Definitely, not. I loved books and loved to read, but I never thought of writing as a career. I always wanted to work in the field of commerce and I must say, I enjoyed my job as a banker for thirty-seven years.
I believe strongly that a book cover is important to a readers. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, a book cover can project those words. Let us understand that the first thing potential book buyers see is your book cover. The title is also important. If the cover and or title does not attract them, there is a good chance they will not bother to read the blurb or purchase the book.
I read my reviews. I am thrilled with the good ones that echo my sentiments. So far, I have received only one bad review and I could tell that the person writes bad reviews all the time. It seemed to be his/her forte, so I don’t let it bother me.
Learn all the rudiments of marketing a book before you publish one. There is much to learn and you must decide what to utilize. Be ready to pounce as soon as the manuscript goes to the publisher.
I was inspired to write after my first journey to West Africa. When I embarked on that journey, I had no intention to write about it, but when I showed the photographs I had taken and shared some anecdotes about my experience with friends at a dinner party, they all insisted that I share the story with the world. “Write a book about your journey,” they said. After much deliberation and research, I wrote and published my first book, Into Africa: A Personal Journey. That was twenty-four years ago. I haven’t stopped writing since!
I agree that writing can be all these things, but for me, it is also exhilarating, fun, and rewarding. Heck, sometimes when I write I forget to eat or go to bed! If you write for the correct reason, it will be a positive experience.
It can be a tad jarring at times, but I don’t mind it. It feels good to meet someone who has read your work and appreciates it. That’s a fan and the person you write for.
