Like most writers, I love the writing process itself - breathing life into a world of characters, following them vicariously as they explore, encounter conflicts, fall in love, pursue their dreams.
Also like most writers, I’m not as fond of the post-writing process: marketing and selling the finished product. Perhaps I shouldn’t have a negative attitude toward this part of the process, especially since I’ve held marketing positions in my long career in high tech. Granted, marketing to businesses is vastly different from marketing to consumers, as I’ve quickly discovered.
Writing itself is by definition an individual, go-it-yourself process. The marketing and sales part of the process doesn’t have to be, though it often is. When writers do go it alone, they find this process even more challenging when they hear unhelpful comments from strangers like, “Don’t give up your day job.”
That said, I’ve tried to adopt a philosophical, almost Buddhist approach to writing: Give it your best effort, and then accept what happens. In other words, don’t expend undue effort in struggling to change processes or institutions. For example, if bookstores choose not to carry your work due to reasons beyond your control - distributor discounts or refund policies - don’t sweat it. Move on. Look for bookstores that will be more receptive or are willing to deal directly with your publisher.
As a Western writer living in the South, in an area saturated with other writers, I also have to accept that many local bookstores may not be as interested in my work as they would if I wrote about the South. Though the local community in my area is fairly diverse, it stands to reason that many bookstores in the South would still prefer books about the South. That’s okay. Because my full-time job often takes me to Boulder, Colorado, a gorgeous mountain town, I’ve actually found more positive leads in that city.
In the end, don’t kick yourself if your plans don’t go as you expected. It pays to be flexible: Adjust your expectations and your strategy, and stay optimistic. Persistence and a positive attitude tend to pay off; vendors are more likely to be influenced by your optimism, too. Just as practitioners of Buddhism counsel not to yearn for things unduly and to accept that everything is constantly in flux, adopt this own approach with your writing. You may suffer a setback one day, but keep your chin up, because the next day might bring a completely different outcome. Don’t fight attrition. Do your best in writing and then marketing your book, and then accept that you have done as much as you can do.
If your book receives accolades and positive reviews, or even a short bestselling status, you can be pleasantly surprised. If not, chalk it up to experience, events beyond your control, and set your sights on the next book.
And to all my fellow authors, I understand what you’re going through, and I’m rooting for you!