Learning Curve
This whole book thing is so new to me! Steep learning curve! But I've really approached the entire publishing process as an education. I'm trying to learn as much as I can and enjoy it as much as I can.
Here are a few writing observations.
Certain books strike a nerve and I don't think an author can control that. Books like The Prayer of Jabez or The Purpose-Driven Life or Blue Like Jazz or Wild At Heart seem to take on a life of their own. I'm learning that it's a supernatural thing. It seems like In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day is striking a nerve, but I have no idea how the book virus will spread. Few things are as difficult to manage as our expectations! All I can do is continue to live out one of our NCC core values: work like it depends on you AND pray like it depends on God.
Because I'm a first-time author bookstores didn't buy many copies and I'm a no name in authorial terms. But I really believe that books sell books! In other words, while I don't have a large pool of readers, if the book is good I've got to trust that readers will tell other readers. In fact, some people will be so excited about what they read that they'll tell everybody they know. So first generation readers will tell second generation readers. Basically, this is a grassroots book. It's not going to work its way down via marketing. It has to work its way up via word of mouth. I've been so encouraged by the way first generation readers are embracing the book!
Ultimately, I can't control outcomes. And I really do write for intrinsic reasons. I'm learning that the best thing I can do is simply pray that every book is a blessing!
Here are a few writing observations.
Certain books strike a nerve and I don't think an author can control that. Books like The Prayer of Jabez or The Purpose-Driven Life or Blue Like Jazz or Wild At Heart seem to take on a life of their own. I'm learning that it's a supernatural thing. It seems like In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day is striking a nerve, but I have no idea how the book virus will spread. Few things are as difficult to manage as our expectations! All I can do is continue to live out one of our NCC core values: work like it depends on you AND pray like it depends on God.
Because I'm a first-time author bookstores didn't buy many copies and I'm a no name in authorial terms. But I really believe that books sell books! In other words, while I don't have a large pool of readers, if the book is good I've got to trust that readers will tell other readers. In fact, some people will be so excited about what they read that they'll tell everybody they know. So first generation readers will tell second generation readers. Basically, this is a grassroots book. It's not going to work its way down via marketing. It has to work its way up via word of mouth. I've been so encouraged by the way first generation readers are embracing the book!
Ultimately, I can't control outcomes. And I really do write for intrinsic reasons. I'm learning that the best thing I can do is simply pray that every book is a blessing!
5 Comments:
Mark,
I loved the book. I love the phrase work like it depends on you and pray like it depends on God. Can you help me, though, to better understand that phrase. When I shared it with someone else, they said, at first, that it kind of sounded weird, like in a self kind of way. How would you explain it?
When I was in my marketing classes in college the question often came up, 'What is the best form of marketing/advertising?' It was fun to watch everyone try and explain why tv commercials or print ads were the best only to have the professor stray from the obvious forms of media. As those profs would always say... surveys have surprisingly shown that the best form of advertising/marketing is through word of mouth. Huh, maybe there is something to this relationships thing...
Fish,
Job 11:6 is a theological linchpin for me: "True wisdom has two sides." I think truth is found in the tension of opposites. That's how I think about that core value.
We've got to work like it depends on us. And we need to pray like it depends on God. Anything less than both/and will short-circuit God's plans and purposes.
Hope that helps :)
Mark
Mark, it does indeed. Thanks for not charging me $20 for the answer.
Awesome! I think faith works the same way: faith sells faith! In other words, good/geniune faith inspires others to try it too!
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