Introducing the Indie Writer's Wheel of Pain

Doing what I love shouldn't depress me. Right? But everyday I do what I love. And doing what you love is supposed to fill you with purpose. And when I'm writing, I feel fulfilled. When I'm marketing my writing I feel excited. When my books don't sell, I feel depressed. It's a vicious circle. Manic to depressed. Do I then suffer from manic depression? Am I bipolar? I could draw a diagram to represent it easily. In fact, here:

But I also know that's the life of a creative. I've failed at a few things. Illustration, fine art, writing - I guess- though writing is what I keep coming back to... Maybe I should have taken journalism or some other form of writing in post-secondary school, but for whatever reason, at the tender age of 18, I thought visual arts was my game. It wasn't. At least, nothing I could make a living from. Not really. Turns out making money from writing isn't my jam either though. So, what am I supposed to do when I feel drawn to tell stories? Tell them I guess, otherwise, I might burst. Spontaneously combust. Hey, maybe that would be best, but then that's the depression stage talking now; waiting to sell a book or two. Being in-between writing is the most agonizing. Working a day job and wanting to be someone else is difficult too. Should I quit my job and go full time as a writer? That's a pretty stupid idea when you've already proven your books don't really sell. After writing 12 of varying genres... and working as a marketing manager full time, you'd think the two would eventually click and I'd get a best-seller out of the pairing.

Maybe I suck at everything I do. That's a depressing thought. Oh, right, I'm suffering the depressing stage - that red arrow in my little diagram above... Maybe I should stop writing this thought out and force another smile at another co-worker and engage in mindless water cooler banter. I am thirsty...

The Honest Author

Get over 2 million ratings on your book

An impressive number, right? It's easier than you think. But keep in mind: thinking is a big part of how this sort of thing happens. I’m not here to sell you on positive thinking though if I were, I’d direct you to my Hello Me Series rather than show you my 2.3 million ratings on my sci-fi book(s) on Goodreads.

It’s called a vision board. Have you heard of this? Whether you’re hoping to meet that perfect mate or buy the perfect house or get the perfect job, a vision board is your friend. You take a picture of the thing you want, place it on a board or piece of paper and keep it somewhere you’ll see it daily. Then you focus your intention and attention on that goal and believe it’s already happened.

Okay, so in reality, I don’t currently have over 2 million ratings on a single book, but that’s not to say it’s impossible! In fact, I fully expect to have reached this goal within a certain amount of time (ideally while I’m still alive and can enjoy my brief foray into fame and fortune). So, what did I do? I Photoshopped my profile page. I changed the numbers to reflect what I expect from my books and followers. I did this with each book currently available. I look at my board in the morning and in the evening and I spend a few minutes with it, feeling all the good feels that accompany a win like this.

I’m encouraged by the feels I feel and actually get excited thinking about how this has happened for me. With 11 books available to the public in multiple genres and another coming out in September, I see no reason I couldn’t find someone for each to take them viral.

This isn’t exactly an easy practice for me. I’m not the most positive person. I`ve struggled with depression and anxiety. But in spite of all that, I’m really thrilled to be pushing for what I want, and now expect from the universe. It’s nothing for the universe to give me millions of dollars by selling my books. I don’t expect something for nothing, writing is hard work, networking, designing cover art, MEME`s and editing all take their toll  - and I do market myself and give away books in the hopes of being rewarded with a review. It’s all coming together. I believe that. I can feel it.

This is my soon to be success story. Why not give it a shot yourself?

Trump in the Whitehouse and Indie Authors

So what's it mean to have tyrannical Trump in the Whitehouse for all of us indie authors trying to push our books north and south of the borders? Will he really follow through with his threats and break down NAFTA? Does that even matter to an indie author? Could it? What does Free Trade mean for an indie or self-published author? Let's lay it out. I'm Canadian, but I use Createspace to build out my books, print them, and it's where I order them from. Createspace is an American company. So what? How does Free Trade affect me? Am I going to pay more for shipping? No. At least I hope not! I ordered 25 books the other day and the shipping more then doubled the cost and then I had to pay the courier for the border BS. I'm rethinking the whole thing now. But what does Trump promising to stomp on NAFTA mean for me?

Is it all fear mongering? Surely that's how he won the election. But his fear mongering has divided the people of the United States. If you're going to use fear mongering; let's put everyone behind a single cause: the environment. This is something to fear. But now the self proclaimed climate change denier is going to ramp up manufacturing and fracking and drilling and just fuck the whole country up while putting a few dollars in the average American's pockets, and filling swimming pools with money for the elite. Not sure how I got onto this rant, but there it is. I hope I've answered the question. :)

www.mikepoeltl.com