Stage Fright




PHOTO CREDIT


Or in this case Book Fright. Maybe Publishing Fright. How about Reading Fright. Hmmm Review Fright... Is that even a thing?

Ah well, you get the idea.

I wonder how many other of my author friends are going through this right now: That small (but seemingly eternal) limbo between the release of your latest book and the first couple of reviews.

From an indie author's perspective, it's a frightening time, that's for sure.

As an author, you work months at a time (sometimes years) perfecting your masterpiece. You slave over your characters and words, making sure each one is perfect, before you release your novel to the marketplace.

It's a lot like sending your kid off to school on the very first day. You hope and pray that you have given them everything they need, that they have a good time, are well received by friends, and don't run into any bullies. If they do, you hope they're strong enough to hold their own, since you aren't there to protect them. (I'm not saying readers are bullies, but some do go for the throat in reviews.)

In short, you want the best for them. The same applies to your newly-printed book (or ebook). You want the best possible response to it's release.

There's a bit of narcissism in it too, I won't deny it. An artist's self-worth is often tied to their work. That applies to writers too.

Once you've put in that kind of work, you want to hear gushing reviews. It validates you in a way. It makes you feel like the months (or years) weren't wasted. Negative reviews will happen but you hope they are few and far between. You want to walk away at the end of the day feeling great about your latest project.

So to my other author friends out there,commiserate with me. Tell me how you are dealing with limbo. And readers (I'd never forget about you) tell me about your experiences with reading new authors. Show me what it's like from the other side. How do you feel about reading new authors or work?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, I worry far more about the silence than the possibility of bad reviews. Because it only takes a second to click your file uploads, but it can take weeks for people to buy, read, and review a book. Even people who promise to post reviews don't always get around to it. Leaving me with the thundering silence.

Reading is another headache altogether. I want to support other indies, but what if their book is rubbish? I can't lie and say it's splendid, but I don't want to poo all over someone's dream either. That's when the real tapdancing starts.

Katie Salidas said...

Silence can be nerve wracking!

I agree too that reading strictly to review another authors work is a whole other experience. I've found that even if I don't particularly like the story, I can usually find something good in the writing or vice versa.

Of course if I can't say anything nice, I won't say anything at all, which brings us right back to silence doesn't it?

Great comment.

About The Author

Katie Salidas is a USA Today bestselling author and RONE award winner known for her unique genre-blending style.

Since 2010 she's penned five bestselling book series: the Immortalis, Olde Town Pack, Little Werewolf, Chronicles of the Uprising, and the all-new Agents of A.S.S.E.T. series. As her not-so-secret alter ego, Rozlyn Sparks, she is a USA Today bestselling author of romance with a naughty side.

In her spare time Katie also produces and hosts a YouTube talk show; Spilling Ink. She also has a regular column on First Comics News where she explores writing from a nerdy perspective.