What Is Enough For Me

Okay, so I've been doing a lot of thinking and working, and working and thinking about publishing. I always seem to, and I always seem to find some new light or think of something in a new way. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by this anymore, but I still am!

So I have traditionally published a series with Simon & Schuster. I enjoyed the experience, and I like working with an agent to sell my books to bigger publishers. I am hoping for future sales in this market. In fact, I just turned in a novel last week that I hope is "the one!"

Additionally, I have begun a journey into self-publishing. I have enjoyed it too. There are things I can do with my self-published titles that I can't with my S&S titles. Marketing, playing with price, and buying ads are the biggest things I've noticed so far.

I've also been networking and hob-nobbing with some Indie authors. They are fun people, and very determined and hard-working. I've also noticed--and it's all coming from ME, not THEM--this need to constantly be selling my books.

I've felt this pressure since self-publishing. Not from other authors, but in general. I've realized that I don't like it.

Selling books is not why I write books. I have no grand illusions of making a million dollars. I don't write to make money. I don't want that to be the focus of my writing.

But I've struggled with this, because the amount of money you make nearly determines your success or worth in almost any field, publishing included.

This thought of writing because I love it, and publishing because, for me, it's a needed process that comes with writing has been re-iterated this past weekend. I want to share my work with readers--hopefully readers that will love the stories I write as much as I do.

To me, that is the purpose and goal of my writing. It's also why I publish. I've been having a hard time identifying what would be "enough" for me. More money? I already knew I wasn't writing for money. But what is it? What drives me to write and publish? What is enough?

I think I've identified at least one piece of this perplexing puzzle. The reader connection. See, I got a review from The Deseret News, which is one of the big newspapers in Salt Lake City. The reviewer loved ELEVATED. She connected to it. She got out of it what I got out of it. She read and loved what I wrote and loved.

She said, in part: "It is easy to flow from the first word to the last without ever putting down the book. Johnson shows outstanding talent in this form, and her words are beautiful, important and deeply felt." (You can read the whole review here.)

It was a magical moment. It's like the reader and the author experiencing, breathing, and existing in the same space for the time it takes to read the book.

And that, I realized, is enough for me.

What do you think would be enough for you?

What I Think About Reviews

Okay, so I don't think I can be any clearer about this. It is my opinion that any author, at any stage in their writing career, should not be reading reviews of their book(s). (I submit that reading reviews of other books is not super-healthy either.)

I suppose a clarification is in order: It's (semi-)okay to read reviews on another author's blog. They're going to be nice and upbeat and positive--for the most part. Authors supporting authors and all that.

But Goodreads? Book bloggers? Shelfari? Amazon? The Reading Room?

Do not read those reviews. Not now. Not before the book comes out. Not after it comes out. Not ever.

Retweet them, sure. Read them, no.

I can hear some of you saying, "But Elana! It's so exciting to see my book on Goodreads! I have to check it!"

No, you don't.

Is it exciting? Heck to the yes!

Can it damage you, even before your book comes out? HECK TO THE YES.

You're better off not reading reviews. You can't change your book. (What? You're going to edit it after it's out? Do another revision pass because someone doesn't like your MC? No. Both of those are ridiculous. So...why are you reading reviews again?)

It does the author absolutely no good to read reviews of their book. Not even a little bit. Why? Quite simply it's because reviews are for READERS, not authors. Authors would be better off spending their time and energy on what matters: crafting that next novel.

This is what can happen to you:

Disclaimer: This is not me. My hair is much longer and darker than that.

Disclaimer: No computers were harmed in the making of this blog post. But I did read a review back in March of 2011 (POSSESSION wasn't even out!) that convinced me that I should never read another review again. And I haven't. 

And then how are you going to write? I mean, seriously.

What do you think? Authors, do you read your reviews? Aspiring authors, are you planning on reading your reviews? I don't think you should...

Guestanista Review of POSSESSION

Okay, so today on the POSSESSION pre-launch blog tour, we have Matt Rush. Sort of. He's over on his blog, dedicating his time and space to a grown man's review of POSSESSION. (*gulp*)

Here on my blog, we agreed to publish his teenage daughter's review of POSSESSION. (*double gulp*)

So here we go! I'm turning over the reins to Kylie, who is fifteen--and a straight-A student!
__________

Possession by Elana Johnson is fast-paced, action-packed, and totally exciting. Seriously, it's like an Anime movie, guys.

Violet Schoenfeld, a troublemaker in a world of stupid rules, is a plot-perfect protagonist. In a dystopian society, Vi is not pleased with the strict guidelines, not pleased at all. She's outspoken, and has some rather suspicious capabilities. I loved reading her story because even though Vi wasn't the most experienced or knowledgeable person about her world, she still wouldn't stand for the rules, or she wouldn't take them sitting down, or whatever. She lived by her own set of morals, and followed her heart.

Possession speaks to any teen who feels oppressed by society (or their parents, or teachers) and I could really relate to the frustration Vi felt while just trying to be herself. I can't wait for the sequel. There is going to be a sequel, right?

__________

Uh, I'm taking the fifth on the sequel issue. Thanks Kylie, for a great review!

I guess I better head over to Matt's blog to see what he has to say... Wait. I better put my bullet-proof vest on first...

Tell A Big Fat Lie Tuesday: Reviews

Dude, I totally don't care about reviews. Not from book bloggers, not from the industry professionals, not from anyone. I welcome scathing comments. I enjoy it when people say my book is confusing, hard to read, and inferior to other novels.

I just don't care. I am immune.

Bring on the soul-damaging, depression-inducing reviews! I likez them.

My favorite review?
"...fails..." ~Kirkus

I'm stoked for what the future might hold in the review department. Can you tell? Why are reviews so hard to stomach? At least I'm not on national TV, being torn apart in front of a live television audience.

***This blog post was brought to you by sarcasm, fibs-I-tell-myself, and the letter J.

***This next portion brought to you by non-sarcasm: I support anyone who writes reviews of any book. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and should be able to express it.