Ask the Author: Natalie Grigson
Answered Questions (1)
Natalie Grigson
Hey Jason - excellent question.
I think some things have to be reduced, simply to get the word out about your book. Pitching the story to a publisher, or like you mentioned, advertising for your book - it has to be just a snippet of what you're offering. But this doesn't mean you're selling out or that it has to impact your work negatively. In fact, it might even be helpful to be able to summarize your work in a few short sentences, so that you're clearer on what it is you're actually working on.
Think of it like a trailer for a movie. You can't include everything - and in fact, you want to leave most of the important elements out; but it can be a creative way to "sell" your product (be it a book or a film).
Personally, I keep promoting my books and writing them in two separate compartments in my brain; it's like they're in two different rooms, just down the hall from each other. I don't let the idea of "this book has to sell!" ever enter my mind when I am actually writing it - I just write it because I like it. I don't even have an audience in mind. And if it does do well, well, that's just the cherry on top. But if you're writing just for a profit, or with the idea of "how can I sell this eventually?" you've already lost.
Hope this helps! Cheers!
I think some things have to be reduced, simply to get the word out about your book. Pitching the story to a publisher, or like you mentioned, advertising for your book - it has to be just a snippet of what you're offering. But this doesn't mean you're selling out or that it has to impact your work negatively. In fact, it might even be helpful to be able to summarize your work in a few short sentences, so that you're clearer on what it is you're actually working on.
Think of it like a trailer for a movie. You can't include everything - and in fact, you want to leave most of the important elements out; but it can be a creative way to "sell" your product (be it a book or a film).
Personally, I keep promoting my books and writing them in two separate compartments in my brain; it's like they're in two different rooms, just down the hall from each other. I don't let the idea of "this book has to sell!" ever enter my mind when I am actually writing it - I just write it because I like it. I don't even have an audience in mind. And if it does do well, well, that's just the cherry on top. But if you're writing just for a profit, or with the idea of "how can I sell this eventually?" you've already lost.
Hope this helps! Cheers!
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