Update
It's been a very long time since I last updated my blog - sorry!
The truth is I have all but given up marketing for my books, nor I am writing anything new. I want to write, I really do, but I just can’t seem to bring myself to do it. This was never the case before, writing was always pleasurable and never a chore. I loved it and I still do, but I don’t have the same enthusiasm for the entire process as when I first self-published back in 2012. I’m also making very few sales, perhaps it’s the summer or perhaps I’ve just faded into the ranks along with thousands of other KDP authors.
It’s not writer’s block, I have a few ideas for new novels but there’s just no will in me to write. It’s not about the money, it never has been. It’s just simply not fun for me anymore to market my books via trawling the forums, contacting reviewers, plugging away on social media etc... The market is saturated and I think I have to face up to reality: my writing is simply not good enough to be competitive. Over time the good will always rise to the top and the rest will sink into obscurity. I got good reviews, I got bad reviews. Mostly good, so I can take pride in that and I’ve learned a lot from all the feedback about how and where to improve. I’ve also met some awesome people along the way.
A successful writer once told me if you don’t make it within the first few months on Amazon, you simply won’t make it. I think this rings true, the odds are stacked against you. If I was to have another stab at this publishing malarkey, it would probably be via investing more time and effort into contacting literary agents. I need help, quite frankly. I can’t do anymore or go any further without an agent.
I’m still open to interacting with readers and I’ll happily lend out review copies. I’m keeping all my work live, of course, there is no negative side to this. Even a bad review is publicity!For the future I’m going to try and keep this blog up to date with things that interest me – book reviews, film reviews and games!
The truth is I have all but given up marketing for my books, nor I am writing anything new. I want to write, I really do, but I just can’t seem to bring myself to do it. This was never the case before, writing was always pleasurable and never a chore. I loved it and I still do, but I don’t have the same enthusiasm for the entire process as when I first self-published back in 2012. I’m also making very few sales, perhaps it’s the summer or perhaps I’ve just faded into the ranks along with thousands of other KDP authors.
It’s not writer’s block, I have a few ideas for new novels but there’s just no will in me to write. It’s not about the money, it never has been. It’s just simply not fun for me anymore to market my books via trawling the forums, contacting reviewers, plugging away on social media etc... The market is saturated and I think I have to face up to reality: my writing is simply not good enough to be competitive. Over time the good will always rise to the top and the rest will sink into obscurity. I got good reviews, I got bad reviews. Mostly good, so I can take pride in that and I’ve learned a lot from all the feedback about how and where to improve. I’ve also met some awesome people along the way.
A successful writer once told me if you don’t make it within the first few months on Amazon, you simply won’t make it. I think this rings true, the odds are stacked against you. If I was to have another stab at this publishing malarkey, it would probably be via investing more time and effort into contacting literary agents. I need help, quite frankly. I can’t do anymore or go any further without an agent.
I’m still open to interacting with readers and I’ll happily lend out review copies. I’m keeping all my work live, of course, there is no negative side to this. Even a bad review is publicity!For the future I’m going to try and keep this blog up to date with things that interest me – book reviews, film reviews and games!
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John wrote: "Michael, I don't know you and we've never interacted before so you have no reason to listen to me, but I empathize with you. You seem like a man conflicted:"It’s not writer’s block, I have a few ..."
Hi John, thanks for your kind words and encouragement. Much appreciated! Same to you and have a good week.
Mike
"It’s not writer’s block, I have a few ideas for new novels but there’s just no will in me to write. It’s not about the money, it never has been. It’s just simply not fun for me anymore to market my books via trawling the forums, contacting reviewers, plugging away on social media etc... The market is saturated..."
My advice: Forget the marketing, the trawling, the requesting and all the energy spent trying to swim upstream in today's turbulent river that is social media and rechannel it to the one core joy of creating worlds, characters, tension and resolve. In your profile you answered that you write for the freedom of it. DO THAT. Write for no other reason but the joy it brings YOU... and let that be enough.
Wishing you peace in your heart and mind...