Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Insecure Writer's Support Group



Today's another round of IWSG, a bloghop run by Alex J. Cavanaugh where writers can come together to share their insecurities and encouragements. 

This month I've pretty much turned into a bundle of insecurity, and it's all centered about my book's release on Friday. 

Firstly, because my Publishing House decided to drop the bomb on me last Friday. Secondly, because I now have to put together a marketing campaign on a week's notice. Without any of my materials to date. BTW. If you can help at all, please go here

My main insecurity has nothing to do with these things. On the contrary. It has to do with what happens after the book is out? See... this is a story I've been working on for years. I've spent years writing, rewriting, and editing. Then I spend almost another year querying. And six months more turning my story into the one that's about to see the light. 

I've had this fear so many times before, but I kept pushing it back, saying that I don't need to worry about this just yet. But guess what, the time has come when I can push it back no further, and it's haunting me. 

What if it isn't good enough? 

What if all my years of work and rejection and work add up to absolutely no reader interest? What if (and this is possible, since I purposely veered into new epic fantasy territory) my target audience despises the story? What if no one except me, my editor and my CPs actually get my story? 

Part of me knows that this is irrational, that it's all out of my hands now anyway. But I just can't reason away the fear. 

Guess it's a good thing that I only have two days left until my book's out. 

Anyone else get pre-publication jitters? How do you deal with them? 

One more thing before you go! Ellie Garratt interviewed me today and the interview features an excerpt from The Vanished Knight. I hope you'll check it out!

64 comments:

  1. Will visit Ellie soon!
    Once it's out there, just turn the fear loose. You've done all you can do. It will be all right.
    And did you realize you sailed over a thousand followers recently?

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    1. Yep. It happened a few weeks ago. Felt pretty dang awesome. :-)

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  2. Just keep breathing. Find a calm place, deep breaths. Everything will be find.

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  3. I wish I could reach through the screen and give you a hug. {{{hugs}}} will have to do. Take care and good luck!

    Elsie

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  4. Releasing a book is exciting and terrifying all at the same time! Best of luck! :)

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    1. Thanks Laura! Glad to know I'm not the only one who've felt terrified. :-)

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  5. You must be thrilled about your book release! But getting it all ready to fly within a week is a to of work. ((Hugs))

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    1. Yeah it is. Hopefully my work for the past couple of days falls into place over the next few....

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  6. What if? My husband regularly tells me not everyone will love my work. BUT, there is a certain number of people who will, and that's why I'm putting it out for.

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  7. It will be great! No worries! Best to you :)

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  8. Since I am so far away from where you are, I am trying to imagine the day my book is accepted by a publisher and it is actually releasing. Yep. I am pretty sure my anxiety would be off the charts. What if people hate it blah blah blah? Here is the thing, though, publishers are SO TIGHT right now that they simply CANNOT AFFORD to publish a book that they think isn't good enough. There once was a time when they published so many more books because it was ACTUALLY OKAY if some of them didn't live up to expectation. That day is GONE. So, even though I haven't read your book, I am ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that it is wonderful.

    Breathe in and out and BELIEVE.

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  9. I'm positive you're very capable to do all that has to be done about your book. Sure it was a bombshell but that makes it all the more of a challenge. Very, very God luck.
    Yvonne.

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    1. True. The short notice was inconvenient, but not insurmountable....

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  10. I tell myself I've waited long enough to get my book ready to be published. I'm not letting anxiety hold me back. What has anxiety given me? Nerves? Forget I'm going forward. So yes nerves are they but push forward Misha because if you don't you'll regret it.

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    1. So true. Nervous or not, there's no backing out for me now.

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  11. The perception of expectation is always hard. Still you wrote the book you wanted to write now it is just a matter of finding it's readers.

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  12. I'm sure everything will be just fine...
    And great interview over at Ellie's place.

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  13. Good luck with your book release! I'm sure people will love it :)

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  14. I'm certain that should I ever get to that point that I will have pre-publication jitters, and you will tell me how you felt the same, but everything turned out just fine.

    I'm very much looking forward to reading your book.

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    1. You know, I suspect that you're right. I'll let you know. ;-)

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  15. With success comes even bigger worries :)

    I'm sure it will be awesome Misha.

    .........dhole

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    1. Hahaha true. But hopefully the bigger worries will be a nice change from the ones I had before. :-)

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  16. I think nerves are in order prior to a release. Good luck and I wish you much success.

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  17. I'm sure it will be great, you are so nearly there now, it's last minute nerves, deep breath and try and enjoy. Good luck.

