February 05, 2020

Dear “I’m Still a Nobody” Author



Dear “I’m Still a Nobody” Author,

Boy, do I know how that feels. I have said these words many times. “I’m still a nobody!” I bet nearly every author has said that at least once. That phrase, that criticism, that expectation, that wish would lead me down the dark tunnel of depression again and again. But once I looked past myself, I realized that I’m in an ark full of authors who feel the same way, authors who are literally in the same boat as me.

Do you know the average number of books that are self-published each year?

There was a record number of over 1 Million books self-published in 2017, according to Bowker.

What about the number of new books published each year?

According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 2.2 Million new titles are published worldwide each year, and that data is from 2013!

With that many books coming out into the world every year, plus more, no doubt, it’s going to be hard to get our books noticed. Yes, even if we have 10 books published! The market is over-saturated with books, and social media is full of authors posting promos, so that means most readers will not know who we are.

Now-a-days, authors who self-publish or who are published by small presses are known by much smaller numbers, most likely in the circles they network in (blogging, local writer meetings), groups they are members of online, and/or events they frequently attend as featured authors.

What I realized was that I needed to be thankful for the readers I did have because they are awesome and I wouldn’t be where I am without them (that’s why I created my Reader Group on Facebook: Fey’s Sparklers). I also get out more locally, which has gotten me new readers, plus more confidence through experience.

Saying you’re “a nobody” is highly negative, and the universe is listening when you say that. Instead, say “I’m somebody!”

While you’re at it, express your gratitude to the people who do know who you are (everyone who follows you on social media and everyone you know in real life).

And please don’t forget that you are in excellent company the next time you think you’re an unknown author. We can cry about it or we can accept it and move on (keep writing, keep believing, keep dreaming…and keep publishing). I hope you choose the latter. <3 

Please consider joining my Facebook group. I don't post daily. When I do post it's a contest to name something in a story, a giveaway, an update, or an announcement.



Keep Writing With Fey: The sequel to Write with Fey is already available for pre-order in advance of its July 14th release!

Catch the sparks you need to conquer writer’s block, depression, and burnout!

When Chrys Fey shared her story about depression and burnout, it struck a chord with other writers. That put into perspective for her how desperate writers are to hear they aren’t alone. Many creative types experience these challenges, battling to recover. Let Keep Writing with Fey: Sparks to Defeat Writer's Block, Depression, and Burnout guide you through:

· Writer's block
· Depression
· Writer's burnout
· What a writer doesn’t need to succeed
· Finding creativity boosts

With these sparks, you can begin your journey of rediscovering your creativity and get back to what you love - writing.


PRE-ORDER:


HAPPY IWSG DAY!!!

108 comments:

  1. Oh that's great you have a sequel coming out! Going to order that for sure. You always know how to inspire and I appreciate your honesty about your own struggles.

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    1. Thank you, Julie!

      I do what I can to let other authors/writers know they're not alone. :)

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  2. Congratulations on the sequel!
    I'm very grateful for my readers, especially those who never read science fiction before but took a chance on one of my books.

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  3. It's easy to feel like a nobody in the writing world, but seeing those publishing stats helps put things in perspective.

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    1. It does help put things into perspective. Sometimes we need these reminders.

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  4. Say you're a nobody and you and everyone around you will believe it.

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  5. Good luck with your upcoming release! Most writers will never be world-famous NYT bestsellers, but the goal should be loyal readers and building a reputation that outlasts us. If our books are good, we'll be remembered long past our lifetimes, with or without bestseller status and awards.

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    1. Thank you!

      Even being remembered long past our lifetimes is difficult. At this point, I don't think I'd be remembered by my books very long past my own lifetime.

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  6. Good post for inspiration. It's definitely a struggle and these days, the onus is on the writer to find their audience.

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    1. Thank you, Tamara! It is tough to find your audience, especially when that's what every author is doing.

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  7. I'm learning that being a "somebody" is relative. There are a ton of famous actors, musicians, etc that lots of people know about, but that I could bump into on the street and have no idea who they are. :)

    Good luck on the sequel!

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  8. That's a good reminder. Too often we focus on the negative rather than the positive.

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  9. A lot of the reading I've done says that most authors make less than $500 a year - so my expectations going in are pretty low! I'm lucky I'm doing this because I love it and not because I'm relying on the money! :)

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    1. I make far less than $500 a year. FAR LESS. lol But it's not actually about the money but sales and reviews and just being known. It's tough.

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  10. Wonderful way to look at it. Even if just one reader connects with and enjoys what I write, I'm happy. Any more is an added bonus. :)

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    1. That's a wonderful perspective! And you've done so well, too. :)

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  11. You are spot on! I couldn't agree more. I'm actually pretty settled with my writing where it is--mostly Indie, never a best-seller, but satisfying to me.

