Reading this and making note! It all seems so... sane. I love that you are making time for all the non-book things in your life -- gardening, walking, relationships -- even though the urgency of the deadline might make one feel frenetic. You are countering that pressure with presence and calm. More power to your slow book launch!
This is the kind of thing authors need to hear more about, not the splashy 40-city book tours and the six figure advances (though I will admit that I shrieked with joy when I read Amie's post a few weeks ago...GET IT GIRL.) I think there is a very real tendency to self-abandon when big opportunities like this come up: we tell ourselves that it's just for a little while or that doing it big is the only way something like this can be handled. I love that you're shining a light on a different way of approaching something that is both momentous and exciting AND just one of many pieces of writing you'll have churned out in your lifetime. It's important, and it will also probably become less important to you with each day that passes after May 6, as you turn your attention toward new projects. Can't wait to hear what you're working on next!!
"...that is both momentous and exciting, AND just one of many pieces of writing you'll have churned out in your lifetime..." Exactly this. I'm holding onto this heady moment, just before my book launches, with a loose grip (similar to the way I've been holding on to parenting in this phase, actually.)
I think this sounds like a great approach! I don't know much about the ins and outs of publishing, but my jaw dropped when you said how much Amie's book advance was. Wow! I would guess that's not normal? But I have no idea.
It's definitely not "normal" in that I think it almost never happens unless you're already a very well known author - and to be fair, Amie has a very large social audience and I believe has successfully self-published in the past, so maybe in that regard it's more "normal"?
You have a much healthier relationship & approach to all this than I did/do! (And, I can't help but add, a healthier advance... you'd need to divide by another 3 to get in the neighborhood of what my book advance was) Also: I am currently reading my preview copy of your book & love it! Have already ordered a copy to give to a friend of mine who has 4 kids about the same ages as ours.
It's definitely something I've had to work toward. Down deep there is a part of me that desperately wants to throw every resource I have at this launch - but I think I've just learned I can't afford the crash that comes from depletion! And urgh, advances are so sensitive, and so relative, and seem so unrelated to the quality of the book. I'm so glad you're enjoying TLPBYER and can't wait to chat with you here on Substack on the 6th!
Funny you posted this as just this morning I stumbled across your post about the podcast business from a few days ago. This struck me:
"The problem with careers built on one's 'competitive edge' is that you have to keep sharpening that edge over time or you lose it......but I'm finding I don't care enough to keep focusing on being competitive for the rest of my life."
This is just where I am with so many things in general. I LOVE that you're not making your book the focus of your life, even for just this period of time, because life is about much, much more than that. The past few years, I've been working to shift my idea of "Success" - with a capital "S" - from how a capitalist society defines it. Mostly, because I'm tired of feeling like I've completely wasted my potential in terms of my professional like. But also because I JUST DON'T CARE enough to make work the focus of everything. I'm shifting towards defining success wholistically in terms of an overall life that's worth living.
I've witnessed much of this shift in you - doesn't it feel good? And also, isn't it so funny the stories we tell ourselves, about...ourselves? I remember when you told me you had had a career as a professional musician, my immediate reaction was "Wow..that's so cool!" It never occurred to me that it may have felt like a liability to you professionally.
Ha!!! It used to really bug me how many people tell me it’s so cool and what a shame I don’t play anymore. It’s like all your friends constantly telling you how cute your asshole ex-boyfriend was. But I’m over it. I get why it sounds cool. And parts of it were. And now I’ve moved on.
Reading this and making note! It all seems so... sane. I love that you are making time for all the non-book things in your life -- gardening, walking, relationships -- even though the urgency of the deadline might make one feel frenetic. You are countering that pressure with presence and calm. More power to your slow book launch!
"Sane" is definitely what I'm going for - here's hoping it sticks! Thank you, Amy!
This is the kind of thing authors need to hear more about, not the splashy 40-city book tours and the six figure advances (though I will admit that I shrieked with joy when I read Amie's post a few weeks ago...GET IT GIRL.) I think there is a very real tendency to self-abandon when big opportunities like this come up: we tell ourselves that it's just for a little while or that doing it big is the only way something like this can be handled. I love that you're shining a light on a different way of approaching something that is both momentous and exciting AND just one of many pieces of writing you'll have churned out in your lifetime. It's important, and it will also probably become less important to you with each day that passes after May 6, as you turn your attention toward new projects. Can't wait to hear what you're working on next!!
"...that is both momentous and exciting, AND just one of many pieces of writing you'll have churned out in your lifetime..." Exactly this. I'm holding onto this heady moment, just before my book launches, with a loose grip (similar to the way I've been holding on to parenting in this phase, actually.)
This sounds so ... healthy? 😜 Cheering you on! I just got my copy and can't wait to share it!
"Healthy" is what I'm striving for, and at least occasionally achieving! Thank you friend!
Ooh, and super exciting that you have a couple of book ideas brewing!
I think this sounds like a great approach! I don't know much about the ins and outs of publishing, but my jaw dropped when you said how much Amie's book advance was. Wow! I would guess that's not normal? But I have no idea.
It's definitely not "normal" in that I think it almost never happens unless you're already a very well known author - and to be fair, Amie has a very large social audience and I believe has successfully self-published in the past, so maybe in that regard it's more "normal"?
I love this approach, Meagan. Very excited for you!
Thank you Sheri!
You have a much healthier relationship & approach to all this than I did/do! (And, I can't help but add, a healthier advance... you'd need to divide by another 3 to get in the neighborhood of what my book advance was) Also: I am currently reading my preview copy of your book & love it! Have already ordered a copy to give to a friend of mine who has 4 kids about the same ages as ours.
It's definitely something I've had to work toward. Down deep there is a part of me that desperately wants to throw every resource I have at this launch - but I think I've just learned I can't afford the crash that comes from depletion! And urgh, advances are so sensitive, and so relative, and seem so unrelated to the quality of the book. I'm so glad you're enjoying TLPBYER and can't wait to chat with you here on Substack on the 6th!
Funny you posted this as just this morning I stumbled across your post about the podcast business from a few days ago. This struck me:
"The problem with careers built on one's 'competitive edge' is that you have to keep sharpening that edge over time or you lose it......but I'm finding I don't care enough to keep focusing on being competitive for the rest of my life."
This is just where I am with so many things in general. I LOVE that you're not making your book the focus of your life, even for just this period of time, because life is about much, much more than that. The past few years, I've been working to shift my idea of "Success" - with a capital "S" - from how a capitalist society defines it. Mostly, because I'm tired of feeling like I've completely wasted my potential in terms of my professional like. But also because I JUST DON'T CARE enough to make work the focus of everything. I'm shifting towards defining success wholistically in terms of an overall life that's worth living.
I've witnessed much of this shift in you - doesn't it feel good? And also, isn't it so funny the stories we tell ourselves, about...ourselves? I remember when you told me you had had a career as a professional musician, my immediate reaction was "Wow..that's so cool!" It never occurred to me that it may have felt like a liability to you professionally.
Ha!!! It used to really bug me how many people tell me it’s so cool and what a shame I don’t play anymore. It’s like all your friends constantly telling you how cute your asshole ex-boyfriend was. But I’m over it. I get why it sounds cool. And parts of it were. And now I’ve moved on.
Best of luck on all of it! I’ve got mine pre-ordered!
Thank you so much, Heather!