Comments on: The Highs and Lows of a Debut Author: Thirty-Six Voices, Plus One

By: Glenda Warburton

Glenda Warburton — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 07:13:30 +0000

Most of what was said here resonated with me, especially the section on marketing. Having to learn about establishing an author platform, the vagaries of social media, still have me chewing my nails five years down the line!
Thank you for making me feel 'normal'.

By: barbaralinnprobst

barbaralinnprobst — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 10:40:06 +0000

In reply to dholcomb1. It almost sounds as if you're saying that it's a "debut" each time for you —or was there a long break, a shift in genres, or something that made it feel like "starting over again?" In a way, one starts from the very beginning each time, because the book is different and the context in which it's being launched is different, and perhaps one is different as a human being, at a different point in one's life. The sense of entering an enormous unknown country is likely to be tempered by having some experience under your belt, but i think that few authors would take the process for granted, no matter how many books they've published :-)

By: barbaralinnprobst

barbaralinnprobst — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 10:33:21 +0000

In reply to colleen. Colleen, exactly! I find that to be such a comfort! It doesn't seem to matter what genre we write in or what our background is ...although, as I mentioned, this does not represent men so it would be very interesting to see a similar survey that focused on male debut authors :-)

By: Karen DeBonis

Karen DeBonis — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 11:38:41 +0000

In reply to Jenny Hansen. I couldn't have said it better, Jenny!

By: dholcomb1

dholcomb1 — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 03:36:02 +0000

Having to start over again has been the hardest part. From the ground up, not just writing another book, but after several were published.

denise

By: colleen

colleen — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 03:20:11 +0000

Cool survey, Barbara! Neat to see how similar we writers are. We're not alone after all! :O)

By: barbaralinnprobst

barbaralinnprobst — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 19:01:27 +0000

In reply to John Peragine. Interesting point! I had published two nonfiction books earlier in my eclectic career, yet this felt like a brand-new experience because I didn't have a track record as a novelist and my other books had clear practical uses (filled a unique need) whereas novels aren't like that . I'm intrigued by your phrase "it will be okay in the end." Meaning: you will survive! A qualitative outcome, regardless of the number of sales, reviews, dollars, or readers :-)

By: John Peragine

John Peragine — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 18:40:18 +0000

While I am not a debut author per say, I am a debut author of middle grade fiction. I am going through all of the things above- and it is long nights and much hand wringing. This article provides me hope it will be okay in the end!

By: barbaralinnprobst

barbaralinnprobst — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 18:07:53 +0000

Agreed! My favorite snarky review was the one that said: "This book has too much about how people think and feel." I guess I didn't have enough car chases for her taste :-) There will never be a book that every single person likes, so yes, thick skin. The challenge is to have skin that useful feedback can penetrate, but that's during the writing process, not so much after publication. The best thing, I'm finding, is to turn my focus to the next book ....

By: Regina Buttner

Regina Buttner — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 17:46:17 +0000

I can relate to so many aspects of my fellow authors' experience, which has helped to create a wonderful bond between us, even if we haven't met each other in real life. As for those snarky reviews - I've learned from other writers that a thick skin is essential is this business, and we don't have to subject ourselves to that negative energy!