Heather Stewart Poetry

Yay and yikes

I loved writing my book. It was emotional but rewarding. Finding a publishing home for it went better than I had anticipated. The editing and launching phases were uneventful on the whole. Promoting has been a whole other hurdle.

I’m not upset about it and I am not complaining. I just never feel like I know whether or not it’s going well or I am just spinning my wheels. My poetry collection released September 24th. Prior to August, it had been years since I posted anything on any social media and I suddenly had to understand what would get attention on platforms I knew and get acquainted with platforms I don’t understand.

I am also navigating the complicated world of booksellers and signings and trying to get people to walk into a store for me. I have no idea how to do that (pointers would be appreciated). I feel like I am messing up all of the timing by not getting event’s made online or in person on time. I don’t have flyers all over town, I don’t even know if that’s still a thing that works.

Maybe it is. Maybe it’s not.

In the midst of this, I still find myself slowing down. Posting everyday is not that feasible long term for someone who works full-time, parents, writes, and tries to be an attentive wife. I did it for about 5 months. I will continue to post and try to create an online community for my readers. I will also not beat myself up over consistency, or drive myself crazy about how fabulous it is.

As with all things, learning this has a curve and I am not yet at the more advantageous side of it. I will get the hang of it, as people do. At least, as I think they must. It may be a long road to being a recognized writer, but it is probably also worth it.

Recognized writer, what even is that? My husband keeps asking me what the actual goal is and says that I keep moving it. It’s cute because he really does the same thing in his own line of work. The thing is that finishing writing a book seemed like an insermountable task. Then I was done. Getting published was going to be impossible. Then I was published. Making sales? I have some, but not much and reviews would definitely be nice.

What marks success as an author or poet? Is it being a bestseller? Well, that’s so rare it doesn’t seem like an attainable level goal. It is a long term goal that has several steps. So what step am I on toward it?

Promotions and sales. Community building. Recognizable name. Having my book show up in a bookstore that I didn’t personally ask. Winning some sort of contest for my book. A decent social media following (but what even constitutes that?). Booksellers who care when I come in.

What’s a good number of books to sell in a month for a new author who didn’t somehow go viral? I’m not sure. My publisher said shooting for 30 a month seems doable at this stage.

All that to say, I have a book signing/author event coming up this weekend and I feel woefully unprepared. I have everything I need physically. I have a table, and a chair, and copies of my book, a few pens, even an embosser stamp. I don’t think I have the readership to walk in that bookstore on Saturday. I generally have an unapproachable demeanor, which I know doesn’t help. So wish me look and pray for me please.

I’m putting myself out there, in the actual physical world, and I am not great at that. But I am trying out a new mantra.

I believe in my work and I will do everything I can to help people find it.