Ode to the Reader
Twas the night before I uploaded to KDP and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring as my hand hovered over my mouse.
My masterpiece had been edited and formatted with care,
While visions of soaring up Amazon’s rankings floated through the air.
Okay, I’ll stop now.
You know that feeling you get when you check your dashboard and you’ve sold another book, or a reader has borrowed your book through Kindle Unlimited? You know what I’m talking about. It’s that little jolt you receive. It doesn’t matter if you’re selling thousands of books a month or a handful, there’s still some kind of a charge. I can attest to this because I’ve been in both camps. I’ve had months where I’ve sold tens of thousands of books and I’ve had months where the sales barely trickled in. Yes, ‘tis a fickle vocation we find ourselves in, isn’t it. As the jolly season approaches, I find myself in a contemplative mood, and I was wondering – what is that little burst of energy we feel when the numbers increase on our screen? What does it really mean? And, what should we do about it?
I released a book four years ago and I had the honor of seeing it race up Amazon’s rankings and settle into the top ten overall. Then, even when it started to fall, my little self-published book maintained its status in the top five Romantic Suspense novels for almost a month. It was a magical time. Every time I looked at my dashboard, the numbers increased and I found it impossible not to do the mental calculations and determine what my royalty check at the end of the month would read. Around that time my partner and I went for one of our occasional nightly walks. As we passed a pile of folded up boxes she suggested we grab a few. When I asked her why, she said – “Because we’re moving.”
We laughed about it and although sales were very good I had a feeling that it wouldn’t last. It couldn’t – I only had one book published at the time. And, I suspected it might be a bit more difficult when I released my next book. I was right. Book number two didn’t take off the way my debut novel did and four books later I’m still struggling to re-find that form. I’m fortunate that I have an extremely dedicated reader base but I have not been able to replicate those big numbers. Like every author I believe my next book will be the one. And, with my latest release, which was a Kindle Scout winner, I truly believe it will be. But, until then, in between writing, I’ll run a promotion here and there and enjoy the sales as they trickle in. And, I’ll do what I’ve done since I first published and began selling books. When I see a new sale or borrow on my dashboard I’ll quietly say thank you and smile.
It’s sometimes easy to forget how fortunate we are. It was only a few years ago that I was accumulating rejection letters as I tried to find a way into the traditional publishing world. We now live in a time when our words can find readers all over the world with very little effort. Readers take a chance on unknown authors every day. Each time those numbers increase on our dashboard, it means an actual live person has dug into their wallet and pulled out their credit card and paid money for our words. Whether they’re in the United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, or Canada, they’re taking a chance on our books. It really is a privilege to be an author. So, in honor of the season, why not rename your dashboard – your Gratitude Dashboard, and fire some positive energy back toward it the next time you see a new sale or borrow. We’d be nowhere without the readers who support us.
I wish you and yours a happy holiday season and a special thank you to all those readers who have taken a chance on reading an unknown author’s book.
What a lovely post. A gratitude dashboard is a definite must. Though, I think it’s better to check the dashboard less often, because it’s sometimes hard to see that silver lining when there are no sales.
Still, it’s very important to keep focusing on the things in your control (like how much you write and the quality of the product) and be thankful for the things that are outside your ability to control (like sales) when they fare well.
Very good point RJ. Checking less is less stressful too. Thank you!
Well said, Martin. I couldn’t agree more. Knowing that someone read 100 pages of one of my KU stories the previous night gives me the motivation to push on with my new work (which will definitely be “The One”).
Absolutely. It’s the best type of motivation. Thanks Pete!
Great post, Martin. It does us all well to remember how good we have it, regardless of where we are in our writer’s journey. It may be a roller-coaster ride, with ups and downs, but it’s all good. Thanks for the reminder.
Yes, it’s quite a ride and we do have it good. Thanks Melissa.
I like this Gratitude Dashboard idea. Thanks, Martin.
I am grateful when someone buys one of my books – especially now there’s four to choose from – and I eagerly look for a comment or a rating to see if my story has pleased someone. In the end, that is all that matters.
I love to write. As an indie, I get to share my writing with the world. It might only be a small world, but it’s my world. My one hope is that someone enjoys what I write.
The immediate connection that we can have with our readers truly is special. Thank you Vicky.
Returning the Holiday wishes, Martin.
PS. Great picture. Howcum the northern lights never looked like that when I lived up there? (Maybe because that’s a cloud?)
Best to you Gordon. Ms. Brooks is the photo-picker. It does look stunning, doesn’t it.
Very well expressed. Thank you. Happy holidays to you too Martin and everyone here at Indies Unlimited. Maybe 2016 be filled with the things you described. We have an opportunity with self-publishing that most of us would have had years prior. We are able to run after our dreams and accomplish great things.
Congratulations to you for your many successes. We all strive to be in your position at sometime in our lives. Still, it feels pretty darn good to work that gets some kind of acknowledgement. What a blessing!
I am a believer that things happen for a reason and I also believe hard work is never wasted.
Aha! Perfect, yes hard work is never wasted and I know you have an extraordinary work ethic. Happy holidays to you Brenda.
Thank you for a wonderful post, Martin. We write to be read. And when someone decides of their own free will, without even the slightest arm twisting, to actually and buy and read what we’ve written, well we *should* be grateful! And then, if they happen to write a glowing review, I feel like asking them if I can get them anything – tea? coffee? wine? DINNER?
We truly are fortunate. 🙂
Back atcha with the holiday wishes.
Thanks for the positive thoughts Candace. Best to you too.
That puts a goo perspective on it, Martin. I work just to break even but, yes, I hate to think where I’d be without the strides we’ve all made and with the opportunity to self-publish. Every purchase notification, every review, every positive comment makes me smile. I wouldn’t trade those for all the tea in China.
I’m glad you’re smiling Yvonne. That’s a great attitude. Thanks for the positive energy.
I’m working to stay positive, Martin, and thank you for the perspective. It really is quite amazing to make a connection with a reader, though. And for that, I’m grateful. If I hadn’t put my work out there, I never would have gotten that.
And happy holidays. 😀
Yes, being positive is definitely the answer. Happy holidays to you too Laurie.