Promote, Persist, Persevere!

[CJYoung]

These are the 3 P's I just now decided would make a good title for the day. LOL. But let's talk about this, because I see a lot of promotion threads around here. (I like to silently stalk the forums) Some thread are to promote in a general sense, some are more specific and made to appeal to a certain pool of creators or readers.

I've been writing for a long time, and I'll say that the struggle to promote never really goes away. Each milestone you hit feels great, but there's always the next stage. Lately, I've been reaching the goals I most want to, yet my quest never truly comes to an end.

Of course, your efforts to promote don't always pay off when you think it will. That's when it's important to persist. Work hard to find something that works for you, or try something that didn't work again. Strike from a new angle, or go along with what's trending. Go against the grain, or find your niche.

But along with persistence it's also important to persevere, because there will always be challenges that try to knock you down or things that discourage you. Just don't give up. Even if it's hard, even if it feels pointless. Even if you have to slow down or take a break, just keep going.

But be wise too. Take your time, move at your own pace, find your own rhythm. Maybe your book/comic is good and just needs more time, or maybe after time you'll see that your book/comic needs work. Or, maybe it just doesn't connect with readers. Can you find a way to change that? Re-word things, add more flair to your synopsis, change your cover art? Might you need to add or change a character, a plot point, or an ending?

Then again, sometimes a story you want others to read won't always be the one that readers want. But even if one story doesn't do well, try again with another. Just don't give up on the first one either. Branch out to different genres if you can, go outside your own comfort zone. Finish what you set out to do and keep moving. Be creative, find new ways to promote. Be clever, be silly. Whatever works for you or for your particular story. It's a long journey, so we need to be ready for the long haul from the beginning.

I suppose this has been Shower Thoughts with C.J. Now, share yours on the subject!

[WhiskeyMadDog]

For me, my mantra is to don't think, just draw. Draw because you like doing it and if it excites you, then do it.

Don't think, just draw has allowed me to be more experimental and to be my own person and try new things. We all gotta start somewhere and it takes a while to get recognition like 10-15 years at least. Draw everyday and realize that you won't get the status you want immediately as you are still new. Have patience and you will find sucess

[Penni]

I agree with all of this!

I think any form of art requires all of these things, especially persistence and perseverance because it's so subjective. The common thread I've seen between all the big-time authors out in the world is that they didn't give up. They kept learning and pushing forward until they made it.

Continuing to learn is a big one for me too! I think if you ever get to the point where you think you've learned everything there is to know, you'll get stagnant. Writing/art is always changing, so no matter how many years you have under your belt, something new will come along. Always continue to learn.

[Pony_wearing_a_hat]

What I always remind myself is that there is an audience for everything. It can be hard to find those who's tastes line up with what you create, and it's okay if that group is small. If you keep of trying with promotion, it gives more people who gel with your work and style to find it.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

My mantra as an artist is this:
Always be drawing. Stay disciplined and don't stop when it gets hard.

As for promoting...find what platform works for you, and learn to interact with other artists wherever you're at.

[2_YuiAkane_2]

"It doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be done."

@blackorchid This helped me soo much, thank you for sharing this!

Not Again | Tapas

[blackorchid]

Aww!

My other favorites that have helped me:

At the top of your first draft you write:

"the dumbest version possible"
"The worst version."

Which, is a bit self-defeatist, but allows you to just write, no holds.

Also, from Neil Gaiman's Twitter, which I am about to butcher:

The first draft is telling the story to yourself.
The second, to make it functional.
the third to make it pretty.

And probably my favorite that I tell myself all the time:

It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to exist.

I have these saved somewhere on pinterest, I should probably post them.

<3

[cherrystark]

I think it's important to remember that success doesn't come overnight. Yes, we need our dreams and shouldn't give up on them but everything takes time. I would rather wait and work to have the best series possible than rush out something I'm not proud of.