A.F.E. Smith
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Janus

31/12/2015

12 Comments

 
The end of the year is upon us, and so it's time for the obligatory navel-gazing. This time, it comes with something of an announcement.
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2015 was a big year for me. Probably the biggest ever, in terms of my writing career: Darkhaven came out as an ebook at the beginning of July and officially made me a Big Five published author.

You can only be a debut novelist once, so I put a lot into that launch: release party, blog tour, reviewer spreadsheet, the works. And while the results may have been variable, I'm still quite proud of what I achieved. I also completed my second book, Goldenfire, and went through the editing process with it. Plus, of course, I was a mother and a wife and an employee. I may not have been perfect at all those roles, but the house is still standing and the children seem happy enough, which probably counts as a success.

Looking back, I don't think I can have any regrets. I did the best I could.

Now, in theory 2016 is going to be an even bigger year. I have the second and third Darkhaven novels coming out in ebook format, while the first and second will be released in paperback. In January alone I have two releases and a book signing. But if there's one resolution I have for 2016, it's not to put too much pressure on myself.

I guess that leads me naturally to the announcement that my third book is going to be delayed. This is where I'm kind of relieved not to be Pat Rothfuss or George R.R. Martin, because it's unlikely anyone really cares that much if my third book is a little late. But just in case anyone does: Book 3 was due to my editor mid-January, and it's not going to make it. Not even close.

Why? Several reasons.

First, I've been running on empty for months now. I have a full-time job and two children under five, and I'm exhausted all the time. That sounds like a terrible excuse. I know there are plenty of people who have to work harder than I do. I feel like I'm being lazy or I don't want it enough. But the fact remains that I simply can't stay awake in the evening long enough to write. And if I can, there's usually something else to be done instead.

Second, it's not financially viable. This is the sad reality of life as an author, unless you're one of the few very successful ones. In 2015 I put in hundreds of hours of work on Darkhaven (editing, marketing, contacting reviewers and so on – note that this doesn't include the time I spent actually writing it, which didn't happen this year) plus I spent some money on promotional materials. Thus far I haven't even earned back that money in royalties, let alone been paid for my time. I know it's a long game, the best way to sell a book is to write another one, etcetera. But in the short term, it's hard to justify taking a day off work to write, and Mr Smith is reluctant to let me commit an entire weekend or holiday day to it when it's basically an unpaid job. (His words, but I can see where he's coming from. I might not like it, but that doesn't stop it being true.)

Third – and this is both the most personal and the stupidest reason – I'm having a serious crisis of confidence. I wrote my second book before the first one came out, so that was straightforward. But since then, I've read a lot of reviews of Darkhaven. There were many nice ones – I can't remember what any of those said – and there were some critical ones. One early review in particular was critical to the point of despising. And somehow, that reviewer's words have burnt themselves into my brain. They pop up when I'm in the shower, or walking, or trying to get to sleep. They repeat themselves every time I feel a bit down. And they're there when I turn on my computer.

I'm aware this sounds melodramatic. I did tell you it was stupid. And I would like to jump in right now and say I know it's my problem. Reviewers don't have any obligation to temper their criticism just in case someone gets hurt. It's the risk I took when I put myself forward in the first place. But it has shaken me to the point where I'm struggling to write, because I'm struggling to find value in anything that comes out.

There are other signs that my head isn't in a very healthy place right now. I keep fretting over sales numbers. I keep worrying that my one chance at being a real author has been and gone. Every time I try a promotion that doesn't give any results, I convince myself it's because my book is terrible. Every time one of my writer friends has a success, I feel a sinking depression because I know that will never happen to me. Because I don't deserve it. Because this is all just a big mistake, and I should never have been published in the first place. Because, to put it simply, I suck.

All this is why I've decided to take a partial break from the internet in 2016. My mailing list will continue to run. And I will share links if people are kind enough to feature me on their websites, because that's only courteous. But other than that, I won't be around on Facebook or Twitter or anywhere else very much. If you need to contact me, you can email me – or if you don't know my email address, you can use my contact form.

That does mean I'll be taking a step back from my new book release. Aside from a handful of guest posts that I've already arranged, Goldenfire will have to enter the world more or less on its own. And part of me is saying I'm a failure for that, too; that I'm missing an opportunity. But for my own mental wellbeing, and for the sake of actually writing the third book, that's the way it has to be. Maybe if I don't get so involved, and don't put so much pressure on myself, I can rediscover the joy I once found in writing. And, to be honest, in life.

I wish you all a very happy and successful 2016.

12 Comments
Evangeline Jennings
31/12/2015 10:20:15 pm

If you feel you need to do this, then you DEFINITELY need to do this. I've been toying with doing something similar.

Take good care.

xxx

Reply
A.F.E. Smith link
2/1/2016 02:51:22 pm

Thank you, Evie. And if you feel the same way, I hope you take a break too. All the best.

Reply
Jacqueline Pye link
1/1/2016 12:28:21 am

So sorry you're down the proverbial, Afe. Your pals will tell you it's a familiar pattern, and hopefully it may help to remember you're not alone. Books failing to sell isn't at all a reflection on the author, but rather the result of people's limited reading time and social media being swamped with high-profile books. And of course you attracted a real-life publisher.

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Jacqueline Pye link
1/1/2016 12:30:43 am

Part 2: So, good plan to take time out. No doubt your brain will keep processing the writing, ready to burst out when you are! Enjoy your sabbatical. xxx

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A.F.E. Smith link
2/1/2016 02:52:08 pm

Many thanks, Jacqueline. I hope you have a wonderful 2016.

