Sometimes, silence is the true refuge of the creative mind. This month, all I want to do is retreat into it, and let myself recharge with some time spent simply writing for fun. Remember fun? my inner voice tells me, and I want to listen.
With books on deadline, fun seems no longer an option. You write or edit because you must. You can’t say you’re not inspired.
As a reader I never wondered about the state of mind of a writer who had written the words I consumed, but now I do. I sometimes write flash fiction for fun these days, set in the world of my upcoming novel. It is a neat thing to write in your own universe, and it helps you understand your characters better for further books in the series.
To all of you my question this month for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group is, how do you carve out ‘writing for fun’ amid the work-writing that you must do? Or do you only write what is fun for you?
How do you balance promotions and writing?
For the The Blue Bar, I’ve been working (very slowly) in the background on promotion, and nearly 4 months before publication, the book has about 4,000-want to -reads on Goodreads ( add it here, if you’d like to toss in your support), and is nearing 40 reviews. Huge thanks to those of you who read and reviewed it, and I’m happy to send eARCs to others who’d like to.
I’m yet to meet a writer who enjoys promoting their own work, but there’s no universe where a professional writer can write purely and always for fun, and never do a day of promotion. Especially not a completely green unknown like me.
In the comments, I’d love to know how I can help promote your work, whether it is through requesting your books at my local library (The Singapore National Library is massive, with a fantastic collection of e-books, audio books and paper-books), shout-outs on social media, or hosting a guest post on this blog, or reads and reviews of your books.
For me, I’d encourage you to request THE BLUE BAR at your local library. It Really, Really helps, and it is crucial promotion for an author like me who resides outside the US but is having her book published in the country. It is also easy and Free to do.
If you scroll down this link, you’ll find the exact process. All my book details are here. My library allows me to recommend titles and I’ve recommended a bunch, many of which the library has already ordered.
Have you been writing, or promoting your book this month? Do you ever write for fun? If yes, what is it that you write? What’s your take on book promotion? Do you have a library membership? Would you consider requesting The Blue Bar?
Today is the first Wednesday of the month post for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.
Founded by the Ninja 
Cap’n Alex J. Cavanaugh, the purpose of the group is to offer a safe space where writers can share their fears and insecurities without being judged. This is a wonderful group–if you aren’t a part of it, I urge you to join in!
The awesome co-hosts for the August 3 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguirre, Olga Godim, Michelle Wallace, and Louise – Fundy Blue!
My own crime novel, The Blue Bar will be out soon with Thomas & Mercer. It is already available for preorders. Add it to Goodreads or pre-order it to make my day.
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I’d love to do a library-request-swap!
Definitely, Jennifer! DM me your book details:
Title:
Author:
Illustrator (if applicable):
Publisher:
Publishing Date:
ISBN:
Category: PB, MG, YA, or Adult:
Genre:
Links to Professional Reviews(if any):
I’ll DM you my details.
Holy cow! I’m so behind the curve of marketing my books. I have so many I can publish but am unsure how to “push them to the other side”–but 4 months in advance is good. I also didn’t know that we could upload a book 4 months before it’s release. Wow…looks like I need to take a class or something, but it sounds like you’re hard work will be well-rewarded!
Hi Damyanti. Congrats on all the “want to reads” and the great reviews! Sounds like you are WELL on your way. I will request your story at my library… Since I only have a short story recently published, I am a newbie at marketing. Once I have a novel ready for publication I will have to delve into it, and I am not really looking forward to it… like most writers.
In a perfect world, I’d write, they’d come. (laughing) But you’re correct, that’s not ever going to happen. Love the cover, Damyanti! It’s definitely eye-catching, and just happens to be in my genre. Best of luck.
Thanks so much, Joylene! The cover took quite a bit of back and forth, but was worth it 🙂
I was really intrigued when I read this, “Not all cold cases are dead ends.” I wish you complete success with The Blue Bar.
Thanks, Lynn. I need all the good wishes.
I never thought of writing flash fiction about the novel I’m writing. What a good idea! Thank you.
It IS a lot of fun! Try it 🙂
I don’t mind promotional work, but it’s hard to fit with all the new writing I want to do! @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
The Blue Bar is great. You definitely have a style to your writing. Very visual. I’ll get to the review as soon as I can. (I’ve been a bit snowed under).
Well, I’m not exactly selling books so promotion really isn’t my game, but I help authors promote themselves! I think as long as people fit it in their schedule every now and then and just keep their voice out there, it’s a worthy endeavor. 🙂 Although very very hard!
Promotion can definitely be tough!
I requested that my local library add your book. 🙂
(If you wanted to ask your library, the ISBN for the latest edition of my YA novel Pandemic is 9781510771307.)
‘Promotion’ is almost a swear word for me. Sadly, it is a necessity for a beginner writer. And even famous writers have to do promotion, especially if they want to stay famous. I’ll definitely suggest your books for our public library. Great idea!
Great timing for this post. I was just grumping about promotion yesterday. I find myself spending more time writing some of my blog posts than getting to write my current manuscript, which is lying on the floor of the living room in piles of post-its an rolls of butcher paper. I tell myself I need balance. And then I get a reminder I haven’t sent a newsletter out for awhile, and start drafting that. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy those posts and letters, and get some great interactions with other writers. But they do tend to take me much more time than I’d like, leaving less time for the development of a fantasy world. I need to look into the library request system at my local libraries. They are very writer friendly, with writing groups at several of them.
Ah, promotion. I’ve got a full time job so I barely have time to write which means promotion is low on the list, sadly. I will request your book at my library, Damyanti. Best of luck with it! It’s very exciting!!
Hi Damyanti. I don’t even know if I am qualified to comment on this post because I have nothing to promote. Writing for fun? Yes, I want to do that too. I’ve got so much into what’s right and not in writing and into learning this and that, that the fun part is clearly out. But look at those figures for The Blue Bar! I am so happy for you and looking forward to the release of the book. I’ve already pre-ordered it for Jan. And yes, I will take you up on that offer about book promotion, someday. 😀😀 Very sweet of you.
You’re a talented author, Sonia, and I look forward to reading and promoting your book once it’s out. Thanks for the pre-order, I deeply appreciate it. You were so kind to read and review You Beneath Your Skin as well.
You can also ask your local bookstore to order copies.
That’s something I haven’t explored, because I don’t know if the paperback will be available in my part of the world…
As I so often say, writers are my heroes. I am so grateful for all that you do and my mind boggles at the work involved. I hope you can and do find fun in it.
Thanks, Sue. I do try to find fun in everyday writing and edits. Some days, I even succeed.
Hadn’t thought about the ‘want to read’, Damyanti. You’re doing well!
The book is doing its thing, really. I don’t know if Want to reads show how a book will sell, but the adds can’t hurt. Thank you for the review of The Blue Bar. I look forward to shouting out about Natural Selection!!
My brain/personality aren’t a good match for traditional publishing. I’m pretty sure I’d crack under the externally-imposed pressure.
I’m also not a fan of promo (who is?) and don’t do it well. I tend to use paid newsletters to promote my freebie and some social media … and I should definitely do more!
I do hear a few cracks when I try any promotions, Jemi :). We all need to do more to promo, but I think my writing needs the lion’s share of my attention so I end up focusing on that.
Promoting is not fun.
Most of what I’ve written was for fun, but I was never on a deadline. (Heavy prompting, but not an actual deadline.) I think my latest book was a bit closer to work though.
So good to know you’ve been having fun, Alex. My books haven’t been as much fun to write so far–it was more an inner compulsion. Hopefully, it will change some day.