Self-promo can be gross but as you mentioned it's a gift to have something to promote! I still have a hard time promoting. When people ask how I am or what I'm doing, I have to remind myself to not talk about something mundane like the weather. Talk about the art as much as you can.
Love "talk about the art as much as you can." Who needs to have another conversation about the weather anyway? I'd much rather a new acquaintance tell me about their project than have some overwrung conversation.
Aside from the factors you mentioned, I think the biggest one for me is the fear of failure - like that despite all my efforts, no one will see my stuff and I'll ultimately flop. Usually when I share these fears with someone they go "you don't know if you'll fail" or "you'll only fail if you don't try" or just the classic "you won't" (none of which actually helps allay my very real and rational fears, and I say this without any hint of sarcasm). This has been my biggest hurdle not just in promoting my work, but even in doing the work in the first place!
(BTW, congrats on your book launch!! How exciting! 😻)
Oh yeah, I'm with you there. I'm pretty grounded in the knowledge that, because I'm a debut author with no real social media following, this first book isn't gonna sell well - like, I'm not deluding myself into thinking it's going to be some grand success. But that still stinks! I'm still worried that I'll label my book (or myself) as a failure!
I don't know if this one's helpful for you, but I usually try to remind myself that I'll DEFINITELY fail if I don't put myself out there, and by putting myself out there, I at least have a chance at succeeding.
True, I try to tell myself the same thing and usually it helps me get started. The self-promoting thing is still hardest for me, and knowing it's necessary doesn't make it any easier... fear of ridicule is right up there with fear of failure as a hindering factor 😂
Exactly haha!! But I still love how you're approaching your feelings towards this debut book launch. If you feel like it, I'd love to know more about the process of publishing your book in a future post - finding a home for it, whether you had an agent, marketing, promoting etc :)
the pre-launch show nerves are REAL! glad you had a brilliant time at the party though. it's so important to remember to pause and soak up the "I did it" feelings... self-promotion or no self-promotion!
It’s hard to make good work. Then all the work that goes into sharing that work is even tougher. Self promotion is so hard. I just want make stuff.
Agree! I wish I could put ALL of my energy into just creating and then the rest would do itself 😅
Self-promo can be gross but as you mentioned it's a gift to have something to promote! I still have a hard time promoting. When people ask how I am or what I'm doing, I have to remind myself to not talk about something mundane like the weather. Talk about the art as much as you can.
Love "talk about the art as much as you can." Who needs to have another conversation about the weather anyway? I'd much rather a new acquaintance tell me about their project than have some overwrung conversation.
Aside from the factors you mentioned, I think the biggest one for me is the fear of failure - like that despite all my efforts, no one will see my stuff and I'll ultimately flop. Usually when I share these fears with someone they go "you don't know if you'll fail" or "you'll only fail if you don't try" or just the classic "you won't" (none of which actually helps allay my very real and rational fears, and I say this without any hint of sarcasm). This has been my biggest hurdle not just in promoting my work, but even in doing the work in the first place!
(BTW, congrats on your book launch!! How exciting! 😻)
Oh yeah, I'm with you there. I'm pretty grounded in the knowledge that, because I'm a debut author with no real social media following, this first book isn't gonna sell well - like, I'm not deluding myself into thinking it's going to be some grand success. But that still stinks! I'm still worried that I'll label my book (or myself) as a failure!
I don't know if this one's helpful for you, but I usually try to remind myself that I'll DEFINITELY fail if I don't put myself out there, and by putting myself out there, I at least have a chance at succeeding.
(And thank you so much!!)
True, I try to tell myself the same thing and usually it helps me get started. The self-promoting thing is still hardest for me, and knowing it's necessary doesn't make it any easier... fear of ridicule is right up there with fear of failure as a hindering factor 😂
That's where my social anxiety comes in! "What if people are saying X about me whenever they see my posts...."
You can say "Oh, well those aren't friends you want anyway" all day, but it's still nerve-wracking, lol.
Exactly haha!! But I still love how you're approaching your feelings towards this debut book launch. If you feel like it, I'd love to know more about the process of publishing your book in a future post - finding a home for it, whether you had an agent, marketing, promoting etc :)
the pre-launch show nerves are REAL! glad you had a brilliant time at the party though. it's so important to remember to pause and soak up the "I did it" feelings... self-promotion or no self-promotion!
YES! I'm definitely trying to soak it in a bit before pressuring myself to start the next project :)
so proud of you and appreciate your vulnerability so much <3 this is the kind of honesty we need!!
Thank you friend!! That helps a lot :)
*whispering* you’re gonna make me promote this book even harder