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  12. Congrats on your upcoming release! As someone who had only one piece of writing published in an anthology, in 2015 I admire you. I don’t even think my goal is for my writing ot outlive me, as I won’t be there to appreciate the recognition it gets then. I’m however trying to be happy with what readership I do get and am glad I’m not alone in feeling depressed about it at times.

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    1. Far from alone. You're in good company, Astrid.

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  13. Congrats on the release!

    So needed your letter. The past weekend my kids were watching Granddaddy Daycare on Netflix. And the main character is an author with writer's block. His father-in-law made a comment about him publishing every five years. I was like damn, that's me. Only have the one piece of writing published, a poetry chapbook, which doesn't get as much readership as fiction. And taking forever on my other works too.

    Almost fell into a negative pity party hole. But now I'm going to start thinking that the my one and only is only the beginning. No matter what I write, no matter how small my readership is, there's someone out there who wants to read it. Start thinking more often 'yes I'm somebody.'

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    1. Thank you!

      It's easy to fall into a pity party hole. I do it a lot.

      You are at the beginning, and you have so much more to do and give. <3

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  14. First of all, sorry about your spam. Been there. It's so annoying. As for I'm Still Nobody, you're right. That's just negative self-talk. And there's no place for it around anyone.

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    1. The spam has been ridiculous for months. Daily I'd get 3-5. It was driving me mad.

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  15. Thank you!

    And you are SOMEBODY! :D

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  16. Congrats on the sequel!

    I completely agree that what we throw out to the Universe returns to us. Pity parties are easy to throw, but cleaning up the mess is tough. I'm not advocating denying or ignoring our frustrations, but perspective is everything.

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  17. The trick today--if it's a trick at all--is to be discoverable. Gazillions of writers are out there. No doubt most of them are awesome.

    And appreciating the readers we have is definitely step one. :-)


    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  18. The spam really has been out of control lately.

    And I'm so good at being a writer that the one time someone said, "Oh! You're MJ Fifield? I've heard of you!", my response was, "HOW?!?!?"

    But I really do appreciate any reader who has the fortitude to make it through one of my books...even if I then drive them away with my amazing capacity for awkward weirdness. :)

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    1. It got to the point where I said "enough is enough." They go after my older posts and posts just a couple of months old. So far, after my update, I haven't received a single one.

      You are like a ninja author. lol

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  19. It's so easy to feel like a nobody. I'm not even sure how much I want to be published. But we should remember we're all important. Congrats on your new book!

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  20. Congratulations on your new book. Sounds great. And yes, it's tough being a writer these days, but we should never give up. Keep on, doing our best and someday ...

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  21. Yes, Congratulations! What an upbeat, wonderful way to look at things. I hear that everyday and I admit I feel that way most times. But I love to write, and I enjoy my fellow authors too much to just let it go. I wish you all the best with your new book. In fact I'd love to host you on my blog. Let me know and we'll coordinate!

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    1. Thank you! I will email you about being on your blog. I could even offer you an ARC when those are ready. :)

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  22. Getting your name out there so that readers can find you is a daunting task for all the reasons you've mentioned. I'm trying to learn everything I can do to get noticed, but it may be quite a while before I'll know if I'm successful or not. I think a lot of people are going to need a copy of your new book for inspiration.

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    1. Just know that even learning everything you can...some things are still out of your hands. <3

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  23. So long as you value your work and those who you care about it's always worthwhile. True purpose comes from within, not without :)

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  24. Congratulations on your sequel. And we should always be thankful for those who are willing to give their time to read and listen to what we produce!

    www.thepulpitandthepen.com

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  25. Well said. The field is saturated, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I believe in Indie writers.

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  26. Congrats on your new book. The numbers are astounding and I see no change coming. It is so hard to get noticed so we need to keep helping each other. Let me know if you want a guest post near the time your book comes out.

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    1. Thank you, Susan! I will be looking for blogs for book blasts (without an article) and I'll also have an easy blog hop the same day as IWSG in August so members can combine the two. :)

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  27. I often think there are more books than there are readers.

    I am still trying to decide which book to pick to read. I have been slacking and want to do better this month!

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  28. The Lovely Bones is a beautiful book--so well written. I like being a nobody at work. Everyone pretty much leaves me alone.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. That's a perk of being a nobody. :)

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    2. Nobodyism is very high on my list of goals. Don't bother to knock on my door, Jehovah's Witnesses. Nobody lives in my house. Maybe I can even change my name to Nobody or No Body. Chrys, you have inspired me.

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    3. LOL! I hate it when someone knocks on my door. I always pretend I'm not home. :P

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  29. If you've written a book that even one person enjoys, that still puts you ahead (in writing terms) of most of the world's population!

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  30. Hi Chrys - love the post ... well done and put things in perspective. I hope you get lots of interest via FB - as Fey's Sparkles must be a wonderful group! I think having readers within a group is probably better than the razz-a-ma-tazz of being popular and keeping up with everything ... slow but sure Fey will sparkle. All the best - cheers Hilary

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  31. Congrats on the new release. I like your outlook. You Go. Happy IWSG!

