Chameleon

As an author, there are days I feel like a chameleon. I have to change my thoughts, my energy, and there are times it feels like my skin.

Because I’m a self-published or Indie author- I have many job descriptions.

• Writing – The one I love and wish I could do and not worry about any of the others.
• Editing – One that takes a different side of my brain but makes my work better.
• Formatting – Making my story into formats for ebook and print books.
• Producer – Getting the manuscript and pronunciations to my narrators and getting all of that set up to be produced. Then listening to the chapters to make sure the narrators didn’t miss words or used the right emotion.
• Promoter – Finding the places that will best showcase my books and getting them out to these places as well as looking for authors who write the same type of story to try and do newsletter swaps, Oh and there’s the newsletter that needs to be written. Also making memes, (which I try to get a PA to do as much as possible.)
• Marketing – Different bubble than promoting. Here I am figuring out what other books in my genre look like, looking for the best advertising for the book and the least amount of out-of-pocket.
• Sending my stories to Beta Readers and Critique Partners to get feedback on the story and what I can tighten or make different to make it a better story.
• Uploading – When the book is ready in ebook format, I upload to the various ebook vendors and aggregators. I also upload the print formats to Ingram Sparks. And I upload the audiobook to Findaway Voices/Spotify, Kobo, and Bookfunnel. I also upload the ebooks to Bookfunnel so I can add them to my website store.
• Website store- While I enjoy having a place where readers can purchase my books directly from me with a bit of a discount to the other vendors, I made myself more work when each book comes out. But that’s okay. I want my readers to start purchasing direct. I like having the one-on-one interaction with them.

For each of these tasks there is a different mindset and there are days I can’t get up the energy to tackle some of them. I always have the energy and drive to write, but many of the other tasks, I drag my feet and reluctantly peel off my writing colors and daunt the dingy, grubby colors of making my brain work in a way, it isn’t accustom to do.

While my brain is constantly coming up with story ideas and working through the next scene or character encounter in my work in progress and the next book brewing in my head, it doesn’t like to switch over to the mundane side of being an author.

There are days I think I should just write for fun and not bother with selling it. But then I think of all the hours and years I’ve spent honing my craft, and know I need to make it a paying endeavor. Not to mention, I would have angry readers if I stopped putting out new books. I love that so many people let me know they enjoy my mysteries. They, the readers, are what keep me shedding my writing colors and doing the jobs necessary to get a book published.

Readers, you keep me writing and sharing! And makes my skin burst with bright, happy colors!

If you want to check out my books you can find them at https://www.patyjager.net