IWSG – What’s Next

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Happy November! Can you believe the year is almost over. Man it’s been a long one for sure. The weather is turning cooler here which is nice. I like to get cozy under blankets and relax. But you aren’t here to talk about weather and winter month survival. It’s time for another IWSG post.

This has been a different year for me. I set out to work off a self-imposed release schedule and actually had a loose semblance of a plan. Somehow I managed to write, edit, and publish three books. That’s the most I’ve ever put out in a single year. And it took a lot out of me. The stress was real! But with my squad cheering me on and being a constant source of support, I made it.

Now, as the title of the blog suggests, I’ve been in no-man’s recovery land since book 3 was released on Sept. 22. I’m not sure what’s next for me. I have the inklings of a new story idea. It’s been percolating in the back of my mind for a little while now. On top of getting back to the actual writing of the story, I have been thinking about how I would like to publish it.

I’m 99.9% indie with only 2 books with publishers. However, after this year I’ve been thinking of going back and jumping on the submission train again. Being indie isn’t easy or cheap. LOL Everyone has a different level of what they consider expensive or inexpensive when it comes to this business and for *me* 2021 was an expensive year for book production. There are plenty of talented authors who can also make their own covers and/or have ways to barter services to cut down on the editing costs. 

I am not that author.

I have to outsource for the two most expensive parts of being an indie: covers and editing. On top of that money was spent for promotions such as blog tours, I ran ads, and I even managed to land my first Bookbub deal. My pocketbook needs a break. Especially since I know I’ve not yet recouped what I spent so this will be another year where I end in the red. 

Submitting to publishers helps alleviate some of the costs. And while I’m all for that, I pause because:

1) Do I really want to give up all the control? I wouldn’t have final say in my cover. I would have no control over when I put the books on sale *if* I wanted them to be on sale.

2) Do I want to go through with the stress of doing a query and synopsis? That’s the devil, worse than blurb writing 

3) Am I that patient? Traditional publishing moves slower because they have more people to juggle. The idea of my finished project not seeing the light of day for months or longer when I know it could be out in the world faster if I self-pubbed makes me question my life choices.

Are those “cons” outweighing the “pro” which is saving my upfront money costs? It’s a question I’ll have to keep asking myself, though none are super important as the story in question hasn’t even been written yet. 

That’s it, as I continue to relax in my downtime, I have to figure out what’s next and how I want my 2022 writing year to look. 

For added fun, I’m answering this month’s optional question:

What’s harder to do, coming up with your book title or writing the blurb?

For me, titles are WAY easier to come up with. I typically have the title before the story gets started. The one I’ve been mentioning in the above post that’s been just hanging out in my head already has a title. I haven’t written a single word as of yet, but I know what it’ll be called.

Blurbs…yeah I will never understand how I can write an entire book yet can’t find a way to sum it up in 200 or so words that would make it enticing enough for people to want to buy. I struggle each and every time and usually have to crowdsource my squad for feedback before I come up with something passable. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving if you celebrate.

Until next time

~Meka

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group is a home for writers in all stages; from unpublished to bestsellers. Our goal is to offer assistance and guidance. We want to help writers overcome their insecurities, and by offering encouragement we are creating a community of support.

The awesome co-hosts for the November 3 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Victoria Marie Lees, Joylene Nowell Butler, Erika Beebe, and Lee Lowery!