C h a z z W r i t e s . c o m

Publishing gurus are full of ideas for you. To optimize your sales, they might suggest new covers. They will tell you that your only barrier to startling success is a simple (yet costly) tweak to your book description. Playing with the variables to turn your frown upside down can be exhausting. Maybe you’re burnt out on trying to make Amazon ads pay. Perhaps you’re tired of plugging away at one series. As you’re losing that spark, you’re also afraid of disappointing your dwindling fan base. Why dare to piss off the few people who are still reading your novels?

It’s tough, isn’t it? This is a mean business where attention is fleeting and endlessly fragmented. For instance, I enjoyed watching the first few seasons of Cobra Kai. Now? I can’t bring myself to give it another go. Some things just overstay their welcome, you know?

We’re wired to be alert for whatever’s new. That’s not always a bad thing. If your writing business strategy isn’t paying off as much as you need or want, doing something new may be your answer. Let’s talk about switching lanes, when to do it, and why.

How do we adapt? Consider these questions:

• To you, what is success? To you (not your parents or partner) what is failure?
• By whatever metric you use, what’s working for you?
• What isn’t working for you?
• Have you tested your assumptions?
• Have you played with the variables to identify how you could make things better?
• Are you willing to get rid of what isn’t working?
• Are you willing to do more of what is working?
• What might work that you haven’t tried yet?
• Are you willing to try that new thing?
• Before you chase after the shiny new idea, have you completed the projects that were once so shiny and new just?
• Have you identified the pros and cons of a new strategy (e.g. switching genres)?
• Have you identified your costs?
• What’s the cost-benefit ratio of this strategy change?
• How much money do you need to ensure your needs being met?
• How much more money do you need to pay for your wants?
• Do you have the resources, technical know-how, coaching, mentor etc., to make this change?
• Whatever you work on takes the money and time. Does that feel like an investment or just money spent?
• Is the new strategy worth the mental health or time toll it will require?
• Is it inertia, stubbornness, or fear that’s keeping you chained to what’s not working?
• What’s the worst that could happen?
• What’s the best that could happen?
• Is the new project a passion, an excuse, or an escape?
• What makes your new approach significantly different from old projects that failed?
• Are you happy or excited to make this new commitment? Or does thinking about it make you want to go back to bed? (If you’re cuddling a teddy bear right now, you may not be ready to make any changes yet.)

Here’s the mean trouble in deep water:

Ideas are cheap and easy to come by. Many great ideas are never implemented. Change can be an exciting challenge or scary. It’s up to each of us how to frame what lies ahead.

I’m rooting for you. If I’ve ruined your day, sorry. Maybe go back to bed and maybe think on these questions some more after a nap?

~ I’m Robert Chazz Chute. I write apocalyptic epics and killer crime thrillers. FInd the links to all my books on my author site, AllThatChazz.com.

Here’s the latest review of Endemic (below):

A Passive Double Aggressive Thriller

I am impressed; I read this book in an all night marathon, I couldn’t put it away. Well written, recommended and totally different from most apocalyptic stories. The protagonist stands out and as the story progresses I found myself wanting to roar with each triumph as she succeeds against her antagonists. And an A-plus as a darn good how-to survival story.

AuroraWolf a Literary Journal of Science Fiction and Fantasy

Filed under: publishing, how to change, How to sell books, publishing, Robert Chazz Chute, self-publishing, success in the writing business, when to change, writing