In which we meet insecure writers and a cute boy

>>>If you're here for the Blog Blitz, stop #2 is at Jennifer Lane Books Blog<<<
>>>Meet David and choose his 1980s doppelganger.<<<

Welcome Insecure Writers!  What a brilliant idea Alex had, eh?  You'd think insecurity would end the moment a writer's manuscript gets accepted for publication, wouldn't you?  But no, as it turns out, it merely opens up the gate for a whole new slew of them. 

The highest post-publication insecurity for me has been self-promotion.  Everything about it is just so diametrically opposed to my natural grain.  What I've found is that I can't do it...or at least I can't tell myself I'm doing it.  Rather than thinking of it as as "Buy my book, buy my book, buy my book" I have to think of it as "Hey, you might enjoy this."  I mean, I wrote the thing because I wanted to read it, so maybe someone else will like it too, right?  And if I don't tell them about it, who else will?

But the thing is, writers can't do it all by themselves, which brings me to insecurity #2---Asking for help.  I've got a couple cool things happening with my book this month and wanted to make my best effort to spread the word, so I had to scrunch up that part of me that just haaates to impose on anyone else and shove it into a corner.  I put on my big girl pants and asked other bloggers for guest spots at their places.

And do you know what?  The reception was warm and wonderful and enthusiastic!  The Blog Blitz list on my sidebar is evidence of that (any names look familiar? ;)).  So that's my advice---when you need help, set your insecurities aside and just ask.  The worst that can happen is someone says no, and I think you'll be surprised by how infrequently that happens.

And now, to prove to you how comfortable I've become with the not self-promotion, I think you might enjoy looking at some pics of cute 80s boys...go on, go on...




I'm linking this post up with this week's, Author! Author! Blog Bounce hosted by Omnific Publishing.   

Authors, click on "Get the Code Here" to get the link. Copy and paste that link in your blog post. Then hop right on and add your blog url to get added to the list. Readers, bounce from blog to blog and meet some great new authors and maybe find some new books to read.

Comments

Unknown said…
I love the new cover on your book. It's awesome. Have fun with the blog blitz.
Suze said…
'The highest post-publication insecurity for me has been self-promotion. Everything about it is just so diametrically opposed to my natural grain. What I've found is that I can't do it...or at least I can't tell myself I'm doing it. Rather than thinking of it as as "Buy my book, buy my book, buy my book" I have to think of it as "Hey, you might enjoy this." I mean, I wrote the thing because I wanted to read it, so maybe someone else will like it too, right? And if I don't tell them about it, who else will?'

Absolutely love this, babe. And hey, it worked on me. I bought your book!
Anne Gallagher said…
I'm geting ready to jump into that promotion biz myself and just like you, I haaaate it. I have no idea what to do or how to do it, so I guess I'll just pants as I go. (As opposed to outline the whole thing to death.)
Tara Tyler said…
wish i had that problem! we'll see how i do when i get there =)
thanks for the advice and "may your pages be read thru the ages!" (quote by me, hee hee)
M Pax said…
You're most welcome to do a guest post on my blog. I love helping other writers. :D I could fit you in week after next. If interested email me, mpaxauthor@gmail.com OK, I'm very tempted by cute 80's boys. Have I told you Boy George follows me on Twitter. I was so excited. He's about my only celebrity tweep ... well, who follows me.
I can relate! I was all right as a writer until my first manuscript was accepted. The 'get your butt out there, establish a platform, and start promoting' thing nearly caused a meltdown. But like you, I've found everyone here is so supportive.
And I'm excited to host you soon!
Luanne G. Smith said…
I think most of us are introverts at heart, which makes it difficult to self promote. It just feels awkward to be the center of attention. I've been watching a couple of blogger friends deal with the publication process and on the outside they're handling it beautifully, but inside I know they're full of doubt and insecurity AND that it's totally normal. I think I would be white-knuckling it the whole way. :))

Congrats on the launch of your book!!
Donna Shields said…
Thanks for the looks at those cute 80s guys. Always loved Matthew Broderick.

Now that I'm about to be published in November, I'm having some anxieties about promoting it.
Jennifer Lane said…
Great job asking for help, Nicki! You're very giving and it's quite a pleasure to give back. I hear ya about not loving self-promotion. It goes against my grain too, but then again I've met a lot of cool people through social networking so I guess it balances out. That screen shot of my blog banner is way cool!
I can relate to this... I'm relating to so many of these posts. But self-promotion and asking for help has really been difficult for me as well, and I don't know which is harder. And those pics - wow! They were so young! Time goes way too fast!
Halli Gomez said…
Asking for help is always a hard thing. You want to prove (to yourself) that you can do everything. And I'm sure you are the kind of person that would help other writers if they asked.
Glad you took that step and asked for help! Keep it going!
Hi Nicki,

Thanks for your comments on my post. I can only imagine the levels of insecurity that promotion envokes, though I can't wait to find out, one day... Good luck with the Blog Blitz.
CarolOates said…
Well, if you visited our little group on FB this week Nicki I think you know where I stand on confidence after publication. I'm making headway to finish up revising my 3rd novel, my 5th release and I'm still waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out and tell me I've been punked!lol

I got an invite to my brother's 40th birthday in October this week. It's being held in the social club/nite club where we went to disco's during the late 80's. (Technically I was a bit young and shouldn't have been there so don't tell anyone.) Guess what? It's an 80's night. Since we still socialize with the same people we grew up with it really will be like stepping back in time.
Liza said…
...ask for help. The words are so simple. Thanks for the reminder.
Golden Eagle said…
I'm nowhere near self-promotion, but asking for help . . . it is hard. Great post on it. :)
i hate to promote myself too. but tomorrow, i'm going to the local farmers' market with me brother (who sells jewelry there) and i'm going to be selling my book. i'll see what happens.
Cherie Colyer said…
It's nice to know that there are others who aren't so great at asking for help. I'm taking notes for things to do once my book is out. You can bet I just added ask for help and blog blitz.

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