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W.R. Gingell link
1/1/2016 07:35:12 am

I WAS going to say that the reviewer was far off base, and that you are a FANTASTIC writer *nods firmly* I compared you once to Diana Wynne Jones, and I hold to that.

But since I know it's the bad stuff that sticks, and not so much the good stuff, I'll just say instead that you've been not just a huge help, but a huge encouragement to me. You were open and gracious, and willing to give me a hand and a space beside you with your book launch efforts (FB parties and the like). There aren't a lot of people so big-hearted, especially to fellow authors.

HEAPS of my visibility I owe directly to you (I can't thank you enough for that, but, well- thanks!) and I'm pretty sure there are a few others like me, too.

So, from the bottom of my heart, I wish you an easy year, many profitable and enjoyable hours of writing, many more precious hours with your family and children, and millions of deserved sales.

And I hope you come back stronger, happier, and more energetic than ever :)

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A.F.E. Smith link
2/1/2016 02:54:47 pm

Thank you so much, WR. I suspect you are giving me too much credit, but I appreciate it all the same. Wishing you all the best for 2016 xx

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M T McGuire link
1/1/2016 11:16:48 am

Ooo. Right first of all I would just like to point something out to you.

You are a big five published author. Your book was chosen as one of FIVE or was it ten? from over 10,000. I know because my book was on of the 10,000 and it wasn't one of the five. I am frankly in utter awe of anyone who manages to get a non standard rejection from the big five, let alone, actually get published.

Two... the burn out. I have been there. When I was writing my second book I had to stop for 6 months. I kept myself in touch, drew pictures of the characters, made notes about anything that popped into my head but I had to stop. I only really got my head back when McMini went to school full time. Sometimes the gap between what you want to achieve and what you can is too big to bridge. So you have to just take a break, and when you come back, set realistic targets for you, personally rather than looking at what other people are doing.

Even now, I have to wait after I've finished a book for the mental waters to calm before I can start writing again. It will pass, and the child care side of it will get easier, too. I never recovered from the 'baby brain' my short term memory is now permanently awol but I do feel calmer and more in control. So do the time off, look after you and I hope you feel better and livelier soon.

Cheers

MTM

Reply
A.F.E. Smith link
2/1/2016 02:57:12 pm

Thank you, MTM! And thank you for your email, too. I hope it won't take me too long to get my head back into the right place. But I guess the important thing is that it takes as long as it takes. As always, I appreciate your words of wisdom :-)

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Elizabeth Hull (C.N.Lesley) link
1/1/2016 12:49:17 pm

Please will you do an author interview on my web page for the release of Goldenfire?

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A.F.E. Smith link
2/1/2016 02:59:29 pm

I'm not sure I have a great deal worth saying at the moment, but I'd be happy to give it a go! Thank you.

Reply
Suzanne Wood link
1/4/2016 06:27:23 am

I was sitting here at my desk at work scrolling through publisher websites for new releases, when I came across the page for Darkhaven. Being a fantasy reader, it of course peaked my interest. Like the cover. Synopsis sounds intriguing. Read the blurb down the bottom about being one of 15 picked from 5,000 entries picked back in 2012… hang on a mo. 2012? It’s taken them four years to publish you?? Oh, here we go again. I looked a bit closer at Harper Collins’ website, the Australian one, logged in through Bookseller’s access to advance title information. In May’s presentation there are 12 separate sections: new fiction, non fic, ABC Australia, religion… The seventh is New Release Print on Demand, and there, last of five titles is Darkhaven.

My heart sank for you because I have seen this so many times, from all the big publishers. They seem to covet new authors, but once you are signed up the publishers do virtually nothing to support you – no marketing, nothing to catch the attention of bookshop buyers. They drop books like yours into a vast sea of new releases, so far down the list that by the time the buyers reach your title they have passed their budget limit and cannot buy it in to their store. The fact that HC are only publishing the paperback as a print on demand shows that they don’t want to invest real money into your success. (The cynical side of me says that their main aim is to catch up authors in life-time contracts in the hope that when said author makes it big on their own, they can cash in by re-releasing that first novel.)

So, consider this – the perceived failure on your part is actually the failure of your publisher to properly support you. Did they arrange any bookshop visits for you, did they arrange any interviews or reviewers to contact you, did they seek an endorsement from another published author to boost interest in your book, did they indeed arrange any publicity for your book – at all??

To me, the whole point of being an author is to write, not to be a marketer, publicist, reviewer, etc. That’s what a publisher is for. If you’re going to have to do all those things as well as write, then why not do it to your own profit, ie. be a self-publisher. Do all that stuff for 70% royalties instead of the paltry offering of big business. You deserve better than to be a notch in a publisher’s ever expanding belt.

Over the years, I’ve see so many first time authors go through the excitement of their first published novel, only for that to dwindle down to disappointment as their books go nowhere and their publisher abandons them. I truly hope that you find more joy in publishing your work in future (seriously, look into self-pubbing!), and find the right time for writing (before dawn has a strangely creative effect on some people). Bask in the good reviews, forget the bad (we can’t please all the people all the time). Most importantly, write for yourself. The rest will follow.

All the best,
Suzanne.

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  • Home
  • Books
    • Marked series >
      • Dawn Rising
      • The Dark Knife
    • Darkhaven novels >
      • Darkhaven
      • Goldenfire
      • Windsinger
  • Shorts
  • Gallery
  • Contact