Lessons From a Sixth-Book Place
By Guest | July 1, 2016 |
photo by Ram Balmur
We’re thrilled to have former monthly contributor Allison Winn Scotch back with us today, as her latest novel releases in the U.S.! In Twenty Years is all the buzz this season, with the book already on several ‘hot reads for summer’ lists (Glamour, Bustle, Popsugar and Bookbub). The story takes us twenty years beyond a loss that affected a group of college friends, and revisits them as they come together to grapple with their many ghosts. It is, says Library Journal in their starred review, “an absolute must-read that lovers of women’s contemporary fiction will devour in one sitting.”
Allison is back with us today to share some of the things she’s learned over the last many years — though not quite twenty! — as she’s penned six novels. Let’s bask in the wisdom.
You can learn more about In Twenty Years on Amazon, and follow Allison on Twitter and Facebook.
Lessons From a Sixth-Book Place
Hi Writer Unboxed community! I haven’t been here in a long time, but I’m so glad to be invited back just in time for the launch of my sixth book, IN TWENTY YEARS, out today! Yup, I think I was a contributor here back when my second or third book released, and it really seems impossible that I’m now half a dozen deep. I thought this was an apt time to share a few things that I’ve learned between now and then, wisdom that hasn’t always come easy, and yes, came with a few scars and more than a few tears. Let my mistakes of the past clear the way for your future!
Here are a few things that I’ve taken to heart this time around:
- Sales of Your Book Do Not Define Your Success as a Writer
I’m starting with this one because I think it’s the hardest and most painful lesson for writers to learn. It certainly was for me. I have had some books do very well, and I have had some books do…not as well. In each case, the successes and failures had nearly nothing to do with me or the words that I put on the pages inside the spine. They had to do with marketing and PR and good luck and bad luck. They had to do with unexpected reviews on places like The Today Show and People, and conversely, with store closures and big reviews getting bumped for other things and never seeing the light of day. After my fourth book, I had a very firm reckoning with myself in which I realized that good sales or bad sales, I am still a writer, and I am still the same writer. It’s so easy, too easy, to blame ourselves (or the author, if you’re the publisher) for a book’s failure, but I no longer accept that because if a book is good enough to publish, it should be good enough to sell. If it doesn’t, I’m still here.
- You Can’t Control Everything
To that end, so much of your book’s release is going to be out of your hands. I think that most writers will complain about the lack of control upon publication, and I’ve come to accept that I can do everything I can to ensure that I am satisfied with my efforts and then just…let go. This release is the most relaxed I’ve ever been – I actually almost forgot that the book was out until this week! – because I really do understand that there are chess pieces I can move…and plenty that I cannot. I deliberated which publisher to go to with this book primarily because of this control or lack thereof. I wanted an imprint that had killer marketing, because at the end of the day, that is the area I always felt the most out of control in – there are very few ways that authors can move the dial themselves – so I went with Lake Union, an imprint of Amazon. Knowing that I’d done what I could in advance to quell my control anxieties, I’m much more chill this time around.
- You Don’t Have to Dance If You Don’t Want To
By this I mean on social media. Here is the dirty little secret (or at least my opinion! LOL): I am unconvinced that more social media sells more books. 
It may…it may not. And if you don’t enjoy doing it, don’t put yourself through it. I know this may not be a popular opinion, but I think authors can make themselves crazy feeling like they have to tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet about their book, and yes, I think it’s important to have an online presence, and I think it is of course important to share news about your book, but I don’t think you have to tap dance endlessly. As in, that tap dance is probably not going to be the difference between huge sales and weak ones. Take part in the aspects of social media that you enjoy. I was told, this time around, to join a few sites that I just KNEW I was going to hate…so I didn’t join them. (I mean, seriously, if someone can explain Snapchat to me, that would basically be a miracle.) It wasn’t worth it to me to sell a few copies at the expense of constantly, endlessly putting myself out there.
- Listen to Reviews Until You Don’t Want to Anymore
Reviews are so tricky when your book is newly released. It’s easy to feel the high of a great one (erm, speaking of which, have I mentioned that In Twenty Years got a starred Library Journal review, which said “it’s a grand slam, must-read,”), but just as easy to feel truly wretched about the bad ones (half of all reviews posted on Goodreads). I always feel super-anxious about reviews before a book launch, and I give myself permission to check in on them – kind of to ensure that everyone isn’t hating it, but also to see if there is a constant thread that maybe I can learn from – until I also give myself permission to stop. I don’t need to know what everyone is saying about the book: I can’t rewrite it; I can’t undo any of the words inside. This probably gets back to the control thing…I want to feel in control by knowing what everyone is saying about it, but…I can’t control what they’re going to say. And if it makes me feel truly terrible to read something eviscerating, well, I don’t have to read it at all. Try it. Reading them or not reading them changes very little.
- There is Always Another One In You
I used to pin all of my hopes and energy on the current new release. I agonized that this would be the last good idea I’d ever come up with. And you know what? So far, that hasn’t happened. I know myself well enough now that I just need some time and space to reboot and breathe, and then usually, a seed plants itself somewhere in my brain and takes root. Give yourself a chance to nurture your creativity and find your own breath, and from there anything – another book or another three – is possible.
