Whew. Was with my girl Tamela Gordon from Row House last night and we were talking about this!! I released a self published book last week (fiction). 107 people had signed up to be early readers and leave reviews on pub day. I’m looking at ~25 reviews on Amazon. Not to mention the folks who are sending me private notes and pics with the book, but not sharing it anywhere. (this is not to discount the people that are truly going hard in the paint for the book, it's just very disproportional as you mentioned). There are so many ways in which consumers of the arts do not comprehend how intense it is to first, create things, and then to have to continuously be asking for support, always only receive a fraction of what is promised or indicated, then have to do it all over again for every creation. This shit is not for the weary! Happy to add We Alive, Beloved to my shelf next to Patriarchy Blues and Better Than We Found It 🤓✨
Thank you for your openness about the financial realities of publishing and art. It's definitely not a dynamic I fully understood until you laid it out.
I just wanted to come back to this post and say because of it I pre-ordered three books, including yours! I had no idea it worked this way. I just always figured I'd grab the book when it was out, and pre-order was more for a convenience. Thanks for sharing this with us.
I agree that it's difficult for artists to have to keep "Asking" for support. As an avid reader, I might be in a lull to be thinking how books were brought to us in the past. And how that is not how it works now. We are a community. Of writers, readers, and life livers. We need each other, esp the financial support. Let's face it, big box stores aren't going to repay us for the kindness of shopping with them, they expect it. They hold the cards. But in smaller avenues, we need each other. The barber who gets the clients, repays those by buying their book, or painting, etc. The Mechanic who you chose to bless with your business, can also reciprocate. Writers aren't asking you to support them by buying $2000 worth of books. Mechanics get a large portion of your money for an engine overhaul, hairdressers or nail salons get paid well. If those folks, and many others want and expect to get paid, then let's remember the writers who feed our minds and souls. And dole out the small cost (less than $30) for their book that took a year of their time.
I agree that it's difficult for artists to have to keep "Asking" for support. As an avid reader, I might be in a lull to be thinking how books were brought to us in the past. And how that is not how it works now. We are a community. Of writers, readers, and life livers. We need each other, esp the financial support. Let's face it, big box stores aren't going to repay us for the kindness of shopping with them, they expect it. They hold the cards. But in smaller avenues, we need each other. The barber who gets the clients, repays those by buying their book, or painting, etc. The Mechanic who you chose to bless with your business, can also reciprocate. Writers aren't asking you to support them by buying $2000 worth of books. Mechanics get a large portion of your money for an engine overhaul, hairdressers or nail salons get paid well. If those folks, and many others want and expect to get paid, then let's remember the writers who feed our minds and souls. And dole out the small cost (less than $30) for their book that took a year of their time.
Thank you for sharing! I was moved by your mere talent and vulnerability. I just preordered my copy. As an aspiring writer— you are an inspiration to me. Much Love!
Preordered. And I completely get this. I know it’s asking you to do more work, but please keep reminding people. In this crazy age of constant info, media, content, messaging, sometimes people are also just not seeing your stuff as often as needed to get them to move to action. I love reading your work, even when it challenges my own ideas or views on an issue. Maybe even more when it does that. You are a beautiful communicator and I’m honored I get to read your words. And you’re right, we need to support artists by showing them we value their contributions to this world. You are so needed here.
Thank you for being courageous enough to broach this difficult subject and clarifying all this. I’ve not had exposure to the business side of publishing before and I honestly didn’t understand the importance of pre-orders to the process. Now I do. I have pre-ordered your book and look forward to its arrival!
