In addition to always wanting to be a writer, the lure of being an entrepreneur has always called. Being able to apply the skills I learned in graduate school to something I loved was appealing, but I never had a product to sell or a thought about what I wanted to focus that effort on. Now I do: my writing.
Independent authors need to learn everything they can about the busines, which can result in a dizzying list of things to research, such as:
- Cover design
- Blogging
- Website design
- E-Book formatting
- Marketing
- Editing services
As a new author, this can be daunting. While I only have one book available, I am diligently working on more, and my my mind churns with ideas about how I can improve my current and future products and how I can market myself in a more efficient manner. Concerns always arise, sometimes at 3am, about my website not being crisp enough, or my book cover being subpar, or other such nonsense. However, when you boil it down, none of that really matters.
It is vital for me to remember why I write:
Because I love it and cannot picture life without it.
In the short time that I have been writing and researching everything about this art, I have found fellow authors who concentrate so much on marketing their wares that they’ve lost the love of what they do. It has become a job for them. Check out author forums and websites and you’ll pick up on this. I can see how that happens. Without a publishing house and agent behind them, an author can easily get lost in the minutia of the list above, rather than just being able to write.
When that occurs, a reset is needed, and I believe that going back to the reason you started this in the first place is the key. Just ask yourself one question:
Why do you write?
Let the love of the art return, let it move your soul like it did when you first began, and then plant your butt in that chair and write. The rest is just noise. Yes, cover design and marketing are important, but writing is the foundation of everything you do. Concentrate on the content and give your readers what they long for. The perfect website or cover will not win you anything if the writing suffers. Use the Pareto Principle: 80% of your time should be spent writing, the rest learning about indie publishing and improving your product.
In the end, it’s all about the writing.
forrestlamb
/ March 10, 2012Great article, Jason, I am literally in the exact same place that you are and it is so important to remember why you do what you do. Best of luck to you and your endeavors..
Jason
/ March 10, 2012Thanks for stopping by, Forrest. Same to you! Your blog is sharp. Keep up the good work.
Lori DiNardi
/ March 10, 2012Good post and so true. I don’t like the marketing part all. I’ve put off so much of it because I want to write. Unfortunately, these days the marketing of our work is up to us and not a publisher.
Jason
/ March 10, 2012Thanks for stopping by, Lori. Yes, without a publisher behind you, everything is on your shoulders. In a way it is fun, you live and die by your effort. But it can take a lot of time from your writing. Its a marathon, not a sprint! My best to you.
Jason
forrestlamb
/ March 10, 2012Thanks brother, you too..
Adriana Ryan
/ March 11, 2012Great post. I find myself hemming and hawing about it all too, and then have to remind myself that the whole reason I’m writing is because I love to write. It would be foolish to pretend all that other stuff doesn’t matter, but like you said, it’s good to never lose sight of our primary goal.
Thanks for this post!
Jason
/ March 11, 2012Thanks, Adriana. I appreciate you stopping by. I’ve spent all weekend tweaking my website, and rarely writing. I need to follow my own advice. All my best.
Jason