All right, now it’s your turn. What have you learned, WU’ers? Or, hey, anyone have anything good to say about Snapchat? ;-)
The floor is yours.
Many thanks to today’s guest.
You can read more WU guest posts by visiting this link.
Welcome back, Allison! Oooh, your book sounds intriguing, so I just bought a copy.
I’m nowhere near my sixth book, but I did want to chime in on one point you raised. Like you, I question the impact of social media on book sales. I mean, it can’t hurt – unless you commit some horrendous social media faux pas – but I wonder how much it helps.
I can also relate to your desire to gain as much control of things as you can, which is often like trying to hold water in your hands.
I’m looking forward to reading IN TWENTY YEARS – and wishing you the best of luck with your new book!
Thank you, Keith!
Allison-
I can’t tell you about Snapchat, but I can tell you this: Your suspicions about social media’s effectiveness in selling books has been borne out by research.
When factors contributing to “pre-purchase awareness” are tabulated, social media ranks pretty low.
Not as low as posters in bus stations, mind you, but pretty low. Social media’s effectiveness is dwarfed by branded status, front of store display, and word of mouth. It’s even exceeded, in some categories, by the effectiveness of publisher’s websites. Believe it or not.
Reviews are also not worth much stress. Plenty of best sellers and classics got awful reviews. Honestly, if I could control all factors but had to choose just one, what I’d select is wide distribution in physical stores.
That and a novel that’s an awesome read, obviously. Buzz (an intangible) on In Twenty Years is strong, Allison. Looking forward to this one a great deal.
Have a great 4th!
Thank you, Donald! It’s always so great to hear your thoughts. It’s a shame that authors beat themselves up over social media and the like, but all we can do is live and learn. Happy Fourth to you too!
I feel a load has been lifted from me–being a hawker of any product is not my idea of a good time. When I went with a small publisher last year for my collection of short stories, they did little marketing and I did much. But even so, it was a slog: no one knows me; it’s a collection of stories not a novel, and though I used social media and belong to social media groups, I can’t say I’ve created any stats worth repeating. That said, I felt good I had taken this first step, received some very glowing reviews and continue to write, discuss craft with all of you and believe in the process and in my ability. There’s a huge world of readers out there and maybe someday they’ll find me. Back to the keyboard and thanks for your post, Allison.
A great post, Allison! Only four books under my belt, but I so identify with your thoughts. Best of luck on the new book!
Thanks, Allison. I think this is sage advice even for those of us who have not been published yet. The hunt for representation can be daunting. We should do our best to control what we can, let go of the rest, and then persevere. I suppose it is possible to let go and stick with it simultaneously.
Congratulations on your latest release, Allison! I can’t to read it.
I had four novellas with a micropress (had, because they went out of business two years ago), but I learned a lot about what did and didn’t work for me. Facebooking/tweeting/Amazon tagging/blog hops/conferences didn’t move many copies, but one review from a moderately well-known blog did.
I’m convinced writing requires a Zen mindset because, as you noted, so much is out of our control.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
Lively post, Allison. I can feel your positive energy! “Sales of Your Book Do Not Define Your Success as a Writer .” Gosh I’ve heard this before and it sounds fair, doesn’t it? Except so many authors don’t believe it. One of the first questions that comes at you is, how’s the book selling? Seems like a harmless question, and in the past I’ve been guilty of asking the same of fellow authors. Because selling is part of the goal of success. A friend suggestd to wittle that statement down to a question ‘how many book sales are enough to make you happy?’ Three per day? One per day? Maybe one per month will do it? I have to mention that Herman Melville died thinking his Moby Dick was a commercial and literary failure. The novel sold only 3000 copies and he made a mere $500. Not that we are all Melvilles out here, but often times it’s not the current results that define us.
I like your ‘reboot and breathe’ and keep writing because ‘there’s always another one in you.’ Doing that is success in itself.
I wouldn’t think I’d see Snapchat here. LOL. My teenaged kids seem to get a great kick out of it but we are confuzzled. Obviously they could be working on the next great movie in all their spare time. I don’t think you’re missing out on anything.
Congratulations on your latest book! I feel very much the same way as you do … better to focus our energies on writing the next book than the things we have no control over.
Allison, you are so durn SENSIBLE about all this book-writin’ stuff. Really though, you present such a measured, reasonable approach to a writer’s place in the universe and in their own mind—if you take a break from writing, you might look into a gig as a Zen master. Good luck on the book.
(Oh, and I’m pretty sure Snapchat is a way those ill-mannered young people communicate in an unintelligible language by snapping their fingers —it’s just another way to annoy old people who are already cranky, so don’t worry about it.)
Thank you for this; these were helpful reminders to keep calm, carry on etc.
Congratulations on your sixth book.
To add a good word about social networking…
I agree a continuous stream of ‘buy my book, buy my book’ won’t do much. In fact, it may push readers away.
However, I do know that building an on-line community will help your author brand (i.e. name recognition)
Allison, my eyes couldn’t feast on your encouraging words enough. Thanks so much for sharing your honest thoughts and experiences. Five months after my debut novel has made an appearance, I’m now able to let go and move on, and am happily beginning #3.
Appreciated this perspective. We have to do the best we can–and can’t control the rest. Congratulations on your sixth book!
Great post, Allison. Congratulations on book six. I just ordered it and can’t wait to read it. Best of luck!