This Whole Publishing Biz

Don't let anyone tell you that self-publishing isn't lucrative. In fact, it's very lucrative...for those feeding off self-published authors. Think about it: In an average day, I get eight-to-ten emails from "experts" of all sorts. They all link to articles they wrote, then go in for the sell. "Buy my marketing course!" "Need help with your cover? You've come to the right place!"

Everybody's gotta make a living, except apparently a writer. Writing is fun! Enjoy it for the experience! I do, in fact, enjoy writing ~ at least I did when I was actively writing. I'm fairly certain those days are over. My quibble with writing is that once you've finished a piece, what good is it? Do you go back and reread it to give yourself a virtual pat on the back? How many times can you stomach doing that? 

"I wrote a story."

"Great! What did you do with it?"

"Uh, nothing. I reread it a few times. I still like it."

"Oh...okay."

 

The only thing you can do with it is publish it.

At least when I was into crafting, I could frame my project and hang it on the wall. Guests would see it and compliment me on my work. Self-publishing is like being the most ignored resident of your neighborhood. You look out your window and see your neighbors greeting each other, sharing a laugh, and you think, hmm, that would be nice. But when you get the opportunity to interact with one of them, they give you a curt nod and continue on their walk.

I was never cut out for marketing, but I still forced myself out there. It was like one of those dreaded household chores, say, scrubbing the scum off the shower tile. Nobody else is going to do it for you, and it needs to be done. You try to psyche yourself up, give yourself a challenge or divide the job into sections. Except if you parcel it out, it's going to take forever to get done and then it'll be time to start over again. Just f'ing do it!

That's how I approached the dreaded marketing chore. No one was sure going to do it for me, but it had to be done. So, with this novel I bought a bunch of cheap book promos, with the intention of allowing space in between each, but I realized that could go on forever, so I just f'ing did it. Alas, the scum remains. I refuse to start again.

Every once in a while, I'd take a damp cloth and hit one spot; hence my social marketing attempts. That accomplished nothing except making me feel like I was at least trying. 

Finally, I said, the hell with it. I'm getting nowhere with either approach, so I'm just not going to do it anymore. And now, four months post-publication, I'm finding that I care about this book less and less. No one is stopping by my bathroom to admire my great work, so I must have really screwed it up. Other people can clean so effortlessly; it has to be me. I'm the problem.

If you're not a natural marketer, don't self-publish. Or hire someone to do your marketing, if you have that option. I believe I'm terrible at marketing because I truly hate it. Psychologically, there are two reasons for that:

1. As I was growing up, my mother's mantra was, "don't call attention to yourself". Thus I feel queasy every time I set out to do it.
2. Maybe my book isn't all that great, and if people buy it, they'll find out that secret.

Another thing I've come to realize is that books don't matter very much. I've written my share. Do I ever think about them? Hardly. Occasionally, I'll think about reading one from a few years back, just out of curiosity, since I've forgotten more about them than I remember. Then I think, nah. Not really interested. Been there; wrote that. 

Right now, I'm into graphics ~ character art. I have a website domain I'm paying for, so I might as well get some use out of it. I'm pretty sure I'll be creating a separate page on my site for my novel and including any bells and whistles that look attractive. This project is what I would call shirring a pretty curtain across the scummy shower stall. It won't accomplish anything, but somebody might one day stop in and admire the pattern of the curtain.  

However, since I'm no longer writing and since I'm not in the throes of marketing, I will have graphics tips to impart. As I learn, I share. That's what this blog is for. I'm just naive enough to think that I can't be the only person who didn't know that, so if you're way more savvy than me, feel free to skip those posts.

And to all my readers, thank you for your indulgence.