Obsession and Acceptance
One of the most challenging aspects of being a newly published author, whether self-published or not, is promoting the book to readers after its release. This is an essential element of the endeavour, but not one that most writers I've talked to really enjoy. We tell stories, and our minds want readers to magically discover those stories and come to us to read them. That isn't how it works, and that fact can be frustrating.
I did not write a book to become famous, nor did I write it to become rich. Neither would be a hardship for me, but those were not the primary motivations. I wrote the book because I have always had a desire to tell stories and move other people with them. So, the sheer revenue generated from the book is not something with which I have an emotional connection. Still, the engagement that the number of copies sold represents is something I think all authors connect with. And so, in the days after my release, I would obsessively check sales reports. Seeing little or no movement would cause me pain and self-doubt. Wondering if my work was resonating with anyone. This is irrational. Several people have read my work, some with a personal connection to me, and a few with no connection or a limited one, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Even comments that offered criticism highlighted the connection the reader had with the story. I was letting my fears take over and treating the slow build of an audience, which is true for almost any author, affecting my emotions and well-being. Slowly over the week, I started to deal with it better, checking my sales less often and thinking about ways to extend my reach so I can attract more attention to my work, and planning for more content, which, everyone says, is the key to an expanding market.
Am I cured of the obsession? Doubful. But I am improving. For those who have already been exposed to my work and who appreciated it, I am grateful. For those who are blissfully unaware of it so far, I am coming for you. Be prepared.
J E Sutton Jr
