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I want to talk about self- deprecation and selling books.
As a Brit who is eternally uncomfortable with:
a) Compliments
b) Tooting my own horn
I think about this a lot.
As a Brit who is eternally uncomfortable with:
a) Compliments
b) Tooting my own horn
I think about this a lot.
For what it's worth (and everyone's experience and journey is different mind you) here's what I've learned in two years:
Repeatedly mocking oneself and one's skills as a writer= shit book sales
Repeatedly mocking oneself and one's skills as a writer= shit book sales
Occasionally taking the piss out of yourself, fine, nay, encouraged I guess, especially in the current climate. Nobody likes the person claiming to be a literary sensation or the best thing since Tolstoy. We're conditioned to dislike hubris, I suspect we always will dislike it
But I gotta say: there has never been a day when I've been down on myself and attached it to a weak plea to buy a book along the lines of 'Hi, I wrote this, it's a bit shite but buy it I guess' that has EVER lead to a sale. Ever. And trust me, I've tried.
Because being confident and asking someone to engage and invest in your work isn't natural to many of us. It's a mindset you have to grow into.
And it takes work. Practice. I constantly have to self-edit my promotional tweets to cut back on negativity. I don't always manage it. Sometimes it's a right old pity party.
None of these are sub tweets btw. Just reflections on how.far I've come.
None of these are sub tweets btw. Just reflections on how.far I've come.
And where I am now is that difficult balancing act between pride in my work and not wanting to be THAT person, the one that makes you pull this face: 
Guess what though? I AM proud. I'm as proud today as I was when I finished my first short story and hit the submit button.
The valuable lesson for me was learning that if I don't take pride in my own achievements, why the blithering fucksticks would anyone else?
The valuable lesson for me was learning that if I don't take pride in my own achievements, why the blithering fucksticks would anyone else?
So again, this is just me, and there is no onus on anyone to care or give a damn, but...self-deprecation is alright until it starts hurting your chances of reaching new readers.
It isnt about ego: it's about understanding what readers want, and answering those questions. What's the book about? Who is the main protagonist? What makes it unique? What makes it YOU? What makes you proud of it?
Lead with that and I reckon those sales might start a little upward climb...speaking from my very steep learning experience
Also I dont expect anyone to traf this as I'm a right old knobend innit 
Traf?
What is traf
Slang for something cool I bet
What is traf
Slang for something cool I bet
