Three things I learned from releasing my debut novel
So it’s only been a few weeks, but those weeks have been packed with emotions. Ones that I expected and ones that I did not. What does one learn when one finally completes a bucket list item of releasing a personal piece of art into the world?
This is a long game full of learning as you go. And as a previous academic, I have to be okay with not having followed every marketing suggestion to the letter and okay with not exploding onto the book scene. Unless I wanted to pay someone to do it, which I decided was not right for me because I want to learn it myself to release more books. I could pay someone who knows all the things to make a splash for me, but I decided that learning was more important than the splash. And I have to let go of wanting the splash like you sometimes have to let go of not getting that A grade you want.
Support comes from unexpected places. I have a core of amazing people, but people who I work with, or people who I know through activities with my son, even acquaintances from school, have come out of the woodwork to read and love my book. Or who buy it for their teenage kids. You never know how the good things you put out in the world will come back to you.
Just know your goals in order to keep things in perspective, or keep you pushing for that next definition of success. Was the goal to put out a book that was not an embarrassment? Then you made it, no matter where it goes. Was the goal to be traditionally published? Then keep submitting until you find your people. Was the goal to sell copies? Then pay someone who knows the best way to get those copies sold and put yourself out there and do the work. It has been the key for me to survive the vulnerability of having written and put out a book. Anyone who’s a writer has wanted to be an author for most of their lives but the actual prospect of it is daunting. So just stay in touch with the truth of your heart.
So that’s it. I jumped the hurdle. And I have another book on deck that’s being read an critiqued. And I’m letting the other projects I’m working on come to me. Because I still love writing and storytelling, despite the vulnerability that comes with it.