Just finished reading your piece. I didn’t know the preorder was available! Ordered from Bookshop.org. Looking forward to more of your heartfelt and beautiful work. I’ll spread the word 📚
Whew. Was with my girl Tamela Gordon from Row House last night and we were talking about this!! I released a self published book last week (fiction). 107 people had signed up to be early readers and leave reviews on pub day. I’m looking at ~25 reviews on Amazon. Not to mention the folks who are sending me private notes and pics with the book, but not sharing it anywhere. (this is not to discount the people that are truly going hard in the paint for the book, it's just very disproportional as you mentioned). There are so many ways in which consumers of the arts do not comprehend how intense it is to first, create things, and then to have to continuously be asking for support, always only receive a fraction of what is promised or indicated, then have to do it all over again for every creation. This shit is not for the weary! Happy to add We Alive, Beloved to my shelf next to Patriarchy Blues and Better Than We Found It 🤓✨
Thank you for this clarity and transparency! I not only preordered, I added 5 more to give as gifts.
Thank you for your openness about the financial realities of publishing and art. It's definitely not a dynamic I fully understood until you laid it out.
Just preordered. Thank you as always for sharing your words and experiences.
Pre-ordered and cannot wait!
I just wanted to come back to this post and say because of it I pre-ordered three books, including yours! I had no idea it worked this way. I just always figured I'd grab the book when it was out, and pre-order was more for a convenience. Thanks for sharing this with us.
I agree that it's difficult for artists to have to keep "Asking" for support. As an avid reader, I might be in a lull to be thinking how books were brought to us in the past. And how that is not how it works now. We are a community. Of writers, readers, and life livers. We need each other, esp the financial support. Let's face it, big box stores aren't going to repay us for the kindness of shopping with them, they expect it. They hold the cards. But in smaller avenues, we need each other. The barber who gets the clients, repays those by buying their book, or painting, etc. The Mechanic who you chose to bless with your business, can also reciprocate. Writers aren't asking you to support them by buying $2000 worth of books. Mechanics get a large portion of your money for an engine overhaul, hairdressers or nail salons get paid well. If those folks, and many others want and expect to get paid, then let's remember the writers who feed our minds and souls. And dole out the small cost (less than $30) for their book that took a year of their time.
I agree that it's difficult for artists to have to keep "Asking" for support. As an avid reader, I might be in a lull to be thinking how books were brought to us in the past. And how that is not how it works now. We are a community. Of writers, readers, and life livers. We need each other, esp the financial support. Let's face it, big box stores aren't going to repay us for the kindness of shopping with them, they expect it. They hold the cards. But in smaller avenues, we need each other. The barber who gets the clients, repays those by buying their book, or painting, etc. The Mechanic who you chose to bless with your business, can also reciprocate. Writers aren't asking you to support them by buying $2000 worth of books. Mechanics get a large portion of your money for an engine overhaul, hairdressers or nail salons get paid well. If those folks, and many others want and expect to get paid, then let's remember the writers who feed our minds and souls. And dole out the small cost (less than $30) for their book that took a year of their time.
Thank you for sharing! I was moved by your mere talent and vulnerability. I just preordered my copy. As an aspiring writer— you are an inspiration to me. Much Love!
Preordered. And I completely get this. I know it’s asking you to do more work, but please keep reminding people. In this crazy age of constant info, media, content, messaging, sometimes people are also just not seeing your stuff as often as needed to get them to move to action. I love reading your work, even when it challenges my own ideas or views on an issue. Maybe even more when it does that. You are a beautiful communicator and I’m honored I get to read your words. And you’re right, we need to support artists by showing them we value their contributions to this world. You are so needed here.
Thank you for being courageous enough to broach this difficult subject and clarifying all this. I’ve not had exposure to the business side of publishing before and I honestly didn’t understand the importance of pre-orders to the process. Now I do. I have pre-ordered your book and look forward to its arrival!
I'm sorry the preorder numbers were low, but I pre-ordered and can't wait to read your new work!
Your writing impacts me so much! I pre ordered!
Just finished reading your piece. I didn’t know the preorder was available! Ordered from Bookshop.org. Looking forward to more of your heartfelt and beautiful work. I’ll spread the word 📚