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  32. What's particularly striking about the number of books being published each year is there aren't nearly as many avid readers as there used to be. Which totally vindicates me for the amount I reading I do... I've gotta make up for all those slackers out there. HA

    Congrats on your upcoming sequel. You go, girl!

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    1. I don't read as much as I used to, I'm afraid.

      Thank you, Susan!

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  33. Congratulations on your sequel!

    As for the indie market saturation, it's SO big, there *has* to be a solution. Has to be. But what? *sigh*

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  34. Great advice, Chrys. Keep writing and publishing. Exactly. Regardless of popularity. Love both of those choices for the character study. I've read both of them but several years ago. The Lovely Bones was unique for its time.

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    1. Thanks, Lisa! I read Chill Factor (it actually inspired me to write Hurricane Crimes), but I haven't read The Lovely Bones yet.

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  35. I still haven't decided which of the two books I will read, but I will read at least one before the discussion.
    Thanks for the reality check. We are all somebody.
    I love your Sparklers group.
    I'm very excited about your next Sparks book. Already pre-ordered mine.

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    1. Awesome!

      You're welcome!

      I am glad you love my FB group. :) And thank you so much for pre-ordering!

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  36. Just joined your sparklers group. Thanks for the invitation.

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  37. You're right, Chrys. We need to be thankful (and express that thanks) for our readers, for those people who stop by our table at a book event, the ones who pick up our books--even if they put them down. Maybe they'll remember when they get back home. I love interacting with readers at craft/vendor shows. I love talking books. In the grand scheme of things, I may be a little fish in the ocean of published books, but some people know me. :)

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  38. Congratulations on the upcoming release👍🎉

    Such great advice Chrys. I get discouraged often. Especially, like you said, everywhere you look authors are promoting their work. Expensive ads, superb covers, and proffesional book tour organisers. I always worry because I can't compete with that.

    I decided to just keep writing anyway. Even if nobody but my family knows me as an author.

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    1. Thank you!

      I can't, either. For me, ads aren't worth it since I'm traditionally published and make back very little, so I'd spend more on ads than I'd ever get back.

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  39. Well soon I'm about to throw myself into the fray, but as you point out, millions of books to contend with. Discoverability is the key. I think we need to fin.d what works for us. You can write the best book in the world, but if no one knows it's there, it won't make you much money. One blogger, Elana Johnson, who I've known ever since I began blogging, has just hit the $100,000 per MONTH mark but it's taken her awhile to learn the advertising ropes, but boy has she learned and told us all about it.

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    1. Absolutely. What works for one author doesn't work for every author. Finding what works for us is important.

      Wow! She must be doing ads, right? Unfortunately, that wouldn't likely work for me. Since I'm traditionally published, I don't earn as much for my sales, so I'd always be spending more on ads than I earn. And it's hard to get going when you don't have any money to put toward it.

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  40. Well put! It's easy to get impostor syndrome, and even published authors viewed as successful get it. The best thing to do is stay positive and keep going. Congrats on the upcoming release!

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  41. with so many books published, especially with the option to self publish, i can see why it is hard to get noticed. i read a lot of indie authors and never would have found them without blogging, so yeah to the internet!
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  42. You are so right, Chrys. Saying that I am nobody is a depressing thought, although I go through this most of the time. I try to think positively and be thankful to those who believe in me. As you said, be thankful for our readers. We certainly would be nowhere without them. All the best to you, my dear!

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    1. It can be tough, but being positive as often as we can be helps.

      All the best to you!

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  43. love how you keep looking to the positives. we “nobodies” are “somebodies” and we have to stick together!
    keep at it!

    Tara Tyler Talks

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  44. Another great post. You're so right. Strength in numbers. Happy IWSG!

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  45. Great post! I need that reminder to thank the people to whom I am not “nobody”! Happy IWSG!

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  46. Congratulations on your sequel. And thank you for this inspirational post!

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  47. I never would've been able to guess close to how many self-published books come out every year! Thanks for reminding us how important it is to believe in ourselves, especially at this time of year when it's so easy to have the winter blahs. Congrats on your sequel Chrys and best of luck with your group!

    Julie

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  48. I just joined your FB group. I think your comment about being grateful for what we do have is so important. We're all somebody. And being part of this blogger community helps all of us be a little more known than if we were just trying to do it all by ourselves.

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    1. Thank you so much for joining my FB group!

      Without this blogging community, I wouldn't have a single reader.

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  49. Excellent facts to keep in mind, Chrys! Great post.

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  50. I've been doing some remodeling on my website. My next step is Facebook. What a great opportunity to reach out to people and express gratitude.

    Elsie
    (new domain)

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  51. Very true! I think just putting words on paper is a success, so other people enjoying them is icing on the cake, even if they're not in the millions like the number of books. Thanks for the uplifting post!

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