What’s an Author to do These Days…

“Please tell me I am not alone…” an author lamented on a post I saw on Facebook a while ago. As I read through the comment, part of me deeply felt the frustration this writer was going through. I’ve been there, and done some of those tasks mentioned. However, another part of me wanted partake in a full-blown smack down to induce a well-needed writer wake-up call. Keeping this particular author anonymous, I’ll share snippets of the conversation below to give you an idea of why I reacted the way I did, and share my response with you.

 First part:

“Please tell me I am not alone…

Years of being a published author: 7

Number of titles: 16

Seven years of doing everything "they" said to do: Join this group and that group and do ads and write more books and do a series and write to market and do a newsletter, and have a strong social media presence, and take an ads course and read these books, and if your blurb and covers are right and you have a great book, you will see fruition. . .”

Response: Um. No. There’s no guarantee in this business. I’m not sure if the author is self-published or with a publisher, but seven years is not bad if you’ve published sixteen books! I’m also not sure how much sweat equity this writer has invested in before being published, but the author is efficient enough to craft a novel. Seven years in publishing does not equal fame and fortune. Oh, and listening to the “they” is the author’s fault, not theirs. The author is not taking any responsibility, and blaming others for their lack of success.

Second part:

“So, I listen to these experts and I get their feedback on my covers and blurbs and utilize beta readers and editors and take the classes and do the research and learn the ads and go beyond even all that. Every time I have applied what I have learned, I think “This is it, this will be the game changer that will make my career go into the black."

"I made a series. Now it will work." No.

"I wrote a nonfiction book to help others. Now things will change." No.

"I changed my covers for the fifth time and tightened the tropes to meet readers' expectations. Now my career will take off." No.

"I took all the classes, did all the research, did everything they said to do. This will all make a difference." No.”

Response:

Again, playing the blame game. No one held a gun to this author’s head. At least I hope not!
Since being a published author in 2012, I’ve never changed my covers. My reasoning? It confuses the readers looking for your books. To me, this author is doing way too much and not concentrating on what’s best for them. There’s an old saying around the time of the California Gold Rush that basically teaches there’ll be thousands of prospectors searching for gold, and many opportunistic businesses sprouting up to sell them picks and shovels. Who do you think will profit more? This author seems to have been sold a lot of picks and shovels, yet lacks something many authors need these days—staying power. Know that you must be in for the long haul (and work smarter) to accomplish your dreams and receive the ‘gold’.

Third part:

“I am heartbroken and tired of hearing people make blanket claims, knowing I apply their tried and true practices only to wind up steeped in the red, seeing little evidence that my books are being enjoyed as the numbers of reviews have essentially frozen themselves in time. Or, after getting #1 bestsellers to do my covers and blurbs and working with a coach to ensure I met the tropes and expectations of the audience, only to be told that it must be my covers or blurb.”

Response: Welcome to the reality of being part of the author club! It takes time and money to make this particular career work. Yes. It’s frustrating and sometimes soul-crushing, but at some point in your writing profession, you need to reevaluate what’s working, what’s not, and adjust. Be professional, and make decisions that are for your best interests. Seems like this author is being pick-pocketed and left hanging while those so-called ‘coaches’ are laughing all the way to the bank. To me, this author needs to reset their mindset.

Fourth (and last) part:

“I Love to Write. I always have. I am thankful that hasn’t gone away. But…I engaged with another writer--his words meant so much. He alluded to the ANXIETY pushed upon us, the demands of being a writer and being absorbed by the number of reviews, our rankings, our sales, etc. and how instead, it's best to market our craft and build our reputation from word-of-mouth. And I agree with him, especially since all of my efforts sizzle for a second before drowning in the big ocean of this giant indie world.”

