Month: September 2012

Fear of Failure

/ hemmiemartin / 5 Comments
Chocolate from John Loo
Fear just loves to block our creativity and word flow. It feeds off our negativity and gets stronger as our resolve to succeed gets weaker.
When we first start writing, we constantly compare ourselves to other authors. We devour their books and stand in awe at their mastery of words. We read of the success of others in writing magazines and on the web, and believe we’ll never reach their level. the more we disbelieve in ourselves, the more powerful fear becomes.
When we receive rejection after rejection following our submissions packages, it only goes to confirm that our writing isn’t good enough. Never mind the variables such as the agent has already got another very similar story, the agent has reached their quota, or simply the agent wasn’t interested out of personal taste. Rejection does not necessarily mean we can’t write, but fear doesn’t know that.
When we finally achieve publication – and we will if we persevere – we continue to let fear exploit our weakness and run our belief and creativity into the ground. We continue to read other novels and believe them far superior to our own. But perhaps we need to feel that on a certain level so we don’t stop striving to make each novel better than the one before.
Is there  way to stop fear eating away at us until our self-esteem looks like a moth-eaten cashmere jumper? Well maybe there are several ways, and we all have to find our own salvation. Some people swear by relaxation or Reiki; some people write a list of their positive attributes as a writer, and some people use positive thinking and visualisation. Some of you may feel these methods are too airy fairy, but you know, whatever way you find, if it helps keep fear down to the size of a grape instead of a watermelon, then go for it.
Talking to other authors in a similar position to oneself can also liberate our creativity, or at least make us realise that no matter where we are in the writing world, everybody experiences a fear of failure. 
Let’s not let it hold us back, let’s face it and poke our tongue out at it. We’re not infants at our first day of primary school, we have experience, courage, hope and the ability to overcome the niggles that fear throws before us. Inhale deeply and start believing. And if all fails – eat some chocolate!
Happy Word Flow One & All

Can Anybody Hear Me?

/ hemmiemartin / 1 Comment
My beautiful eldest daughter.

Writing a book is one thing, marketing it is another. If I’m honest, I much prefer writing – even editing – rather than marketing, but it is the devil I need to grab by the horns.

I have read numerous articles both on paper and on the web, on how to promote oneself and the book in question. But I have always learnt better by modelling rather than just reading alone. But I no longer work as part of a team where I can ask someone to show me what to do. I am, of course, part of a virtual team with Winter Goose Publishing in America, but I can’t grab their hand, guide it to my laptop and say, “show me please.”

FaceBook and Twitter are mentioned frequently, but I can’t just use use both mediums to say, “look at me, buy my book,” I would lose friends/follows rapidly, and quite rightly so.

What can be disconcerting is that the web is bulging with authors trying to get their book noticed. What makes someone stand out more than another? Is it a eye-catching book cover? Is it a string of 5* book reviews? Is it a succession of novels to the author’s name? All of this issues count, and yet it must be more than that.

I am astounded when someone I don’t know on Twitter or FB – or at least I believe I don’t know – leaves a review on Amazon. I wonder where they found my book? Of course, I can’t ask them, but it would be a great learning curve to know what works, and ultimately what doesn’t.

Marketing is rather like searching for a shooting star. I can look towards to sky and see the stars, but the one I want is elusive and I only manage to see by luck. I can hear some of you screaming that marketing is not a matter of luck, but hard graft and intelligent use of the web. I agree!

 However, I believe there is also a certain amount of luck needed too. Luck in that someone spots your book, falls in love with it and spreads the word. Or luck that an agent or publisher find your book intriguing, or even luck that your genre is flavour of the month.

Someone told me that they marketed their own book and sold 200 books in one month. I have asked her to show me  her strategy, but I’m still waiting to hear from her. I will pass on the information as soon as I have it, as I’m sure we could al do with a little help in that area.

I was hoping to be a bit more market savvy before my next novel comes out in Feb 2013. I do at least have some more time before then, but I’m aware that working with an editor is very time consuming, plus I’m writing another novel at this moment in time, whilst trying to be a competent mother, wife, cook, homework wizard and housekeeper.

I have found services who will advertise my book for a fee, and they look very tempting. I have an advert out now in Mslexia, and I’ve also advertised in the local community magazine. I intend to pursue some of these avenues, especially when I have two books to sell. Some of the products that are available are too complicated for me to follow and understand. I don’t know whether that reflects badly on the product or on me!

I wasn’t born to sell wares, I was a nurse – a giver – and I now find I’m floundering in these murky waters. And yet all authors have to tread these waters, even the successful ones, so why should I be any different?

Perhaps someone out there has more answers than I do, answers that I can understand!. I’m hoping that someone can hear me now!

Happy Word Flow One & All

Each day I learn more about writing and marketing