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    1. Thanks! I guess that's one good thing about the short notice. I don't have months and months in which to psyche myself out.

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  18. Big hugs.
    You are not alone. The fear is strong, I know... but you are stronger. Go ahead and embrace this: YOU ARE BEING PUBLISHED!!! It's exciting and scary but its scarier to let it hold you back. Best of luck ;)

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    1. True. I don't want to feel as if all my efforts were for nothing. But if I don't publish, they might as well have been a waste.

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  19. Ugh. A marketing campaign? Maybe I should just start putting mine together now, just in case I only have a moment's notice, too!

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  20. I am looking forward to those pre-publishing. That would mean that I am done writing. Good Luck Misha! I am pulling for you to do well.

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    1. So true. Finishing a story is a very rare accomplishment. :-)

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  21. It's good enough. You'll do great Misha! Can't wait to see it out.

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  22. Congrats!! It is going to be fabulous!! Your goals are coming to fruition! Sandy of sandysanderellasmusings.blogspot.com

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  23. And what if a sinkhole opens under your house and swallows it? Which, you know, is possible and has been something in the news several times in the last few years. It's not something you can do something about ahead of time, though, so there's no point in worrying about it.

    (okay, so there are ways to find out if there could be a potential sinkhole under your house, but, really, the chance is so small, it would be weird if everyone ran out and started checking for that. The point is that there are always things that -can- happen, like a jet falling out of the sky onto your house (maybe that would have been a better example), but you just can't get lost fretting over those things, because it will just paralyze you.)

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  24. I've published short stories and poems in literary journals and anthologies and I do get the jitters right before their publication. Oh, yes!
    Good luck with everything. Congratulations!

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  25. I feel your pain. My book's coming out in a week, and my publishers just dropped a major bombshell on me which made me completely panic and threw off all my plans (it will still be released on that day, but with no advanced promotion or ARCs). And I'm suffering the will-anyone-like-it? jitters as well. I can totally sympathise! Best of luck with it. :)

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    1. So sorry to hear that! Please let me know if I can help!

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  26. Trust your gut, Misha. You know it's there. You believe in your work. And you have magic. It's going to be great. :)

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  27. I'm going through with my 3rd draft right now and each time I've been angry at myself. "Who wrote this garbage?!" I often declare as I go through and edit. I'm terrified of putting it in front of an agent via query. I'm scared of it being looked at, only to be laughed at. I've won a flash fiction award which helped me overcome my fear of having no talent but there's still trepidation on my part to get it out there.

    Congratulations on your success to getting in print. Thank you for writing this post to remind people like me that fear is part of the process. I wish you all the luck in the world.

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    1. Awe thanks! And you're right. Fear is part of the process. Especially if you're drafting. Only thing to do is keep writing. Best of luck!

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  28. I for one can't wait to read this book! I'm sure people will love it. But I can also totally relate to your anxiety about after it is "out there" for all to read.
    Heading to Ellie's now. :)

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  29. CONGRATS on your upcoming book release!

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  30. YOU are going to be FABULOUS! Don't worry. There is a book for everyone in the world. If you reach just ONE person, you'll have done what you set out to do with this book. It isn't about the money or the fame, it's about sharing the beautiful gift you have with the world. If you don't share the gift, it will be a waste of talent. I wish you luck and as soon as I get up tomorrow (I tend to sleep late) I'll start tweeting links to your debut! Good luck!

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    1. Thanks so much! Your comment really put things in perspective for me. :-)

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  31. Sounds like stage fright. I'd feel the same and I don't blame you a bit. Good luck and best wishes and CONGRATULATIONS!!!

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  32. It is the way we all feel as we see our babies being released into the world. Will the world appreciate them and treat them with love? Or will they tear our babies apart?

    Well, fret not. There will always be lovers. Of course there'll be haters, but for each bad comment, you'll get at least one nice. Have faith in your hard work and enjoy the ride. You might find another idea for a story going through this experience!

    Best of luck with your book!

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    1. Thanks for the great encouragement!

      So far, I only have five-star reviews. Hopefully the book keeps doing well and I would have worried about nothing. :-D

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  33. wow, from my own point of view you are several steps further than I am, so well done, and your bravery knows no bounds.

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  34. I know nerve-racking it is releasing your pride and joy that you've been working on for months and years to the world. And I hope that with each new release, I don't lose that feeling because I don't want to write the same book twice. I want to take new risks with each story. At this point, your book is out, so congrats! I wish you great success. :)

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  35. So true, Michael. I also write different stories every time, so I guess Ishould resign myself to being nervous every time I publish too. :-)

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