So much of art is subjective. What one person likes, another might dislike for a variety of reasons. I’ve seen this with books, movies, TV shows, music, and artwork at a museum. Sometimes a lively discussion can be had over a piece of art. If it’s friendly, perhaps those in the discussion could be swayed to see what the other sees, even if they still don’t agree.
The indie writing and publishing community has swung in a different direction. For years, the gurus (those who had strategies and tactics work in their favor, thus selling many books, the usual definition of “successful author”) shared what worked for them. Others followed the advice with mixed results. As the market changed and technology altered how books were written and shared, those gurus, if they’re still around, preface their advice with, “for me…” In other words, some authors have “success” with various strategies and tactics, but most understand there is no silver bullet to becoming a best-selling (or full time) author.
Along the roadside of publishing and marketing, burned out authors wave a white flag insisting, “Don’t do what I did.” The advice these days is about enjoying to process, doing what one likes doing instead of what others say works for them, and knowing oneself as a creative with, perhaps, a business that is made to suit them, not necessarily the market. There is more information available now about mindset and author self-care than new marketing ideas or platforms to master.
Having traversed this road for the last 18 years, I find what is offered today more important than all the information regarding writing and publishing that came before. If authors don’t take care of themselves as creatives, there will be nothing left for the muse to work with. Realizing no one can do it all, the advice is to “chase” joy instead of the dollar (but most are happy if the dollar follows the joy).
But even this advice is given and taken individually. Some authors want to try to do all the things. Or one of the things. Or not find readers, but just write and publish. Some want to ignore social media or newsletters or podcasts or selling direct. What it comes down to is that every author creates their own way and leaves their own legacy. Their books, their business, is just as individual as the author.
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