Can you quit writing?
Indie publishing can be tough.
Uphill Climb
This past week, I had a new release, and helped a fellow author through hers. There are a lot of resources out there to help authors, I have found. Yes, resources on craft, editing, revising, publishing, marketing, promotions, etc. are in abundance.
But sometimes, learning all you can learn is not enough to be successful. Sometimes you have to have a bit of luck, and a lot of thick skin. And you always have to not only absorb all that information, but you also have to digest it and put it into action.
And believe me, there is a lot of information to consume!
When we are unprepared for the onslaught of reader comments, typo-finders, and other helpful folks who contact you POST-release to update you on their input, suddenly, being a writer isn’t so much fun anymore. Suddenly, you might want to crawl into a hole and drag the dirt in over you.
It takes SO much time getting a book ready for publication, and your efforts are only welcomed with well-meaning people who tell you it could be better. A lot of authors at this point in their career sit over a steaming cup of coffee and threaten to quit.
Yes, that’s right, QUIT.
A few reasons:
1. You’re getting a lot of negative comments, or reviews, about content issues (ie. formatting, typos, grammar, etc.)
2. You are not getting reviews.
3. You have low sales and an abysmal Amazon ranking.
And there are a few things you can do to develop a writer’s attitude toward this stuff. Well, toward your work anyway.
Develop the skin of a rhino. Don’t let this stuff throw you. It’s a business now. The art side of writing is gone when you post it up for readers to get at. Remember: your book is NOT your baby. It is NOT. Repeat over and over. This is not my child, this is not my blood. This is my book. MY BOOK. People are not always going to like it. Go back to the drawing board. Maybe you DO need a refresher course on grammar, spelling, and punctuation. There is nothing wrong with that. Do it, and quit stressing over your lack.
Writing a book is easy, editing it is hard, publishing it and putting it out for the general public to gawk at it is the hardest. This business is not for the faint-hearted. But you can do it!
Quit? No way. Quitting is not an option.