Response: Okay. The author loves to write and is grateful. Good attitude. What I think needs to happen is that this person must stop running around like a chicken with its head cut off (sorry for the cliché) and do some heavy duty analyzing. The other author who engaged in the post tells it like it is. It’s tough being an author these days. The fact that he advises to build a reputation from word-of-mouth (best advertising) is gold. No need for picks or shovels. Just be authentic. Do what’s best for you and what you can handle (mentally and financially). It’ll all work out in the wash one day. Or in the prospector’s pan.

This author writes in a popular genre, where I’m guessing there’s plenty of competition out there. The genre has an established market, so there’s many readers waiting in the wings for books to devour. So what’s this author to do? Simple, though not easy. Be patient with the process and journey of a writing career. Stop hustling. That will stress you out even more. Anxiety is a product of being uncertain, of what’s lurking around the next corner. Be present. Write. Have fun. Even when you’re promoting or marketing. Trust me, it’s not worth it if your writing career is one big ball of frustration. In the end, this author seemed hopeful, which I was happy to find. I’ll leave you with the last line of this author’s rant: “I hope and pray that soon, very soon, all my hard work, all those countless hours of doing all the business side of things, will pay off so I don't feel like this has all been in vain.”

When I started writing almost thirty years ago, I had no clue about this writing business. I just muddled through, kept honing my craft, and yes, failing. A lot. But I kept going. Guess ignorance is bliss, after all! If you’re an author, do you resonate with what this writer conveyed? Have you changed tactics and readjusted your writing career throughout the years? Have you decided to toss out ‘Hustle Culture’ like I did, and just ‘do you’? If you’re a reader, did you realize what authors have to do to catch your attention? Would love to read your comments. Cheers and thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you! 

An Author’s Legacy…

Besides being ‘Luke Skywalker Day’—May the fourth be with you—it also marks the ninth anniversary of this blog: Sharon Ledwith: I came. I saw. I wrote. I started blogging—not really knowing anything other than reading Blogging for Dummies—on May 4^th, 2011, before I even had a publishing contract. If you build it, they will come, right? Funnily enough, the contract came four months after I began blogging. It truly feels like a blur now, and I’ve learned so much since that inaugural date. That said, when I was trying to come up with a post to mark my blogversary (is that a word?), I found an article in our local paper that piqued my interest enough to pass on the wisdom I gleaned from it.

The headline read ‘MAGICAL MEMORIES’, with the subhead, ‘Disney letter among artifacts for Capitol Theatre’s 100^th anniversary’. The article goes on to explain that, in 1938 Walt Disney himself sent a letter to the Windsor Daily Star, thanking it for helping promote a screening of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Capitol. The article goes on to quote, “Disney is a thing unto itself. That fact that the person who was the head of the Disney empire took time to write a letter to the Windsor Star—Windsor Daily Star at that time—to thank them for their assistance in promoting a Disney film, it’s amazing. Incredible, actually.”

I couldn’t agree more.

The letter goes on to mention the newspaper’s “splendid cooperation” in spreading the word about the movie’s run at the Capitol. Disney continues to write, “May I take this opportunity to thank your staff and especially your artists for their many kindnesses?” Wow, just wow! The letter was ended with Disney’s handwritten signature in large, swooping letters.

Can you imagine that kind of correspondence happening in this day and age? Imagine say, trying to get through to George Lucas if you were showing a Star Wars film. Um, no. Wouldn’t happen. And neither would George sit down and write a personal letter, and send it to you. It just goes to show you Disney’s considerate gesture speaks to a very different time in our world. Kind of makes me sad, in a way.

Then, I thought about what kind of legacy authors can leave behind in this ever-changing, post COVID 19 world. How a small gesture like Disney’s would make a difference in a reader’s life? Kindness and manners still matter in my mind, and never go out of style. There’s a handful of authors I know who do go out of their way to thank others who help promote them, give them a shout out on social media, or read their books and leave reviews. Most good business owners show gratitude to their customers in one way or another. Why not authors? After all, we are the owners of our stories, and publish them out into the world (or cyber-world) to sell to prospective readers.

