I've realized that people want stuff. From me. They want my book. They want my swag. They want an interview. They want a guest post. They want it for free.
Is it okay to say no? Sure.
But I don't. Ever.
Do I get burned out? Yes.
So why don't I say no you ask? The answer is twofold.
I donate for giveaways because I want my book to reach the ends of the universe. I want it to find its way to every continent, every country, every library, every school. I want it to be read and loved and shared. This is how it works, especially with a book like mine.
I also donate because I like to give back. I donate the book to auctions to help raise money for countries that have been impacted by earthquakes, cities whose schools have been destroyed by by tornadoes, and families that have been overloaded with debt because of medical expenses.
So while it's okay to say no and many times I want to say no, I don't. What about you? Is it worth the stress, the time, the money to give of yourself not only to help yourself, but to help others?
Or am I just insane.
Oh, Megan, I hear you. "No" is one of the hardest words for me to say, too. All the requests can get overwhelming, though, and I've finally come to the conclusion that even though I want to say yes to everything, I can't.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, Megan, when we're just starting out, we have to say yes way more than we can say no. For example, when my dentist first opened her practice, she was open six days a week, 7AM-6PM. Now, after 12 years and many clients, she is only open Mon-Thur, 7AM-4PM. She can do that because she now calls the shots (literally).
ReplyDeleteI self-published my first novel and gave away many copies. My husband wanted to know why I was giving them away. I told him word-of-mouth would sell my book. And it did. Ten years later and that book is still selling on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and several middle schools in my area have it as required (not just recommended) reading.
So, yes, we've gotta work out tails off to make a name for ourselves. And we've gotta give away lots of stuff.
Gina, it's so scary to say no though, especially when you're sending stuff to a section of the country unfamiliar with your work. Or a foreign country even.
ReplyDeleteAnd Linda, so awesome your book is still selling. And yeah, in my marketing research I've found that word of mouth is still the most effective form of publicity, so the more people exposed to my book with hopefully like it enough to tell their friends about it.
When I daydream about becoming a well-known author I always tell myself that I'll be the kind of person who never says 'No'; that I'll interact with every fan, sign every book, speak at every school.
ReplyDeleteBut once you reach a certain point it just becomes impossible. IMO, as long as you do your best to be accessible, and don't forget who helped you along the way, there's nothing wrong with saying 'No'. And if they have a problem with it, they weren't worth a 'Yes' in the first place!
On a personal note, I just heard about your book while researching my own project and I am very excited to read it! I'm now following your blog as well. :)
Thank you insomniac. I appreciate the comments. I still try to say yes when I can, so far I've not turned anyone away. And I will never never forget those who've helped me along the way.
ReplyDeleteI saw you had followed and read your excerpt from your cancer book. It's very good. I would have commented, but blogger doesn't let me anymore for some reason. Know you have a new supporter though. :)
I don't know what Blogger's deal is; I used to be able to subscribe to comments via email and now I cant. It's always something around here. But thank you so much for the read and support!
ReplyDelete