Why Do Authors Lack Hustle?

 

Are people who hurt themselves or others more driven than you are? 

Do gambling degenerates stop gambling even when they run out of money? Do drug addicts cease getting high because someone tells them to stop? Do domestic abusers stop smacking women around because they run the risk of going to jail?  

Of course not. Neither the threat of consequences nor the allure of rewards will work on people who are single-focused on one doing thing. 

These people have a stronger will to continue their destructive behavior than you do to market your book. Why is that? 

Why are people driven to do what is harmful and wrong but good writers like you lack the drive to get what they want? Maybe we just need the act of marketing a book to be viewed as dangerous, bad, or illegal.  

One big difference between the first group of people and writers is the level of gratification one gets from their actions. For the guy exerting dominion, in his mind, over a woman, he experiences some kind of reward, just as the addict gets from being high, or the gambler feels at the very moment he feels he has a chance to win big when placing a bet. But for some reason this type of feeling is not felt by writers as they market their books.  

There is no high or dopamine hit felt by writers when it comes to doing the things that are needed when marketing a book. Promoting a book is not fun, it is not sexy, and it can be costly in time and money for those who actively engage in it. But it must be done. You have to overcome the challenges, whatever they may be, or you will simply lack the ability to swim against the current and get off your lonely island. 

Now, you have options: 

Outsource all of it, but it is costly

Do all of it, but it takes a lot of time and a big learning curve

Do nothing and get zero results.  

Those choices suck. 

Ok, so what is an author to do? 

Split between the three — outsource some, do some, ignore some things. 

The result?  

You will position yourself for a chance at success while not feeling lazy, guilty, or defeated. 

Think about it: Is the track you are on now going to yield the desired outcomes that you seek? If, like most people, the answer is “no,” then wake up and get real. Get motivated to change things and see that there is potentially a way to break through. 

If you don’t believe in your work, or have confirmation that your book is bad or mediocre at best, stay the course. Don’t change a thing. Let your book die a death it deserves. No reason to throw good money after bad, or to exert yourself for a lost cause. Just throw in the towel and give up. Walk away. 

But, if you believe that you are a decent writer, that your book can impact others, and that your future holds potential, don’t just sit there. Take action. Get help. Show some hustle. Make it happen.

 

Do You Need Book Marketing 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 4.7 million pageviews. With 5,400+ posts over the past 14 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 was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

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