I’m certain I’m not the only that feels miniscule, shouting out to an unseen, larger-than-life universe that will control my future. Being a self-published author trying to promote a debut novel which hasn’t been released is full of moments of insignificance. There’s a feeling that an immense effort could still yield…not much.
There are millions of books out there, hundreds of thousands of writers trying to make themselves heard. Most of us don’t have very good amplifying auditory equipment, so our yells are barely squeaks that only luck will deliver to ears that can help. Good books go unheard.
It doesn’t help that I have been forced to brand myself as Self-Published. So many book reviewers and other bloggers in the bibliophilic community will not consider anything that is self-published. I would probably do the same in their position: weed out those whose value has not been vouched for by an agent or publisher for the simple purpose of time management.
So I must yell louder, from farther away. I’ve got to yell past only 20 hits a day on my blog, yell past unanswered emails, yell until my lungs gasp for air. I’ll take a quick breath and keep yelling, until someone stumbles across my whisper. “I am worthy,” they’ll barely hear, not even certain the words came from their own heads. They’ll stick around for a moment and listen for an encore, and if it doesn’t come loud enough again, they’ll walk away. Even those that they hear are rarely ever worth their time, just the desperate pleas of beggars, so they’ve become accustomed to ignoring faint whispers.
And I can’t just hope to reach one large-eared, big-hearted stranger. I need to reach thousands.
But that’s where I start to swell up with some confidence. Because, that’s where you come in, dear reader. You can help me make some noise. I’ve reached you. Maybe only a little bit, since I can’t quite yell out my whole message yet (the book will be available soon!). But once you get it, I’m thinking you’ll happily shout out with me. Maybe not all of you. But some of you, enough of you. And decibel by decibel, we’ll make enough noise for me to be heard, for any non-believer to at least glance my way and accept that I exist. That I’m a person, no matter how small.
Want to cause some ruckus with me? Recommend this page by clicking the link above. ‘Like’ my page on Facebook and add me on Twitter. Do a little yelling.
