Marketing struggles and mulling over a side character

So apparently the hardest part of writing is…marketing?

Yes, yes, I know that this is not groundbreaking. If you’re a writer—especially a self-published one—and you’re on Twitter, you’re probably familiar with how difficult it is to get your work noticed. I know I was even before I started to think about self-publishing, but I wasn’t prepared for the utter frustration that I’m now experiencing!
 
This past week was very hectic for me at work so perhaps exhaustion is really to blame here, but on Friday I found myself staring at my screen and feeling like an abject failure. My book has been out a month! And I only have two reviews! And very few people like my book tweets! Do I even deserve to call myself an author? What am I doing?
 
Ah, yes. An existential crisis. 
 
Instead of fighting the impending sense of doom, I allowed the negative feelings to wash over me. I took a deep breath. And then, like a good Virgo, I set to work and began writing more social media posts. 
 
Honestly, I think this part of the self-publishing process is really helping with my personal growth. I’ve never been a patient person. The fact that I have to keep working at this reinforces that success doesn’t come over night. Also, I might have to redefine what success means to me. I do tend to put up blinders when I’m really involved in a project though and am worried about burning myself out. 
 
I have to keep going, but I have to be careful, too. 
 
We Need to Talk About Violet
 
Lately Friday nights have been my nights for writing. (I’m not one of those people who can write every day. I’ve never been able to do it—but kudos to you if that’s your jam! Really, I admire you!) 
 
I’m plodding along with Book Two and lo and behold I’m realizing I’m going to have to change some things if I want to keep the story focused on my MCs. It is after all, all about them! 
 
I had planned to introduce two SCs in an early chapter but, as I started writing I realized that wasn’t going to work. I’ve already done a scene with the first SC, Patrick, but I think I’m going to have to hold off on introducing Violet. She’s mentioned in Book One and I had planned to have her show up in this early chapter, but as I was reading over what I wrote, I realized it was too much. 
 
Now I’m staring at my outline and wondering if I’m doing too much with all of my SCs. And that has me questioning what I’m even doing in this book. 
 
Who are my characters really? Where are they really going?
 
Is it possible to have an existential crisis about fictional people?
 
But here is another opportunity for me to practice patience. Violet, I think you’re going to be a great character, but you might have to wait in the wings a bit longer. And apologies to my other SCs—but you are SCs, not MCs—and so your chapters might get cut or your scenes might get shortened too. 
 
Perhaps one or more of you will get a spinoff book? (Spoiler alert: Two of my SCs already have! Their novella is in the works!)
 
Taking a step back this week really helped me. Patience is a virtue, after all.
 
A Thing I Enjoyed This Week
 
I’ve always liked true mysteries and a recent New Yorker article did not disappoint. I’d learned about the Dyatlov Pass incident during high school, probably from a documentary on the History Channel (when it actually used to show documentaries) and I’d always thought the conspiracy theories surrounding it were wild. The CIA. The KGB. Yetis. Aliens? Nuclear weapons! Shockingly, none of those things had anything to do with what actually happened. Read the article! I found it fascinating!
 
If you like that article, you might also enjoy:

• In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette
• The Terror: Season 1

 
Stay safe and well, Serrulata Saga pals!