Friday, November 20, 2015

Just Do It The Best Way You Can

I'm going to go ahead and toot my own horn here. 
In three years, I've written, formatted, and published ten full length novels along with six shorter features I call my shorties. In order to save money, I learned to design my own book covers and create my own book trailers to go with them. Though not sophisticated, my biggest personal triumph is managing to put up a decent looking website. 
Why am I so proud of myself over stuff people do everyday? 
Well, for one thing, I'm at a  certain age where the digital era has left a few of us behind. For the sake of fulfilling the one dream I had since seventh grade, I've learned to adapt and catch up. I put aside my fears and self doubt and jumped into the playing field. A second thing is, I want to inspire other artists(not just writers) to seriously take up their crafts and let their talents shine on their own merit. Not what a reviewer has rated her work, or what an agent said was the reason he can't sell her. An artist, even a poor one, doesn't need someone else like a publisher or producer to validate her worth. The public will decide if a product is worth buying. Most of us don't need to be told what to like, contrary to what the industry seems to believe.
If one has a story to tell, a song to vocalize, a painting to display, or anything her mind, spirit, and hands have crafted- show it and share it. Publish and/or produce yourself. Believe in yourself even when family and friends forsake you. Come out strong when peers and associates try to scorn or ridicule your talent and commitment. Toot your own horn when it seems like no one else will. After a while other people will believe in you too. 
The last three years have been full of ups and downs, but the one thing which inspires me to continue working are my constant readers. Though not a big community, they have proven to me my time and effort spent on my writing is worth it. I have readers who appreciate what I do and actually have taken the time to contact me to relate  how much they like my style or my stories. 
And that ladies and gentlemen is what has made my writing and publishing  endeavors worth the aggravation that came with choosing to put myself out there with millions of others who are hoping like hell their product will catch on with the public. Though my sells are usually modest, this writing thing is well worth it and it has indeed been a dream come true. 
Never give up on yourself. Your success is what you want it to be, not the ideal of someone else who probably isn't rooting for you anyway. 
Just do it the best way you can and be proud of yourself.

Lovers These Are For You!