Which leads me to the point of this post. A small kindness or act goes a long way with people. Sending a thank you card or donating your book to a school you did an author visit at, or adding value to a reader’s day by answering their email or social media message. It’s a little boost that will go a long way in a person’s heart, and probably make their day brighter. So take a page out of Walt Disney’s business book, and take time to connect with and grow your audience. It’s a great investment in your future author-self. Never forget, the world needs YOU!

BTW— For May-June my publisher, MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING is going to promote a giveaway for new readers to try Mirror World books for the first time. The code is FREEBOOK and it can be used once per email address for a free ebook to try one of our books for free. Please click HERE to go to their online store. Happy reading!

Now that you’ve helped celebrate nine years blogging with me, let’s time travel a hundred years from now. What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind as an author? How would you want readers to remember you? Would love to read your comments! Cheers, be well, and thank you for reading my blog.

What Authors Can Learn from the Demise of Sears…

Last year, I was shocked to find out that Sears Canada, a company that has been in business for over 60 years, was filing for creditor protection in June. They closed a total of 59 stores with the Sears brand name, resulting in 2900 employee layoffs. Then, the domino effect happened. In October, Sears decided to close all their stores permanently in Canada, and went into the liquidation process until January 2018, laying off the remaining 11,240 employees. Their pensions, like the company they had worked so hard for over the years, dissolved before their eyes. I’m still shaking my head. Growing up, Sears was an institution, a shopping mecca, and a place you could find quality products at a fair price. So, where did Sears go wrong?

Author friend and colleague, Anne Montgomery has a theory about that, and you can read her blog post HERE. But I suspect there’s more to it than sloppy service or guilt-ridden customers. This goes much deeper. Sears Canada began its operations as Simpson-Sears Limited in 1952 as a catalogue and mid-market suburban retailer. This was their target market. The store introduced ‘We Service What We Sell’ as their slogan, backed up by a highly-trained nationwide corps of service technicians. Smart move. They brought in their own brand names (Kenmore, Craftsman), got into malls, expanded their products, and at the end we’re even planning to sell groceries (think Walmart). Sears parted ways from Simpson (purchased by the Hudson Bay Company in 1978) continued to rebrand, changing their logo a number of times, and trying new store formats before deciding to throw in the towel. In the end, there just wasn’t enough cash flow to meet the company’s financial obligations over the next year. Case closed. Doors shut.

So, what do AUTHORS need to learn from the demise of this department store dinosaur?

Sears didn’t evolve. They stopped filling a need. Their target market changed and they didn’t grow with them. Sears didn’t look at the big picture. Blame the Millennials if you wish, but their shopping habits are not the same as their parent’s. Brick and mortar stores and malls were a meeting place when I was younger. Now, not so much. Monster on-line businesses like Amazon are taking over, and authors have a place to easily publish their reading wares with a push of a few buttons. Walmart is surviving by offering low prices and great service. They fill a need, and market it well. My guess is that Sears simply ran its course. Smart businesses compete by innovating with more products and service.

Authors should be smart too. Build a brand that fills a need for your target market. Choose a price point, experiment with ways of reaching more readers, and always keep adding more products (books) to your author store (website). Keep your overhead low, and always continue to invest in your business. Offer quality service (great editing and an eye-catching book cover) and most importantly write an awesome story that will keep your customers (readers) visiting your website and buying your books for years to come.      

There are so many lesson authors can learn from a company when they go belly-up. The trick is to make sure you stay afloat long enough to watch your ships come in. That is my hope for all you writers out there. Cheers and thank you for reading my blog!

Writers Taking Stock…

In the Tarot Cards, the Seven of Pentacles is all about taking stock. Reevaluating what you’ve been working on for some time, and reflecting on what you’ve accomplished so far. The beginning of a new year is a perfect time this. It’s a time for assessment and future planning, as well as a time for a change.

