Indie Authors and Promotion
There’s no nice way to put it. We, as authors, do NOT get along with others. We are introverted, shy, quiet, confusing, and misunderstood. We write because we have a story to tell and no other way to tell it. That’s why promotions/marketing is so hard for us.
We have a comfort zone and we don’t like to leave it. (Who really does anyway?) The thing is, as Indie Authors, we aren’t allowed that comfort zone. Not if we want our books to make it. Not if we want people to hear what we have to say. This is an issue I see quite often. Indies aren’t willing to step out of their comfort zones to do what needs to be done, and then we get upset when we don’t have sales. I have a hard time talking to people. Anxiety makes it hard for me to put two words together to make a coherent sentence when I’m contacting people via phone or talking to them face to face, but you know what helps? Practice. That’s right. Getting over it, getting out there, and DOING IT. Because I’ve forced myself out of my little author box this last year, I’ve made some great contacts, amazing friends, and SALES!!! Can you believe it?! I, an introverted, shy, anxious author, made SALES! I sold 8 paperback when I went to concarolinas this year. I know 8 doesn’t sound like much, but I made $80 in two days at a convention when it takes me a whole month to barely make $20 on KDP. I’m not even going to go into how B&N HASN’T helped me any.
I guess this was a bit of a rant, but also, I hope it helps people understand that being an Indie Author doesn’t mean you can just sit away in your office (or wherever you write) and put books out and get sales. You have to get out there and do stuff. Engage your readers. That’s the only way it’s going to work.
