads1 Weaving Characters Back In1 weaving together separate versions1 website analytics3 website design1 website hosting1 website stats1 website update1 website using Blogger1 websites1 week's roundup1 Weird to See a Full-Page Ad of My Novel1 what an author can do to improve their book's ranking1 what do agents want1 what does your astrological sign forecast for your writing career?1 what helps sell books1 what I've learned about writing in the past decade1 What If No One Visits My Author Site?1 what if you don't have a target audience?1 what if your story has no destination?1 what is the benefit of a writer's group1 what is women's fiction2 what kind of writer are you?1 what readers want and expect in 20261 what's it like writing a memoir1 what's it like writing a novel1 when a character needs to make a big pronouncement1 when to say "enough"1 when to send ARCs1 when you're an unsuccessful author1 When Your Main Character Won't Follow Your Orders1 where do avid readers go1 where my novel stands1 where to take a story1 whisk ai1 whisk ai is quite good1 whispers in the dark1 why are authors expected to give their books away? everyone expects to be paid except authors1 why are experts pushing memoir writing now?1 why can't authors break the mold?1 Why can't I take my own advice1 why do trade published books fail?1 why do we write1 why do you need beta readers1 why doesn't my novel sell?1 why don't my books sell1 why don't my books sell?1 why I dislike trade publishing1 why I don't like romance novels1 Why I Find Marketing Difficult1 why I stopped writing1 why I'm done with writing1 why publish widely?1 Why This Novel is Important1 why use a pen name1 why write if no one is buying1 Will My Novel Even Have an Audience?1 Winding Down1 winding down my book marketing1 windows movie maker1 winning1 wired for story1 Wix1 women writers aren't fragile1 women's fiction3 word choice1 word of mouth1 Working to Get a Scene Right1 worst selling book genres1 worthless book marketing advice1 write in your own style1 Write the Story You Want to Write1 writer beware3 writer burnout2 writer goals1 writer themes1 writer's block1 writer's forum1 writer's procrastination1 writers second-guessing1 writers shouldn't use AI1 writers who overthink it1 writers' horoscopes for 20261 writers' insecurity1 writing5 writing a blurb for an anthology1 writing a book blurb1 writing a book blurb is hell1 Writing a Book Blurb is the Hardest Part1 writing a final scene1 writing a good main character1 Writing a Likable Main Character1 writing a memorable final scene1 writing a nonsense novel would be fun1 writing a novel's hook1 writing a sequel?1 writing advice5 writing advice that doesn't work for you1 writing again1 writing an author bio1 writing as a business1 writing can be frustrating1 writing competitions1 writing dialogue1 writing discipline1 writing epilogues1 writing exercise1 writing fails1 writing failure1 writing fiction to push a message1 writing flaws1 writing forums2 writing freedom1 writing frustration1 writing is a learned skill1 writing lessons learned1 writing long scenes1 writing nothing interesting1 writing or having written?1 writing patience1 writing physical description1 writing problems1 writing progress2 writing prose1 writing resources1 writing retirement1 writing rules1 writing secondary characters1 writing short3 writing suspenseful scenes1 writing the final scene1 writing the last scene is difficult1 writing themes1 writing when you're not interested1 writing while annoyed1 writing without expectations1 Written Word1 written word media1 written word media reader survey2 written word media's author trends1 wrong roads in a novel aren't always wrong1 wrote a first revision of my blurb1 you can design your own book cover1 you know who you are1 you need an elevator pitch for your book1 YouTube Publishing Videos1

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The Failed Author