“Failure is part of the creative process. If you’re afraid of it, you can’t really create.”
Danny DeVito
I’m back from my publishing pause.
I’ve spent the last two weeks getting book 2 ready to go. I haven’t published The Pair Dadeni yet, but I should be able to get the eBook format out within the next day or so, with the paperback and hardback formats following shortly thereafter. Hopefully, they’ll all be available next week.
Getting ready to publish my next book has reminded me that even though I love writing, there are some things I don’t like. This post is about my five least favorite publishing activities.
#1. Blurbs. I know they’re only 100+ words that go on the back of books and websites. But they strike fear in me. Nothing else is even close in my writing life. It takes me days to get one that sounds okay to me. It’s like trying to create a path down a steep hill on a tractor (see picture below). It’s terrifying.
#2. Technical knowledge. There are an overwhelming number of processes, technologies, website navigation, etc., required to launch a book. For instance, I’ve developed a detailed checklist I follow in publishing my books. It takes about 35 steps, out of about 100, just to publish. The other 65 are for marketing activities that sell books. One example – I’ve had to learn about two dozen additional Microsoft Word techniques just to format my books (and that’s with using templates from Amazon)!
#3. Social Media. I’ve mentioned in a previous post that I’m a bit of a Luddite (technology challenged). I’m also a little bit of an introvert. Those two traits don’t help me have a great Social Media presence. I didn’t do any social media before launching my first book. My youngest daughter helped me set up and launch my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts as well as my website, www.jcholmberg.com. I’m still learning all the steps it takes to post these weekly messages. My big challenge in the future is becoming effective in these efforts. I will say, though, that I’m proud that I’ve had people from 10 countries and three continents visit my website😊
#4. Marketing. I’m putting this one on the list because I haven’t done much of it yet, but a lot of other writers say it’s hard work. I’m choosing to wait on marketing my books until the 3rd book is out (The Sangreal is coming fall 2022). I’ve based my decision on my experience with TV streaming companies like Netflix, where I don’t start watching a show unless the whole series is available. Same thought process with books. That, plus I have so much to learn.
#5. Cover creation. As I’ve written in a previous post, creating book covers is also an uncomfortable process because it’s hard for me to visualize colors and action.
Surprisingly though, editing doesn’t make this list. For me, it’s like creating the stories – I’m constantly filling in plot holes or adding a little backstory in my editing. FYI – I’ve already written at least the first draft of all eight books in The Maqlû series. I also have notes on a half dozen prequel books and another dozen or so books not related to The Maqlû, so story creation is not a problem for me.
The picture below is me sloping the landscape on the side of the house to make it drivable. It doesn’t look it, but there’s a steep drop-off just in front of me. It was time-consuming and nerve-wracking filling in the deep trench on the side of the house as well as sloping the whole area so we can drive our equipment down to the walkout basement of the house from the landing/first floor of the house.
This picture is looking west of our house, towards the South Fork River in Kentucky. The main pond is below and to the left of me.
Comments