I’m lucky to be with a publishing company who sets business goals for the year and shares these plans with their authors. Some of these plans include to publish a certain amount of books while keeping slots open for authors who are writing an ongoing series, featuring a new book each month with blog posts, videos, and discounts, attending many events and festivals, and producing audiobooks. They want to continue improving and growing, and so do I. Part of that growth includes building their brand. And that’s my goal too.

So how am I going to continue building my author brand? By blogging weekly, sharing interesting and helpful information on the social media, helping other authors achieve their goals, connecting with readers through events and visits, offering sales and giveaways, and of course writing more books. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I’ve not been able to get more of my books into the hands of my readers these last two years. This will change in the upcoming year with the publication of the second installment of The Last Timekeepers series, The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret later in 2016. I also plan to work on researching and outlining the third book in the series next year too!

My literary agent also has big plans as Walden House (Books & Stuff) has set up a satellite office in the UK, and will begin re-submitting the first book in my Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls series throughout North America and Europe. Patience is the name of the game when you’re working with an agent, and since I’m busy producing my time travel series, it’s a win-win for me. This is the beauty of developing an author brand. When potential publishers check you out, you’ve got a platform and a body of work already on the go. And that’s when all your hard work and persistent effort will pay off!

Finally, I can’t stress this enough, but having a positive mental attitude helps tremendously. It will not only carry you through the tough writing times where you’re lucky to get a paragraph written in a day or make enough sales in a month to buy a coffee and donut, but will see to it that you stay true to your dreams. Trust me, you’ll have good days and bad days, but if you take stock on where you’ve been and how far you’ve come as a writer, things will become brighter, better, and lighter. 

How do you take stock? Are you in a happy place now with your writing career? Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, and thank you for taking the time to read my blog! Cheers!

3 Hats an Author Needs to Wear to Succeed…

Honestly, if I knew that it would take over fifteen years to become a published author I would have thought long and hard about whether I should go down that road less traveled. But I did. And the truth is that you can’t buy this experience. You digest it. You absorb it. You bleed it.

What I’ve learned in those fifteen plus years is worth more to me than any university degree I could ever earn. The skill of actually writing and crafting a book is such a process that it takes years to glean, and once completed no one can take that feeling of accomplishment away from you. NO. ONE. I’ve also learned that a writer must wear three different hats if he or she wants to succeed in this crazy writing business.

Hat #1: Asks what I am skilled at doing? I imagine this hat like a hard hat you’d wear at a construction site. This is information that you and you alone must discern. Use your natural abilities or skills that will serve you in your writing business. Good at blogging? Do it! Great at sharing information to help others achieve their dreams as well as your own dreams? Go for it! We can’t be good at everything. We just can’t! Understanding where your skills lie will help you tremendously when you seek publication or if you decide to go it alone.

Hat #2: Asks what do I enjoy doing? Yay! This is a fun hat! I imagine this hat looks like a jester’s cap with bells. Do what you love, love what you do. These are the tasks that you find rewarding. Plan a novel. Plan a whole book series. Write that first draft. Only you know what makes your heart beat faster and brings you joy, and once you figure that out then as cliché as this sounds, the world is your oyster.

Hat #3: Asks what can I uniquely contribute? This is a more serious hat for me—a fedora perhaps—business-like and serious. Do you want to write something of value to share with the world? Or just with family and friends? Will your books be useful (read: sell) in the marketplace? Do you have a business plan mapped out and ready to go to take your readers on fantastic journeys? In the end, it’s all up to you to determine what you can give, and how you want to go about doing it.

In dreams, hats represent the attitudes you show others most, your mental outlook, your various jobs, talents, personalities, and aspects of yourself. Hats reveal how you cover up or display what you really think or how you protect your ideas. So what kind of hats do you think you’d wear to succeed in the publishing business? Love to read your comments! Cheers!

Now, where did I put my jester’s cap…