Hi Reader,
I realize something about myself that I'm not entirely proud of. Give me a compliment and I can't say no to whatever comes next.
This writing train runs on ego.
So when BookLife, the indie arm of Publishers Weekly, told me they were launching a platform to help authors navigate the business side—and wanted to start with me?
Yeah. Of course. Sign me up. I walked around with a balloon head for a few days.
And then I realized what they were asking.
It wasn't the video that made me nervous. It was pretending that my experience was transferable. Because it's not.
Why? Two reasons.
The first? I started with house money from international deals that I spent in service to getting my book into the world.
Some of it I spent wisely. Most of it, well... mistakes were made.
The second is that my goal was never to make writing a business.
I wrote a book for one person.
I have a cramped, pressure-treated wooden balcony off my writing room. Some would call it a Juliet balcony.
I don't call it that. Because that would make me Juliet. It's my "Outdoor Author Retreat," thank you very much.
Anyway. Before there was an agent or an international publishing deal, there was Kath. She was the one who kept me in the seat through the indecision, the waning confidence, and the many rewrites.
Because I promised her I'd write her a book.
And one morning, I watched her, unseen, from the OAR as she sat on the patio reading my debut. Page after page. She never looked up. Completely absorbed.
Nothing that's happened since has rivaled it. And if I ever become a New York Times bestselling author, it'll be the second-best thing that's happened in my writing career.
Before a single copy sold anywhere on earth, I had reached my publishing goal. Everything since has been gravy.
And I've been lucky—I've banked a tureen or two of it.
Every author has a different goal. I love writing. I'll keep doing it until the air runs out of my nose.
Many indie authors want to write one meaningful book. And that is a remarkable accomplishment.
When it comes to business advice, those paths are apples and giraffes.
I did the best I could for BookLife. I shared my numbers publicly, just as I shared them with you earlier this year, and talked about the things I've learned along the way.
The things I think matter.
And then I watched the video and cringed. Ugh. I redid the thing twelve times.
You can judge for yourself below. If you don't want to sit through the full ten minutes, skip ahead.
I talk about The Briefing and what it means to connect with you every Friday at the 4:41 mark.
Feel free to leave a comment on YouTube. I’m told it pleases the algorithm gods.
If you're an author or thinking about being one, I encourage you to check out the series. There are some really helpful nuggets for you. Check it out here.
I think it's a very cool thing BookLife is doing here.
And for the rest of you, the readers, I hope this Briefing has taught you one important thing you'll always remember.
Please, don't call me Juliet.
Happy Friday,
Andy
