How Do Authors Avoid Book Marketing PTSD?

 

 

Any author who has promoted a book likely experienced a gamut of emotions, from fear, anxiety, and depression to ecstasy, happiness, and fulfillment. But so many were left to feel a bit beaten by the process that’s needed to market one’s book successfully. These writers have  Book Marketing PTSD.

 

How can authors re-group and find the strength to promote their next book effectively?

1.      Acknowledge what went right when you marketed your book. Repeat those things. For things that did not go well, examine why, and determine if and how you would take a second shot at doing those things.

2.             Take note of your concerns - your biggest fears and disappointments. Confront them. Get to the bottom of why you feel this way and determine a strategy to defeat them. 

3.             Think back at how prior losses or traumatic events in your life were dealt with. Is something holding you back in life, not just with your book marketing, that requires therapy, even medication?

4.             See the optimistic side to life, how your book marketing efforts could get lucky and actually yield the wins that you seek. Keep hope alive. 

5.             Remind yourself of how you were able to meet past challenges, defeat bullying forces, and dismiss negative thoughts. Embrace your strength, resources, and network to help you pull through your book marketing. 

6.             Spend your time efficiently- take action rather than dwell on contemplating what to do. 

7.             Find someone or something that grounds you and gives you joy. Lean on your comfort compass to get through any book marketing challenges. 

8.             Remember why you write your book in the first place. Recapture that go-get-’em spirit and put your heart, mind, and efforts into marketing your book, just as you did to write your book. 

9.             Give yourself permission to succeed and to start fresh with your next book. Your past does not have to be your future. 

 

Authors, stop letting yourself:

·         Get caught up in anticipatory grief 

·         Constantly remember your failures 

·         Continue to engage in negative talk

·         Act as if you don’t control your fate

·         Associate with pathetic or destructive people

·         Think the worst and assume only the negative 

 

Instead, start to do these things:

·         Give yourself a break

·         Build on your successes and gain positive momentum

·         Hire others to help you bust through

·         Do the things you never thought you would do

·         Give yourself the benefit of the doubt 

·         Believe your book deserves more readers

 

You can overcome book marketing PTSD simply by re-writing your script. No one else dictates the future of your book - but you. 

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over four million pageviews. With 5,000+ posts over the past dozen years, it 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 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2025.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum