What came from writing my book? More insecurity. I know this isn’t exactly a hopeful post I’m sharing today. But stick with me, it gets better.
Part of the promotion of any book is to write a ton of guest posts for other blogs. I wrote about twenty guest posts in a week or two. (While on vacation in Miami.) And each time I wrote something, I read it then scrapped it. I wasn’t liking anything I wrote. It just wasn’t very good. Eventually, after wrestling with the pieces for a little bit, I got them to a decent place.
Next insecurity: people actually reading my book. Now that I’d promoted the heck out of it, I had to wait for people to read the dang thing. Would people like it? I saw people tweeting about the first few chapters. But then that stopped. (Most people don’t read past the first few pages of a book they buy. Is that what was happening here?)
The vital success in any book is people reading it and spreading the word about the book. Selling a couple thousand copies in the first few months is great, but if people don’t love it and share it with their friends, it isn’t going anywhere longterm.
Once the initial excitement over the book dies down, will it live on its own? Or is it destined to live in the recesses of Amazon’s basement like your next door neighbor’s mutated child?
Great, another moody author brooding over his art.
But here’s the life lesson from my morbid musings. You will never get over the insecurity. Even after publishing that book, writing that song, mothering those children… Insecurity doesn’t go away.
So don’t let insecurity stop you from trying something. There will never be an ideal time to take a risk. You’ll never get the skills or confidence you want before stepping out. Don’t wait for it.
Just act. Deal with the insecurity. Move past it. Don’t stress about it.
Great post here! Writing and publishing my first book I’ve felt the same thing. I’ve found being proactive and taking action allows me to overcome my insecurities a little easier.