Hi! It's me, again.
I thought it would be nice to switch things up a bit and talk a little about the things I don't want anymore...This post isn't meant to be a rant, but instead a piece to inspire you to take a look at your own lives and consider what you don't want anymore. May it inspire you in whatever way you need right now. Let's get into it.
Things I Don't Want Anymore
Constant pressure to "perform" online. When I first began writing to publish, I joined platforms like Twitter and Facebook and Instagram. Over time I've joined and left those platforms numerous times. In the writing world, it's said that if you publish traditionally then those offers only come if you have a heavy online presence. Which is one of the MANY reasons I didn't decide to publish traditionally. As a self-published author, it's almost a given that you need to be on socials or have a newsletter in order to succeed. I hate to admit it, but it's true. When I wasn't sharing my blog posts on socials, I got maybe 9 views. When I posted on socials, it gets around 200+. But, during this "behind the scenes" year I'm taking, I still want to find ways to get my author brand out there WITHOUT having to perform on social media. It's exhausting and even more so when it doesn't produce sales. So, I don't want it.
Feeling like I have to explain myself. One thing I’m working on in this season of life is not feeling like I have to explain myself all the time. I’ve been called “defensive” before, but honestly, I think a lot of that comes from feeling like every decision needed a reason attached to it. Over time, you start assuming the questions are coming before anyone even asks. I’m trying to unlearn that. Not every choice needs a long explanation. Sometimes “because I want to” is enough. Sometimes protecting your peace, changing your mind, or simply wanting something different is reason enough. So when it comes to over explaining myself? I don’t want it.
Chasing trends instead of writing stories that actually mean something to me. I've never been one to write stories to market. It was the biggest piece of writing advice I got way back when, but I never wanted that. I still don't. Though, it's mainly because I'm stubborn. As a reader, I love reading stories like The Hunger Games, and I read the Divergent series right after and enjoyed it. But, that's not how I choose my books. I don't see a book and go, "oh, I loved The Hunger Games, let's read another dystopian novel". I can't control readers and what they like. The stories I write align more with feelings and emotions and everyday life. Chasing Time is about loss, forgiveness, and hope. Written during a time I was mourning the loss of my mother, so it meant something to me. It still does. Emma and Lizzie's story is a reminder to me that "life isn't meant to be something you survive, it's meant for you to live." My new novel I'm currently drafting now is about a married couple coming to terms with the life they lost, the recovery each go through as an individual, and whether they can find their way back to each other. I'll never set out to write a book because the market says it's popular right now. Trends change. Quickly. I was never meant to chase someone else's success story. Chasing trends? Yeah, I don't want it.
Measuring success through likes, follows, and reviews. Back in the beginning of my writing journey, I used to live and breathe connections; likes, followers, and reviews. If someone followed my author page, liked my content, and reviewed my book...that was success to me. However, I've come to learn that success isn't measured by how many people are scrolling online and happen to hit the like button. Success is something far more simple than that. I wrote a book. I figured out how to get it edited, how to create the cover, find early readers, and how to publish it all on my own. That's success. When people post a review, it's telling me that other people are seeing my success. They are sharing in that with me. Once I figure out how my author life is going to look in the coming year, it won't be measured by little things like people liking my posts, or the much appreciated reviews. No, measuring success that way isn't for me. That way? Yeah, I don't want it.
These are just a few things I'm letting go of, can you relate? Are there things you want to let go of? Let me know in the comments.
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