You shouldn't kvetch about your blessings. I know this. The universe wants your gratitude, and she will sweep away the gifts you've been given in the blink of an eye. So, I'll whisper this one, very quietly:
This is wearing me out.
Gone are the days (if they ever existed) when you could just write, send your work off and let other folks worry about selling it for you. If you have a dream of making your living solely from your wordsmithing (as I do), you're gonna have to get out there and hawk your wares.
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So, here I am nine months in to doing this "for real"--nine months since my first book baby was born and sent squalling into the world.
I've done Facebook parties, partnerships, cross promotions, readings, giveaways, signings, panels, book fairs, cons, sales, interviews, etc. I've kept on writing while doing all this, so that I've had work come out in three anthologies since then, and the second novel is in production while I'm writing the third.
So, I'm making it, and I'm still so excited to have the opportunities I've been given. And I have a lot of support--I really do! But dangnabbit, I'm plum exhausted.
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I'm physically, mentally, and emotionally tired. Maybe especially emotionally tired. Generally speaking, left to my own devices, I am a quiet, undramatic person. I save my drama for the written word and my imaginary friends. So, I'm having to dig deep to find my inner cheerleader and keep her coming up with new ways to bang that drum and attract attention for my imaginary friends and their stories.
How do you do it, if you're doing this? Or how do you think you'll do it when the time comes?
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This posting is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group blog hop. To check out other posts by writers in a variety of places in their careers, check out the participant list. This group is one of the most open and supportive groups of people I have ever been associated with. If you write, you should check them out!
I know it is exhausting. Maybe it's time to take a break. Writers often are introverts and get drained from being in at all those public functions. You're doing great. Now, rest. And, give yourself time to create again.
ReplyDeleteMary at Play off the Page
Thanks, Mary. I'm terrible at giving myself permission to take a break, but it's very good advice, indeed.
DeleteI'm on the beginning end of this, so i'm only starting what you're doing. I hear the same from indie authors. It's a LOT of work. I think the best thing about indie publishing is it allows anyone to put out a book. The drawback is that ANYONE CAN PUT OUT A BOOK. And they do. There are a sea of books out there and to get your title recognized requires constant work. Even with a publisher, I am viewing my debut like an indie would, and planning what I can do on my own.
ReplyDeleteMy only advice is to do what you can, work smarter (ditch what doesn't work, focus on what seems to gain results), and take care of yourself. Your well being is always the priority. I say this out loud for my future self. If any wiggle room in your budget, maybe some of your promo can be managed by someone, a paid assistant who knows book stuff. Even a few hours a week might be helpful.
I'm writing about social media overload today with a few resource links on how to better focus your efforts: My IWSG post: Stephanie Scott
I both love and hate the idea of hiring someone to help. I might give it a go though if my income from writing becomes a little more regular. It would be great to just hand some of the logistical stuff to someone else.
DeleteIts the job. I take my vitamins and dive in. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Yes. I just hope the job isn't the death of me. I'm hopeful of being able to drop to part time on the day job in another year or so. That would DEFINITELY help.
DeleteYes, it's exhausting. I don't know how you do it, Samantha, with a full-time job and children. You have my respect.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christine. Mostly I don't know how I do it either. I'm lucky in the support of my family and that I inherited a ridiculous work ethic from my father.
DeleteIt's hard to sustain such a level of effort. Maybe take a break for a few days and concentrate on just writing. Twitter and Facebook will be there when you get back.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm doing my best at this, I do different things on different days: fresh writing, editing/polishing, social media, networking, etc. It's easier during the summer, when I'm not teaching.
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ReplyDeleteI don't handle it well, especially when my efforts seemingly yield nothing (no blog comments, for example). When I don't see progress, it makes things worse... I doubt myself more.
DeleteIt's difficult to find belief when no one backs you up.
I don't mean the writing as much but the promotion and submitting.
It's definitely frustrating when you don't see results. That's why I always give up too soon on diet and exercise plans. With writing promotion stuff, I seem to be able to hold out hope that there are unseen ripples happening though, and that the thing I thought wasn't worth it might secretly be a breakthrough.
DeleteI've got the third book coming out, and a third anthology due this spring. I'm with you in the exhaustion part. I've been knocking my head against the wall with no result but a headache. (what happens when your head meets a hard surface) LOL. But also the knowledge that my ten year deadline is two years out. If, as you say the income does not cover the outflow by a nice round number at the end of that ten years, I will step back - write for the sake of writing and wait for fame in the afterlife. :) In this day and age of everyone writing a book because they can I want the satisfaction of know I gave it everything I had before my peace of mind and happiness won out! All I really want is a quiet place with a view, a shelf filled with books, and my laptop! Heaven!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of looking back over it at year 10. I started taking it seriously when I was 42, and got the first contract when I was 43. I'm 44 now. There's definitely still time to make a living at this!
DeleteI'm like you so I totally get it. And frankly, I'm starting to be a bit skeptical of this marketing thing. Every now and then I see an author who posts "I did X, Y and Z and it worked," and of course it doesn't work when I do it. So personally I'm taking a hiatus from marketing. My books haven't sunk yet. They're not soaring either, but they never did, so... :-) Anyway, good luck, but don't be too hard on yourself! Remember that we also write for our own enjoyment :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I do put a lot of pressure on myself to work on sales . . .mostly because I want to be able to write full time. But I can forget to enjoy the ride on the way.
DeleteI hear ya! It is exhausting. Sometimes even blogging tires me out, though I'm thrilled people actually read my blog now.
ReplyDeleteI have my first horror con this weekend, and I'll return to work on Monday without the slightest break. I have no idea how people balance this with kids - I'm barely managing with my freelance business.
Hang in there!
Enjoy your con! It is rough to go straight back into work (and I appreciate the sympathy about balancing it with kids: it's not a picnic)
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