Why Do Authors View The Inevitable As Bad News?

In the span of a few weeks, my fridge broke down. So did my double-oven. Never mind my wife’s Buick Enclave (note, never buy American unless it is a Tesla or Ford pickup truck) sputters on its last breadth. Of course all of this stresses me out. I just see dollar signs with many zeroes flashing in my head. More time will be spent shopping, negotiating with stores and my wife, and in the end, I will spend years paying these basic necessities off. No reason to cheer, it seems, but perhaps I have it all wrong, just as too many authors have a shitty attitude when it comes to marketing their books. Let’s explore this.

On the one hand, I see all of these breakdowns as a negative. I even had the insult to call in a repair guy just to get the deadly diagnosis on the appliances. Nothing like paying to only receive bad news. But maybe I need to see the other side.

Both appliances are past their sell-by dates, each over 21 years old. Though I only had them for three years, upon moving into my house in 2017, they did last a long time. This is technology’s natural course.

It was inevitable they would break down and not be worth salvaging. So how can I be mad at what I contracted for? When I buy my next appliances, I can only hope they will last as long as these did. Instead of whining upon their end, I should celebrate the beginning of something new— even if I could be back at this same spot in 12, 15, or 20 years.

I should just amortize the cost. Instead of seeing it as paying two grand for an appliance or whatever it costs, I should average it out over time. Depending on how long it lasts, that could be less than fifty cents a day. That barely covers a few ounces of my daily serving of Starbucks (grande non-fat mocha with whip cream, please).

Maybe I should even take it a step further. I am getting a new appliance, which will buy me long-term piece of mind, be more energy efficient (cost less, save environment), and will help support the economy. It is nice to have something brand new, especially something you interact with daily.

Authors, too, should have a more optimistic approach when it comes to marketing their brand and promoting a book. They get frustrated and anguish over spending time, money, and brainshare for something foreign to them, something that may not even pay-off for them. But there is reason to see the converse.

It is inevitable an author’s book and writing career will go nowhere unless he or she actively engages in marketing. Do it yourself or outsource it — or go with a combo of the two. No need to go kicking and crying. No reason to run away in fear. Just accept it the way we need to accept we eventually need a new fridge, oven, or car.

Life is so much easier if you accept and even embrace what pains you. The sooner you pass through your fears and anger, you get to spend the dividends produced from your investment.

So don’t get me wrong. I am not all Zen Buddhist on having to shell out money just to reclaim a basic-need item — and I curse all of the retailers that I must browse. And let me just say that things are not made as well now. They are not meant to last, so let me curse the cutting-corners manufacturers in advance as well. Lastly, to my wife (I hope she is not reading this), I need to sweet-talk you into the least expensive option because I want to cheap out!

But I will complain and fret a little less so, and I will suck my medicine down so I can heal quicker. I will buy into — literally — the idea that I am gaining more than I am losing.

Besides, it is inevitable and necessary. I will just deal with it and move on. Authors should view book marketing in the same light. No reason to fight it. Just go with the flow. And maybe, just maybe, you will see the benefits from it.

Read, Read, Read!!

 

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Brian Feinblum, the founder of BookMarketingBuzzBlog, can be reached at  brianfeinblum@gmail.com.  His insightful views, provocative opinions, and interesting ideas expressed in this terrific blog are the product of his genius. You can – and should -- follow him on Twitter @theprexpert. He feels much more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2020. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. Also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo.