My debut literary crime novel,”You Beneath Your Skin,” published by the fab team at Simon and Schuster IN is slowly making its way into the world.
It is available in India here.
Worldwide, here.
If you’re a netgalley reviewer, snag a copy here.
Reviews are appreciated–please get in touch if you’d like a review copy.
Today, I’m writing on a writer-ly topic—one all of us think about, but few elaborate on in public.
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) asks this question:
How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream? Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve?
In a way, I’m living the dream, because as I said in an earlier post, You Beneath Your Skin has given me the opportunity to speak about the things I care about–children and women’s rights. Talking to young women on these topics has been very fulfilling.
On the other hand though, I feel a tad exhausted by this relentless pressure of book promotions. I’m more of a writer, and less of a promoter. I do not enjoy the limelight, and would rather that the spotlight fell on the causes, instead of on me. If the occasion demands, I can be articulate on the subjects I’m passionate about, but the travel and the talk takes its toll. I’d rather just sit in a corner and write because what I have to say is expressed in my writing.
My dream life would be where my books sell just enough copies for me to be able to write, and not be bothered about promoting the book. Actually, I could do that–write, and not bother about promoting, via self-publishing, because not many who publish traditionally would be able to do no promos at all. But self-publishing without self-promotion would mean the book wouldn’t find a wider audience.
So far, the book has received more than 50 Amazon US reviews and more than 130 reviews on Amazon India, which wouldn’t have happened without promotions of the book.
Publishing these days demands a lot more of the writer than ever before, and does not need to reward them because we writers are a peculiar lot, we will continue to write no matter what, even if no one wants to read us! Supply will always be much larger than the demand.
So my dream life as a writer is just a pipe-dream–but it doesn’t hurt to send out an intention into the universe–let me be a writer whose work would find an audience without any book promotions!
What about you? What is your dream life as a writer? What kind of your lives do the writers in your life lead?
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This post was written for IWSG: Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh for organizing and hosting the Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) every month! Go to the site to see the other participants. In this group we writers share tips, self-doubt, insecurities, and of course, discuss the act of writing. If you’re a writer and a blogger, go join rightaway!
The co-hosts today are Tonja Drecker, Beverly Stowe McClure, Nicki Elson, Fundy Blue, and Tyrean Martinson. Please go and give their posts some love.
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That’s a wonderful dream – I find promotion very difficult too and it’s hard to know where to put one’s focus. But it’s a necessary evil if we want people to know about our work.
Thank you for sharing!…. “The only thing that stands between you and your dream is the will to try and the belief that it is actually possible.” ― Joel Brown
I agree Damyanti. Promotion is relentless and difficult. I’d love to be able to write and not have to market. That would be delightful. Congrats on the success of your book!
Book promotion is time consuming — agreed! Congrats on the novel.
Mmm, my dream life as a writer would be just like yours: Just write; the books sell themselves! 🙂
That would sure be grand. Sell enough to keep writing and not promo much at all.
Book promotions have to be hard. And you are right, they have become crucial. When I released my debut – a small press publication – I did too little, and the lack of reviews and sales prove that. Finding a balance between writing and promotion is vital to survival. Unfortunately, today, I all but housebound so it’s too late.
You are hot, Damyanti! That’s an excellent Amazon rank. I’m tinged green.
Okay I really like that one. Happy IWSG!
Certainly, writing without promotions would be my ideal. I am hopeless at self-promotion anyway, and could never speak publicly!
Congrats!
Most of my life has been about administering organizations and that requires a lot of public exposure. Being a hands on person I didn’t like all the public exposure and determined that in retirement I’d do something different so took a course in a journalism school. I love writing but when someone suggested publishing that reminded me of all that public exposure I’d fled away from. LOL I feel for your just wanting to write and not have to do all those promotional activity. But you do it so professionally and I really admire your willingness to do all that for a good cause. 🙂
I like your dream world – to keep on writing and not worry about promotion. But, as you say, that’s not going to sell any/many books. But it’s a good dream!!
Congrats on all those reviews – that’s amazing!
My writerly dreams don’t go much further than getting of the hamster wheel of looking for publishers at the moment. Being able to concentrate on actually writing and spend less time on submissions would be glorious!
My ideal life as a writer is that I am making enough of an income from writing to have it sustain at least most of my expenses. That would be wonderful because I’d feel I’ve really made it my career.
Hi Damyanti, I just put in a request for my library system to purchase your book. Can’t wait to read it!
I want my books to bring in enough money for me to live on because I see writing them as a business and not a hobby. It would be nice to have a staff that handled promotions, including a stunt double who do my readings, signings, panels, and conferences.
Hi Damyanti! The book promo thing isn’t really part of my writer dream, either, but a necessary part, I think. My dream is to be able to write what I want–and make the books I want. I want to continue writing historical fiction, but maybe think about writing more CNF and memoir. Maybe put together my short stories into a collection, etc., etc. And to be read, which means I plan for the traditional publishing dream. Btw, I wondered if you received my email with questions about your book. We’d love to feature a Q&A with you at Parhelion!
That’s awesome! Yes, the promotion monster demands to be fed and it can be exhausting. Just hang in there.
Hi, Damyanti! I’m thrilled that you are having such success with your book! It’s on my “Santa Wish List,” and if Santa doesn’t come through, I’ll be ordering it after Christmas. During my teaching career I constantly said, “If I could just focus on teaching and not have to deal with all the other things that come with it.”
It was the other things that sucked the energy out of me. At least the promotion requirements give you a platform for speaking out about children and women’s rights. I can’t think of any more important issues to be passionate about! Meanwhile, I hope your dream comes true!
Promotion is so frustrating – it takes up so much time which could otherwise be used for writing. But then if we don’t promote we don’t get read, and for many of us being read is the main reason to write.
Congratulations!! I wish you all the best for your debut novel! 🙂
Huge congrats on all your success with You Beneath Your Skin and how it’s helping put a spotlight on important issues! I think I would curl up in a ball if I ever had to do a tenth of the promotion you’ve done. You’re doing a great job getting out there and letting people know about your book.
Hi Damaynti. Well I’ve just started off with YBYS and am hoping to give you a review on Amazon soon. I understand what you mean about book promotion and being the writer. It took me sometime to promote my blogs as well and tell people…Hey listen to me!!!
Nonetheless I hope soon enough you find your dream of being traditionally published. Meanwhile I’ll keep myself engaged in reading you. Good luck!
My dream would be getting on with it while marketing took care of itself
That is the dream, isn’t it? If only there was a magic button where we could all write and not have to do the difficult work of promoting out work…
Yes you got it