If you aren’t willing to give this author journey every bit of yourself, it’s time to quit. You’re wasting your time and everyone’s time around you. Just quit already. Or, if you want to have a million readers and be talked about in classrooms for decades to come, it’s time to do the uncomfortable hard things.
I really enjoyed this episode and I think it carries over from your Six Figure Mindset book that I read when I first got to know you.
It helped me reflect on what I hope to achieve from writing, and the timeline I am signing up to. Unlike you, I am taking a persistence hunter approach and not expecting any real pay off for several years (but I admit have the luxury of taking this strategy). For now I am focused on writing the best possible books at this stage in my development, and building up a back catalogue of about half a dozen books I am proud of (which I estimate will take about another five years, which I am happy to spend on this part of my life). When I reach that stage I will reassess if I want to pivot to more active marketing strategies. Maybe I am just putting off doing that hard work, but a lot of sources say the ROI of active promotion is better the more products you have to offer. There is also the small chance that one of my books takes off organically until then (I plan to wriggle my way onto every podcast I can over the next few years since I find the format enjoyable, just enough to keep myself as an author in front of a steady trickle of an audience). In some ways I am enjoying writing in relative obscurity for now (writing under a spotlight or with impatient readers tapping their feet impatiently doesn't appeal to me at all).
Interesting approach. I get what you’re really driving at and that you’re trying to inspire people to try harder, but this is one of the few times I disagree with you. Or maybe it’s just your approach.
To my mind, writing and publishing serves all kinds of purposes in people’s lives. For some, writing is cathartic or helps them handle trauma or even just everyday life. For others, it’s the fun of story creation. Yet others, it’s the goal to be the next Stevie King in terms of notoriety, money and literary power.
But, not everyone has the same goals with their writing and publishing careers. And, it also depends on where people are at in their publishing journey. Some are still finding their voice; some are just starting on this path to publishing.
And the introverts need more lead time to jump on these things. I am not an introvert but I have many friends who are, and writer friends who are. They take time to warm up to the marketing side of this game, and for them that is the proper approach. They would fail trying the leap-off-the-cliff-and-wade-in attack plan because it’s not how they function. Mentally they process and tackle this part of the game differently.
To be honest, the publishing game is unique and there is no silver bullet. You could have a shy, withdrawn writer who finally gets the courage to self publish a book and it could be read by the “right” person and get launched to the upper tiers. Maybe not, but that possibility is there, and is always there. It’s why I don’t abide by the ‘bare your teeth, fight like a berserker and rush in’ or quit approach.
The truth is you could do everything right, make all the best decisions and still fail to achieve Uncle Stevie status. And you could bounce along doing minimal things and end up the next JK Rowling.
I believe that if you’re passionate about writing (or any creative endeavor) you follow it. To the best of your ability at the time. You don’t give up, because some journeys require a lifetime of commitment, and they’re not going to drop on you no matter how bad you want it.
Follow your dreams. Trust in the process. Enjoy the journey. And if you don’t become the greatest author of all time, was it a waste to begin with? Of course not. That’s not what it’s really all about anyway. 😉
Even if you have minimal skills, even if you don’t feel confident, and even if you aren’t ready to tackle the big marketing demons yet it doesn’t mean you stop. Even if, in the end, you “lose.” If you love writing you keep trying. At whatever pace you can handle.
I really enjoyed this episode and I think it carries over from your Six Figure Mindset book that I read when I first got to know you.
It helped me reflect on what I hope to achieve from writing, and the timeline I am signing up to. Unlike you, I am taking a persistence hunter approach and not expecting any real pay off for several years (but I admit have the luxury of taking this strategy). For now I am focused on writing the best possible books at this stage in my development, and building up a back catalogue of about half a dozen books I am proud of (which I estimate will take about another five years, which I am happy to spend on this part of my life). When I reach that stage I will reassess if I want to pivot to more active marketing strategies. Maybe I am just putting off doing that hard work, but a lot of sources say the ROI of active promotion is better the more products you have to offer. There is also the small chance that one of my books takes off organically until then (I plan to wriggle my way onto every podcast I can over the next few years since I find the format enjoyable, just enough to keep myself as an author in front of a steady trickle of an audience). In some ways I am enjoying writing in relative obscurity for now (writing under a spotlight or with impatient readers tapping their feet impatiently doesn't appeal to me at all).
Interesting approach. I get what you’re really driving at and that you’re trying to inspire people to try harder, but this is one of the few times I disagree with you. Or maybe it’s just your approach.
To my mind, writing and publishing serves all kinds of purposes in people’s lives. For some, writing is cathartic or helps them handle trauma or even just everyday life. For others, it’s the fun of story creation. Yet others, it’s the goal to be the next Stevie King in terms of notoriety, money and literary power.
But, not everyone has the same goals with their writing and publishing careers. And, it also depends on where people are at in their publishing journey. Some are still finding their voice; some are just starting on this path to publishing.
And the introverts need more lead time to jump on these things. I am not an introvert but I have many friends who are, and writer friends who are. They take time to warm up to the marketing side of this game, and for them that is the proper approach. They would fail trying the leap-off-the-cliff-and-wade-in attack plan because it’s not how they function. Mentally they process and tackle this part of the game differently.
To be honest, the publishing game is unique and there is no silver bullet. You could have a shy, withdrawn writer who finally gets the courage to self publish a book and it could be read by the “right” person and get launched to the upper tiers. Maybe not, but that possibility is there, and is always there. It’s why I don’t abide by the ‘bare your teeth, fight like a berserker and rush in’ or quit approach.
The truth is you could do everything right, make all the best decisions and still fail to achieve Uncle Stevie status. And you could bounce along doing minimal things and end up the next JK Rowling.
I believe that if you’re passionate about writing (or any creative endeavor) you follow it. To the best of your ability at the time. You don’t give up, because some journeys require a lifetime of commitment, and they’re not going to drop on you no matter how bad you want it.
Follow your dreams. Trust in the process. Enjoy the journey. And if you don’t become the greatest author of all time, was it a waste to begin with? Of course not. That’s not what it’s really all about anyway. 😉
Even if you have minimal skills, even if you don’t feel confident, and even if you aren’t ready to tackle the big marketing demons yet it doesn’t mean you stop. Even if, in the end, you “lose.” If you love writing you keep trying. At whatever pace you can handle.
You don’t quit.
Ever.
And I thought I'd heard the unfiltered Jody Sperling before!
So glad you and Craig got to continue the discusion on the podcast!